Posts
Here’s Why I Haven’t Been Posting (AT LASH ’26)
Revisiting one of the best experiences of my life is harder to do than I thought. It's hard to even proofread my posts because it's yet another revisit that reminds me I'm not out there on trail. I figured it would be fun and nostalgic to write about my LASH, from all the friends I made to all the views I saw. Instead, I feel waves of sadness crash into me whenever I try to write about my experience. And I know the longer I wait to write it all down, the harder it will be to recall all the details my notes and photos didn't capture.
Murder, Magic and My Personal Record (AT LASH ’26, Days 5 & 6)
Please don’t let this freak you out. I’m much more likely to be killed walking in any major city than hiking along the AT. For there to only be 12 to 13 murders in nearly 90 years, I feel safe and know to trust my judgment if I don’t. For that matter, there have also been zero confirmed deaths by black bears along the AT. To my friends and family who worry, thank you for caring. But I’ll gladly take the low risk. When I’m off the AT, I’m surviving. When I’m on the AT, I’m living.
My Poop Story (AT LASH ’26, Day 4 Continued)
“Everything OK, Storm?” April asked, as she saw me hobbling to my tent like a robot. “It's, uh, time to dig a hole,” I said with a laugh laced with urgency. And that's all I needed to say for her to understand.
I Bleed for Blood Mountain, I Kneel for Neel Gap (AT LASH ’26, Day 4)
As we climbed down Blood Mountain, Walmart sang the chorus of his track selection: Donovan’s “There Is a Mountain.” Per songfacts.com, the song is about the process of change, even mentioning a caterpillar shedding its skin “to find the butterfly within.” Relating it to this LASH so far ...
The Night I Slept Alone In the Bubble (AT LASH ’26, Day 3)
As I walked alone toward Woody Gap, I passed over Ramrock Mountain. Maybe I was simply in a solitary state of mind, but the views seemed to be magnified in beauty and meaning. I felt the smile on my face and stopped to take a video for my memory. To my right were mountains for days. I’m not used to seeing that in South Jersey. And the lack of leaves on the trees in springtime Georgia made the mountains much clearer to absorb. It’s moments like this one when I am reminded I’m not simply surviving. I am flat out living.
“Are We in a War Horror Action Film?” Starring New Friends (AT LASH ’26, Day 2)
So there I was, sitting on a log like Yoda, along the trail in the pouring rain. My foot pain was back, and I could feel hotspots on the back of both feet above the heels. I fumbled around in my waterproof dyneema med kit for Leukotape, the magic tool to prevent blisters. But the rain came down so hard that my Leuktotape got soaked before I could even get it onto my already wet foot. “You OK?” I heard and looked up. It was one of the people who camped with us at the shelter last night.
Springer-Hot Springs LASH: Days 0-1 (And an Apology)
We were deep in our conversation when I suddenly felt a sense of sacredness nearby. There was a calm in the air, and even though a dozen people sat before us on rock and grass, the only sounds were of the birds and the breeze. I stopped in my tracks and held up my arm to signal quietly to Charles. I knew this place. I had seen it many times before, although never in person. “We’re here,” I said softly. “We’re at the first white blaze.”
The LASH Prep: How I Screwed Up the Shakedown
OK, so listen, people. Pumped for finally making it to my car just as my watch turned to 6 p.m. sharp., I popped the trunk of my car – without unlocking the rest of my car like I usually do first. I then put my keys next to the hinge of the trunk where they're not in the trunk but not quite out of the trunk, either. I definitely thought to myself, “Oh, if I forget to grab the keys before shutting the trunk, at least the trunk won’t be able to close, and I’ll be fine.”
You’re Probably Wondering How I Got Here, Pt. 3
Who is still reading? Oh good, at least you are. Here is my final recap before I can finally move on to the more recent stuff: the big LASH. Yeah, I’m getting impatient, too. But 2025 was a year of growth and acceptance for me, and I need to write some details down – if not for my own memories.
You’re Probably Wondering How I Got Here, Pt. 2
OK, I know my blog posts are long. I'm trying to keep them shorter, but I don't want to compromise my style of sharing my emotional side. So bare with me, and I'll get to the juicy stuff soon enough. For now, here are my recaps from the 2025 section hikes, originally posted on my social media platforms before writing for The Trek.
