KATAHDIN

K A T A H D I N This. This is it. This is what it comes down to. All the hard work, sweat, tears, boils down to and ends with climbing and summiting Big Mama K. ...

Maine. The last Stretch.

        I've been contemplating how to accurately describe a thru hike, this is what i've come up with: Living in the woods for half of a year means a lack of cleanliness, the term showers was broadened to gas station bathroom sinks, streams, and cold hoses. They also became less necessary. Two Words: Crispy. Socks. No matter how much you wring them they will bleed dirt. I've...

New Hampshire

New Hampshire for damn sure. Crossing into New Hampshire was exhilarating, "New Hampshire for damn sure! New Hampshire for damn sure!" kept coming out of my mouth as I was bouncing up and down happy to be surrounded by good people and to have made it this far. I was excited to conquer all of the craziness ahead, for the White Mountain range and the fact that reaching Maine was starting to feel...

Vermont

Vermont "When in doubt the AT goes up" ...

Connecticut & Massachusetts

     I've opened this web page multiple times to write this blog that I've already postponed and I can't seem to think of the words I want to put on this page. I've always been torn with what to write in my blogs. Torn over how much of my life I should disclose so publicly. For this post I choose to keep it to a minimal, partially because i'm feeling behind on posting and access...

New Jersey & New York

New Jersey Eight down, five more to go! July 11        Selfie at the border of Pennsylvania & New Jersey! The first day in Jersey was a success, the terrain started to noticeably improve (there are still rocks, but they are much gentler & kinder thus far). The lakes are perfect swimming temp and a great escape from the midday sun. I also saw my first Rattlesnake...

Pennslyvania

Pennsylvania Home of millions of rocks. Mile 1094.6 is the halfway point of the Appalachian Trail this year! I made it halfway there!...

Six down, Eight to go!

West Virginia! The photograph of me taken at the ATC in Harpers Ferry WV! This is regarded as the mental halfway point. I was the 616th northbound thruhiker to passthrough....

Virginia

VIRGINA The Appalachian Trail is a crazy adventure that is hard to explain to people that haven't expirenced it first hand....

Two down. Twelve to go.

       Two down. Twelve to go.        During my stay at Standing Bear Farm (241.3), it was brought to my attention that one of the teeth I had work done on previous to my departure was abscessed & was becoming increasingly painful. I was also the new owner of a particularly nasty bloody, infected blister the size of China. After many phone calls......

The Smokies.

The Great Smoky Mountains. What to say, what to say. The general consensus among my fellow thruhikers is that everyone is happy to be out of the park. For good reason, the weather is harsh & unpredictable  (snow, ice, fog, rain, below freezing weather). Also the Smokies are the only place where paid permits are required & the $20 permits don't seem to benefit the hikers, overnighter...

Franklin to Fontana

My hiker hunger has officially set in. My blog might reflect food a lot this time around. Two of my favroite people drove up to Franklin, NC during my zero day to keep me company and provide some encouraging words! We all slept in a motel in Franklin & hiked from Winding Stair to the top of Siler Bald together! Libby was Ooo-ing & Ah-ing the entire time (it was adorable), Justin seemed...

1 down, 13 to go.

Day 7 through 12 Since I last blogged a lot has happened! I've met some beautiful souls & hikes some crazy hikes. The thing about doing something like this (thruhiking) is you get really intimate with the people you spend your time with. Privacy is rare, people's generosity continously grows and a bond seems to form stronger & faster out here then it does back in babylon. Everyone is...

Week one & still walking to Maine :)

Today is day 6 that I've been on the trail. So many things have happened. And my life has already changed! My mother and sister drove me up to Amicalola so that we could register and grab some snickers! Then we drove to springer and started from there! The first day was a lot of fun! Met a few awesome characters that keep popping up! ...

Last day in Babylon.

I leave tomorrow morning. I'm about to take a very long walk in the woods, with hopes of making it to Maine.  I've gotten every reaction possible about my upcoming trip... The consensus seems to be that most people wish they could, but never will, and that i'm crazy (which i'm in no position to deny). I know that the journey I'm about to take is a road less traveled, one that will shape...