Sandra Katerina Schmelzer Alvarez, or Peaches, completed her Appalachian Trail thru-hike last month. She is a single mother who managed her autistic son's reaction to her hike by preparing him for a year before she left. The hike allowed her to see herself as not just a mother, embracing the hiking community and returning home to her son, Nico, with a new perspective on life and motherhood. You can follow Sandra and see plenty of her thru-hike photographs on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/share/1B7SHgqvAN/?mibextid=wwXIfr. Additionally, check out the MeetUp she referred to for backpacking trips and tuition at Beginner Backpacking Clinic – Max Patch to Roaring Fork Shelter - BP 101, Sat, Sep 20, 2025, 9:00 AM | Meetup. Beth and Andrew are closing in on Katahdin but, as you can see below, they don't get wonderful views everyday. They are down to the last 150 miles, relishing each moment. I used my hike last year on the South West Coast Path in the UK to help raise money for my absolute favorite charity, Parenting Matters, on whose board I've been privileged to serve for over a decade. You can learn more about the hike and the organization–and donate–by visiting