Ben Lord tells Uncle Fred why he fired every client to thru-hike the 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail. They track the five-month grind: “Virginia Blues,” bears in Shenandoah, hostel trail-families, and an ice-blasted Katahdin summit. Back home, Ben flips 30 Maine acres into a sports complex, joins Federal Jacks as head brewer, and launches the Katahdin beer line—all while raising kids and keeping two trail-tested dogs happy. A tale of timing, persistence, and passion—plus a pizza strapped to a pack and six pairs of destroyed boots.