Who is Crayon?

HI!

My name is Molly, aka Crayon. I am a teacher in North Carolina. I have been hiking since 2020. I started my first hiking trip in the rain at Grandfather Mountain and fell in love with hiking. My first backpacking trip was in the same year, and it was a flop. We weren’t as prepared as we are now. I completed the Great Smoky Mountains section of the AT in the summer of 2021, which sealed the deal. I was going to complete the trail in sections during my breaks off as a teacher.

We did a weekend section and completed Standing Bear, which is right outside the Smoky Mountains, all the way to Hot Springs in 2021. Completed Hot Springs to Roan Mountain (Bed and Breakfast) in the summer of 2022. I did a few sections of Virginia with my trail family that we met on the trail that summer. I solo hiked Georgia to Fontana Dam, North Carolina, which put me at completing 2 states in the spring of 2023.

In the summer of 2023, I attempted to hike in Virginia but was forced off-trail due to injury. It wouldn’t be until the summer of 2024 that I would complete all of Virginia. I did some in the spring of 2024, starting at Dragon’s Tooth trailhead and making it to Damascus in Virginia. I started in Damascus in the summer of 2024 and made it to Harpers Ferry in West Virginia (even crossing the bridge into Maryland to say I finished West Virginia). I have completed the Appalachian Trail from Springer Mountain, Georgia, to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, which accumulates to 1026 miles.

This year will be different, however. I’m going to finish the AT in the fall of 2025 after completing Tour Du Mont Blanc.

I look forward to sharing my hiking adventures and meeting new people.