appalachian trail thru hike
From Neuroses and Anxiety to Routine and Monotony
I’ve been noticing some internal shifts. They happened slowly, then all at once. I love that quote, or misquote, from The Sun Also Rises. “Gradually, then suddenly,” is the actual...
If I Could Plan Again
A change in planning strategy for the Appalachian Trail
Why Are We Doing This? Why Am I Doing This?
I was almost at the top of a ridge. I picked my way over rocks. The scent of honeysuckle and wildflowers surrounded me, filled my nostrils. Buzz of bees and...
The AT Breeds Greatness
“It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great.” from A League of Their Own, Tom Hanks This resonates with...
So Far, My Favorite Places to Hang Up My Boots.
Take those boots off, baby. Because I came into this adventure sans YouTube, it has been a truly organic experience for me. The lion’s share of thruhikers I’ve met “followed”...
Serendipity: Evolution of a Trail Name
I first heard the special language of the Appalachian Trail in the White Mountains. It was the early 2000s. A dear friend and I were hiking the Presidential range and...
I Recommend Camping on the Side of a Hill for at Least One Night
I reached Cosby Knob shelter at about 6pm. One of my first 20+ mile days. I started the day at Icewater Spring shelter. The tenting area at Cosby Knob is...
And Then, Terror
“I think I have to come home with you back to NY. I don’t think I can do this alone.” My section hiker friends, Janet, Brian, and Peter, were going...
Finding My Rhythm, Aligning with the Rhythms of Nature
Rain and grey dominated the drive from NY to GA. Moments of blue and light peeked through, then rain again. During my shift at the wheel I fine tuned the...
Reframe, Trail Fame, and Rename going GA-ME
Reframe Working with youth for the majority of my life, I have always been good at seeing a strength where others may see a challenge. The bossy kid was a...