Katharine “Manhattan” Rudzitis

I am 20-something born and bred Manhattanite who enjoys exploring and the outdoors. My family used to split our time among the city sights, our grandparents in the Pennsylvania forests, and our grandparents on a Minnesota farm. I grew up wandering around and adventuring, but I found myself spending less and less time outdoors as I grew older, replacing the wild with (equally wonderful) trips to other cities. The Appalachian Trail has been a lifelong goal, and I decided that 2019 would be the year to give it a try. (Spoiler: completed in 149 days!) Off the trail, you will find me at great local coffee shops digging deep into a new novel: in 2018, I decided to read 365 books. I’m 2021, I’m meditating daily. 2022? We’ll see! Here's to the friends, adventures, and blisters to come.

Posts

Manhattan’s Before-and-After AT Gear: Day 1 Vs. 149

Manhattan’s Before-and-After AT Gear: Day 1 Vs. 149

On my 2019 Appalachian thru-hike, I had a mix of thrifted, hand-me-down, and new (mid-range) gear. The choices were dependent on size, style, and

Nov 7, 2019 : Katharine “Manhattan” Rudzitis
The Grand Finale: Trail Update Ten

The Grand Finale: Trail Update Ten

Southern Maine was a rough way to start the last state on the AT heading north, and I spent the last weeks ready to be finished. Even when the

Sep 4, 2019 : Katharine “Manhattan” Rudzitis
The Beauty (and Struggle) of New Hampshire: Trail Update Nine

The Beauty (and Struggle) of New Hampshire: Trail Update Nine

After a two-week stretch through the rest of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont,  I hiked 11 days of over 20 miles each (mainly to get on

Aug 8, 2019 : Katharine “Manhattan” Rudzitis
Singing the Praises of the Tri-State Area: Trail Update Eight

Singing the Praises of the Tri-State Area: Trail Update Eight

After a rough two weeks or so in Pennsylvania, I crossed over into New Jersey on Wednesday, July 3. The state line hits on a long bridge across the

Jul 17, 2019 : Katharine “Manhattan” Rudzitis
The Pennsylvania Pouts: Trail Update Seven

The Pennsylvania Pouts: Trail Update Seven

Before heading out to the Appalachian Trail, I had heard all about the Virginia Blues from former hikers and general trail word of mouth: hundreds of

Jun 29, 2019 : Katharine “Manhattan” Rudzitis
Trail Update Six: Trail Days and Nearly 1000 Miles

Trail Update Six: Trail Days and Nearly 1000 Miles

Given how many days have passed since mile 500, instead of day-by-day I’ll go through some broader updates on the trail. Overall I’m feeling great

Jun 10, 2019 : Katharine “Manhattan” Rudzitis
Trail Update Five: Hail, Rain, and Marathon Miles

Trail Update Five: Hail, Rain, and Marathon Miles

I am blister free at nearly 500 miles! Here’s the news from the past few weeks. Wednesday, April 24: Day 26 After a lovely evening in Hot Springs

May 6, 2019 : Katharine “Manhattan” Rudzitis
Trail Update Four: Failed Hitchhikes, Five Guys, and Floods

Trail Update Four: Failed Hitchhikes, Five Guys, and Floods

I made it out of the Smokies with only a partial day of bad weather! Still feeling great, and I can’t believe I am in week four already. Sunday,

Apr 24, 2019 : Katharine “Manhattan” Rudzitis
Trail Update Three: Gear MVPs and Biggest Miles Yet

Trail Update Three: Gear MVPs and Biggest Miles Yet

Tuesday, April 9: Day 11 I continued my day off at Gooder Grove in Franklin today and ran all sorts of errands: laundry, mailing some things home,

Apr 14, 2019 : Katharine “Manhattan” Rudzitis
Week Two on the AT: Mistakes, Surprises, Entertainment

Week Two on the AT: Mistakes, Surprises, Entertainment

I am still feeling good and strong after more than a week on the trail. Here are my most recent trail notes, and at the end, I’ve listed some

Apr 9, 2019 : Katharine “Manhattan” Rudzitis