My name is Mary, but you can also call me Newfound. I was born and raised in south Louisiana, but hiking, backpacking, and adventure-seeking has taken me all across (and outside) the country. Years ago, during one of those road trips, I first set foot on the Appalachian Trail at Newfound Gap... and knew that I would thru-hike the trail one day. I'm a photographer and writer, and you can find more of my work at maryleavines.com or on Instagram @maryleavines.
Posts
Northern Virginia, Part 1: Singing the Blues
Days 77-79: I returned to the trail sans the energy and excitement that I normally did. I noticed as I began to drag my feet first with getting in
Southern Virginia, Part 2: Equal Measures
Days 62-65: The morning after the thunderstorm on the ridge, I hiked a nero into Pearisburg, where my partner picked me up for a quick zero
Southern Virginia, Part 1: The Mountains Make Their Own Rules
We all came to this hike knowing that it was dangerous to some degree. It's why we carry first aid kits, hang our food, keep our puffy jackets and baselayers dry at all costs. But it never really sinks in until you see yourself as a little speck on a ridgeline, completely at the mercy of the elements.
Tennessee: Finding the Answer
Day 45 I walked away from the irresistible vortex of Mountain Harbour B&B, climbing very slowly with one last breakfast weighing me
North Carolina/Tennessee, Part Two: Here Comes The Sun
The further north I walk, the more unbelievably gorgeous the trail becomes. In this update, I’m sharing photos from my thru-hike north of Erwin and through the Roan Highlands.
North Carolina/Tennessee, Part One: Days Like Smoke
As I passed through the Smokies, lost the persistent knee pain, and hiked another 100 miles, I really got a sense of how fleeting and short my time out here is. As my body gets used to the demands of the trail, the miles feel shorter. As the tasks of setting up and breaking down camp become routine, it’s becoming harder to envision a life after this.
North Carolina: Winter Giving Way
It’s been a long while since my last update. That being said, it simultaneously feels as though no time has passed at all, and also as if Georgia was
Georgia: The Land of Many Zeroes and Lessons Learned
Hi all! Newfound here with my first update from the trail. I am way, way behind the "writing schedule" I'd envisioned for myself before starting the
All That Doesn’t Need to be Carried: Why I Decided to Thru-Hike the Appalachian Trail
This personal essay offers a glimpse into the quiet moments, thoughts, and reflections leading up to my 2022 Appalachian Trail thru-hike