We love to hike and our dog does too but we are also realistic about what it will take for just us humans to thru hike the AT (3-5 years from now). What we are not willing to do is leave our fur baby for 6ish months with even the bestest of friends/family so we are trying to figure out how to have her come with us without having to necessarily be with us on the trail from Georgia to Maine. We are considering having her hike with us on and off and the question is how to have her "follow" us when she is not on the trail. An RV is probably not an option($). I am guessing there are easy options around the Smokies but what about the rest of the trail? Has anybody done this or know anybody who did? How? TIA