A Balancing Act- Part 1 of the Gila: Days 10-12 on the CDT
To reconnect with the CDT the next morning, we bushwhacked up a spiky drainage to the ridge line. Although I’ve never done a thru hike, I’ve done plenty of bushwhacking,...
UGQ Bandit Backpacking Quilt Review
As a tossing-and-turning side sleeper, I've struggled to dial in a sleep system that caters to my body's wild temperature swings throughout an entire thru-hike. Despite starting with my share...
The Next Step
Nearing graduation, I get asked daily: “What’s the next step?" To the surprise of most, I have quite a few steps planned, all of them one in front of the...
Days 39 and 40
Day 39 Pine Swamp Branch Shelter to Angels Rest Shelter in Pearisburg, Virginia Hiked today 19.7 total hiked 660 today's ascent 3450 feet It rained last night, so my tent...
The Trail Provides: Week Three
Week Three: Winding Stair Gap (Mile 109.6) to Derrick's Knob (Mile 190.1 ) Major Thought Themes How am I so hungry? I just ate. The flowers are blooming and beautiful....
Days 35 through 38
Day 35 from Daleville to Catawba Shelter Today's hike 18.8 miles total hiked 585 miles today's ascent 4430 The day started with a climb up Tinker Mountain just south of...
Running from the High Ground and 4(ish) Faces of Nature: Days 31-38 on the Appalachian Trail
Electricity bounced off the rocky knob 200 yards away to my left and a cannon shot reverberated through my chest. The rhododendrons were lit in a blinding violet light and...
Continental Divide Trail of Horrors?
Why the CDT ? I could not start a long trail this year until June so I chose to hike the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) southbound. Almost immediately after making...
It’s About Dam Time to Get to Gatlinburg
Days 8-18 The second week and a half took me from Hostel Around the Bend to Fontana Dam and then Gatlinburg, about 130 miles. Overall, I had my ups and...
Weeks 2-3: The Desert Trials
Weeks 2-3 on the PCT brought me from Julian to Big Bear Lake, challenging me with diverse desert terrains and rewarding me with profound personal growth. Alongside my fellow hikers,...