Yesterday i climbed out of woods hole with my parents to hike along a beautiful ridge and finally descended into pearisburg where i finished my hike! I am done!

Whoah! I am so close to the end! Im on my way to woods hole hostel to meet my parents and eat some good food. Stay tuned for the finale!

Ramen casserole: one package ramen, instant potatoes, dried veggies, nuts and/or sunflower seeds, and hot sauce. Delicious!

The sun is finally out and warming me up! Can you believe i only have 4 days left until my completion of this journey? Its unreal!

Delicious dinner at the barn in adkins VA before putting in a few more miles. The temps have gone up a bit...i do believe i wont freeze!

At 4 a.m. i awoke to the scurrying sound of a mouse. Upon further examination, i realized he was in my tent and we spent the next moments playing chase.

Hit the 500 mile mark today-its a great feeling! Despite the cold temperatures, i got an upclose visit with a wild pony. I think he thought i had food.

Next stop? The wild ponies of the grayson highlands! I love the beauty of virginia-and the switchbacks! Hoping the rain holds off till night!

Reached damascus today and crossed my last state line! Damascus is a friendly trail town with lots of good food and ice cream! A good rest for the legs!

What a day! Just a few miles left in TN to hike tomorrow. And today, we actually hiked through a herd of cows. Thats right...we climbed right into the pasture!

Its a little disconcerting getting water from a small spring when a salamander is staring straight at you! But when its the only water there is, you take it!

TN was full of surprises today. The 100 percent rain didnt happen all day...hurray! And we came upon the beautiful Laurel Falls...stunning!

Despite the rain, we are cruising on through tennessee. Virginia...we will be there soon and i hope you have a pint of ben and jerrys awaiting me!

As i was putting my crackers away after lunch, i saw a bug in the bag. I tried to catch it but it disappeared. I hope it doesnt end up on my tuna tomorrow!

Another cold and rainy day on the balds but in a way, it was beautiful! Now its time for the subway i packed out. Tomorrow i leave NC for good!

Climbed Roan Mtn in the clouds and rain today. But the morning started off great with a bear sighting! We startled him and he took off down the trail!

Good hike into Erwin Tennessee today where I am now camped at Uncle Johnnys hostel. Great dinner of Chinese and Mexican makes me feel ready to take on TN!

Sitting down at Little Creek Cafe to enjoy lunch and celebrate me reaching 315 miles...whoa, I'm halfway there! More hiking to follow the hot dog and BLT!

Todays highlight was big butt mtn. We really wondered why the name but soon hiked upon a large rock in the shape of...you guessed it!

Spent a great day yesterday at Elmers Sunnybank Inn in Hot Springs. Put in good miles today, but there were a lot of puds-pointless ups and downs!

Watched a beautiful sunrise from maxpatch this morning. When I see such majesty, I know that it only comes from the creative hand of God!

The sun was out in full force as we head north through North Carolina. Great views including a few 360 views from balds. Hope to catch the sunrise!

Leaving the smokies...had a few days of good views and a few days of clouds. Off to have dinner with my brother!

Yesterday we hiked the appalachian river-it rained all day! And this morning we woke up to a brutal cold air. But now the sun is shining and I am drying!

Mouse ran over my head last night then cold wind rain and fog today. I think we passed some great views but it all looked like gray to me!

Great hike through spence field and up thunderhead mtn today. Cloudy...hopefully it rains tonight and clears off for clingmans dome tomorrow!

First day in the smokies was great! A little slow going but beautiful. The air feels different in the park...almost like a dream. No bears yet but lots of scat!

Tomorrow we enter the Smokies where my AT dream started many years ago. Im so excited to be going back as a real long distance hiker!

Delicious breakfast at the NOC which was promptly burned off as our first 6 miles were straight uphill! Today may mark the most uphill ive hiked in a day. Sore!

3 balds were in line for today. We missed the first one and are eating lunch at the 2nd. Then its on our way to the third one...wesser bald!

We left town today well rested and ready for the smokies in a few days! I carried pizza out and just finished it off. Great views from siler bald!

Epic adventure into Franklin today. We hiked 7 miles before ten o'clock this morning and got a hitch first thing... In a semi! That was a first. We made it into McDonald's by ten thirty just in time to catch breakfast. After resupplying and getting motel room, we each got a large pizza to get us through the day. My feet are resting and I'm feeling ready to take on the next hundred miles! Oh yeah, I'm finally clean again too! Smokies here I come!

After a filling breakfast of oreos-i ran out of breakfast food-we are on our way to town for rest and resupply. And dare i say a hot cup of coffee?

Great day in North Carolina! Lots of miles and smiles. Then we hit Albert Mountain and my feet entered a complaint. But the views were well work the trek!

Georgia, you were a peach! But we crossed the line into North Carolina this morning. One state down! NC started off with some rough terrain and ominous clouds.

Eating a delicious sub from subway. In the grocery, people parted out of the way because i smell so bad. Its not my fault its 90 degrees out!

Another day of sun! No pack covers needed today. Passed unicoi gap hereby renamed unicorn gap...unicorns yet to be sighted. Trail legs are on their way back!

The perfect trail lunch: mix one pack of tuna with a packet of mayo and relish. Chop a cheese stick into it. Enjoy with crackers of you choice!

Sitting at the top of blood mtn. Heading in to neels gap for a hot shower as it has rained all day and we are very very wet. Soggy. And damp.

Also encountered our first trail magic...my parents surprised us near the top of springer mtn with fried fruit pies!

Getting my trail legs back but loving georgia. Poured on us last night but thankfully not while we were walking. Hoping for the sun to come out!

I think i'll take a walk today. Where am i going? North! First order of business? Breakfast.

On my way to Georgia where the souhthern end of the trail starts on Springer Mtn. My excitement kept me awake most of the night!

4 days to go!

I'm getting close to the start of the end! 2 days of work, 1 day of packing, 1 day of travel then endless days of hiking! I came across this picture from my hike last year; it was taken mid-May at the Appalachian Trial Conservancy in Harper's Ferry, WV. Hurray for new adventures!!!

In preparation for the rest of my hike this summer, I found inspiration in a few childhood memories! These pictures were from a trip to the Smoky Mtns when I was either four or five. I would say with some confidence that this was one of my first exposures to hiking and the great outdoors!

 

May 2012

It's been a while since I've thought about this blog, but with my foot completely mended (I even ran a half marathon in April), I am ready to finish the A.T. I've got 630 miles left, from Pearisburg VA to Springer Mtn, Georgia. The plan is for Rock Monkey and I to hike together, starting at Springer at the beginning of September and hiking north. I plan to finish in 6 weeks, while Rock Monkey will continue on to Harpers Ferry, WV, to finish her complete A.T. hike. I am so excited and have started preparations for the big hike!