My name is Mika! I'm a guy in my mid-20s living in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and setting out to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail on March 20, 2024. UX designer, stay at home cat dad, and amateur ultra runner & Nordic skier are some of the roles I'm putting on pause as I live out my dream of being a smelly guy walking in the woods for several months. For my fellow data fiends, daily GPS data will be uploaded on my Strava account: https://www.strava.com/athletes/855457
Posts
Highland Ponies & Broken Fiddles
We had a bit too much fun getting vortexed in Damascus, but pulled ourselves out and powered on to the beautiful landscape and ponies of the Grayson Highlands.
Flatlanders in the Roan Highlands
We paid our dues in the poor weather to experience the majesty of the Roan Highlands in the clear skies. We made sure to eat warm meals, drink cold beers, and pet some hostel cats along the way.
Hot Springs, Cool Rains, & Grassy Balds
After the challenge of the Smokies we indulged in Hot Springs and enjoyed the panoramic balds of North Carolina. However, we still couldn’t escape the rain.
Snow, Mice, and Sisu in the Smokies
We put our resiliency to the test in the snow of the Smokies and built camaraderie with the few other hikers willing to brave the weather.
Rain & Carolina in My Mind
Day 4-5: Unicoi Gap to Standing Indian After I spent my first night off the trail, I felt like a super human. An entire night of sleep without
Early Trail Magic & Miles on My Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike
I began my Appalachian Trail thru-hike on March 20, 2024. After 50 miles I've already received more trail magic and met more awesome people than I could have ever hoped for.