A Dream 30 Years in the Making for Upper School Teacher Dave Wise

Stretching nearly 2,200 miles from Georgia to Maine, the Appalachian Trail is one of the longest and most iconic hiking routes in the world. The trail winds through 14 states, 10 mountain ranges, three national parks, and numerous small trail towns. Each year, more than three million people hike a portion of the Appalachian Trail, but only 3,000 attempt what’s called a thru-hike—completing the entire trail in one continuous journey. Of those 3,000, just a quarter manage to finish.

For Rutgers Prep mathematics and humanities teacher Dave Wise, being one of the select few to complete a thru-hike was a dream more than 30 years in the making. That dream began early in his teaching career when he worked at a boarding school in northeast Georgia, near Springer Mountain, the trail’s southern terminus. As co-director of outdoor programming, he led student trips and spent many hours hiking and backpacking in the area. It was during this time that Dave realized a thru-hike was in his future. The question was when. Given that an average thru-hike takes about six months, Dave always imagined he would tackle it after retirement.

This summer, however, with unwavering support from his wife and the blessing of Head of School Dr. Loy and Upper School Principal Dr. Chodl, Dave’s dream became a reality. Not only did he complete his thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, but he did so in an extraordinary 99 days to be ready to return to the RPS campus in the fall.

Earlier this semester, Mr. Wise gave a fascinating presentation to Rutgers Prep faculty and students about his journey and the lessons he brought back with him. We hope you enjoy hearing his story as much as we did.

Watch Dave's Presentaton:

See Photos from Dave's Thru-Hike: