A Ministry of The United Methodist Church
Welcome to the website for the unique ministry of the Holston Conference of The United Methodist Church.
Join us on a trek across 2,190 miles as the Appalachian Trail Chaplain seeks to make new friends, help those met along the way and show the love of God to all encountered.
The 2018 AT Chaplain, Minta “Blueberry” Ray, spent June through November thru-hiking the AT. You can follow her journey here.
March 26, 2018 – The Call
Appalachian Trail ministry expands with first ‘circuit hiker’
http://holston.org/about/communications/the-call/volE18/num7/at-circuit-hiker/
March 31, 2017 – The Tennessean (Nashville, Tennessee)
Why a Methodist chaplain is hiking the Appalachian Trail
https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/religion/2017/03/31/why-methodist-chaplain-hiking-appalachian-trail/99714742/
March 28, 2017 – WDBJ Channel 7 (Hillsville, Virginia)
New Appalachian Trail chaplain prepares for long journey
http://www.wdbj7.com/content/news/New-Appalachian-Trail-Chaplain-prepares-for-long-journey-417385433.html
May 2016 – Interpreter Magazine
Appalachian Trail chaplain engaged in ups and downs of journey
http://www.interpretermagazine.org/topics/appalachian-trail-chaplain-engaged-in-ups-and-downs-of-journeys
January 4, 2013 – The Call
United Methodists send first chaplain to hike 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail
http://holston.org/about/communications/the-call/volE13/num1/appalachian-trail-chaplain/
The Appalachian Trail Chaplaincy is a unique ministry of the Holston Conference of The United Methodist Church. Each year, the Appalachian Trail Chaplain embarks on a thru-hike of the 2,190-mile footpath that winds its way from Georgia to Maine with the sole purpose of listening, helping and showing God’s love to those he or she meet along the way.
This morning I woke up in what I’m going to call an ice cage. Everything that was wet from the rain was frozen solid, including my tent, pack, hiking clothes, and shoes. I had to crawl out from under my tent because the zipper was frozen shut. What a fitting last morning on trail! Even …
Continue reading “Day #140-It is finished (for now, anyway); Miles hiked: 8.1”
Still damp from the overnight storm excitement, I left camp in a cold rain this morning. This is how my thru hike started, how it’s been more often than not in the middle, and exactly how I envisioned my last day on trail. At this point, I’m really good at hiking in the rain, so …
Continue reading “Day #139-I wouldn’t have imagined it any other way; Miles hiked: 20.6”
Even though it rained again today, we got a wonderful sunrise from beneath the clouds.The rest of the day was relatively uneventful as we journeyed further south into the Georgia hills. I enjoyed the chance to bounce among small groups of hikers and hear what their thoughts are on finishing the trail. By afternoon, we …
Continue reading “Day #138-Crossing mountains and out for blood; Miles hiked: 21.2”
You may contact the Appalachian Trail Chaplain ministry at:
P.O. Box 343
Walland, Tennessee 37886
or on Facebook