She is hiking to raise funds for the EQUUS Foundation, an organization that gives grants to farms that rescue horses to retrain them as therapy animals for people.
She will start her journey in Springer Mountain, Ga., with her friend Nathan Kramer and her dog.
Davis plans to hike for seven months at a pace of 15 miles a day.
The trip is a combination of Davis’s two loves. Her passion for horses began when she was 12 years old after watching the horse movie “Black Beauty” and receiving a horse named Ginger as a gift.
Ginger immediately became Davis’s best friend. During her time in East Lansing, she kept Ginger at a stable near campus. They were inseparable for 13 years.
After Ginger’s death three years ago, Davis moved to San Diego, where she found a new therapy - hiking.
After developing a hiking camaraderie, Davis and her hiking partner, Kramer, decided they wanted to tackle Appalachian Trail and the International Appalachian Trail.
It took them six months to plan out the trip, and the duo have quit their jobs in anticipation of the hike. The trip is completely financed by their savings.
“Nathan and I have always wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail and we wanted to put a twist so we can give back to the community,” Davis said.
During the hike, they will raise money for the EQUUS Foundation through donations made online.
They will be sleeping in tents that they will carry with them and they’ll keep a store of food items such as protein bars, dried fruits, instant coffee and dehydrated meals.
Davis and Kramer plan to stop at landmarks such as Clingmans Dome, the highest point on the Appalachian Trail, and Mount Washington, N.H.
They will celebrate the miles hiked at Pine Grove Furnace Park, Pa., where they will eat a half-gallon of ice cream - a tradition for hikers.
From there, they hope to finish the hike in the Canadian province of Quebec.
