#flipflopthruhike
These Boots Were Made For Walking
One piece of gear that matters the most to me are my FEET! I have lost toenails and endured my share of nasty blisters. In my running days, I once...
Pennsylvania…
The Good Contrary to popular belief, Pennsylvania (PA) is not all bad. There's much to be celebrated in this state, and much to be missed. A Smugness on a fun...
Preparing for My Journey on the Appalachian Trail: Part I
Soon to be thru-hiker Steph Dawson introduces herself and discusses her upcoming hike, gear tests, and lightening up her pack load.
A Different Kind of Gear List (My Dog’s)
A question I receive quit a bit and have tried to answer over time via Instagram is, “What’s in Winnie’s pack?” I always answer this question tongue in cheek because...
To Shakedown or Not to Shakedown?
That is the question. After a few thousand miles and numerous end-to-end thru hikes, you’d think the words “shakedown” wouldn’t be something I would use to describe an extended backpacking...
19 Days of Intermission Featuring Florence
On the list of displaced people from Florence, it is unlikely that Appalachian Trail thru-hiker might pop up. Yet, we are here. The trail, our home, is closed. We are...
A day on the Appalachian Trail
The best mornings are when I wake up in my tent after a night without my rain fly. I can see birds fly in the canopied trees above my sleeping...
Between Two Worlds: A Week off the AT
Sitting in the Atlanta airport waiting to board a flight bound for Portland, ME, a wave of calm covers my usual preflight jitters. I've been off the trail for five...
Hiker Stink, and My Almost Trail Name
I rang in one month of hiking with a day at the beach. Specifically, Coney Island. It’s just 56 miles from the trail, as the crow flies, according to my...
The First 100 Miles: Hiking My Own Hike
I have walked 138 miles. That's six percent of the Appalachian Trail if you're doing the math. It's just fine if you're not. I'm trying not to. When I started...