11-mile hike from High Point Park headquarters to Unionville, NY today! I was aiming for the “Secret Shelter,” but the swamp was flooded and I couldn’t get to it. I hiked by road into the Village of Unionville, NY where I set up my tent in the park across from an ice-cream shop and a pizzeria! It poured while setting up my tent, and mire to come tonight. Gotta love all the red efts along the trail, huh! #atsectionhiker #atnewjersey
Barely made it out before a downpour • • #atsectionhiker #nyat #newyorkappalachaintrail #atsectionhiker #appalachiantrail #at
May 5, 2024 - section hiking the Appalachian Trail near Peters Mountain #whiteblazer #appalachiantrail #sectionhike #at2024 #getoutside #hikertrash #explore #hikeon #ATsectionhiker #blogger #hikepennsylvania #petersmountain #rocksylvania
May 4, 2024 - section hiking the Appalachian Trail and crossing the Susquehanna River #whiteblazer #appalachiantrail #sectionhike #at2024 #getoutside #hikertrash #explore #hikeon #ATsectionhiker #blogger #hikepennsylvania #duncannon #susquehannariver #rocksylvania
💙 We have so many orders for custom bucket hats this year, and we are so grateful and excited! For every custom bucket hat, however, we like to let Viewfinder create another to make available to the public. This beautiful Trail Hat with bright earthy colors and a patch of the iconic wooden Welcome sign in Damascus, is dedicated to the town of Damascus, which is home of the Appalachian Trail Days Festival, and the second official Trail Town! 🌲Everyone who Hikes the Appalachian Trail will walk through Damascus, and these days it is tradition to have one's photo taken under the sign, which was built by the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 23, in the early 2000s. ⛰️ On the sides of this one-of-a-kind hat, are the outlines of the southern Appalachians, as drawn by SlowFoot. On the back, the white stitching of the mountains intertwines with a white AT symbol. So cool!! 🧡 This gorgeous Damascus bucket hat also has an inside pocket to carry small flat items, like paper money, cards, ID, or any other essential items! Some of our followers like to call it their 420 pocket! 😉 ⛰️ This baby is unique! There is no other hat like it in the world!! Make it yours before someone else does!! It will only be available to our Instagram followers for a few days, then if it is still available we will post it on Etsy. 💜🌲DM us if you are interested!! . . Have a wonderful weekend! SlowFoot & Viewfinder 💙⛰️💜✌️👍🧡✨️🌲💕🌼🥾💚 . . . #handmadeinmaine #buckethatsofinstagram #buckethat #buckethats #madeinmaine #hikersofinstagram #hikergear #hikertrash #hikertrashforlife #atsobo2024 #atsobo #atnobo2024 #atnobo #appalachianmountains #appalachiantrail #thruhikerowned #thruhikerownedcompany #thruhike #thruhiker #damascustraildays #traildays #traildays2024 #atsectionhiker #appalachiantrailthruhiker #appalachiantrailthruhike2024 #nationalscenictrail #buckethatsareback #whiteblaze #trailangels #damascus
Hiked out of Culver’s Gap, NJ this morning up a steep ascent to Culver’s fire tower, then had lunch at Sunshine Mt’s beautiful pavilion with 360 views, ending the 8.6-mile day early at Mashipacong Shelter. These 3 sturdy structures were all built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) during the Depression, as are so many in our national parks. I set up camp close to the privy 😆with the prettiest pink painted interior and fragrance of sawdust. For dinner, I rehydrated food I dehydrated last winter!—Amy’s chili & a veggie mixture of zucchini, corn, peppers and tomatoes. It was delicious! #atflipflophiker #atsectionhiker
Vacation hike for a girl, no dog. SoBo from Front Royal to get 56 miles done through the Shennies! Gorgeous views and lots of wildlife enjoying the sunshine! #shenandoahnationalpark #appalachiantrail #atsectionhiker
May hiking with this guy in Rocky Mountain National Park… and now my hiking partner has left to hike another section of the AT with his college roommates. One day I will join him on the AT because 2,190 miles is a lot of miles to hike. 🥾 . . . . #hikelife #rockymountainnationalpark #coloradoliving #outsideliving #atsectionhiker #hikingpartner
You never know what you’ll find on a moody day in the Appalachian mountains.
Just hit 20% of trail finished, 440+ miles down! • • #atsectionhiker #nyat #newyorkappalachaintrail #atsectionhiker #appalachiantrail #at
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Next Live Interview from Appalachian Trail Days was Alpha Gal @alphagalhikes ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Tune in to find out all about his unique way of completing his section hike and thru hike of the AT! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #appalachiantrailclassof2024 #appalachiantrailclassof2025 #atsectionhiker #atthruhiker
We’re shifting from mountain mode to beach mode for the @surfartexpovb this weekend 🌊 but first, a shot of one remaining original painting and a few more memories and favorite humans from Trail Days 🥰 @appalachiantraildaysfestival Here’s the thing. We realized what we love about spending the weekend in a massive community of hikers and it’s this- the masks are removed. There’s no makeup or fancy clothes or cell service. No pretention. No competition. All ages, all bodies, all hiking speeds. No judgement whether you #thruhike , section hike, or day hike. 🌲 Just a real love of nature, 🌲 A willingness to self-reflect, 🌲 A very strong pull to go against the norm 🌲 And a mutual respect and appreciation for people who feel the same way. 🧡 We loved these folks with our entire hearts and souls. These were our people, and it was awesome 😁 Not pictured- Kat @appheritagedistillery - we’re hanging out next year!! 🥃 💕 #traildays #atthruhiker #atsectionhiker #appalachiantrail #appalachianmountains #blueridgemountainsva #visitdamascus #adventuredamascus
I still have so many pictures and so many memories I haven’t shared from my last trip. I’ve been home for about two weeks and I figured by now I would already have another section on deck. Unfortunately my knee(s) seem to have other ideas. The easy hikes I did with the kids last weekend hurt way more than they should have, and continue to hurt. One of my favorite places to live is (de)nial (cue humor as a coping mechanism)….so I just thought they’d get better. But it’s clear that pushing my body past the limits has consequences, and those consequences probably involve PT and an orthopedic visit. So now I just scroll through my pictures, dreaming of the day (hopefully soon) that my body is strong enough to carry me on the adventures that my heart longs for. #appalachiantrail #naturephotography #atsectionhiker #womenwhobackpack #womenwhohike #explore #backpacking #backpackinglife
Post-trail depression is real. Take me back ❤️🔥 #ATsectionhiker #backpacking #appalachiantrail #wildalabama #georgia #getoutside #staywild #ratherbeonthetrails #meanttowander #adventure #grateful #letsgoexplore #wildwomendoitbetter
Last day of this rainy 2024 section hike from Harpers Ferry to Duncannon #appalachiantrail #greentunnel #whiteblaze #at2024 #backpacking #atsectionhiker
Day 10 on the Appalachian Trail involved a couple of delicious stops at the big Meadows Wayside for breakfast and the Skyland dining room for lunch! Who knew you could eat so good while hiking the AT?! but it was another long day in wet conditions. about 28 miles of hiking #appalachiantrail #solviturambulando #hikingasprayer #ATSectionHiker
Trail Days down in Damascus is brewing! We have another way to show your AT (Appalachian Trail) Pride! Check out our first Official Bucket Hat of the season! This we are calling the Trail Days Bucket Hat! It's sweet alright! With a Appalachian Trail National Scenic Trail patch on the front and a white blaze with blue stitched border on the back! This gorgeous one-of-a-kind bucket hat is adjustable and has a secret pocket on the inside to stash your stash! 😉 This colorful, lightweight, handcrafted is like no other...literally! Wear this hat on your head and you will stand out of the crowd! What a taking piece this will be!! Made with only the best materials and stitching, this unique piece was inspired by nature and the AT. We spray it with stain repellent and bug repellent ( permethrin ) and we will even stitch your Trail name on the inside ! It even has reflective paracord to aid in safety on road walks! 🩵⛰️💚🌟 This beauty is available for a special price until Monday at which time we will list it on our Etsy shop! DM us if you are interested! And PLEASE share this post with your family or anyone else who you think might love it!! 💜☀️🌄✌️ Than you so much for all your love and support!! Have fun at Trail Days if you are attending!! Happy Trails! 🌠💚🏕👋💜👍 SlowFoot & Viewfinder . . #handmadeinmaine #buckethatsofinstagram #buckethat #buckethats #madeinmaine #hikersofinstagram #hikergear #hikertrash #hikertrashforlife #atsobo2024 #atsobo #atnobo2024 #atnobo #appalachianmountains #appalachiantrail #thruhikerowned #thruhikerownedcompany #thruhike #thruhiker #damascustraildays #traildays #traildays2024 #atsectionhiker #appalachiantrailthruhiker #appalachiantrailthruhike2024 #nationalscenictrail #buckethatsareback #whiteblaze #trailangels #damascus
Updates to my website "Quiet Man Hikes from the Chesapeake Bay to the Appalachian Mountains" (link in bio): The most detailed addition is my latest blog post, “Hiking Philosophy and Goal Setting". The article highlights how to use SMART goals for hiking. Various pages of the website are also beginning to fill out. I have added two links to the Day Hiking page covering my go-to local trails for conditioning hikes. The @hikeaclt trails in Calvert County, MD are my absolute favorite, especially since they are close to the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. The @jugbayws in Anne Arundel County, MD is so close to home that I can easily hike there frequently. The Hiking Library is showcasing my favorite sites for expert advice on hiking trailcraft, backpacking campcraft, gear, and how to plan your next hike or backpacking adventure. The first additions are @thetrek.co for all things long distance hiking and @rei Expert Advice for an extensive list of outdoor how-to articles. And, please, check out my latest post to my hiking journal on The Trek, "Evolution of a Section Hiker" (link in bio). . #hikinglife #hikingculture #hikingvibes #hikingadventures #hikingmakesmehappy #takeahike #trails #onthetrail #findyourtrail #hikingtrails #backpacking #backpackingculture #hikingtherapy #hikingismytherapy #foresttherapy #forestbathing #shinrinyoku #appalachiantrail #whiteblaze #sectionhike #sectionhiking #sectionhiker #sectionhikers #atsectionhike #atsectionhiking #atsectionhiker #atsectionhikers #chesapeakebay #osprey
Fields and farms on the #appalachiantrail #at2024 #greentunnel #atsectionhiker #backpacking #whiteblaze #hikepa #pennsylvania
Day 8 on the Appalachian Trail involved about 21 miles of hiking from Rockfish Gap to Blackrock Hut. The weather was beautiful coming into Shenandoah National Park. Had about a 12 mile section with no water sources… Need to manage the water better! just over 150 miles complete in eight days of hiking. #appalachiantrail #ATSectionHiker #PrayWithYourFeet #solviturambulando #hikingasprayer
It was fun to reconnect with section hiker Beer Tent Bob yesterday when he stayed at Blackburn. Bob is from Chicago and is hiking north from Daleville, Virginia to Connecticut. Last year he hiked from Springer to Daleville. I met Bob last year when he was in the Smokies and I was the ridgerunner there. #appalachiantrailclassof2024 #appalachiantrail #at2024 #atcspotlight #blackburntrailcenter #potomacappalachiantrailclub #sectionhiker #atsectionhiker
Day 7 on the #AppalachianTrail started at the Maupin Field Shelter and ended at #RockfishGap with some beautiful views off of Humpback Mountain. Here’s a sneak peak of my typical lunch on trail. Towards the end of the day, we stumbled upon the perfect mountain stream which called for a little extra R&R. decided to celebrate Day 7 with a hotel stay before launching out I to the Shenandoahs tomorrow. 21 miles hiked today! #appalachiantrail #praywithyourfeet #ATSectionHiker #SolviturAmbulando
Day 6 on the Appalachian Trail is in the bag, so to speak. Probably the toughest day of hiking so far as we hiked about 21 miles over Three Ridges Mountain to the Maupin Field Shelter. Next stop… Rockfish Gap and the Shenandoah section #AppalachianTrail #PrayWithYourFeet #solviturambulando #ATSectionHiker
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ It’s been a crazy week but I pushed through and I am STRONGER FOR IT! Growth Is Not Easy! It NEVER Is! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Guest Audio: @jamesappleton46 @seektodomore @hike_woof_wiggle_repeat #seektodomore #atsectionhiker #shenandoah
Tumbling Run Shelter #appalachiantrail #at2024 #atsectionhiker #hikepa #greentunnel #whiteblaze #backpacking #hike #atshelter
On Day 5 of the Appalachian Trail section hike, we took it a little easy and did a 14 mile day landing at the Seely-Woodworth shelter. had a bit of rain halfway through the day got very chilly tonight, but stayed cozy in the tent. bumped into two of my favorite YouTube through hikers Bluegrass and Bandit #AppalachianTrail #ATSectionHiker #PrayWithYourFeet #solviturambulando
What your text messages look like when you are trying to plan shuttle pick ups along the AT. Saved contacts with Trail Names of Shuttle Drivers. If you ever need any in NC let me know. I have a couple good contacts Solace (c/o 2004, 2009, 2011), Bobby the Greek (can’t remember his class right now) and Bandit (c/o 2022). #longasssectionhiker #girlswhohike #atsectionhiker
NC part 1 Sweat, smiles, storms, and a cheap motel. Special thanks to Sherpa Josh for the pick up from Mooney Gap when Nana, Butterfly and I were drenched (and probably too cold) coming off Standing Indian
Day one our trail angel Dana (my cousin) (will talk more about what an ACTUAL ANGEL she is in a later post) …… …..She drove us from ATL to the trail head at Amicalola Falls to start our wilderness adventure. As soon as we got our packs on, a very necessary clip popped off of mine - a clip we could not hike without- We spent 45 minutes trying to reattach it. Mom tried to help with her knife, cut her finger, bled as if it was a major injury (newsflash: it wasn’t-she’s ok). After MUCH anxiety, we got the clip re-attached and got underway! 5 seconds on trail and the bear warning signs were already in our face! lol talk about starting off a little on edge! @young.at.hart2023 #mothersdayadventure #mothersday2024 #mothersdayhike #momanddaughter #type2fun #atsectionhiker #letsdothis #motherdaughterduo #backpackingadventures
View from Birch Run Shelter #appalachiantrail #atsectionhiker #at2024 #backpacking #hikepennsylvania #whiteblaze #hikingadventures
Day 3 on the AT—the first 9 miles was a long climb up Apple Orchard Mountain. Then we hike under the guillotine, an iconic rock formation. The 25-mile day of backpacking ended up at the James River Foot Bridge, longest one on the #appalachiantrail and then a surprise hostel stay @stanimals328 bonus!! #solviturambulando #atsectionhiker
Well, we have reached the end of our hike. After more than 50 episodes and almost 200,000 downloads, it is with bittersweet feelings that we share the final episode of The Green Tunnel podcast today. We are so thankful for all our listeners, for everyone who agreed to be interviewed for our show, and everyone behind the scenes who worked on everything from production, to research, audio editing, promotion, and more. Thanks also to the support of the @appalachiantrail and @apptrailmuseum for opening up their archives to us. This show would not have been possible without each of you. Today, instead of looking back much more on the history of the #AppalachianTrail, we’re looking forward. What will the AT’s future look like? How will the trail evolve? What will the greatest challenges be for the trail we all love? Happy listening - for the last time - and happy trails. 🥾💔
Met this guy on a trail #boxtortoise #appalachiantrail #atsectionhiker #appalachiantrail2024 #greentunnel #hikemaryland #whiteblaze
That’s the trail #appalachiantrail2024 #atsectionhiker #backpacking #hiking #greentunnel #boulders #hikemaryland
🌿 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹, 𝗡𝗖 • 𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟵 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲’𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞 included a significant amount of suck, served with an extra-large portion of rain at a chilly 50-something degrees, with a side of misery, followed by a nonstop climb to a wet rocky ledge where a skunk was lying in wait in the middle of the trail. Let me start at the beginning… At 2:30am, I awoke from a sound sleep to someone shining a flashlight into the tent. I squinted my bleary eyes against the bright intrusion into my much needed sleep when a clap of thunder jolted me wide awake. “Ah, no need to worry,” I thought. “It’s just a thunderstorm passing over our tent, not a deranged killer. We’re perfectly safe.” A few hours later, we stuffed our sopping wet and thoroughly muddy tent, fly and footprint into our backpacks. Once on the trail, the rain began in earnest, UNLIKE some of the previous days, when the rain began softly before reaching its crescendo. 🤦♀️ “It’ll probably pass just as quickly as it started.” I thought. “No need to zip up my rain jacket or put on my rain skirt.” Only it didn’t stop. It just rained harder. So I revved it into high gear. With the rain coming down in sheets, I pulled my brimmed hat low on my brow and my eyes focused on the trail beneath my feet to avoid tripping on a wet root or rock. I could see no farther than the 6 feet of trail directly in front of me. I was moving at the speed of light when I noticed movement in front of me. I raised my head and screeched to a stop in time to see an animal amble into the dense undergrowth on my right. I could see the brush moving, but couldn’t quite make out the animal. Within seconds, the four legged creature reached a clearing about five feet from me, turned its beady little eyes in my direction and raised its black and white striped tail. “SKUUNK!” 🦨 I yelled as a warning to Tom. Then I took off like… well, like someone about to be sprayed by a skunk! This was one wildlife sighting I never expected to see! I’m writing this at Fontana Dam Shelter. We’re hiding from the rain for a bit. In less than an hour, we will reach our end point. Stay tuned for the finish!
Is there any greater luxury than eating chips and queso in bed and not having to worry about getting attacked by a bear? Asking for a friend….🤣? #womenwhohike #atsectionhiker #dreamingofmynextadventure #backpacking #backpacker #outdoorsaddict
Georgia was incredible #at #appalachiantrail #atsectionhiker #georgia
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Jester’s Return (Week 4) ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Summer Hiking Training Continues! Appalachian Trail I’m coming for ya! Updates on diet, workouts, struggles for the week, and the WINS 💪. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🎙️Available now wherever you listen to podcasts! Just search for “Jester” Section Hiker or Julie Gayheart on YouTube! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Additional 🎙️audio by: @jamesappleton46 @hike_woof_wiggle_repeat ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #seektodomore #appalachiantrail #sectionhiker #atsectionhiker
🍃 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹, NC• 𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟳 “ Did you guys see the rattlesnake a few miles back?” a thru hiker by the name of E.T asked us as he passed by. Now THAT isn’t a question that we’re commonly asked in our everyday lives. Unfortunately, we had not seen the rattlesnake, but we would have loved to! (Yes, we’re a bit odd. That’s probably one of the reasons that we’re out here in the first place. 😂) Today was rough. Tom and I barely spoke to one another. No, not because we were angry with each other. Rather, because it’s impossible to carry on a conversation when you’re climbing upwards for the better part of 8 miles after adding four days worth of food to your backpack. And throw in 80 degree temps, bright sunshine, no clouds, minimal shade, and it becomes a day when there is only enough energy to concentrate on forcing your feet to carry your body endlessly upward. We’re currently settled into our tent under a canopy of trees at Locust Cove Gap. There aren’t any other tents here, so we’re looking forward to a very peaceful night! 🐍 Oh, and we’re still hoping we get to see a rattlesnake before the end of our hike! 📍 Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) to Locust Cove Gap tent-site Miles hiked: 10.7 Total miles: 79.1
McAfee Knob on the hottest day of the year. Lucky enough to have clear blue skies. #appalachiantrail #hikerlife #hike #optoutside #hikertrash #virginiaisforhikers #backpacking #mountains #exploremore #takeahike #appalachiantrail2024 #atsectionhiker #getoutside #hikeva
🌿 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹, NC• 𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟲 “What on earth is that white orb in the sky this morning?!” We awoke to sunshine for the first time in 5 days! After packing up our gear, scarfing down some granola, and a quick stop at the doorless privy, we had boots on the ground by 7:30am. A mile into our hike, we came upon a sign that read ‘Rocky Bald,’ and without missing a beat, I veered right and started up the aptly named rocky path with Tom hot on my heels. When we reached to top, we were in awe. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀! Suspended between the shining sun above us and the deep valley below us was an ocean of billowing white clouds. As far as we could see, mountain peaks rose up from an undulating sea of white. It was as if the mountaintops were floating on a frothy foam of whitewater. We lingered atop the bald for an hour, unable to pull ourselves away from the magic. The rest of the day brought terrain similar to what we find in New Hampshire. A few ‘interesting’ rock scramble descents and steep sloping slabs. Our plan for the night was to camp just before Nantahala Outdoor Center- the trail passes right through the property- then pick up our resupply box at the general store in the morning. But the thought of a hot shower and a decent meal after not having either for six days was too tempting to resist. So we called and made a last minute reservation for the night in one of their very sparse bunk rooms. Bunk bed,and 4” memory foam mattress. NOTHING else. And no towel for the shower. 😂 But the pizza and salad with goat cheese was extraordinary! 📸 in no particular order- Undercast at Rocky Bald, view from Wesser Bald tower, NOC, DINNER!, typical privy 📍Cold Spring Campsite to Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) Miles hiked: 11.4 Total miles: 68.4 𝐒𝐞𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬, 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬!✌️💚⛰️ ~ 𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒆 and 𝑮𝒍𝒐𝒓𝒚
River Place hike with Cathy this morning. Cloud cover kept it coolish. Cathy, veteran Girl Scout, hiked with a 13-lb pack & trekking poles, also filtered water from a stream—she’s ready for the Appalachian Trail🥾🌳😀 #atsectionhike #atsectionhiker #atnewjersey
They say it’s one of the nicest AT shelters. Couldn’t agree more! Greeted by the “Innkeeper” Jim, a lovely man who takes care of this along with two others. So clean and inviting. I actually decided not to tent and slept in the shelter!! #appalachiantrail #quarrygapshelter #appalachiantrailpa #patc #atsectionhiker @appalachiantrail @clubpatc #appalachiantrailsectionhiker #michauxstateforest @padcnr #weekendwarriors #ilovehiking #hikerbabesorg100 #hikerbabes @hikerbabespa @hiker_babes #outdoorslife
I’ve spent a lot of time in my life thinking about the things I “couldn’t” physically do. Or, the things people thought I couldn’t do because of my size. I “couldn’t” hike 10 miles with a 40+ lb pack until I decided it was vital to my safety. I “couldn’t” hike 15, until I decided to hike almost 17 because I didn’t want to risk staying at a shelter alone….and then realized I also did a 4k ascent and descent that day. I “couldn’t” hike 19 miles, until I decided I wanted to stay with the group I felt safe with my most of the duration of this hike. The difference was “I couldn’t” became “I decided”. And then I did. And I’m grateful to all the people that helped me find that. I won’t say “I’m just a section hiker” any more. #appalachiantrail #atsectionhiker #solofemaletraveler #idecided #damascusorbust #womenwhohike
If it’s May I can’t be reached. Try another time. #backpacking #atsectionhike #atsectionhiker #ulacircut #hiking #appalachiantrail2024 #womenwhohike #mybackpack
Four-ish more miles! #appalachiantrail #solobackpacker #atsectionhiker #damascusorbust
🌱 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹• 𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟯 𝑺𝑼𝑵𝑺𝑯𝑰𝑵𝑬, 𝑽𝑰𝑬𝑾𝑺 𝑨𝑵𝑫 𝑾𝑶𝑵𝑫𝑬𝑹𝑭𝑼𝑳 𝑷𝑬𝑶𝑷𝑳𝑬! We met a couple on the trail today who looked to be in their 70s. Their tent was set up on the side of the trail. They started their hike two weeks ago at the southern terminus in Georgia and plan to hike as far as they can within one month’s time. Collectively, they are “The Virginia Creepers.” They are hiking towards home. They don’t look like your typical long distance backpackers. More old school rather than ultralight, if their backpack and gear was any indication. They were the kind of people you’d want to sit a spell and learn more about. ‘Salt of the earth’ folks, I’d be willing to wager. They mentioned that they were low on food and weren’t sure if they had enough to make it to the next town for a resupply. Tom and I chatted with them for a few minutes, then continued on. Five minutes later, Tom mentioned what I had been thinking. “Is there any possibility that we can spare some of our food? I know we packed light this time, but do you think we’ll run out before our resupply?” We stopped and rummaged through our food bags, doing mental calculations to see how much we really needed to make it to our next resupply point. We decided that we could manage without a package of beef sticks and oatmeal, and I stayed with our packs while Tom ran back to give them the food. Needless to say, they were beyond grateful. Later in the day, we were blessed with sunny skies and extraordinary views on the summit of 5,200 foot Albert Mountain. But what I’ll remember the most on our third day in North Carolina is NOT the amazing views, but the amazing couple we were privileged to meet on our journey. 📍Carter Gap Tentsite to primitive tentsite Miles hiked: 13.4 miles Total miles: 37.9 (The leaf and pipe pics are examples of where we get water) 𝐒𝐞𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬, 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬!✌️💚⛰️ ~ 𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒆 and 𝑮𝒍𝒐𝒓𝒚
A year ago today I started my first successful section hike. It was was filled with endless challenges, but I learned that I was even tougher and more determined than I knew. This trip has been filled with different challenges….I’m no longer an inexperienced hiker scared to sleep in the woods and nervous about hiking alone. Every day I accomplish things I didn’t think I could accomplish year ago. Today I “aqua blazed” (which means you travel by water) for over 9 miles in a kayak. It was so much harder than I expected. But I made it. Then I hiked 3.13 miles in an hour to camp for the night. Tomorrow I hope to break another PR…but we will see! My knee has been giving me endless troubles…but hopefully I’ll overcome. I share all this today that you are capable of doing so much more than you’ll ever know unless you’re willing to push yourself out of your comfort zone and into some pain. #appalachiantrail #appalachiantrials #solobackpacker #solofemaletraveler #atsectionhiker #lessonsfromthetrail #adventure
🍃 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹• 𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟮 𝑹𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒏… When there’s no rain in the forecast for days but you hear rain falling on your tent throughout the night. 🤦♀️ Alas, the forecast doesn’t take into account that you’ll be spending the night high above the valley between 4,500 and 4,600 feet above sea level. So essentially, you are sleeping and hiking IN the clouds. Now I was never very good at science, but apparently, clouds contain vapor, which is wet. And that vapor contains water droplets, which dripped not only on our tent throughout the night, but also on our bodies and backpacks for the better half of Saturday. It was a rain jacket and glove kind of day— raw, wet and cold. We met another section hiker this morning who warned us of an upcoming section of trail where there was was heavy bear activity for 16 miles, specifically at Standing Indian Shelter. We checked our Far Out app, and sure enough, we read accounts from numerous backpackers who had lost all their food from bears who climbed the trees to get to their food bags, even those who used the PCT hang method. Numerous signs on trees along the trail confirmed the information. 👉 So in an attempt to get as far as we could through the heavy bear area, we picked up our pace today, and made it over 13 miles to the tentsite in just under eight hours. Now if you’re proficient in math, you realize that 13 miles is 3 miles shy of where the bears AREN’T. And unfortunately, there is not a single decent tree in this area for a proper bear hang. We have no choice but to keep our food bags in our tent by our feet tonight. Fingers crossed that the ‘scent proof’ Opsack Ziplock bags really ARE! 📍Primitive tentsite to Carter Gap Tentsite Miles hiked: North Carolina: 13.3 Total miles: 24.5 ❗️Service is extremely limited out here, so my posts may come randomly. Stay tuned! Thanks for following along on our journey! Please know that we appreciate all of the comments, even if I’m unable to respond. 🫶 𝐒𝐞𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬, 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬!✌️💚⛰️ ~ 𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒆 and 𝑮𝒍𝒐𝒓𝒚
I recently completed another Appalachian Trail section hike with friends from #chestercountytrailclub This trip included the iconic McAfee Knob in Virginia. YouTube video to follow with more iconic views. #mcafeeknob #appalachiantrail #atsectionhiker #backpacking #virginiaat #hikevirginia #epicviews #getoutside #hikemoreworryless #hikeyourownhike #hikingbuddies #sectionhiker #tramily
File this under craziest things I’ve seen on the Appalachian Trail so far. Has anybody lost a peacock in the area? #Appalachian Trail #laurelForkFalls #HamptonTennessee #LostPeacock #SoloBackpacker #ATSectionHiker #adventure #womenwhohike
When I got in my bunk tonight, I happened to see this painted on the wall. My struggles this week have showed me my strength. I’ve hiked 60 miles in 5 days. One day I hiked over 16, and today I hiked 14.9. A year ago I would have told you my body couldn’t do that. I’m pretty damn proud of this body. #blackbearresort #appalachiantrail #solobackpacker #solofemaletraveler #atsectionhiker #damascusorbust #heatherhikes #womenwhohike #womenwhohiketheat
I may not be able to see where I am going, but I can see where I’ve been….2 days ago I was walking across that bald…dreading the descent. But I made it. 2 miles into my 14 mile hike today, I busted my ass (literally and figuratively) on slick rocks at the aptly named hard-core cascades. I soaked my shoes so my lunch spot was decided for me. #appalachiantrail #solobackpacker #atsectionhiker #womenwhohike #womenwhoexplore #appalachiantrail2024 #adventure #mountainsarecalling
Day 7. Down at the Nantahala Outdoor Center(NOC). All finished with this year’s section hike. Next year Ruby wants to join me for a smaller section and I’m looking forward to that. Now I get to shower have real food and a beer. Shannon will be here in the morning to take me back to reality. I am ready! So grateful I was able to do this with no injuries this year, only taking home sore legs! #appalachiantrail #2024atsectionhike #atsection #backpacker #athiker2024 #hiker #hikertrash #gratefulfortoday #atsectionhiker #whiteblaze #livingthedream #atsectionhike2024 #optoutside
🍃 In 24 hours, Tom and I become 𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒆 and 𝑮𝒍𝒐𝒓𝒚. Our trail names. The names that we were given on our first section hike on the Appalachian Trail in 2019. So what is a trail name and why do we take on a new identity when we step onto the A.T.? It all started on the Appalachian Trail in the 1940’s, when the sheer volume of hikers made it easier to know who was who by having nicknames. ‘John’, ‘Mary’ and ‘Zach’ are common names which could refer to a number of people, but ‘Bear Whisperer’, ‘Wrong Way’, and ‘Watermelon Man’ likely identify one specific person. This long standing tradition may have begun as a way for thru-hikers to identify and track each other, but has since become a right of passage as well as a unique form of self-expression. A trail name says something about a hiker’s personality, physical traits, habits or history that their given name never could. So for the next ten days, Tom and I will be known as ‘Granite’ and ‘Glory’. Tom is 𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒆 for his insatiable love of New Hampshire (the Granite State) and his propensity to share that love with everyone he meets.😁 And I am 𝑮𝒍𝒐𝒓𝒚, because I give glory to my Creator… For every hike. For every mountain. For bodies that carry us these many miles. For EVERY DAY that we get to spend in this beautiful wilderness. Thanks for following along as we attempt to complete our SIXTH state on the Appalachian Trail! 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐚… we’re coming for you! 𝐒𝐞𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬, 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬!✌️💚⛰️ ~ 𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒆 and 𝑮𝒍𝒐𝒓𝒚. ❓Do you have a trail name? 📸 All pics taken on our completed AT section hikes of CT, MA, VT, NH and GA
Not every day on the trail is a beautiful, magic-filled paradise. Some days are hard. And you cry. And you think about quitting. Today was one of those days. Today I met a hiker named Slow Poke. I expressed this frustration to her after getting a text from a neighbor about Cannon wrecking his bike into their mailbox (he rang their doorbell to tell them and I assume they didn’t answer at that time…but they sent me a ring camera picture)…This was just the straw in a long and draining day. Slow Poke reached into her bag and told me she only had 2 of these left but felt I needed one. I instantly started crying and hugged her. Moments like these are part of the magic of the Trail, and why I DON’T quit. How often do you share your struggles and sadness with a stranger? Then receive exactly the support you need. I don’t even share these things with many of my close friends. But this poem describes my walk. My voice is the voice that keeps me company as I stride deeper and deeper into the woods. I started hiking to save my life from the anger and bitterness that took root over a situation that I had no control over and no ownership in. The only life I can save is my own…I decided to start living the life I imagined. This is a gift, along with all the memories of how I overcome, that I will treasure forever. #appalachiantrail #atsectionhiker #womenwhohike #womenwhoexplore #solobackpacker #appalachiantrail2024 #trailmagic #dontquit #maryoliver
Day 6. One more to go. Beautiful but I’m ready to be home with my even more beautiful wife. #appalachiantrail #2024atsectionhike #atsection #backpacker #athiker2024 #hiker #hikertrash #gratefulfortoday #atsectionhiker #whiteblaze #livingthedream #atsectionhike2024 #optoutside
Day 5. Beautiful day beautiful views and even some trail magic!! #appalachiantrail #2024atsectionhike #atsection #backpacker #athiker2024 #hiker #hikertrash #gratefulfortoday #atsectionhiker #whiteblaze #livingthedream #atsectionhike2024 #optoutside
My campsite for the night and my biggest mileage day…my goal for this trip was to have a 15 mile day. Today I made a touch more than 16! I have 100 pictures to share from, but that’ll have to wait for WiFi. #overmountainshelter #appalachiantrail #atsectionhiker #damascusorbust #womenwhohike #fullmoonnight #backpacking #durstongear #xmid2p
Andy “Captain Blue” came back recently to finish off his Benton MacKaye Trail thru hike. He’s section hiked the AT to completion 5 times! In addition, he runs a backpacking guide company based out of Dayton, OH called Outdoor Adventure Connection https://outdooradventureconnection.com Happy Trails! #hiking #hikingadventures #longdistancehiking #bentonmackayetrail #nationalscenictrail #bentonmackayetrailassociation #thruhiker #thruhiking #thruhike #atsectionhiker #2000miler #travelinglite
Day 4. Beautiful day to be outside. A little cold but great for hiking. #appalachiantrail #2024atsectionhike #atsection #backpacker #athiker2024 #hiker #hikertrash #gratefulfortoday #atsectionhiker #whiteblaze #livingthedream #atsectionhike2024 #optoutside
NY is rocky so far :) • • Snake Tally: IIII • • #atsectionhiker #sectionhiker #nyat #nyatsectionhike #appalachaintrail #at
Day 3. RAIN!! Glad I slept in the shelter last night. #appalachiantrail #2024atsectionhike #atsection #backpacker #athiker2024 #hiker #hikertrash #gratefulfortoday #atsectionhiker #whiteblaze #livingthedream #atsectionhike2024 #optoutside
New video release: Appalachian Trail Section Hiking Iron Mountain Gap to Beauty Spot Day 2 of 3 3/16/24 https://youtu.be/1I5tA0d1-PA #sectionhikers #appalachiantrail #backpacking #hiking #hikingadventures #atsectionhiker
Day 2. Sore but still having fun. #appalachiantrail #2024atsectionhike #atsection #backpacker #athiker2024 #hiker #hikertrash #gratefulfortoday #atsectionhiker #whiteblaze #livingthedream #atsectionhike2024 #optoutside
Gray skies and a rocky trail. Finishing up the New York section of my AT hike. (I missed this 3.7 mile section on the first day so I completed it on the way home!) #hiking #hike #hikingadventures #appalachiantrail #atnewyork #atsectionhiker #sectionhiker #outdoors #outdooradventures #ilovetowalk #walkwalkwalk
Listening to the soft snores of the person occupying the adjoining room…my gear is exploded all my room. It’s muggy and cold at the same time. I invited countless spiders and bugs in early this evening when I propped my door and opened both windows (both without screens). I can hear someone in the tent rustling on their sleeping pad outside my window, and the quiet chatter of hikers staying up past hiker midnight. I was a little nervous walking in to the hostel today. I felt like I had imposter syndrome…despite the fact I have hiked close to the same about of miles as these current thru hikers. But many have had weeks of getting to know each other, at least in passing. They had trail legs that’ll easily carry them on 15+mile days. I wonder, can my legs carry me that far? The hardest thing about being a section hiker is knowing that all the thru hikers you meet play a role in your adventure….but do you mean as much? I hope to have made a few new friends today, but only time will tell if I can keep up, or if I’ll even play a bit part in their lifetime adventure. But at the end of the day, I am just grateful for this blessing, and thankful than 18 years ago I had a dream, and 1 year ago I was brave enough to chase it. #atsectionhiker #appalachiantrail #appalachiantrail2024 #solotravel #solobackpacker #womenwhohike #heatherhikes #damascusorbust #ultralight #unclejohnnyshostel #adventure
The Appalachian Trail in New York is not very spring-y yet! (though there were lots of wildflowers on the ground, so you can tell that spring will come!) #appalachiantrail #atsectionhiker #sectionhiking #outdoors #outdooradventures #hiking #hiker #ilovetowalk #hikinglife #alwayswalking
Day 1 this year’s section hike. So far so good. #appalachiantrail #2024atsectionhike #atsection #backpacker #athiker2024 #hiker #hikertrash #gratefulfortoday #atsectionhiker #whiteblaze #livingthedream #atsectionhike2024 #optoutside
Walking along the AT on a cold wet day. But any day on trail is a great day! #appalachiantrail #atsectionhiker #sectionhiker #hiking #hiker #womenwhohike #outdoors #outdooradventures #ilovetowalk
First stop: @woodsholehostel Greta 🐾 and I arrived super late and camped in the car so we’d be ready to meet Deez and Renchead at breakfast to shuttle out. These winding, mountain roads speak to you differently in the moonlight 😱. Renchead’s son made us these awesome ornaments. They are wood burned, then painted. I absolutely love them!! #atsectionhiker #sectionhike #trektheat #appalachiantrail #hyoh #womenoutdoors #backpacker
It’s a bit much 😅 buuuuut we couldn’t choose sooo these are most of the photos we took along the way on our section hike on the #appalachiantrail this spring break. We had such a great time and met wonderful people and had so many bonding moments with each other. We’re happy we get to do what we do as a couple. @justgoadventures_ #trektheAT #appalachiantrail #at2024 #thruhike #sectionhijer #sectionhike #atsectionhike #atsectionhiker