I'm 22, and my parents won't be financially supporting my thru-attempt, but when I recently told them, my mother especially said that her friend hiked the AT in the 70's, and that I "definitely shouldn't be going alone" because people "disappear off the trail."
I realize I'm old enough to be making my own decisions, but I don't want to outwardly disobey them, or have them worrying I'll be slashed to bits every night. How do I let them know that the AT is safer than the major city in which I live now?
Thanks!