Former Middleburg High volleyball coach, Carrie Prewitt, has had a remarkable adventure after her retirement from teaching: an epic hike on the Appalachian Trail. Reflecting on her journey that took her through 14 states, Prewitt recounts her experience as a time of discovery, challenge and personal growth. This is not only a story of an incredibly demanding physical endeavor but also a stirring tale of perseverance and passion.
Prewitt wasn’t quite in tune with local events when the Middleburg High girls’ volleyball team clinched the Class 5A championship. “I spent my summer hiking the Appalachian Trail, beginning from March 27,” Prewitt shares. She had effectively shut off the world as she traveled through a massive 2,197 miles, covering landscapes across 14 states.
Before embarking on the trail, Prewitt hung up her coaching boots at Middleburg, where she had spent almost 30 years. Her coaching stint did witness a slew of Final Four appearances, but a state championship had remained elusive. Hence, the accomplishment of the team brought enormous joy and pride to Prewitt, as the team honored her with a state champions ring.
Prewitt’s legendary trail started from Springer Mountain in Georgia, traversed through several states and finally culminated at Mt. Katahdin in Maine. Admitting that she preferred moving from the south to the north, Prewitt recalls their intensive routine, “We averaged about 8-12 hours of climbing per day and about 15-18 miles was our daily target.” They even managed to cross the entire state of West Virginia in a single day.
Prewitt didn’t travel solo but as a part of a team that included her brother and a German woman, dubbed ‘Phoenix’, who eyed breaking a record. “We had to carry our essentials like food, water, and tents,” said Prewitt, highlighting the difference between independent trekking and supported runs.
The hikers engaged in some lighthearted camaraderie on the trail, opting for fun nicknames for themselves. Prewitt, known as ‘Caboose,’ chuckled remembering the behind-the-scenes moments, “I was named Caboose because I was often at the back, updating my YouTube works, while my brother was ‘The TinMan’ due to his bad knees.”
Prewitt’s 171-day long adventure had its highs and lows. At times they pressed on for 20 consecutive days, and then there were moments of relaxation, referred to as ‘zeroes’– days just to resupply, clean up, and rest.
Yet, the hike wasn’t always easy. Prewitt acknowledges the wear and tear the human body experiences after pushing it over limits, “You may make some rapid progress, but when the body doesn’t get recovery time, it will eventually demand it.”
She further speaks about an intense 30-day span where they didn’t take any zeroes, pushing themselves to give Phoenix a chance at the summit record.
As far as her climbing experiences were concerned, Prewitt admitted that no climb exceeded 7,000 feet; however, Mt. Moosilauke in New Hampshire pushed her to her limits.
Away from civilization, Prewitt embarked on her venture while gearing herself up both physically and mentally. While caring for her mother, Prewitt steered her focus on fitness challenges and embarked on a commendable weight loss and strengthening transformation.
Aside from the challenging physical aspects of the trail, the trek also offered tranquil experiences with nature. Prewitt and her group encountered several bears during their expedition, albeit at a safe distance. Moreover, the journey gave Prewitt a sense of completeness and fulfillment, with the final ascent to Katahdin being a memory she holds most dear. As she described it, “breathtaking.”
