My name is Chuck Carnahan and this Summer, I'm going on a little walk to raise funds for a very special cause.

The drive from Columbus to Nova, OH is only about an hour and a half but this Summer I will walk from the Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus, 85 miles north to Nova in search of the last living tree planted by Johnny Appleseed. American Forests, America's oldest historic tree registry, has kindly donated a live rooted cutting from this tree, (Essentially a clone of the original tree) which I will then walk back to Columbus to be planted on the grounds of the Franklin Park Conservatory. In all, the trip will be about 170 miles and take 6 days. The twist however, is that I will make the entire trip with nothing but what I take with me from the beginning. Food, shelter, everything I use or need.

By donating below, you are not only helping to bring a piece of living American history to Columbus, you’re helping the American Cancer Society bring cancer treatments to thousands of people. Your donations will also help the Franklin Park Conservatory and American Forests keep tomorrow green for everyone!

All funds raised will go to the American Cancer Society, American Forests and the Franklin Park Conservatory.

And please check back for regular updates!!!

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Good News and Bad News

Well, the bad news is that the main trunk of the last living tree planted by Johnny Appleseed has come down. It stood for more than 175 years while most apple trees only live for 50 or 60 years! The good news however, is that there are still a couple of shoots from the tree still alive and growing. So the tree it's self is still kicking but just barely.

My original plan was just to walk to the farm, pick up a donated cutting from the tree and walk back to Columbus where the cutting would be planted at the Franklin Park Conservatory. But American Forests has kindly donated another cutting which I will have with me from the beginning and will be planted on the farm in commemoration of the original tree.

If all goes as planned, I should arrive at the Algeo farm around 3:30pm on July 22nd with the first cutting. I am told that there will be cider and Apple cookies made from the Algeo family recipe so please feel free to come and be a part of this momentous event! The adress is 1251 Co Rd #658 Nova, OH 44859 and the map can be found below. Thanks!

Donations!!!

When I first came up with the idea for this walk, I sent letters to a few companies who make outdoors equipment asking for donations. Well, two companies came through and have donated some fantastic equipment!

The first was Timberland who gave a pair of their new Mountain Athletics shoes.

And just recently I got an unexpected box from High Sierra containing a new Sentinel 65 backpack.

Both of these donations are going to help make this walk so much easier. I can't possibly thank these two companies enough for their generosity. So if you get a chance, check out their web sites. They both make great products!

www.Timberland.com

www.HighSierraSport.com

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

One Big Happy

It was a pretty interesting coincidence for this to come out right before my walk. Thanks Carida and Mark McCalla and my parents for pointing this out to me. That was great!

Saturday, June 5, 2010

My tentative route

This is the route that I plan to walk. It may change a little but this looks like the most direct path to walk. Feel free to zoom in and explore the map. I plan to post my GPS locations as I stop for the night.


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