Fred is a rather unlikely A.T. thru-hiker, endeavoring this challenge at the ripe old age of 62!  And while he’s an avid outdoorsman at this point in his life, that hasn’t always been the case. The oldest of four boys, Fred was raised on a farm in Central Illinois where time outside meant farm chores.  Knowing farm life wasn’t in his future, Fred joined the U.S. Navy after high school and spent six years serving his country, the last of which was on a guided missile cruiser stationed in Gaeta, Italy, on the Mediterranean Sea.  There his love of travel and adventure got stoked and he took every opportunity he could to explore Europe and experience the food and culture of the other countries there.