[at-l] Intros

[hikingvagabond at cox.net (Ozzie)]

Name:  Wilson Osborne

Trail Name:  Ozzie - Nick name from military days. It stuck.

Where I live: Oklahoma City, OK. Born in a house on the banks of Turnipseed Creek in the hills of middle Tennessee. Yes, Turnipseed Creek is on detailed maps. I didn't make it up! Left at eighteen to see the world. Haven't seen it all yet.

Occupation: Retired Air Force Master Sergeant. Twenty-two years active duty. Retired 1976. Personnel Systems Manager (computer programming and systems analyst focus). Had the GI bill under both Korean and Vietnam and fulfilled a long time dream of a college education several times over.  I am fully retired now with really nothing holding me here except me.  

Marital status: Single for five years after forty-three years of marriage. I tried but needed some peace and serenity in my life.

Family: Two daughters, one son, three granddaughters, two grandsons

Age: I will be seventy in August and it scares me. I can still hike and backpack. I don't think I could survive very long if I were not active. If age slows me I can handle it. If it stops me I am not sure how I could cope with that. At present all systems go!

Favorite Trail: The AT because it is a people trail. Or that is the way I see it anyway. I spent a summer in California in late nineties hiking parts of JMT (one week) and numerous other day trips on mountains, high desert and coastal trails. Have been on AT in Georgia three times spending a few weeks there. Hike the Wichita Mountains 100 miles away near Lawton, OK. Do local hikes at least three times a week for exercise averaging about six miles each time.

Other Things You Might Like to Know:  I am intending to put my "stuff" in storage for the summer and do some traveling including hiking on the AT either day or extended trips. The first stop will be Erwin, TN.  I thought I was free to leave on May 1st but I have been told I had better be here for my granddaughter's HS graduation on May 21st. After a summer of travel I would like to relocate near good hiking trails and I was thinking near the AT, but my Granddaughter is considering college in Greeley, CO, and I somehow told her that I would go there for six months or so. Seems like a nice place. I think that area is where Mags is located. He makes it sound really appealing.  I would like to get away from the flatlands I have been around so long. Where I was raised in Tennessee there were hills and mountains and I am kind of wanting to see hills and mountains again.

I have been around the AT Forums since the ATML days but rarely contribute. I ask for local information about areas that I intend to hike on the AT from time to time. I get a lot of valuable information about the AT and other areas of interest. I really appreciate the AT Forum and appreciate Ryan making it available to us.