appalachian trail
Week 11 (June 10 – June 16) Spellbound by the Hiking Trails’ Beauty
“I felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery—air, mountains, trees, people. I thought, 'This is what it is to be happy.’” —Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar. June 10...
Training for Success
The 2,200+ mile hike is not a straight walk. To be ready for everything the trail can throw at a hiker, training for success is important. The 2,200 mile hike...
Gear To Start With and High Level Strategy
First A Shout Out My daughter has been “encouraging” me to get another blog written. Meg is most certainly my biggest fan. I try not to disappoint her. Since my...
Backpacking Safety for Solo Women: Understanding and Managing Risk in the Backcountry
When sharing news of an upcoming thru-hike, one of the most common questions I get — right up there with “Where do you poop?” and “Where do you shower?” —...
Why the Appalachian Trail? Why Now?
Why this? Why now? These two questions are always asked any time someone wants to talk about my upcoming thru hike on the Appalachian Trail. I feel the more appropriate...
AT 2024 Keep Pressing On ..Again
I don't tell my story in detail very often, but today I felt down deep someone needed to read this. 20 years ago I had to bury my daughter. (I...
Spending the Day in Big Cyprus Swamp
ECT Day 310 Day 310: 18 miles This morning we packed up fairly early at our campsite by the gate. We wanted to have as early a start as possible....
Week 6 (May 6 to May 12) Different Perspectives
“What you see and what you hear depends a great deal on where you are standing. It also depends on what sort of person you are.” C.S. Lewis, The Magician’s...
Meet Paw Patrol: Embarking on a Journey of Self-Discovery & Wilderness Exploration
Let me start by way of a very brief intro! I'm Kevin, a.k.a. "Paw Patrol," an experienced hiker, long in the tooth, who's still chasing the Appalachian Trail dream. Like...
Week 4 (April 22-28) Mud and Rocks
“As long as I live, I hear waterfalls and birds and winds sing. I’ll interpret the rocks, learn the language of flood, storm, and the avalanche. I’ll acquaint myself with...