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Sprout

I'm Sprout - an avid hiker/adventurer, farmer, flute player and people person. I grew up in Catawba, VA right near the AT and decided to thru-hike it in 2011. Since then I daydream constantly about which trail to hike next (or maybe bike or kayak!) - some have become a reality including the Colorado Trail, most of the Mountains to Sea Trail and the John Muir Trail this summer. I spend a lot of time getting my hands dirty in the rich earth of western North Carolina where I live nestled up against the blue ridge parkway and am always down to meet a fellow explorer.

Posts

7 Ways to Have Fun (and not die) on Vermont’s Long Trail

7 Ways to Have Fun (and not die) on Vermont’s Long Trail

The Long Trail is North America’s oldest established long-distance hiking trail. It’s a beauty to behold with many a beaver pond and serene lake, ski

Aug 22, 2017 : Sprout
10 Undeniable Truths of North Carolina’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail

10 Undeniable Truths of North Carolina’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail

The Mountains-to-Sea Trail spans over 1,000 miles from the top of Clingman’s Dome in the Smoky Mountains to the highest sand dune on the Outer Banks

Jan 29, 2017 : Sprout
The Linville Gorge Loop

The Linville Gorge Loop

Linville Gorge Loop ~ 22 Miles Western North Carolina The Linville Gorge Wilderness is located in part of the Pisgah National Forest in Western

Dec 22, 2016 : Sprout
A Modern Day Threat to the AT: The Proposed Mountain Valley Pipeline

A Modern Day Threat to the AT: The Proposed Mountain Valley Pipeline

I was driving down my country road recently to go check out hiking trails just south of the Appalachian Trail near Blacksburg, Virginia and enjoy the

Nov 18, 2016 : Sprout
10 Values of Hiker Trash Culture

10 Values of Hiker Trash Culture

For those of us that consider ourselves hiker trash we use the term with pride, as a statement of our beliefs and a testament to the miles we have

Oct 4, 2016 : Sprout
Snagging a JMT Permit: A Case Study

Snagging a JMT Permit: A Case Study

My phone alarm rings at 4:03 am and I shut it off quickly, not wanting to wake my friend and her roommates next to me in the frigid, non-insulated

Jul 29, 2016 : Sprout
Four Days on the Foothills Trail

Four Days on the Foothills Trail

It was time again for another adventure - this one a little longer than the last. I had pretty much quit my job in late April to allow for more

Jul 13, 2016 : Sprout