The Appalachian Trail
The Douma Family is serving in Unionville, NY along the Appalachian Trail.
Trail Stats
2200
The approximate length of the Appalachian Trail in miles. The distance changes year to year, based on trail modifications such as switchbacks and reroutes.
14
The number of states the AT crosses.
From south to north: 1. Georgia 2. North Carolina 3. Tennessee 4. Virginia 5. West Virginia 6. Maryland 7. Pennsylvania 8. New Jersey 9. New York 10. Connecticut 11. Massachusetts 12. Vermont 13. New Hampshire 14. Maine.
99
The percentage of the trail that has been relocated or rebuilt since its creation.
4-5
The number of pairs of shoes most thru-hikers go through. In general, if you can get 500 miles out of your footwear, you're doing well.
87
The percent of thru-hikers who attempt the traditional northbound route. The vast majority of those who attempt an Appalachian Trail thru-hike begin at Springer Mountain, Georgia and hike north to Mount Katahdin, Maine.
262
The number of shelters on or along the trail. The AT is lined with more than 250 three-walled structures which serve as refuges for hikers, which is approximately one shelter every 8 miles.
78
The percent increase in 2,000 milers over the last century.
Except where noted, information taken from www.rei.com.
Rev. Douglas Douma
Sola -Appalachian Christian Retreat
Doug Douma (trailname: Banzai) is a graduate of the University of Michigan, Wake Forest University, and Sangre de Cristo Seminary. He is an ordained minister in the Bible Presbyterian Church and author of The Presbyterian Philosopher - The Authorized Biography of Gordon H. Clark. Also in 2016, Doug was joined in ministry by his wife, Priscilla (trailname: Hot Drinks). Priscilla became a registered nurse in 2012, has worked in various nursing jobs, and served overseas among orphans. Her love of people and giving care to those around her fits perfectly with the mission of Sola.
Doug completed a northbound thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2013 and 500 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail in 2016. While in seminary studying for the ministry, Doug developed the idea for a ministry to hikers on the Appalachian Trail, which became Sola-Appalachian Christian Retreat.
Please pray for the Douma family and Sola-Appalachian Christian Retreat.
Prayer Requests
October 2026
Thanking God for:
- Bringing hikers to our ministry in His good providence.
- A volunteer crew of Amish and formerly Amish men who rebuilt our roof.
- A healthy pregnancy so far for Priscilla, as we await baby #4 due in February.
Please Pray for:
- More people to come to a Home Bible Study we have recently started.
- Hiker “SunnyD” to trust in the Lord through difficult times in life.
- Doug’s back to heal, which has recently had a flare up.
News from the Trail
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Hiker Lingo
Camel Up: Drinking as much water as possible at a water source.
Cowboy Coffee: Mixing water with unfiltered coffee grounds.
Section Hiker: Someone who hikes the Appalachian Trial in sections over a longer period of time as opposed to one continuous thru-hike.
Thru Hiker: Someone who hikes the Trail in one continuous run or within a one-year time frame.
Trail Name: Name a hiker goes by on the Trail. A sort of 'alter-ego'. Almost all hikers go by a trail name.
Work for Stay: Instead of paying for a room, at select hostels and huts, many hikers choose to work or volunteer for a few hours.
Zero Day: A lazy and luxurious day of hiking zero miles.
Adapted from www.greenbelly.co