On a clear autumn day, 17 hikers came from as far away as Ohio, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, and North Carolina to hike with Susan “jackrabbit” Letcher.

Susan signing her books for one lucky hiker.

As usual, Susan hiked barefoot, re-tracing the steps she and her sister Luci “Isis” chronicled in their well-known book Southbound over the beautiful 10 mile ridge line from the Mohican Outdoor Center to the Delaware Water Gap in western New Jersey.

We raffled off a signed set of the Barefoot Sisters’ books to one lucky hiker (congratulations, Tracy), and Susan paused to read a passage from Southbound on a rest break near the pond.

The hike, however, was not a revisiting of the past but a celebration of a glorious fall day, a great HIKE for Mental Health, a time to meet new friends in a gorgeous, natural setting, and a statement that we will overcome the stigma associated with mental illness.

The hikers, with their supporters, raised more than $1,000 which will be devoted to funding scientific research to alleviate the suffering of mental illness, with a portion assigned to help preserve wilderness trails.

And of course at the end of the hike we stopped by the Bakery for hot dogs and the best pie on the Appalachian Trail.

Our thanks go out to Susan, to all the hikers, especially those who drove more than 6 hours to get to the hike, and to all the donors and supporters, for making our Sunfish Pond hike a fantastic hike and event.

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