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 to a computer is far and few in between (& currently I have access to one) but I'm also feeling a bit selfish (Part of me wants to keep these memories and stories for myself) and have chosen to keep most of it to myself to share with people over a cup of joe once I finish.

Connecticut 

My first time in New England.

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.

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 the rest of my life. I am equal parts excited & nervous! Id like to thank everyone who is following my journey!

I've triple checked all of my gear. I can boil a cup of water in under 5 minutes. Heet seems to be the best fuel for my homemade alcohol stove. My pack is lined with a trash compactor bag in hopes of keeping most of our belonging dry when the sky decides to open up on top of us. And we have enough thermals to keep us warm throughout the horrid flip flopping weather through georgia & the smokies. My pack is packed to the brim, I know some of it will be sent home, it'll be interesting to see what I don't actually end up needing. I'm afraid my cooking pot is to small, but luckily I can remedy that in 4 days at mountain crossing if that's the case.

Dear family & friends

Over the next six months I will meet some amazing characters, I will see and experience things that i'll remember for the rest of my life, and ill have one heck of an adventure. But there will be days or weeks that will be extremely taxing and rough, mentally and physically. So if you get a phone call in a few weeks and i'm homesick or discouraged that is normal. give me a few words of encouragement, tell me to pick my chin up and keep walking!

       The First Big Change

       I chopped off a good portion of my hair in an attempt to make it more manageable during the next six months in the woods. It'll help prevent a billion knots and hopefully detour some ticks! I loved my long hippie mane, but having short hair is actually really refreshing & will be a godsend on the trail!