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 so much more attainable. I was entering the hardest stretch of the trail, with unforgiving terrain, taller summits then I had consistently climbed in months, and the most beautiful views of the hike thus far.

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.

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 (nearly stepped on it, oops)! I also hung a wicked bear bag.

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!!

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 are given priority and everyone's on edge about getting harassed by rangers & written tickets for one of the dozen rules set in place.

That being said I personally enjoyed the smokies! The weather was great compared to what it could've been! I was lucky enough to get a handful of clear views, even through the snow covered terrain! And I will always remember the smokies with a smile.

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 hiking their own hike yet everyone is in this together.

Noah started hiking with me & EZ. He is an old soul from Indiana. He is phenomenal! The first night we were together we camped out at the cheese factory site on Tray Mountain with a handful of other hikers. Bonfire & group harmonica sessions went well into the night! The wind that night was wicked (no idea how my tent didn't get blown off that ridge).

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!