thru hike
Depression, Surgeries, and Regeneration
Well hello there, Trek folk! I must say, it has been over a year since I last updated this blog. I feel guilty about letting it go to the wayside,...
What Hiking for a Cause Changes in your Preparations
Some free spirits embark on thru-hikes with very little preparation and somehow miraculously make it to the end in perfect health and happiness. For the rest of us, the months...
The Case for Being Frugal on Trail
Obviously, I’m not encouraging stealing—just taking advantage of free things when you find them. In a word—resourcefulness. Being resourceful will be your friend when saving for your thru-hike,
Maximal Miles in Minimal Footwear: My AT Thru-Hike in Barefoot Shoes
Over 2,190 miles of coiled roots, sharp rocks, loose gravel, thick mud, slick leaves, snow past my knees, sheets of ice, wobbly wooden boards, river fords, and seemingly never-ending climbs...
A Guide to Plus-Size Gear and Clothing for Backpacking
If you're anything like me (and the fact that you're reading this tells me you are), then you have had a hard time finding proper gear for backpacking and hiking. When...
A Banana, a Pickle, and a Hot Dog Walk into the Grayson Highlands…
The Virginia Blues were looming. We spent a night in Bland, VA, to avoid some 40-degree rain, and I wondered if the town's name was an omen of what was...
Post-Appalachian Trail Gear List: My Life in 36L
2,190.9 miles, six months, nine pounds, 36 liters, and now we're here. You guys know that I had a blast falling into the gear vortex and putting together my For...
Why I Am Doing a Flip-Flop Thru-Hike
What the heck is a flip-flop? No one who has learned that I’m thru-hiking the AT has been shocked; not in the least bit. In fact, most have wondered what...
To Katahdin… and Beyond! We Did It
On Sept. 16, 2018, we summited Mount Katahdin and concluded the most surreal, beautiful, and challenging experience of our lives. The last day felt like a dream. The five-mile stretch...
There’s More to New Jersey Than Jersey Shore
New Jersey (Aug. 27 - 30) 72 miles, four days Aside from a boat tour around the Statue of Liberty, never had I ever crossed into New Jersey. I'd seen...
