Sparky is a writer and outdoor enthusiast from Florida thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2021. As a recent graduate of the University of Florida, Sparky hopes to work in public interest communications and push for environmental and social change. When she isn’t on the trail, you can catch Sparky at your local coffee shop or vegan cafe. Happy trails!
Posts
Finding My Stride: Serendipity When I Needed It Most
Serendipity.To Merriam Webster, it’s “the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.” To a thru-hiker,
Why I Hike in a Dress
I found my first hiking dress at a Dollar General in Hot Springs, North Carolina, and I originally thought it would make for a perfect outfit while
The Trail isn’t Working Against You — You Are
It’s cold. It’s rainy. Your joints ache. Maybe you have a brace from injuries past or scars from missteps taken.In these moments, it can
Why I Ditched My Trail Runners for Sandals
One unexpected aspect of trail life has been the standard for acceptable gear. We expect to see similar packs and clothes as our own reflected in
One Month of Living with Less: What Thru-hiking Has Taught Me about Minimalism
I’ve lived out of a backpack for a month.It’s easy to skim over how little we have out here while we actively think of all of the ways to have
When My Body Hit a Breaking Point
I woke up to a chill in the air surrounding my tent. It was a clear, sunny, and beautiful day in the Great Smoky Mountains.I set off on the
Healing is Hard: Injuries and Setbacks on Trail
I sat precariously on a rock adjacent to a perfect foot-soaking pool formed in the river running through Standing Bear Farm.My aching ankle
The Trail Provides, Always
They say it takes a village. A village to support a thru-hiker, that is.No matter how “solo” we’d like to think we are as thru-hikers,
The Dirty Bubble: The Tale of an Unusual and Exceptional Tramily
What’s more important: what you do in life, or who you do it with? When I first set off on my solo hike of the Appalachian Trail, I leaned heavily
The Life of Luxury
When I talk to family and friends about trail life, I’m often greeted with wide eyes or an “I could never do that” mentality.And sure, we