AT THRU HIKE 2,192 miles

The last 400 miles

Really?

OMG! Why has it taken me soooo long to post my last blog about my thru- hike on the Appalachian Trail? Well because it was so epic and so much of everything that part of me doesn’t want to let it go and to write it all down…because it’s over. It’s totally over!!! The 5 months it took me to unravel my soul , lose myself in nature and bring it all back together again in a newer, more upgraded, more captivated me. The TRUTH is that it’s never over. The trail and my experiences and my courage still live in me today. It is something I carry with me everyday and will for the rest of my life. I look back already and it sometimes feels so superhuman and I literally gasp for air and try to imagine that maybe I had only dreamed of this journey…was it even real? Of course it was real!!! I feel more grounded than ever on this earth . My soul and spirit feel more free and I’ve tapped into the truth of what has happened inside me and how it has been a catalyst to TURN up MY Awesome! It was a journey of a lifetime and a true “Hike to the Heart.”

I do want to recap my experience in the White Mountains and through New Hampshire and Maine to finish my thru hike to Mt. Katahdin …middle of nowhere Maine. It was a potent part of the trail for me and a true journey of strength and dedication at this point. New Hampshire might** have been my favorite state. The views and the climbs and the mere exhaustion and technical challenges of the White Mountains really checked me into myself. New Hampshire was a beast! It was a complete full body workout- hoisting myself up over rock scrambles and super steep mountains that would make me sigh out loud and put me straight face to face with my own ego and existence on this earth. I felt things in me that I haven’t felt in a long time. I would call out to my ancestors and ask for their courage and strength as I knew that my lineage was strong and fierce. It was TOUGH! I enjoyed that time so much. One of my favorite moments was when one of my mom’s best friends, Pat , came up to visit me in the White Mountains. She would be my only friend to actually come visit me and hike with me during my thru-hike. It couldn’t just be anyone! Mrs. Pat had already been to New Hampshire the year before and didn’t complete a hike that she really wanted to do and it just so happened to be on the section of the Appalachian Trail. I was determined to give her an awesome first time backpacking experience on one of the most difficult sections of the trail. We totally had a blast and it was so much fun to share and gain insight from having her with me. It felt so nice and warm and we engaged in endless laughter and tough climbs. We also reminisced about all the wonderful and magical times shared with my mother. I appreciated that she didn’t give up and stayed focused on the trail always with a smile on her face. It gave me time to reflect on all the knowledge I had gained on this journey and how much strength and confidence I had tapped into out here.

The White Mountains and The Presidential mountain range were such a delight and heart pumping adventure! I loved getting WILD! One of my favorite parts was camping off trail in the middle of nowhere to wake up, pack up and hit the trail to summit Mt. Washington, which has one of the most unpredictable weather conditions in the world. As soon as I stepped on trail I ran into my friend “Frankentruck!” We hadn’t seen each other in like 600 miles and we would be in contact on and off again with some epic experiences until the end. It was a great moment of maGic! Trail Magic I will call it!

The White Mountains kicked my ass! I dropped my mileage by half, had some epic spills and a moment of no period supplies stuck out in the middle of nowhere ( that’s another blog for another time!)….hmmmmm…..uh HUH. The trail was the toughest and I was at my strongest. I listened to my body and fed it enormous amounts of food. I was tired of all the food but it was my only way to making it to the end. I was on an honey bun spree!! When I finally reached Maine, I snapped my trekking pole and had a pretty rough tumble! I would then hike the final 200 miles or so without my trekking poles. In the final last 400 miles I was also part of an epic medical rescue where I came across a person who had fallen and broke their leg in a super remote area. We carried her around 3 miles and then I linked up with the rangers and had her airlifted out of the woods. It was craZy! It inspired me to pursue my Wilderness First Responder certification! The hospital relayed a message to the ranger to let us know that we had done such a wonderful job splinting her leg with a trekking pole and assorted fabrics that they were going to use it as an example for their wilderness medical course! But yes all thing things!!! Here’s a fun glimpse of Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine up until entering the 100 mile wilderness!!! Ahhhh SO much goooOOOooodness! I am humbled.

I loved the Fire Towers!!! Vermont Rocks!

YES at this point I needed new shoes AGAIN!! I was already on my 5th pair of trail runners and although they had holes in them and my toe was sort of sticking out I didn’t want to budge and buy another new pair and besides….. I AM hiking the Appalachian Trail ….LIVE ON THE WILD SIDE !

SO….. onto the highly anticipated remote 100 mile Wilderness before reaching Baxter State Park and Mt. Katahdin. I have to say I researched this weird off the grid place that you can visit towards the end of the 100 miles wilderness and I rallied up some friends to get off trail and take a boat ride and drink some beer and eat burgers and pancakes. We all had a blast but the guy running the place wasn’t super cool so we bounced early and left in the boat in pouring down rain…it was very memorable to say the least! I was so grateful to have such rad and awesome trail friends to share these last few miles with on my journey! Things were beginning to feel bittersweet, nostalgic and a sense of feeling homesick from the trail that I hadn’t even left yet.

Made it to Baxter State Park!!! Mt. Katahdin here I come!

I can’t even begin to describe it in words or even pictures but I do know one thing…. it’s a feeling. It was an absolute blast and by far one of the hardest and most potent things I have ever gifted to myself. Everyday I think about the trail and how I miss those white blazes. I miss being alone in the woods. I miss being dirty. I miss the trees, the water, the soft earth. I miss it all. I am forever grateful to my body for taking me on this journey and I will always carry it with me. I am hooked on long distance hiking and this one won’t be the last but damn it was an amazing first! Not too many people can say that they have hiked 2, 192 miles from Georgia to Maine and loved it! I literally LOVED it !!! Special thanks to all my friends and family who supported me on this journey and to all those folks who sent my care packages and helped me out along the way! All the random acts of kindness and trail angels out there….THANK YOU!!

Signing out for now.

Yours Truly,