Jul 22, 2026
Whack-A-Mole Squad
Follow me to Maine!
Northbound Appalachian Trail thru-hike / Georgia to Maine
Map
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Spotlight
Featured trail moments and standout snapshots from the trip.
Jul 22, 2026
Journal
Open any entry without leaving the homepage. Entry numbers match the mileage log below, and older updates scroll sideways.
Jul 28, 2026
Thank you to all who have been reaching out! I haven’t been in great spirits and it’s nice to hear from others. Hiking almost everyday for 3 months then stopping suddenly for a week is a bit of an adjustment, who woulda thunk?
Shoutout MK for the breakfast sandwiches this AM. That was a huge morale boost. Didn’t do much again today. Watched the original Blade Runner. Met up with Earl & Katie for dinner (my brother and his wife) which was really nice. Social interactions! Good!
Tomorrow is going to be a serious washout in Western MA, so the trail gods are keeping me inside for at least another day. More time to recover I suppose. It’s, uh, fine! Gotta control the controllables. The weather isn’t controllable. For me anyway. I don’t think.
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Jul 27, 2026
NASCAR is highly entertaining. Spending time inside day-after-day ain’t it. Very excited to get back on the trail. My back has healed rapidly. Takeoff Wednesday? Farewell.
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Jul 26, 2026
Every day is better than the last in terms of comfort and swelling and such. I am feeling back to 80-90% walking around, and am starting to get the new pack loaded up. I don’t want to jump back out too early, but I’m so excited to get to hiking again, and making progress towards achieving my goal.
With that said, the best part of being here, and of the whole journey, has been getting to spend more time with my family. These memories are going to stick with me for a long time, and makes me feel very thankful. Massachusetts is a special place with lots of special people.
I don’t really have any other pictures to share, but I’m going to send my first pack back to Osprey for some repairs, so I’ll share those here for fun. Hopefully they’re able to fix or replace the pack for me and I can keep it as a spare. I was totally overloading it with weight.
Update #90 in the books. It’ll be 3mos out here as of the 28th. I’m still making pretty good time, even with all these zero days!
New pack vs. old pack
Ripped straps!
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Jul 25, 2026
Making recovery progress! Not going to gross anyone out with the fine details of draining a nasty infection from a back, but I am getting there… trail ETA, +2, 3 days?
Today was my big bro’s 34th bday, so we went to Worcester to watch the Pawtucket Hot Wieners beat the tails off the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. A big win for the WooSox!
Settling in to watching Ford v Ferrari with my mom for the evening after some Ben & Jerry’s bday celebratory ice cream. Keeping up with the NASCAR/racing theme. Not much else to report from the Whack-A-Mole neck of the woods.
The Woo crew!
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Jul 24, 2026
And hello. From the couch. I finished an incredible 4-part documentary about Dale Earnhardt Sr. today. It was on Amazon Prime. Highly recommend it! It really brought me back to some of my earliest memories of go-karting around the track up in Maine or up and down our driveway in MA. Outrageous fun.
Last night we went over to, and a huge shoutout to J & R B, and M K, our dearest longtime family friends’ home for a heartwarming, spectacular dinner. Spending time was absolutely wonderful. I got sent home with the best homemade cookies, and have since been doing everything in my power to tack back on some weight. If I’m going to act like a couch potato, I might as well eat like one. For now.
My back is still quite swollen and uncomfortable. I am so very lucky that this happened when it did, because the situation got much worse very quickly. And I definitely could not have continued hiking much further past where I got with the mounting discomfort. And tomorrow is my older brother’s birthday! So we’re going to a ballgame, and that’s really exciting. I have a feeling that tomorrow will be much better than today, so let’s will it into existence!
Lastly; some food for thought, from a German proverb, I think: anyone who travels with ambitions never travels alone.
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Jul 23, 2026
Thank you to the WAM community for the outpouring of support… today is much better than yesterday. I was able to get into the urgent care as patient #1 this AM, and the thing in my back was a cellulitis infection. So it got lanced and drained, now I’m on antibiotics. What I thought was a hernia is likely swollen lymph nodes from the infection. One big bullet dodged, another I am in the process of dodging. Sitting is painful, sleeping was restless, but I am on the mend.
I also got to spend a few hours with my Dad running some errands, including picking up a new pack. Shoutout to Nicole @ the Cranston REI for being an amazing listener and fitter. I ended up going with the non-ultralight version of what I already had, which is sturdier and will fit considerably better. And I am very familiar with the pack adjustments and everything already.
PLUS I got a dry bag for my food so I can do away with my bear canister, and a new titanium spork. And some fuel. So when I am ready to take on the trail again (maybe Sunday?), I’ll have everything I need. THANK GOODNESS all of this happened while I was in Massachusetts. And I get to see my family and friends? More cellulitis please! (No more, it’s horrible).
The next couple updates may be boring, but I haven’t missed a day and don’t want to. But thank you again for the well wishes and support; it means so much to me. On and off the trail, people are amazing.
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Jul 22, 2026
And this is precisely why I should not label my posts with deceiving titles. I am now the boy who cried wolf. But rest assured, everything is okay(ish). I figure I’ll give you all the rundown and keep y’all posted over the coming days –
I have several issues and they are all contributing to one another to some degree. Basically, I have a huge cyst/welt/sore on my back that has worsened over the past couple days, and I believe I either developed or aggravated a hernia. Neither of those things bode particularly well for hiking.
Both things flared up yesterday after I resupplied A LOT, and carried more weight than I had in a while… With my ill-fitting pack… It was a mistake of my eyes being bigger than my stomach, and getting carried away in the store. After a few miles, I began to feel really uncomfortable, the rain started, and I was all aboard the struggle bus.
The antecedent, is my pack. Well I guess it’s my weight loss. I guess REALLY it’s my experience (lack thereof). And I suppose because I knew better, it was really my failure to act. I should have bought a new pack months ago when my current one stopped fitting. But I did not, and tried to adapt it to my quickly-changing figure. For the purposes of improving the immediate situation, I suppose I can leave musings around how I found myself here for another day…
Regardless, the hip belt and lower back apparatus were the real troublemakers, and the constant rubbing against my left back pelvis bone caused whatever this thing is to flare up. And I think the extra weight in conjunction with the placement of the hip belt aggravated the hernia thing.
Being in MA (thank goodness I was close to home), I reached out to Hooper Mama for a trail rescue. I was at the point where continuing on without going to Urgent Care seemed extremely risky and irresponsible. Plus I was hiking in the rain without a rain jacket. It was miserable.
As a cherry on top, I also took my worst spill on trail so far. It was one of those where I didn’t want to move and find out how bad the damage was going to be. Fortunately, it ended up being a walk-it-off type of fall. But with the other pains, and the rain, then that, I was actually wanting to go home. The trail gods struck me down, but I am going to do what I can to resurface again!
To fix the situation at hand, I need first to continue to watch the Redsox game with my mom and a heating pad on my back. With the cats walking around. Because that is great for my mental health. In the morning, I need to go to Urgent Care to see how screwed I am. Then, depending on how that goes, I need a new pack. And to reduce my weight dramatically. Assuming I’m not told that if I continue the hernia might rupture or something. Ugh. I don’t even want to think about it. Anyway…
So far, I am losing pretty bad to the home team. I’ll keep this updated as I firgure everything out. And when in Rome: I hope some of you saw this coming – Go Redsox! 15 games in a row!!! They are whacking some serious moles! Gotta find a couple positive things to focus on. So grateful for the Hooper Mama!
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Jul 21, 2026
Seriously, I want to be back in MA! (I’m sorry, I can’t stop with the click bait-y post titles. I feel like a YouTuber – my last post will be “I’m DONE with the AT”…)
It’ll be tomorrow now, though – torrential downpours, thunder & lightning, and a tornado watch in CT with no rain jacket put my butt in a shelter. And somehow just in time because this is the most severe weather I’ve seen on trail. They had an awful storm in this area around July 4th, and there’s still so much debris everywhere from it. I guess Connecticut likes to party.
I managed to stop in the lovely town of Salisbury to resupply before the storm hit. And that’s where I met Kathy – it was great meeting you, too! Thank you for all the awesome questions and interest in my hike.
I’m glad I got up early and hiked, because it feels like it was a full day even though I wanted to do another 8 or so miles. Oh well. Two big climbs to start the day tomorrow, including one which will put me at the highest point in CT. Cool!
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Jul 20, 2026
Hello and good evening from the lovely state of Connecticut. I think I am only going to be doing a one-night stay here. But it’s not bad! Some great views, it is very well-marked, lots of water. I am going to venture into Salisbury tomorrow to do a bit of resupplying.
I made the grave mistake of forgetting my rain jacket in NYC (my friends are shipping it up here, thank goodness). And tomorrow there is rain. Which means I’m going to have to get creative with my rainfly and big contractor trash bag to try to keep things remotely dry. A bridge to cross tomorrow. As an aside, I’ve always liked the phrase: “if you believe that, then I’ve got a bridge to sell you”, but I don’t think I understand it. Is it because all bridges are public for the most part? Will a reader help me out with this?
Lastly, I wasn’t sure if I would get 60,000 steps in a day, but I did today! Onto 70,000 (kidding… or am I?). But no, I think today was the most I’ve ever walked in a day, and that’s pretty cool. I was pretty happy doing it all day for the most part. The weather was fantastic, and the hours kind of fly by.
Well, goodnight all. I am excited to go “home” tomorrow. It’s a huge milestone for me on this trail. So cool. Grateful. Goodnight.
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Jul 19, 2026
I am overwhelmed with gratitude as I sit back in my tent after spending two nights in the city. New York was different than any other time I had visited; the city was the same but I was seeing it through a different lens. I don’t know the full extent of how the trail is reshaping me, but I’m starting to feel it.
I felt sad leaving my friends, and the glimpse they gave me into their city lives, but I didn’t try to fight that off. I did a short day to let it process, and to get in the right state of mind to continue my own journey. I am coming to terms with it being simultaneously far from over, while rapidly nearing the end.
And this darn trail, of course, delivered trail magic via hiker Soda Bread, who filled us up with bread and cheese, hummus and veggies. At the shelter. Man. My gratitude has gratitude! Today is my last day in New York. Goodbye, New York.
The Yankees… this is getting old. But yeah, the Yankees suck.
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Jul 18, 2026
I didn’t feel like hiking in the rain. So instead I walked around the city in the rain. And hung out @ Hostel Anna & Pat with Boss for the day. Feels like a huge win from a recovery and overall wellbeing standpoint. I’ll go back to the trail at some point tomorrow. I’m blessed to have such amazing friends.
P.S. The Odyssey was highly entertaining. Me falling asleep during it was no reflection of the quality of the film.
P.P.S. The Yankees lost to the Dodgers last night. Because of course they did, they suck.
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Jul 17, 2026
It is really nice to be back in the Big Apple. Summer NYC has a boundless energy, and it was totally worth the extra miles to come here and visit Pat (one of my oldest and dearest friends) and his wife Anna and their dog, Boss. I got my laundry done, stocked up on real food (by stocked up I mean ate, not packed), and tonight we are going to see a late showing of The Odyssey. I may hang around tomorrow as well, because why not. Sitting on a non-hiker-hostel couch feels great. Life is good. When I return to trail, I’ll basically be in Connecticut. And as my amazing wonderful Aunt Jodi mentioned to me today, I believe I am now 2/3 done with the trail. If not, then very close to being so. And if my math is mathing, that means that I have to do half of what I’ve already done, once, and I’ll be standing atop Mount Katahdin. That shouldn’t be too hard (spoiler: it is and will be!).
So thankful for these amazing friends and getting to spend time with them. NYC Whack-A-Mole out, yo. And oops, almost forgot. The pro baseball team here that isn’t the Mets isn’t any good. Never has been, never will be. NEW YORKKK.
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Jul 16, 2026
In honor of a Walt Whitman statue I saw at the zoo yesterday and neglected to mention, today’s entry will be a bit more creative than usual! Enjoy!!
[Y] would I make another boring old update when I can revert back to poem-writing like a 5th grader?
[A] ir quality is not really an issue I’ve had to face on the trail until these past few days. I didn’t think anything of it when two days ago the sun was casting a pinkish/orange-ish reflection on the ground. Come to find out it’s been very hazy because of the wildfire smoke. That totally explains why the color of the sun was off, and now I can smell the smoke
[N] ana turned 94 today! I love you Nana!! We talked on the phone, but a while back she told me that at one point, her family phone number was literally “444”… in honor, I hiked to mile 1,444 today.
[K] atie from Colorado is now Firefly! I suggested the trail name and she took it – her and her family had to evacuate, and her planned start date/location changed, and she had a wrench thrown into what gear she packed, but she’s out here now and crushing miles. Go Firefly!
[E] ating a late lunch today at the Acorn Cafe today was a phenomenal choice. $5 burgers? In today’s age? Unheard of
[E] ight miles and eighteen hundred feet of elevation left to go @ 5pm as I write this. It’s very doable! I’ve been in worse situations
[S] even hundred fifty feet of elevation gain, 3.5mi, 10 minutes before 7pm. I need water. Is water in the room with us?
[S] adly, as the night crawls on,
[U] nder the weight of my pack, I
[C] an’t seem to muster up the strength to write more…
[K] ?
Goodnight! 🐭🥊💥
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Jul 15, 2026
Not actually. But I did pass through the lowest point above sea-level on the entire trail today! I guess it really is only up from here. I’m going to keep doing bullet points until I don’t because I can add things throughout the day and not feel obligated to spend my evenings spinning together engaging tales (I’m going to turn this all into a coffee table book for myself when I’m done so the entertaining updates are for present me, future me, and present you [and maybe future you, too]). Alas:
– I was so excited to lay my tent on a beautiful patch of grass last night, that is, until a rattlesnake alerted me, ever-so-politely, that he had already laid claim to the site. I yielded. I didn’t even know NY had those? It was a timber rattlesnake for those curious, whereas the earlier one I had seen was an eastern diamondback rattlesnake
– “Side Quest McMurphy” (of course, a resident of Tennessee) and I shared the shelter and got to talk lots about the trail. Good guy, not easy doing this @ 23. Keep truckin’
– I got to go to a zoo, free of charge! Kind of a dream hiking day… They had fans which sprayed water. And the lowest point on the whole trail was 120ft above sea-level at the bear exhibit. But there were no bears…
– If only the Appalachian Market liked hikers as much as hikers frequented the store, the world would be a better place. Change the name of your store, or embrace hiker trash! It wasn’t anything flagrant, just an air of unfriendliness. Maybe that’s just New York?
– Speaking of which, the Yankees suck
– I went to the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center today to charge my power bank, and ended up taking a cold outdoor shower that was something of a spiritual journey in and of itself. I feel truly anew. A Baptism of sorts outside this random baseball field in the middle of the woods near the AT near the Hudson River kind of near New York City near me wanting to get to Connecticut so I can get nearer to my wonderful home state of Massachusetts.
– I also did laundry because there was a rack to dry my clothes on, so the visit feels very productive.
– Did I mention that the Yankees suck?
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Jul 14, 2026
Bullet points today because less writing, more hiking:
– The Yankees suck
– Thank you for the plum, Roger!
– I met Alondra, who was awesome and who I am hopeful will continue hiking the AT and someday maybe the whole thing 😉 welcome our newest reader!
– The one thing, standing in the way, of me completing this trail, is: blueberries
– I passed the 1,400mi marker today. Progress!
– I got stuck at a weird distance from the Trailside Zoo, only open ‘til 4pm, with few camping options closer, so I am going to do less miles today, read my book, and tackle the zoo (and the Appalachian Market, and a deli) tomorrow!
– Perhaps someone can decipher this for me – I had a monarch butterfly fly around me for a while, sit on me, then finally attach itself to my leg as a hiking companion today. I am taking it as a great thing, but it was stinging me slightly
– The West Mountain Shelter has the best view of all the shelters on trail hands down. Almost clear enough out today to see NYC, which would have ruined it
– And that is because… the Yankees suck
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Jul 13, 2026
I crossed over into NEW YORK for good this morning. The Yankees suck.
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Jul 12, 2026
At this point, I go into most days blind. Elevation is meh, whatever. Not something that moves the needle much over the course of a day. In NH & ME? Sure, I’ll pay attention so as not to make dumb decisions. But here, so far, I’ll get few 1,000ft climbs per day – it’s nothing like the climbs down south. By the time you break a sweat and your heart starts beating, you’re at the ~honda~ ridge line.
Having to resupply? As Upbeat once noted, ask not for a light pack, but for a strong back. Carry more food, go into town less (or eat less lol). Thank goodness there is a lot of variety with tuna packet flavorings and instant mashed potato seasonings. And speaking of packs, mine doesn’t really fit anymore. It hasn’t for well over a month. I’m too cheap to switch / for better or worse, I’m kind of attached to this one. Yeah it sucks, but it’s mine!
Shelters, tent sites, water? Play it by ear. That decision can usually be made on the fly in the late afternoon. A good day is 20 miles. A great day is 30 miles. Enough of those and I’m back on the beach for football season…
And some things I can’t control; last night myself and two Navy vets were stuck camping out with a dozen Children of the Corn who were doing a silent team-building activity (apparently) to set up their camp for the first hour after I arrived. Then, for the next 4 hours, they didn’t shut up. And from 5:30am on they didn’t shut up. I have never been more pro-team-building… Let’s see if you guys can work together silently to identify a new campsite!!! (My grumpiness aside, it is great they were enjoying the outdoors)
So today, after leaving town, I realized I had forgotten to get more TP! Fortunately, I hadn’t (and haven’t) been in the position of needing more when I really needed more, but I needed more. Not NEEDED more. TMI yet?
So I kept walking down the road, sure enough, some kind New Jerseans put a sign in their yard that there was trail magic in their carport. Sure enough, in the cooler, there was individually wrapped TP gifted by their neighbor Turk. SURE ENOUGH, they even had Polar Seltzers (shoutout Worcester). What the hecky?
It’s moments like that I feel like I’m getting my hand held through the trail. It’s a very comforting feeling. It keeps me going. Then, later in the day, Puma, who finished her hike last week, was doing trail magic AGAIN and loaded me up on Asian treats and coconut water before my last big climb of the day. This dang trail!
Until next time,
Whack-A-Mole 🐭🥊💥
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Jul 11, 2026
New Jersey just keeps exceeding expectations. Pretty easy, beautiful hiking, great food, kind people. Perfect weather for most of the day. My feet are still recovering but are feeling better each day. Next time (there isn’t going to be a next time), remind me to wear boots in PA!
I had a deliberate slow start today because the lunch spot was 5mi away and opened at 11:30. I’m glad I went because I got to watch and talk golf with a couple other hikers. Not quite a deli blaze, but it was nice to sit in the A/C for a bit.
In other news, I passed the 60% mark today! The toughest challenges are ahead, but that’s a good chunk of change. I’m still in good spirits about the whole thing. Smiles per hour off the charts. I love the trail, and in my personal journal, I had the realization that my experience with the trail (this trail, and the trail of life) is more a reflection of ME and my attitude and energy and love than it is of the AT, or life. The trail/life being great comes from me, not from the trail/life. Things are inherently just what they are, then we prescribe meaning to them.
Michael Singer does a better job explaining it in the early chapters of Living Untethered. Proselytizing session over. Yee-Haw!
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Jul 10, 2026
EDIT: the mosquitoes in NJ certainly have hands*
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NJ day 1/3 done! It far exceeded expectations as far as bodies of water, views, and blueberries. Also had a wonderful (first of many) deli lunch complete with a root beer float. Back at it again tomorrow!
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Jul 9, 2026
Well, well, well. Yesterday and today I received advice from very knowledgable people on trail. Yesterday was from someone who advised me NOT to try to hike the really difficult section I discussed yesterday, yesterday. He basically said to stay at a shelter and do it the next morning. What did I do? I didn’t listen, worked out fine. W Whack-A-Mole.
TODAY, Little John (a ridge runner), told me that today would be a PERFECT day to hike into Delaware Water Gap and stay there, because free church dinner (which was SO GOOD) and no cover at the jazz club. I took the advice, cranked out 20 miles before 3pm, and some more in a light rain to get to town, and now I feel like $1,000,000. W Whack-A-Mole. For both listening to advice and not listening to advice.
Lots of hikers here, going to kick it and tackle New Jersey in the morning. You can tent out at a drive-in! How cool. Another ridge runner gave me the down low on all the best food as well. Man, I am so glad to be done with Pennsylvania. I was beginning to get very tilted by the rocks. And my feet as well. But alas, the hike goes on. More moles to whack.
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Jul 8, 2026
I saw my first copperhead snake today! And just barely – it was very well camouflaged. But it feels like an accomplishment, albeit a little unnerving.
Today had the toughest climb on the trail so far, in my opinion. I can’t even really do it justice trying to explain it, but here it goes: mountain made of a pile of refrigerator-sized rocks. What felt like a 75 degree angle. For some amount of time, exposed to the sun. But hey, it’s over now!
Everyone I have been meeting seems to be from Chattanooga. Or have some affiliation with it. I am feeling drawn to the place.
At camp tonight, on top of a breezy mountain with a grassy spot to set up my tent. Here early enough because rocks + night = injury and injury = not allowed. Going to (maybe) wake up early enough tomorrow to put myself in NJ tomorrow before nightfall. So it’ll be my last night in PA, assuming the terrain tomorrow isn’t a minefield. Bittersweet? Not really, just sweet. My feet hurt. I gotta be GONE!
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Jul 7, 2026
I don’t complain on here much. Or outside of here. About the AT, anyway. But ouch! These rocks suck! I thought people were exaggerating about “Rocksylvannia” – they are unrelenting!
I liken it to riding a motorcycle in traffic in a city, at least with how much focus it requires. It is more mentally exhausting than physically, because every step has big consequences, and there are a bunch of different ways to skin the proverbial cat. So after a few hours of doing that, I feel like people were just trying to run me over on 19. Anyway. Rant over.
In two days I’ll be out of PA and I’ll be back to my cheery old happy-go-lucky-self. I am staying at the Lookout Hostel tonight, because I was entirely out of food and had stinky clothes. A very cool spot so far!
AND I ended off the day with several SUPER easy (people say “cruisey” on trail which has become a pet peeve of mine) miles and trail magic from some past hikers. W Whack-A-Mole. L Justin for letting the rocks get to him. WAM would never.
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Jul 6, 2026
UPDATE
I skipped Wawa and headed up to the tent sites. Surely there will be more Wawa opportunities. Go Team USA!
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Lots of thunder last night, but I slept like a baby. Got started lazily around 9:30 and managed to avoid all the rain all day. Wasn’t sure where I was going to end up until I met two guys about my age who said there was a Wawa in Port Clinton… and one of them was an Aussie from Brisbane! So to Port Clinton I went. Picking the most amazingly ripe blueberries along the way. Thanks, Pennsylvania. Something fun for the loyal readers below:
With less than 1,000mi to go, here is my hike by the numbers so far –
Audiobooks completed: 13
Physicalbooks completed: 1 (The Martian)
Bear encounters: 1
Rattlesnake encounters: 1
Ticks I have plucked off myself: ~10
Tree fallings witnessed: 3
Pairs of shoes: 3
Zero days: 5
Longest day: 32.1mi
Lost items: 2 (one of which wasn’t mine to begin with, it went off to find a cooler owner)
Trail magics: ~15
Truly rainy days: 4
Falls: 2 (both were slow and lumbering and did no harm)
Slips, trips, and stubbed toes: too many to count
Food challenges attempted: 2
Food challenges completed: 2
Hostels stayed in: ~15-20
States traversed: 6
Photos/videos taken: 978
Friends made: lots
People I’ll stay in touch with: 5 so far?
Sketchy people encountered: lots less, <5 in total
Hitchhikes: 0
Slackpacks: 0
Resupply boxes: 1
Fun: infinite!
Only a few more days and I’ll be in Jersey. Weird!
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Jul 5, 2026
Storm en route, shorter day. Lunch @ Stay-AT-Swatara. When I get around to uploading pics there’ll be good wildlife shots on this update. Tomorrow I’ll hit the 1,200mi mark which means I’ll have less than 1,000mi left 🙁 the beginning of the end! Not really, just being dramatic. I could hear fireworks from my tent last night, so I celebrated in essence. Adieu.
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Jul 4, 2026
Back to the regularly scheduled programming today… I got an early start and it was an easy day with only a few thousand feet of uphills. So I am currently up a hill, comfortably in my tent. I missed trail magic today by the hair of a dog! That’s what I get for dilly dallying.
I’ll be in “Port Clinton” in a couple days, and will be finding myself smack dab in the middle of ~the bubble~ (for better or for worse)… Man! It’s such a mixed-bag out here, but a few people have really given me some awesome brain food to chew on. People rock!
Hiking rocks! I hope you all are having a safe and enjoyable 4th of July. HBD ‘murica.
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Jul 3, 2026
In celebration of Independence Day, and in acknowledgment of the temperature outside, I have taken a zero day. No biggie. Back on trail tomorrow. Nothing interesting to report, just reading my book and recovering physically. I’m just here so I don’t get fined (an obscure NFL reference – nobody is fining me!). Send positive vibes and thoughts and prayers!
Whack-A-Mole ^’26
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Jul 2, 2026
I have made it safely into Duncannon, PA before the real heat of the day, and I am going to hang out here and recover until tomorrow. It’s a neat little trail town with a laundromat (the only other time I was in a laundromat I needed quarters for my apartment laundry… I got yelled at [but still got my quarters]). What an experience!
Not much else to report on. Legs feel pretty tired from trying to do big miles. My marathon streak is over, but I am happy to have done 4 in a row! “Marathons”… not like I’m out here jogging. But still. A fun little mid-trail challenge nonetheless. If it didn’t get so hot, this would have been the perfect part of the trail to do it on. Whack-A-Mole out!
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Jul 1, 2026
NEW POST:
Well, the trail isn’t going to hike itself. Don’t leave hard work for tomorrow (on repeat)… Against my better judgment and general common sense, or lack thereof, I decided to push on out of Boiling Springs at 4pm to do another 15 or so miles (very flat). Tomorrow is going to be hotter than today, and I’d rather hike in cooling-off-low-sun than heating-up-high-sun. I carried out a gallon of water much to the chagrin of my back, but I’m not trying to get dehydrated in the middle of someone’s cornfield.
Also! Dirt Nap gave me (2) slices of pizza on my 28th walking mile today!!! What a guy. Trail magic from and to a fellow hiker is the standard we should all strive for.
I remember telling On It I couldn’t wait to become a hiking machine. I AM THE (hiking) MACHINE! Hopefully that reference is understood. I am just a guy. I am a good hiker now though. I am going to sleep like a baby tonight. Read below for a chuckle at my expense. MARATHON WEEK CONTINUES (safely… I don’t think I’ll even bother to try to get close tomorrow)
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OLD POST:
Welp. Marathon week is no more. Or it’s on pause at least. The heat index was 107 today, and it’s going to be up over 100 degrees tomorrow, and the Whack-A-Mole doesn’t feel like becoming a Whacked Mole. So I am going to chill out. For now.
There’s a notoriously exposed and waterless section leaving Boiling Springs, PA for about 15mi, and I don’t think I am going to try to tackle that today. Or maybe I’ll night hike it (I am writing this around 3:30pm) and avoid the heat of the day. We’ll see. The woods get a little weird after 10pm not in a tent. But I’m also going to have to do it sooner or later and I’m not going to wait around until it cools off…
On the flip side, I had my first dirty soda (Dr. Pepper, key lime, coconut, and whipped cream), and I feel like I’m in Utah again. What a delight. Also- how did I go from an adamant non-soda drinker to a multiple time per week soda guy? It’s fine. I’ll stop. Or maybe not.
Anywhom. All is well. Can’t stop, won’t stop. It’s the climb. Woaaah, we’re halfway there!!! Bye.
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Jun 30, 2026
Today is a big day. A monumental day. Today, I will attempt to eat a half-gallon of ice cream in a single sitting. I’m also officially halfway done with the trail, but who cares. Ice cream.
I am going to share before and after thoughts, for fun:
BEFORE (1pm, 6mi from challenge location): This will surely be easy. I’ve been practicing with pints of Ben & Jerry’s at hostels. I love ice cream, and dairy, and thank goodness my stomach isn’t easily upset. It’s hot out today and it’ll probably turn to soup, which is basically a milkshake. Am I too cocky about this? What’s the fail rate? Strawberry?
AFTER (3:30pm, 15 minutes post-challenge): 2,530 calories in 21 minutes, 25.25 seconds. I spent $14, and got a wooden spoon to show for it. That was stupid. Why did I do that? Why am I hiking the AT? I need a nap.
Dave and Tanny also had the best trail magic setup today!!i had to leave a little room for the challenge but I had a ham & cheese wrap, an apple, banana, sausage sandwich with grape jelly, and a smattering of snacks. Whack-A-Mole is a lucky fella.
Also, for those who care, I am 3/3 on marathons so far this week. I’m not sure how sustainable the pace is going to be, but I’m aiming for 7 in a row. Then I’ll chill out. It’d be way easier with no elevation, and without a pack… but that’s boring!
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Jun 29, 2026
As my Dad pointed out, I’m in the state with the most miles left besides Maine. Cool! The rocks haven’t started yet. Neither have the views. Going to try my hand at eating a half gallon of ice cream tomorrow to celebrate mile 1,100, the real halfway mark of the trail. Thank goodness I live in FL because this humidity and coming heatwave is hitting / going to hit other hikers like a ton of bricks. It’s like a lunch walk for me! Toodles.
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Jun 28, 2026
I am pre-writing this post while still hiking because it may end up being a later night than usual! I had yet to do 30 miles on the trail in a particular day and figured this would be a great point to try. Hopefully future me makes it safely and soundly!!
Having a fresh resupply and a full pack is a blessing and a curse. More weight. But also more (and better) food. But as I eat through it, and my legs become more sore after stringing together long days, the soreness and pack weight loss offset one another. Strong legs may run so that weak legs may walk (I think that’s the Shriners saying?).
I slowed myself down a couple times today, one due to a stove igniter malfunction during dinner and another to have an awesome conversation with Terry (Tari?) and Oz, who queued up the best questions I’ve ever been asked. Thank you guys!
It was seemingly on the verge of raining all day, but it held off and stayed relatively cool, so no complaints on that front. The new shoes rock. Tomorrow, I will pass from MD into PA, which is hugely exciting and will mark my journey into the 7th AT state. WOW! Going to continue my Marathon Week to see if I can do 7 in a row. Farewell.
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Jun 27, 2026
Today I took a zero day and the Amtrak from Harper’s Ferry into Washington D.C. to spend time with my wonderful cousin Mia! We walked all about, had amazing food per her recommendations, and I got to enjoy the capital city (the capitol city?) for the first time in many years. I am safely back in HF, WV and will hit the trail again (solo) tomorrow for my marathon week attempt.
I am stoked for the second half of the trail. I think it’s where the challenge (and hence, the growth) is going to be. Adios!
Found a hidden gem
Lol
Lol
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Jun 26, 2026
West Virginia!
I’ve made it!! To the psychological halfway point!!! This town is very quaint. We got our pictures taken at the ATC Headquarters, and they are in the official book for 2026. The Halfway Hideaway Hostel is incredible (shoutout Sir Stops a Lot for the pulled pork sandwiches!). Dogs galore. Resupply box. New shoes. So much to be thankful for!
Getting off trail for a trip into DC tomorrow to have lunch with my amazing cousin Mia!
Uploading lots of pics from the last several days of hiking. It’s going to be sad continuing on without my hiking partner Upbeat, but I am destined to meet more friends along the way.
Hasta la vista!
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Jun 25, 2026
We hiked the Virginia Roller Coaster today! Lots of elevation over a relatively short distance. We landed at the spectacular Blackburn Trail Shelter, complete with a solar shower, bunkhouse, and Trader Joe’s banana bread and a lemonade courtesy of the caretaker Fern!
It is starting to heat up out here, but we have an easy cruise into Harper’s Ferry tomorrow for the “psychological halfway point” of the trail, my goodbye to Upbeat who is returning to Finland 🙁 and the jumping off point for me to head into DC Saturday. Also, I have new shoes and a resupply box waiting for me courtesy of Grace!
PS I got stung on the foot by a wasp today. I survived.
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Jun 24, 2026
A reflection as I come up on halfway: I remember being very apprehensive about deciding to hike the trail, announcing it to people, planning the logistics, and otherwise putting all the wheels in motion. Every other time I had really truly decided to try something, I had given it my all after taking the leap. But I really didn’t know if my ‘all’ was going to be enough for the AT (and I still don’t!). Accordingly, it wasn’t a decision I took lightly. I knew then and know now that the first test is getting everything in order to try the thru-hike. That’s where it’s easy to fail before you even start. Let alone the dread of starting a journey that the majority of people embarking on fail… but I trudged through it anyway and gave myself a shot at experiencing a dream of mine. Holy smokes, that was just less than 2 months ago!
Then and Now, a few examples:
-I truly did not like camping and had lots of concerns about figuring that out at the eleventh hour with no gear: now I sleep better in my tent than I do in a bed.
-I’ve always enjoyed day-hiking, but I’ve had a host of lower body injuries that I thought for sure would make my thru-hike really difficult. Every single one of them (knock on wood) has subsided entirely, and I hike everyday pain-free.
-I found the route/stop planning to be completely overwhelming in theory before leaving, and in practice at first. I have since found a system that works and keeps food in my pack, my clothes and me smelling relatively okay, and my spirits high.
-I didn’t know how the people in my life would take the news that I was doing this: with the exception of almost no one, every single family member, coworker, and friend has been incredibly supportive throughout the whole journey, which I am incredibly grateful for.
Despite my naïveté, I believed in myself when I started, and I do even more so now, but it’s not like I don’t worry about it all still, even if it’s a lot less than I did when I started. It’s not black-and-white, but I think some of the reason I hike to my limit most days is because I know I’ll be too tired to worry or to be anxious about the future and what’s to come or if I misstep and mess up my knee or if I get bit by a bad tick and don’t find it or if I just up and decide one day that I’m tired of sleeping in the woods every night. If I can preoccupy myself with enough fast-paced walking, by the time those thoughts try to make their way in, my “hiker brain” has kicked into full gear and I can think exclusively about food, water, and shelter.
Today and tonight for example – we talked about ice cream and donuts for most of the day (we just had to hike 25mi to get to them before they closed; easy), along with a bunch of silly and serious things, sometimes didn’t talk at all, sometimes listened to birds, discussed plans for the day, for tomorrow, laughed about people we’ve met, and just enjoyed the trail. All of which is a great distraction from the fact that while I’ve made it a good chunk of the way, I’ve got a lot more climbs ahead of me. And I think that’s okay – it’s human to not have it all figured out, and to acknowledge that hey, I don’t know what’s going to happen down the road. But, I’m going to keep giving it my all, and see how far down the rabbit hole I can go!
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Jun 23, 2026
On some days, you hike 10 miles by 12pm. On other days, you eat 5 bagels by 9am. There are days I do both, there are days I do neither. Today was a bagel day, not a mile day.
Stopped for lunch at allegedly the best wayside, the Elkwallow Wayside, and had a smash burger, a blackberry shake, and some wonderful homemade fudge. It did deliver.
After the rain started to give way, we put on some really good miles out of SNP to Tom Floyd Shelter. I hiked the last 6 miles in my Bedrocks. Thanks, Tom! Goodbye, SNP! The end is nigh!
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Jun 22, 2026
There is and there was a storm, so Upbeat and I shuttled over to the wonderful Open Arms Hostel in Luray, VA. We did an unsuccessful (for me) outfitter run, a moderately successful WalMart run, and a wildly successful Mexican dinner run. Now hanging out watching My Octopus Teacher and resting these old legs with a house full of hikers. Back to it tomorrow!
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Jun 21, 2026
Lots of friendly deer. Easy hiking. Good waysides. Laughing with friends. Perfect weather! Great miles. Back at it again tomorrow.
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Jun 20, 2026
I typed up a whole update, then swiped out of it and lost it. So Clif Notes it is:
-Hiking has been leisurely and enjoyable lately
-Back to hiking with Upbeat for the next week ‘til he gets off the trail
-Be careful guessing where people in Europe are from based on their accent unless you’re pretty certain
-Finally ran into a Ridge Runner: super cool woman from JP, MA
-Getting to Harpers Ferry next Friday, the psychological halfway!
-SNP is not super easy as I was told
-Going to start marathon week in PA with new shoes
-Goodnight!
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Jun 19, 2026
After watching Galaxy Quest and sleeping in the cafeteria of a church, I re-embarked on the trail today with Upbeat and Lennon, and we are officially in the Shenandoah National Park (which is super exciting!). That said, we really had no views today whatsoever, but got to throw the ball around at one of the road gaps which was a highlight in and of itself. We landed at Blackrock Hut about 20mi into the park after a leisurely paced day. Dinner was 2 Knorr sides, some instant mash potato powder, and a chicken packet all mixed into my Jet Boil. Decent protein, enough calories!
I like keeping every apprised to what’s next on the docket – so there’s a restaurant or wayside or something-or-other tomorrow with a famous blackberry shake (speaking of which, our pace was leisurely today in part because we were stopping to eat fruit) which I am eager to try. And then, I suppose I’m equally as excited to leave the park as I am to be in it, because it’ll only take us a few days to push through it. And lastly, I suppose I am excited to leave Virginia (no offense Virginia). The gratification you get for completing a state helps the feeling of progressing on the trail. And that has stagnated a bit. But alas, it is happening!
I’ve noticed, you’ve probably noticed, that in my writing I use parentheses a lot (like, a lot a lot). It just seems like a way to add bonus material to a sentence without making the actual core sentence longer. I figured I’d acknowledge it so no one thinks it’s an unconscious thing. I guess Massachusetts public school teachers let it fly!
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Jun 18, 2026
Seasons greetings! I decided to take my third zero day here in Waynesboro. I woke up, got a continental breakfast, had a great conversation about Goldwings with a fellow traveler, watched some golf, packed my things, went to the library, went to the movies with Upbeat, Lennon, and Caboose, got a fantastic burger, and landed back at the church for a free hostel stay. Very relaxing day! Back on the trail tomorrow ASAP.
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Jun 17, 2026
I had already typed up my post, and my finicky iPhone Shortcut to post deleted it. And I have the patience for bullet points now, because I used up most of it on switching phone carriers, which admittedly wasn’t bad. Remember how big of a nightmare it used to be to have to go into the phone store? I digress.
-Hiked shorter than anticipated last night. Got great mountaintop campsite.
-Easy hike off trail this morning. Ran into SOBO Squirrel. Laughed about yesterday.
-First person I called “June” from list of 20+ trail angels picked up on first ring, said she’d pick me up to go into town in 5 minutes. “This darn trail!” anytime magic happens.
-Fugitive walked up, we brought him as well.
-Tour of the town, lay of the land. Invitation for dinner at church. Dropped off at hotel, made sure I had room.
-Called back to make sure all was well, insisted I called again in the morning for a ride back to the trailhead. A+ person.
-Donut truck. Authentic Mexican truck. Oreo donut. Massive burrito. Mandarin Jarritos. World Cup (re-runs? Felt live).
-Walmart resupply. Surprisingly not bad. Obtained Epsom Salts.
-Laundry.
-Going to shower and head over to the church for dinner at 6.
-Waynesboro stop extremely successful. Into Shenandoah tomorrow. Need to get my park passes.
This format is interesting… not really much else to say! All is well here. Nice to take half a day off. VERY excited to keep it pushing tomorrow.
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Jun 16, 2026
Another slowpoke day, until it wasn’t. Quick story time: before I became Whack-A-Mole, a seasoned hiker proposed calling me Changeup. I didn’t appreciate the pretense or manner in which he suggested it, so I balked at it. But it has now kind of come full circle – I really do hike at drastically different paces, which was the essence of his proposed trail name (as my brother would tell you, I have actually been doing this my whole life, particularly in airports). But Always struck out (on a spitball, no less), and I continue to embrace my Whack-A-Mole self. A whacked mole cannot always do 3mph… Changeup? Never…
Back to the hiking: I think my body is asking for a zero/nero day, perhaps in Waynesboro, perhaps in Harpers Ferry after the Shenandoahs. Time flies by and I forget it has been hundreds of miles since I have taken a day off. Plus, I need to switch my phone plan (Mint Mobile and Ryan Reynolds stink!!!) which will require time, patience, and Wi-Fi.
Recognizing that I was struggling to connect with other hikers had the intended effect; I had great encounters with both Lennon (not Lenin, I checked) and Squirrel this morning. Lennon and I shared jokes about Russia, stories of having lived in Massachusetts, and the changing dynamics with parents as you progress into adulthood. Talk about scratching the surface!
And as far as Squirrel, I had passed her last night going up a mountain, then saw her at a road junction this morning, trying to hitchhike (with a dead phone) to the same place ~I thought~ I was about to walk to. I offered my charging bank, checked my map, and began walking what ~I thought~ would be 2.5mi to a country store. Squirrel decided to stay put and try her hand at hitching a ride. After about 2 miles, I concluded I was nowhere close to where I needed to be, and turned around only to run into Squirrel again after about a mile…
We had both given up, me on walking there, her on hitching there, and I kid you not, she had just muttered “I’m just going to call a shuttle…” when one drove by! Mind you, this was on a very remote road where few cars were passing… Long story short, we all got where we needed to go, thanks to some next-level luck (it was really 9 miles each way to the country store…). And the interactions were deeper than the ones I had been finding; I guess I just need to allow for more natural spontaneity. And to add a corny cherry on top, perhaps I had to allow myself to get a little bit lost to find what I had been missing. OK, enough of that.
As an aside, I also have a newfound fascination of ants. After placing a crumb in the path of a lone ant, I watched its Herculean effort to bring it somewhere else. It dropped it several times; finally the crumb broke into small pieces. I then gave it one of the smaller pieces which it could better manage. And back up the rock it went! I’d like to think it was sharing it with its family of ants. It was in that moment, that I too felt like an ant. With less legs. And fewer mouths to feed.
Time to keep marching!
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Jun 15, 2026
In classic Whack-A-Mole style, I took the morning nice and slow, then decided to do 20-something miles after noon. And I think something like 10 miles after 6 which was a new land-speed record for me. But it felt great!
My reason for doing so is that I am a tortilla and a tuna packet away from being out of food, so I wanted to be as close as possible to the Montebello General Store when it opens at 8am. In my quest to take in enough calories, I grossly underestimated how much food I’d need to get to Waynesboro. So I am adapting my plan a bit, and will need to do a 5mi detour before I get back on the trail. Such is life!
Setting up camp with my headlamp was surprisingly easy – especially since after sending things home, there are far fewer things to unpack. And I haven’t re-weighed my pack, but I’d guess I probably got rid of 6-7lbs, plus the glass jar of strawberry jam I was silly enough to pack out. As much as I love PB&Js on the fly, I will not be making that mistake again. Ounces and pounds matter out here!
It went from 90+ degrees and super humid the last few days to mid-70, sunny and dry air all day today. It was truly perfect hiking weather. And all the water sources got topped off with the rain showers. BUT. I received an email today, only the second one I’ve gotten from the AT folks, that between miles 810-890 (roughly) there have been tons of reported norovirus cases. Like they sent the email to everyone on the trail. And that’s exactly where I’m at.
So that means to me, that I’ve caught up to the tail end of the “bubble”, and that I need to be diligent in staying away from these sickly hikers. Wash my hands a lot, not go to shelters, etc. I am probably just going to try to do big miles and get to Harpers Ferry ASAP. I don’t like being around a bunch of infected folks.
Also, I’ve been struggling a little bit to connect to my fellow hikers. With the recent exception of Upbeat, and a handful of friends I haven’t seen for weeks now, I’m not finding myself having anything in common with the people I run across. Even though we all have this huge thing in common, which is hiking the AT! I try to be friendly, introduce myself, ask people questions, but I find that more often than not, the conversational back-and-forth is not really reciprocated. I often have great surface-level interactions when passing people on the trail, but for every one of those, I get two weird blank stares, mumblings, whatevers, by people seemingly too cool or too smoked out to interact with other hikers.
I’m not going to let it stop me from trying! I hope I’m not intimidating 🙁 or even worse, that I’m no longer cool? Or perhaps that I was never cool in the first place? Oh man…
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Jun 14, 2026
I haven’t been delivering the quality content that my faithful readers deserve and rightfully expect – so tonight, I am going to make a sandwich for you all. Follow along below (no, my mind is still very much intact; if I am going to continue to do this daily I need to make it fun for myself, too):
We’re going to go bottom up here because that’s a seemingly more sensible way of assembling a sandwich.
Bread: rye. A VERY interesting Cape Codder took 30 minutes of our time (we allowed it to him, but still) on trail several days back to talk to us about all things wheat, the chromosomal values of different breeds, the real mystery of the Coca-Cola recipe, the Salem Witch Trials, etc. I had to cut him off so we could continue our hiking, but it was a very enlightening conversation (if you can call it that) nonetheless. Speaking of rye, he seemed no stranger to the effects of lysergic chemical reactions.
Meat: venison. Sorry to my vegan readers, but there are deer galore in Virginia. And they are too friendly for their own good. They are nice looking critters, so it’s a bit of a shame, but bear meat seems like it’d be too tough and tortoises are too harmless. And the fowl out here are aggressive. Bambi sandwich it is.
Cheese: generic cheese. I don’t get passed on the trail often (shoutout to the 6 or 7 people that I know are much faster than me, and the likely countless more I haven’t met), but a Frenchman with the trail name Cheese passed me today. So on the sandwich he goes. Two other people also passed me today – I’ve been deep into my audiobooks since Upbeat decided to stay at the hostel for a zero day and some UFC. Goodbye for now, my Finnish friend!
Sauce: a homemade blueberry compote, perhaps. One of my favorite things in the world is eating wild fruit, and today marks day 1 of my fru(it)-hike. No, this will not end up with me at an urgent care. I need the antioxidants. Whatever the birds and the bears leave will be mine.
No crust, triangle cut.
Now that’s fully assembled, generic cheese and all, it sounds disgusting. Do your best to keep it down. But hiker hunger is real so I am going to dive in and enjoy (ha-ha). Adieu!
P.S. hiking was good. I got rained on a little bit on the final two miles to the shelter. I set up my tent next to a beautiful sounding stream. Back to it again tomorrow 🙂
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Jun 13, 2026
Hiking the Appalachian Trail requires a lot of tiny decisions, daily. If ever I was indecisive, this is really beating it out of me. The decision of consequence today was – to shelter, or to hostel? The answer ended up being, to hostel.
It’s a fairly easy answer to come to when your clothes smell bad. So now it is time for food, a couch, and learning how to play Pearl Jam! Tomorrow I will be 800mi in 🙂
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Jun 12, 2026
Short update today – using Upbeat’s phone connection. Ended up doing more miles than anticipated today due to an unforeseen circumstance. We then trail ran to get ahead of a big thunderstorm. Safe and sound, into Glasgow tomorrow!
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Jun 11, 2026
After a nice leisurely morning of continental breakfast, a wonderful first-time Kroger experience, and Apple TV, I set back on the trail after Daleville en route to Glasgow then Waynesboro. There are some amazing views ahead and I am entirely here for it. Got trail magic again today (seriously that makes about 15 times! The trail is so good to me). I have been on a PB&J kick because I think the macros are conducive to hiking hard. Anywhom, made it to Bobletts Shelter, going to try to eat some of my pack weight down and get some rest. Good night!
33.3%!
PB&J kick
A trail magician
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Jun 10, 2026
It’s official – I am out of Southern Virginia, and the Triple Crown of Dragons Tooth, McAfee Knob, and Tinker Cliffs is donezo! It tooks 50k steps, but Upbeat and I got to Daleville for a bit of Mexican food and positioned ourselves for a Kroger resupply tomorrow. What outrageous fun!
I’m going to share my 3 new baby carrots to look forward to:
1) After 2mi tomorrow, I will be 33% of the way done with the trail
2) I’m really excited to make it to the Shenandoah National Forest
3) I don’t think I have ever been to a Kroger, so I’ll get excited for that tomorrow!
Thank you for reading as always, and I will catch you all on the flip-side!
McAfee Knob!
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Jun 9, 2026
Checking in live from the booming metropolis of Catawba, VA. Did the first leg of the Virginia Triple Crown this morning, Dragons Tooth, and am now staying at Huckleberry’s Hostel (with homemade chili over baked potato on the docket for this evening). Played fetch with a dog. Got paid a Big KitKat to watch another guys dog while he went into a gas station. Watched another guys stuff as he disappeared for a half an hour for some reason.
Feels crazy to have now done 700+ miles on the trail. In a couple days I will be a third of the way done, as far as mileage is concerned. After tomorrow I’ll be out of Southern Virginia, and will need to switch maps on the FarOut app. Upcoming is McAfee Knob (an iconic photo opportunity) and the ever-elusive third leg of the Triple Crown I can’t remember. Then eventually it’ll be onto the Shenandoah Nat For, the Blue Ridge Parkway, the “wayside” restaurants that allow you to carry less food and pig out as you walk. Really excited for my food tour to begin.
We may perhaps get a bit of rain here the next few days – which I’m okay with because it seems desperately needed. Getting all the usual hostel chores done. Nothing else unusual to report. Until next time,
Whack-A-Mole out
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Jun 8, 2026
Yesterday I talked about manifesting bears. By talking about not seeing bears. Fortunately, the power works both ways. I will explain why:
Since Upbeat told me he has only had trail magic once on the trail, I’ve had this ringing in my ears, but I have refused the thought, and CERTAINLY have not said anything. Well today, sure as God’s got sandals, I got hollered at coming down from the trail, beckoned over to the parking lot…
Dopamine ensued.
Come to find out, hot dogs, fresh off the grill, TRAIL JUICE (gatorade powder, iced/sweet tea), and brownies. Wow. Thank you Alan/Allen. He has been doing trail magic 25yrs. The AT community goes hard!
Otherwise, it was a solid mileage day. A couple big ascents (MAXIMUM EFFORT) and lots of technical ridge hiking. Easy day tomorrow into Huckleberry’s Hostel to do some laundry, get some more food, and give the body a little rest before hammering out the rest of southern Virginia.
Thanks for reading – shoutout Randy Baker!
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Jun 7, 2026
Leading up to today, for weeks, I have been telling anyone who will listen that I have yet to see a bear on the trail. I think the reason for that is three-fold: I don’t look for them, I avoid places where people encounter them, and to a degree, it’s just sheer luck, or lack thereof (as for why I tell people – it’s relevant to the trail, I’m perplexed by it, and my data brain is trying to come up with a %age of people who have seen >0 bears). At this point of the trail, my bear-blindness definitely makes me a minority; I know several people who have had their food eaten, face-to-face encounters, mama bear and cub situations, furry butts scurrying up or down the mountain sightings. So the bears are certainly bear-ing this year. And that’s fine, we’re all stomping around their home, leaving crumbs of highly processed foods everywhere we go.
But when I put my tinfoil & bearskin hat on and start shouting from the rooftops that there are no bears on trail, I know exactly what kind of energy I am ushering into my life. Thinking and talking like that puts you in the “priority queue” as far as the universe is concerned, and the humble pie goes right into the oven. It is during these moments though that I still look for a rocking chair or makeshift stump to knock on, because I would really be fine without any encounters…
Would have been fine*, I should say, because I must have left some wood un-knocked and sure enough this morning, up on a ridge, 30-40ft ahead of me with its head down getting into a snack sat a big old black bear. Wave of calm stayed over me – I felt safe, we were a good distance apart, I saw him before he saw me, so my gut reaction was to make some noise and coerce him along. It worked easily, and off he went on his merry way. Humble pie served fresh out of the oven with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream? I’ll take just the one slice, thank you.
My Finnish hiking partner for the day, Upbeat, hadn’t seen one either, and he lagged behind a bit too far and we weren’t able to get him marked down for a sighting. But! The lid is off, Virginia has bears! Him and I are planning to do 20mi tomorrow, and 14 the following day – and you can bet I am going to be keeping my eyes peeled. Is there a punch buggy game for bears?
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(This is just me being a goofball)
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Jun 6, 2026
The short summary of today – it felt great. A wholesome breakfast (I got multiple plates of). Some amazing views. I got to chat with Splinter lots to pass the time. Solid elevation gains. I GOT TO PAINT A WHITE BLAZE. I finally feel like myself again, even with a full pack + the extra food I am going to start carrying. I wasn’t happy to go from 198lbs -> 183lbs so quickly. I didn’t want to drop below 180lbs at all, so I am going to consciously take in more calories. No more fasted hiking for the time being :(. Also, hiking while fighting off a nasal bite/sting infection was tough. And that is no more, so back to business!
I felt compelled today at two separate times to have a moment of silence for four people, and figured I’d share as many of you knew three of them, and the rest of you minus a few know one.
Atop a large pile of rocks, on an ascending ridge line, I felt called to hold space for Dawn, Lane, and Pete, three Clerk employees near and dear to the hearts of many. I had been thinking about each of them off-and-on during this particular ascent and the journey as a whole, but standing over a large wooded valley, I stopped, let time stand still, and felt each of them to the extent I could. It’s a small gesture, but it felt right in that moment to honor them explicitly. A steady, determined (Pete) but gentle and unmistakable breeze (Dawn) began rolling up the valley, through the lush vibrant green forest (Lane). Like I said, it was a small moment, but it felt special. They were each very special individuals who touched so many. And for a time today they were in spirit on the AT with me!
Less than 10 minutes later, I felt called to do the same for Poppy, whose presence I often feel with me both in memory and in spirit (and sometimes even in mannerism, which makes me chuckle). I knew I had to find a sunnier spot in the trail to take the time for him. Without much thought, I found one such spot, steadied myself, quieted my mind, and brought every essence of Poppy as I could onto the trail with me. I looked up into the sky, as he may have, and was greeted by two things: the sun (duh), and a cloud shaped like a sea turtle! But because of where it sat in relation to the sun, it glowed as if the green band of a rainbow was covering its shell. Thinking it was my glasses, which have several special coatings, I removed them only to find the same tinted turtle, albeit much blurrier now. The light really was doing something special for this cloud I stumbled upon – how cool?!
Of course, the significance is we used to go to the Monterey Bay Aquarium lots, and to other cool spots on the seashore and I believe we’d sometimes see sea turtles. And a couple years ago, after Poppy’s passing, my mom got me a sweatshirt full of sea turtles. Duuuuuuuuuuude!!!! (Finding Nemo reference). I didn’t take a picture because when magic strikes I sometimes find it best not to. But I’ll remember that mountain moment for a long time, and I’ll stash it in my collection of other happy Poppy memories.
Thank you for allowing me to share if you have made it this far. A lot of folks say the trail and being out in nature tends to make you emotional… today was the closest I’ve gotten to that so far thinking about all those special people. Minus the time “Trouble” by Avicii came on shuffle after too much coffee on a sunny morning. Any whom.
Keeping the SOBOs on trail
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Jun 5, 2026
Not Woods Hole Massachusetts, but Woods Hole Hostel in Pearisburg, VA. Super cool spot! Getting dinner here tonight and breakfast here tomorrow. Resupplied, showered, laundering, and excited to get back on the trail tomorrow! There is a guitar, so I intend to progress my learning.
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Jun 4, 2026
Well hello there. I cold-plunged! In a waterfall somewhere in SoVa. It felt really nice on the feet, ankles, and knees. Shoutout Arctic Bath & Coffee in St Pete, FL! Landed myself 2 cheeseburgers and 2 corndogs at the world famous Trent’s Grocery. Tomorrow I am going to go to the equally if not more famous Woods Hole Hostel, at least for a bit. Tent site tonight has nice running water sounds, should be a nice evening.
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Current check-in plus the last few updates nearby.
Jun 3, 2026
Hi! It was a great day today – perfect weather, very doable terrain, nice people along the trail. I finished the audiobook for Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas (zoinks!) and a brief-ish history of the AT, which was very interesting and relevant, and I have now moved onto Coach Becker’s suggestion, Atlas Shrugged (which I am absolutely loving so far. It reminds me quite a bit of When We Were Orphans, but with more characters ‘spoking’ off the main plot. Who in the world is John Gault?).
I am excited to pass the 600-mile mark tomorrow, and have a couple legendary AT hostels coming up this week to look forward to. And swimming at the Dismal Falls. The legs and feet feel good, and I’ll likely get back to the mileage I was doing before NoseGate.
I need to clarify two things I had previously stated which are now incorrect:
1) I am cutting my hostel streak short – my nose is feeling better and there are none around. I had to stretch the legs today and put some miles on! Hopefully the swelling is further reduced tomorrow. Fortunately it hasn’t impeded my breathing, it’s just uncomfortable.
2) Yellow Ledbetter by Pearl Jam is beyond my current skill-level! So perhaps I will pivot my plan of learning riffs to instead learn foundational basics, which will allow me to understand more easily how to play Yellow Ledbetter. More to come on this – I won’t be defeated in this endeavor (the hike, or the Pearl Jam).
Goodnight, and thank you for reading!
Sundance
Just a little valley view
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Jun 2, 2026
Thank you for all of the nose wishes! I am giving myself permission to stay in hostels until this thing clears up, so tonight I am at Burke’s Garden Hostel (staying in a renovated Amish pole barn!) which is great because a storm just crossed the valley as I got settled in. I am going to start learning guitar riffs at each hostel with a guitar, so I learned Come As You Are by Nirvana last night, and tonight I am going to learn some Pearljam. Then by the end of this journey perhaps I’ll remember enough to show off when the opportunity presents. Free Waffles!
A view from today!
The storm looming on the horizon
Getting goofy and weird out here on the trail!
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Jun 1, 2026
Hello again from the Quarter Way Inn… I decided that my legs (and nose) needed a 0 day, so here I am! So far, I have watched:
-The Wedding Singer
-Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
-Under Siege
-Marked for Death
(Yes, I’m on a Seagal kick.) Hopefully someone else takes over the VHS and I can be freed from the corniness. I am going to take another antihistamine this evening and see about getting back on the trail tomorrow. I must have gotten bit or stung by something. It is rather uncomfortable but I do believe that the swelling is turning the corner.
On the bright side, there is wonderful breakfast here! 10/10 would recommend if anyone is ever in the Ceres, VA area.
One month sans razor
This hostel is beautiful
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May 31, 2026
Checking in from quite literally the Quarter Way Inn! I am in hostel heaven: they have a VHS player, puzzles, and a front porch swing. I had the best lemonade maybe ever today at the Sweetwater Restaurant, ordered the biggest pizza of my life last night to the shelter, and got stung or bit on the nose by something, but I prevail! Taking a zero day to watch old movies is so tempting…
My poor nose
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May 30, 2026
I decided to get up early today and go for it so I can reach the Quarter Way Inn tomorrow, and it was a success! Lots of rolling hills today, and finally some ridges again. Ordered a pizza from the trail-side phone – tip: don’t press 1 first like it says. Pizza for tonight, pizza for tomorrow, pizza forever.
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May 29, 2026
One month, living in the forest, hiking the AT, complete! What a fun journey it has been so far. As promised, here are some assorted ramblings from my first 30 days on the trail:
When I first started, I honestly had no clue what I was doing. Admittedly, in hindsight, I was ill-prepared. I left my shoes outside my tent to get rained on, I invited mice into my tent via my food, I hadn’t learned to use my water purifier prior to flying to Georgia. I had camped in the yard a handful of nights, of which I went back inside to sleep in my bed 3 of them. I hiked 7 miles (flatly) with my pack (packed much lighter than what I carry now) another handful of times. I did however fill in a lot of the experience gaps with tips, tricks, anecdotes, and straight-up lies about the trail. That gave me a false confidence that I knew what I was getting myself into, but also a real confidence that I’d be able to figure it all out anyway, like countless hikers before me had. Belief in my own adaptability outweighed my lack of sureness (and skill), and the gamble has paid off thus far
I’ve been asked how I can afford to do the trail. There are a bunch of factors, and I’ve made a lot of sacrifices (and have had a lot of help), but after being out here a month, it’s clear that I couldn’t afford NOT to do the trail. Getting to do this is a wonderful privilege, and this is truly one of the most unique and fulfilling chapters of my life. Knowing what I now know, and in anticipation of the rest of the journey, I would have sacrificed even more if needed to give this a try. Not to say I’m going to adapt my lifestyle to become an avid long-hiker now, but in the present, it is a very rewarding lifestyle to live. I no longer see it as I am putting my life on pause to hike the AT. In some ways it has felt like my life has been on pause for a long time, and by starting the trail I pressed play
For a while, I was carefully planning each day the night before. I have since backed off on that, and now make decisions more or less on the fly. Letting go of the reins has been a relief; I was overexerting control on the trek and treating it as I would a project with a strict deadline and many critical milestones (still working on undoing this line of thinking – when I push myself enjoyably, the progress takes care of itself), whereas it is really more of an open-ended journey in which I can leave logistics up to fate and how I am feeling at a particular moment. Outside of figuring out a way to obtain more food when I start to run low, this trail offers the convenience to be able act in this way, and I have found it to be extremely forgiving of missteps. It’s not an invitation to act carelessly or to lack vigilance, but I have gathered that it is perfectly okay to go with the flow. I’d happily take that with me when I leave the trail, please!
When a stretch of trail feels difficult, I reorient my thoughts quickly, by asking myself rhetorically:
-This feels difficult, but relative to what? (A double-session football practice, a Sunday long run while marathon training, doing long hours of computer work?)
-What was I expecting this to be? (Easy? Surely not. The physical demands of the trail was one of the factors that drove me to it).
Not as ways of invalidating the suffering, but by embracing that this undertaking is categorically different than anything else I have experienced. Thus, I believe that seeing the trail as ‘difficult’ is a choice (my wonderful and wise neighbor Donna helped me understand this), especially when framed against all the other things that are ‘difficult’. The trail is an objectively big undertaking in its scope and gravity, but it’s only subjectively difficult
Furthermore, fostering a high tolerance for discomfort and keeping a positive attitude no matter the circumstances are two of the most important traits worth embodying on the trail. I had a jumpstart with both given I’m an adrenaline junkie and have a couple of tattoos, and from all my time playing sports, running, and doing hard physical labor (and navigating hurricane aftermath), but the trail has tested and certainly sharpened each value as well. Although avoiding discomfort and unfortunate circumstances entirely is skillful in and of itself, or at the very least, just plain lucky, it’s not always possible to do so out here. The trail is ever-changing and physically demanding, our bodies are simultaneously strong and fragile, Murphy’s Law loves visiting from time-to-time… so being flexible/tough and eternally optimistic are butt-savers, and well-worth the occasionally-needed mental gymnastics
In addition to the personality traits above, “controlling the controllables” is really the name of the game… Terrain, elevation, weather, shelter/tent site/town locations are all well out of anyone’s hands. Attitude, routines, planning, executing, fueling yourself, hydrating, etc. are well-within everyone’s grasp, and that’s where I attempt to focus all of my mental energy. I run everything through that simple Serenity Prayer filter: is this something I can change or control? If the answer is no, the thought or worry goes the way of the dodo
Speaking of things you can control, early on someone said that out here (On It said it was Dreamcatcher), you have so much time to think that it’s beneficial to give thoughts and musings a definitive end, so they don’t stew forever. I have enjoyed employing that method, and like Elsa, I find myself deciding to let things go A.K.A. accept or surrender them (some things I’ve held onto for a long time! But out here you realize the mental toll letting things fester rent-free can have on you). It’s okay to kick the can down the road, or to kick it off the road entirely. I found that I was dragging too many proverbial cans down the road, like I had just gotten married or something, and on the trail that’s loud and disruptive. If only you could return your wasted thoughts for a $0.05 deposit, I’d have a clearer explanation on how I afforded the hike (I hope the metaphor landed)
Hopefully these thoughts are coherent enough to provide more insight into my world out here. I’d be happy to answer any general or specific questions about the journey or the trail, but in the meantime, a month in, I am going to continue playing it cool and keeping it fun. I’ll leave this update with my attempt at poetry for the day: Letting rain, tough terrain, and ankle pain roll off your back like a mane keeps the thru-hiker sane, and trail life far from mundane
![I [did] walk 500 miles…](https://ahikinghooper.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/IMG_7377-1024x768.jpeg)
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May 28, 2026
Leaving Damascus this morning there was a long detour trail, of which I am still on! I think it’s a 20mi detour or so because the “Virginia Creeper Trail” is currently undergoing some repairs and renovations. But there were some pretty views, and upon re-entering the official AT tomorrow, I will get to walk through the Grayson Highlands (wild horses!). So that is something to look forward to…
I have learned out here to keep 3 things in the hopper to look forward to… right now it is making it to the 500mi mark (tomorrow morning), walking through the Grayson Highlands, and swimming at Dismal Falls, then I’ll add making it to 550mi which will be 25% of the trail. After I get through those things, I will dangle myself three more carrots, and repeat this process until the only thing left I have to look forward to on the trail is finishing it. But that’s a long way away, so for now I will just keep setting small short-term milestones for myself. Baby carrots, if you will.
It has also been really nice getting some time to read (via my ears) some books I have been recommended or had on my own reading list for a long time. I have done 4 so far:
-A Million Little Pieces – a fictional autobiography
-When We Were Orphans – a historical fiction mystery thriller
-A Random Walk Down Wall Street – a meta analysis of investing strategies
-Man’s Search for Meaning – part autobiography, part psychology primer
If anyone has any recommendations or wants an accountability partner for reading a book, let me know and I’m happy to indulge in one! Shoutout Robby for giving me three suggestions today.
Tomorrow, being my official 1 month on the trail date, I will share more about life on the trail for those interested, because 30 days is statistically significant and I have a little more experience under my belt now.
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May 27, 2026
I am outta GA/NC/TN!! And I got my Official AT Hangtag signifying that I really am indeed a “thru-hiker”, part of the Class of 2026! This was a big symbolic milestone, and now I don’t need to stop in WV and can attempt the 4-state challenge 😉
I have been criss-crossing lots of people I enjoy camping around: Carnage and I had lunch together, then I met Andrew (who I trail-named Firebird) who is cycling the Trans-Am trail!!! It’s 4,200 miles from Virginia to Oregon – his Dad did the inaugural one 50yrs ago. Splinter and I ended up @ the same hostel as well. So even though I’m caught in front of and behind some of my favorite hiking pals, I am still finding fun and interesting people to interact with!
I didn’t necessarily need a resupply or to sleep in a bed again, but it’s kind of a “when in Rome” situation because Damascus is in many ways the social hub of the AT. There’s a long detour on the way out of town tomorrow, and as a purist, I am going to of course hike the whole thing. I haven’t shared this on here, but I do plan to do my hike within certain constraints:
-Hit every white blaze, take full official detours wherever applicable
-Do the entire hike with my pack (25lbs ‘dry weight’ w/out food & water / 35lbs with a full bear canister of food and 2L of water)
-Avoid hitching rides or shuttling unnecessarily if possible (I will of course if the need arises)
From what I gather that makes me a ‘purist’, but I am okay with that, even though it has sort of a snobby connotation. I need to find a way to not be annoying about it, because it has been seeming to come up more on the trail as aqua-blazing and shortcutting opportunities become available. Hiking your own hike applies to every type of hike and made up genre and sub genre of hiking we claim… just being out here is great and a privilege as Splinter wisely pointed out.
But for now and the foreseeable future, I am going to try to hold onto my AT trail purity and see how far I can make it playing by my own imaginary rules. Back to trail tomorrow!
Another one bites the dust
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May 26, 2026
Another day, another dollar! Nothing groundbreaking to report. Lots of music. Minimal views. Easy terrain. Good spirits. Into Damascus tomorrow!
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May 25, 2026
It got a little rainy last night, but I woke up this morning, made my coffee, put my headphones in, and got to work! That’s my recipe for when I want to be somewhere by a certain time, to beat the rain etc. Play some upbeat music, high BPMs, like today I played some KC and the Sunshine Band and Avicii, and trudged through the humidity (which seems to have just arrived on the trail; welcome).
I feel better when I am physically challenging myself, anyway. It’s an awesome way to take the mind off things, and get lost in nature and the trail. I hike the amount of miles that feel natural when I am pushing myself. After a month on the trail, perhaps I’ll give some more reflections about this whole journey, but I will say now that the trail is as fun/difficult/challenging as you let it be / make it for yourself.
Whisper and I got to Boots Off Hostel shortly after 2, and it was wonderful to rid myself of days worth of hiking stench. Took the van into town for a resupply, ate too much, socialized with my fellow hikers, and now I am prepping to do it all again!
The most exciting thing is I am 2 hiking days away from Damascus… Virginia… Which holy cow how did that happen so quick. And also, it’s a quarter of the trail, so once I enter, I’m going to be there for a while. A problem for another day. Goodnight!
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May 24, 2026
I crossed the 400mi mark this morning, after what was quite possibly the best breakfast I’ve ever had. Everything from scratch, buffet style, the best quality ingredients, holy smokes it was good. I’ll add a picture of (one of) my plate(s) soon.
Then it was the complete opposite of yesterday – pretty good weather, super easy hiking. Yesterday was the toughest day on the trail, but I like working extra hard on rainy days. Mentally it’s a bigger challenge and I enjoy being uncomfortable and remaining calm and collected. And tough weather conditions are what great gear is for (shoutout Anna).
The plan for tonight is to set up camp and do an easy 15 miles into town tomorrow for a bed, a shower, laundry, and probably some more town food. As Dozer and Cash said last night (both very experienced long-distance hikers): after a while, thru-hiking turns into a food tour. I’m not going to complain about that!
Also, how cool is this: Cash started in Key West in March, and has hiked to the point where I am at now. He plans to continue hiking past the AT route to Quebec, and will be 1 of ~25 people to thru-hike the entire “ECT” (I believe that’s what it is called). You get to meet the most amazing people out here.
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May 23, 2026
Packed some miles on in the rain. Roan Highlands views spoiled. 6-7/10 highest points on the trail traversed. Most notably, passed Drew Boysen (YouTuber) who started SoBo in January. At a campground, live music, got a burger, fried cheese, NA Corona and an ice cream sundae. Best bfast on the trail tomorrow at 7:45 AM sharp. THE TRAIL ROCKS.
A brief view, mostly fog and heavy rain all day
Finally, a view! (After 25mi)
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May 22, 2026
Good evening! Basically did a replay of yesterday. Easy to have Groundhog Days and find deja vu out here, but I don’t think the fresh air will ever get old. Rain held off all day and all my stuff dried out, which was a huge win. On It and I landed at the shelter nice and early, and I got to see Dozer again! It has been weeks. His friend Cash started in Key West in March, and is now with us (there are levels to this…). For reference, his base weight (w/out food & water) is 11lbs I think? Mine is… 29lbs? And you learn quickly out here how much water weighs. I can feel the 2L quite a bit when they’re full.
Tomorrow may try to put on some bigger miles. The “best breakfast on the AT” is 25 miles away. If you know me at all, you know that has my name written all over it. Just gotta figure out some logistics to get there and pay the night before for it…
Any whom. Thank you all for the messages. I can’t believe how many people have stopped to write, and the messages admittedly fill me with joy and gratitude as I’m out here. When I get service and see that my website has emailed me, it always puts a smile on my face. It feels amazing to have so many wonderful people in my corner. I am blessed beyond belief.
-Whack-A-Mole
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May 21, 2026
As I’ve said before, it’s always tough leaving ‘town’ and the new and old friends you make and see, but I hit the trail early this morning, and after a big rain day, I landed safely at camp. When I said I was going to take it easy, I guess I meant I was going to do less miles by choice, but the rain aided in my moderation. Like the winter, or crying baby on a plane, it makes you appreciate the flip side all that much more. And then On It (my first trail friend) came stumbling into the tent site which of course was a welcome surprise. Silver linings (playbook is one of my favorite movies – fun fact).
Tomorrow there is also a bit of a detour due to Hurricane Helene, and I’ll just say that it’s nice to navigate the aftermath by a choice of my own making, rather than out of survival and necessity. It pains me to see that there is still aftermath, here and back home in Florida, and that there was ever ‘math’ at all honestly. But such is life, and I love being reminded of the resilience of people via rebuild and restore efforts. We always move forward, just like me, on the trail, tomorrow… ¡adieu!
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May 20, 2026
Lots of positives today!
I went back into town for a Groovy Smoothie, and to pick up a frozen pizza for tonight. Then I got back to the hostel and swam for a couple hours, ran into some trail friends, and picked up a real book “The Creative Act: A Way of Being” by Rick Rubin. So all is well on the mental health front..
On the physical health front, I am ditching the Hoka Speedgoats for a (slightly larger) pair of Topos Traverse “the ultimate thru-hiking shoe”… more room in the toe box, rock plate for the tough terrain, the size up because most thru-hikers tend to gain between 0.5-1.5 sizes on their hikes, and some other features that are superior to my Hokas. Although my blisters haven’t been an issue whatsoever, the extra space is welcomed, and hopefully the drop on these offers a bit more support to my achilles.
I’m excited to see how tomorrow goes once I get back on the trail. I’m nervous but hopeful that easing back into the mileage will keep the pre-existing ankle stuff at bay. I don’t want to make these updates all about that though, so from here forward assume that no news is good news!
Current check-in plus the last few updates nearby.
May 19, 2026
Whack-A-Mole, checking-in live from the great metropolis of Erwin, TN. The forecast is probably going to rain tomorrow, therefore, coupled with a flaring up of my achilles heel (my actual achilles), the mole whacker is staying put tomorrow. I am going to practice Zen and the Art of Hiking More Slowly (temporarily) while enjoying the fruits of the Nolichucky River.
I don’t know if I had shared the origin tale of my trail name, so here it is, as I tell it to others:
“The first night, I made the mistake of sleeping with my food near the shelter, woke up to mice between my tent body and rainfly, and started punching away” thus, Whack-A-Mole was born. Before PETA gets on me, I was just lightly jabbing them. Fist not fully closed. There’s a reason I’m not called “Rat Poison” or “The Mouse Slayer”… I love mice. Just not at 3am with only a thin mesh between me and them.
Anyways… thank you for reading! I hear those urging me to slow down, and I promise more selfies (as my friends have pointed out, this would be pretty easy to fake 😉 from the comfort of my Mom’s basement or something)
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Current check-in plus the last few updates nearby.
May 18, 2026
Howdy! Late update. I’ve found myself hiking slower in the morning and having to play catch-up in the late afternoon. Still figuring out pacing!!
Last night at camp a tree split or fell nearby to the tent. New fear unlocked. BUT the day prior, and I didn’t mention this in the update because I was tired and forgot, 20 seconds after I had passed a spot on the trail, out of seemingly thin air, a tree fell directly onto the trail. A large tree. That looked kind of alive. It was eerie, but now I am a believer that trees falling in the forest DO in fact make a sound. As far as where bears poop… well I’ve seen enough to know the answer to that as well.
Easy walk into town today (tomorrow…). Having lots of vivd dreams out here. Until next time!
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May 17, 2026
Well… It’s not all sunshine and rainbows out here folks. Tough terrain and lethargy led me to a rough start to the day. And I finished my audiobook and have listened to all the songs on my phone x50/ea. BUT! I turned it around and ended up doing maybe the most miles I’ve done yet? I’m kind of racing to Erwin(Ervin?), TN so I can take a day off. There’s a smoothie shop there called Groovy Smoothie and I’m about to give them a ton of business.
Hopefully I get up earlier tomorrow and don’t have to hike ‘til 8pm. But definitely need the beauty sleep now.
Deion- there are your 40k steps. Working on 50k now
Nick- I’m going to shoot for a “marathon week” in Virginia where I do 26.2×7 days in a row. You’ll have to excuse my inability to do it now – feel free to look at a map which shows the elevation of the area I’m hiking for a better excuse as to why
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Current check-in plus the last few updates nearby.
May 16, 2026
It’s always a bit of a doozy leaving the comfort of town, but I was full of pizza and muffins and NA beer to hit the trail early-ish this morning. THEN! I ran into a hydration station for a cycling race, and was given not one, not two, but three energy bars! Shoutout Southeast Gravel. THEN! I came across a sign at a crossing that said free cookies, and sure enough, there were homemade peanut butter cookies on a great lady’s porch. Grateful, lucky, happy out here on the trail. At camp, going to sleep soundly tonight. Adios.
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Current check-in plus the last few updates nearby.
May 15, 2026
Landed in Hot Springs @ noon today. What a cool town. Super hiker-friendly. I was going to do a “zero day” and spend a whole day here being lazy, but the trail calls. Got an awesome campsite right by a big river, and am going to hang out there and stargaze before packing up and hitting the trail again tomorrow. Resupplied, laundered, well-fed, and ready to make my way out of North Carolina (even though I love it here). Shoutout to Ed and David, thank you for being interested in the trip. C ya l8r
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May 14, 2026
Folks your prayers are working magic!! I am feeling stronger every day, and enjoying this so much. Trying to savor it as much as possible. The support you all have given is incredible.
I had the best night of sleep while camping on the trail yet last night, after the most miles I’ve done so far. I got to go up to Max Patch today (picture big grassy plateau tucked between lots of beautiful mtn’s), sit and eat beef jerky and reflect gratefully. It was my favorite solo moment on the trail so far.
Lots of great folks out here, excited to get into town tomorrow to do some more eating (and to wash these clothes!!). Good night, all.
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Current check-in plus the last few updates nearby.
May 13, 2026
Got some hiking done today!! Really wanted to get myself in a position to close in on Hot Springs and we’re almost there. Tent is set up, food is eager to be prepared, legs are sufficiently tired. All is well. Thank you all for the outpouring of support I absolutely love reading the messages, public and otherwise. Will upload more pics once cozied into Hot Springs.
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Current check-in plus the last few updates nearby.
May 12, 2026
After getting all fueled up in Gatlinburg, I hit the trail today and made my way out to Tri-Corner Knob Shelter. This will likely be my last night in the Smokies 🙁 but I am looking forward to continuing on and seeing more states and such. I put my watch on my ankle today and got way more steps… so I don’t think it’s accurate either way. Trail mileage is the only thing that’s accurate… but smiles per hour are the only thing that matter and I’m breaking the speed limit on those!!
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May 11, 2026
I had a bunch of prolific things to share about today… but I’m staring down a full rack of ribs at Bennett’s Pit BBQ in Gatlinburg, TN (heaven?) and only so much is coming back to me. I did 20-some-odd miles today, climbed THE HIGHEST POINT ON THE TRAIL, made a new friend (Relic from the Great North), shuttled into town, did bathtub laundry, Walgreens resupply, and settled on what is hopefully a fantastic BBQ spot. No complaints. I don’t want to say trail legs bc I don’t want to jinx it… but trail legs?
-Whack-A-Mole
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May 10, 2026
Okay I need to pre-address some rumors because it’s only a matter of time before someone (like Nick) starts checking me about my walked mileage vs. my trail mileage. And to that, I say: I have the cheapest Garmin running watch available. I am using trekking poles. There is lots of elevation change. So my watch isn’t calculating my mileage and steps correctly. I only hike the white blazes so my mileage daily is at least that.
But hiking through the Great Smoky Mtn’s is so amazing. Lots of beautiful views. Lots of cool people. Legs and blisters feeling good, knock on wood. Clingman’s Dome coming up soon already!
Goodnight, Whack-A-Mole out!
![Still [White] Blazing!](https://ahikinghooper.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/IMG_7020-1024x768.jpeg)
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![Still [White] Blazing!](https://ahikinghooper.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/IMG_7034-1024x768.jpeg)
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![Still [White] Blazing!](https://ahikinghooper.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/IMG_7047-1024x768.jpeg)
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![Still [White] Blazing!](https://ahikinghooper.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/IMG_7024-1024x768.jpeg)
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Current check-in plus the last few updates nearby.
May 9, 2026
I have made it into Great Smoky Mtn National Park (Forest?), which honestly feels great because this was my Top 3 most-excited-for places on the trail. So time to embrace it and enjoy the beauty! Set up camp with “America” from VT (thank you for your service) and a true blue Australian from the Gold Coast. My pass is good for a week so I am going to see the sights and avoid bears. I will upload pics if/when I have a chance. Thank you for reading as always, and I hope you all are well 🙂
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Current check-in plus the last few updates nearby.
May 9, 2026
Gotta do a day after update today for cell service reasons! Yesterday was a tough one; my eyes were bigger than my stomach for sure, but I got to a good shelter and now can get to the famed Fontana Hilton! Need to get some supplies. Off to hiking 🙂
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May 7, 2026
Went waaaaay down a big mountain to the famed NOC (I didn’t bother flashing my proverbial thru-hiker card but there wasn’t much to do) and then waaay back up another mountain to get to camp. Looking out for my future self, really. Tomorrow I get to visit the famous Fontana Hilton (and go into Great Smoky Mountains NP?). Hit my head on a bunch of things today. Cleared concussion protocol already. Can’t remember what day it is anyway… so my birthday is…uhhh. 😉
Shoutouts Dreamcatcher, Horsepower, and On It for all taking trail names!!! Tried assigning a musical theatre major “La La Land” but she said the movie stunk. I beg to differ, La La Land
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Current check-in plus the last few updates nearby.
May 6, 2026
Hola. Had a great night sleep at The Grove shelter after resupplying at Ingles (a new experience for my Northerner self..) and the 76 (6…7..) Outfitter in downtown Franklin, then after a late-ish start had the easiest day of hiking on the trail so far. Getting stronger? Perhaps. It also rained torrentially all day so there was no one else on the trail, and I thrived off of The Lumineers, 6 bagels (that I ate before noon, mind you), and this new audiobook I’m digging. Made it to this Cold Gap Shelter place and get to go to the famed “NOC” tomorrow to lose my money!!
-Whack-A-Mole (yes, I’m embracing it)
Also- I don’t take onto account any trash talk into my daily mileage, but I welcome it nonetheless.
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Current check-in plus the last few updates nearby.
May 5, 2026
Hey there, did 12mi this morning then got picked up by a nice shuttle into the quaint little town of Franklin, NC where I’m going to stay at a hostel tonight. Legs are pretty beat after the last couple of days, and have matching pinkie toe blisters I need to take care of. Gonna head into town for a resupply and maybe a burger (or two) then get ready to hit the trail again tomorrow 🙂
P.S. I am backloading photos!
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May 4, 2026
Hey there checking in from some shelter way further than I wanted to go but here we are safe and sound. Lots of elevation today. Shooting to make it to Rock Gap tmrw for a 3:45 shuttle pickup then a hostel stay in Franklin, NC. Hiking still rocks!
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May 3, 2026
Howdy! I left the hostel this morning (shoutout Stanimals for the amazing breakfast) and got to my spot at Plum Orchard Gap Shelter. Some nice vistas today, lots of ups and downs (literally, not figuratively. It was a great day!). Split off from the crew to go unlock new characters. Sorry for no pics, there is a formatting issue. I’ll try to find a solution, but if not, just imagine really pretty mountainscapes for 8hrs a day. It’s really nice out here
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Current check-in plus the last few updates nearby.
May 2, 2026
Checking in from Stanimals Around the Bend! After 10mi, we decided a shower and a bed to sleep in and a half day off trail was the best option, and I don’t regret it one bit. Plus, now I can watch the Celtics play game 7!! But otherwise, I’m really enjoying being out here in nature every day. Going to resupply some snacks courtesy of this little mountain gem, and hit a big breakfast before getting after it again tomorrow. Back-adding some pictures of the travels
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May 1, 2026
Here we are on day 3 (I think?! It’s funny how quickly things start to blend together), and I feel really good. Robert – I met up with Sam and Charlotte yesterday, and they rock! We went up Blood Mtn together this morning then tacked on a bunch more miles to Low Gap Shelter. Expecting rain from 7pm to 7am, which isn’t much of a worry! I’ll add photos when I can, the service isn’t great and it’s tough to do while walking.
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Apr 30, 2026
Thank you all so much for all of the amazing messages, keep them coming! I left Hawk Mtn Shelter this morning around 8am and put in a full day of hiking til around 4pm at Woods Hole Shelter. Lots of rain and thunder and MICE last night but we prevailed. I have had two trailnames proposed to me – Change Up and Whack a Mole… the jury is still out on it
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Apr 29, 2026
I wrapped day one up a couple hours ago – I am officially on the A.T.! The approach trail was no joke, but I made it to the Southern Terminus and got my first dose of trail magic (thank you Stiches, ‘99). Met some great guys at the Hawk Mtn shelter, filled up my water, made myself dinner, and gonna rest these legs. Thank you for checking in!
I am officially started!
A cool stream
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Current check-in plus the last few updates nearby.
Apr 28, 2026
After a long travel day, I made it successfully to Amicalola Falls State Park and importantly, the Appalachian Trail approach trail (the AT-AT?)! I am so extremely thankful for the support of everyone who has helped me get this far. Tomorrow marks the true beginning of my journey 🙂
Be Aware!
Hair is overrated
Am I in the right spot?
Fancy living
Current check-in plus the last few updates nearby.
Log
Daily trail data, broken out separately from the journal cards.
| # | Update | Check-in | Location | Steps today | Walked today | At mile | Since last | To go |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 92 | Stuck @ 1524.8 | 7/28/26 @ 8:37pm | Auburn, MA | 0 | 0 mi | 1,524.8 | 0.0 | 673.1 |
| 91 | T-Minus 2 Days | 7/27/26 @ 8:34pm | Auburn, MA | 0 | 0 mi | 1,524.8 | 0.0 | 673.1 |
| 90 | Pack Attack | 7/26/26 @ 9:25pm | Auburn, MA | 0 | 0 mi | 1,524.8 | 0.0 | 673.1 |
| 89 | Go WooSox | 7/25/26 @ 8:27pm | Auburn, MA | 0 | 0 mi | 1,524.8 | 0.0 | 673.1 |
| 88 | Recovery (2010) | 7/24/26 @ 8:11pm | Auburn, MA | 0 | 0 mi | 1,524.8 | 0.0 | 673.1 |
| 87 | Crisis Somewhat Averted | 7/23/26 @ 2:30pm | Auburn, MA | 1,151 | 0.64 mi | 1,524.8 | 0.0 | 673.1 |
| 86 | Hooper Mama Rescue | 7/22/26 @ 8:03pm | Auburn, MA | 29,034 | 16.1 mi | 1,524.8 | 12.6 | 673.1 |
| 85 | I want to go home. | 7/21/26 @ 4:39pm | Salisbury, CT | 42,496 | 23.55 mi | 1,512.2 | 21.3 | 685.7 |
| 84 | 60k steps! | 7/20/26 @ 8:53pm | West Cornwall, CT | 60,015 | 33.26 mi | 1,490.9 | 30.3 | 707.0 |
| 83 | On the road again | 7/19/26 @ 8:15pm | Wingdale, NY | 23,400 | 13.02 mi | 1,460.6 | 8.2 | 737.3 |
| 82 | Rain Delay | 7/18/26 @ 3:48pm | New York, NY | 5,761 | 3.19 mi | 1,452.4 | 0.0 | 745.5 |
| 81 | NYC @ Hostel Anna & Pat | 7/17/26 @ 7:39pm | New York, NY | 31,778 | 17.61 mi | 1,452.4 | 8.4 | 745.5 |
| 80 | A poem, for you all | 7/16/26 @ 8:31pm | Holmes, NY | 55,890 | 30.97 mi | 1,444.0 | 28.0 | 753.9 |
| 79 | My Lowest Point | 7/15/26 @ 4:23pm | Garrison, NY | 32,258 | 17.88 mi | 1,416.0 | 12.2 | 781.9 |
| 78 | Yankees Suck | 7/14/26 @ 5:11pm | Tomkins Cove, NY | 35,809 | 19.84 mi | 1,403.8 | 16.8 | 794.1 |
| 77 | I’m Walkin’ Here! | 7/13/26 @ 8:18pm | Tuxedo, NY | 40,709 | 22.56 mi | 1,387.0 | 20.6 | 810.9 |
| 76 | This dang trail! | 7/12/26 @ 7:31pm | Hewitt, NJ | 47,159 | 26.15 mi | 1,366.4 | 23.9 | 831.5 |
| 75 | 60% = 0.6 = 6/10 = 3/5 | 7/11/26 @ 6:42pm | Sussex, NJ | 38,469 | 21.32 mi | 1,342.5 | 19.7 | 855.4 |
| 74 | NJ has no hands | 7/10/26 @ 8:14pm | Newton, NJ | 48,400 | 26.8 mi | 1,322.8 | 25.1 | 875.1 |
| 73 | Pushing PA | 7/9/26 @ 7:11pm | Delaware Water Gap, PA | 46,857 | 25.97 mi | 1,297.7 | 29.2 | 900.2 |
| 72 | Gotta Be Gone | 7/8/26 @ 7:10pm | Danielsville, PA | 38,510 | 21.34 mi | 1,268.5 | 21.0 | 929.4 |
| 71 | Mr. Brightside | 7/7/26 @ 6:33pm | New Tripoli, PA | 44,669 | 24.76 mi | 1,247.5 | 23.4 | 950.4 |
| 70 | Pocahontas | 7/6/26 @ 9:06pm | Hamburg, PA | 57,300 | 31.76 mi | 1,224.1 | 31.0 | 973.8 |
| 69 | William Penn | 7/5/26 @ 5:31pm | Pine Grove, PA | 38,592 | 21.39 mi | 1,193.1 | 21.3 | 1,004.8 |
| 68 | Happy 4th! | 7/4/26 @ 7:24pm | Tower City, PA | 44,294 | 24.5 mi | 1,171.8 | 21.6 | 1,026.1 |
| 67 | From Hero to Zero | 7/3/26 @ 3:23pm | Duncannon, PA | 564 | 0.31 mi | 1,150.2 | 0.0 | 1,047.7 |
| 66 | MW 4/5: Kind of Outdoorsy | 7/2/26 @ 11:25am | Duncannon, PA | 21,274 | 11.8 mi | 1,150.2 | 10.8 | 1,047.7 |
| 65 | MW 4/4: Am I okay? | 7/1/26 @ 9:20pm | Marysville, PA | 54,409 | 30.16 mi | 1,139.4 | 26.3 | 1,058.5 |
| 64 | MW 3/3: 1/2gal of iScream | 6/30/26 @ 7:25pm | Gardners, PA | 48,501 | 26.88 mi | 1,113.1 | 26.2 | 1,084.8 |
| 63 | MW 2/2: Pennsylvania | 6/29/26 @ 8:56pm | Fayetteville, PA | 50,391 | 27.9 mi | 1,086.9 | 28.6 | 1,111.0 |
| 62 | MW 1/1: MD 1st 30 Piece | 6/28/26 @ 8:33pm | Smithsburg, MD | 57,264 | 31.73 mi | 1,058.3 | 32.1 | 1,139.6 |
| 61 | Washington D.C. | 6/27/26 @ 9:25pm | Bolivar, WV | 24,366 | 13.5 mi | 1,026.2 | 0.0 | 1,171.7 |
| 60 | Almost Heaven! | 6/26/26 @ 6:36pm | Bolivar, WV | 29,286 | 16.24 mi | 1,026.2 | 12.0 | 1,171.7 |
| 59 | 1000 Club! | 6/25/26 @ 7:05pm | Round Hill, VA | 36,308 | 20.16 mi | 1,014.2 | 17.7 | 1,183.7 |
| 58 | M(ountain) G(ap) M(arket) | 6/24/26 @ 8:00pm | Bluemont, VA | 51,216 | 28.4 mi | 996.5 | 26.5 | 1,201.4 |
| 57 | Sandals, Jamaica | 6/23/26 @ 8:21pm | Front Royal, VA | 47,177 | 26.18 mi | 970.0 | 24.9 | 1,227.9 |
| 56 | With Arms Wide Open | 6/22/26 @ 6:39pm | Luray, VA | 29,876 | 16.58 mi | 945.1 | 14.0 | 1,252.8 |
| 55 | MIDSOMMAR | 6/21/26 @ 8:40pm | Stanley, VA | 48,271 | 26.76 mi | 931.1 | 23.9 | 1,266.8 |
| 54 | 900 | 6/20/26 @ 8:59pm | Grottoes, VA | 43,217 | 23.96 mi | 907.2 | 21.4 | 1,290.7 |
| 53 | Blackrock | 6/19/26 @ 8:34pm | Crozet, VA | 41,688 | 23.15 mi | 885.8 | 20.5 | 1,312.1 |
| 52 | 3OH!3 | 6/18/26 @ 5:36pm | Waynesboro, VA | 4,478 | 2.5 mi | 865.3 | 0.0 | 1,332.6 |
| 51 | Letterkenny | 6/17/26 @ 4:39pm | Waynesboro, VA | 26,265 | 14.56 mi | 865.3 | 12.4 | 1,332.6 |
| 50 | My Novel | 6/16/26 @ 6:53pm | Afton, VA | 37,933 | 21 mi | 852.9 | 17.6 | 1,345.0 |
| 49 | Night Hiking Foray | 6/15/26 @ 8:00pm | Montebello, VA | 51,479 | 28.6 mi | 835.3 | 27.2 | 1,362.6 |
| 48 | Blue(berry) Blazing | 6/14/26 @ 8:00pm | Amherst, VA | 40,393 | 22.4 mi | 808.1 | 20.3 | 1,389.8 |
| 47 | Stanimals Retry | 6/13/26 @ 1:36pm | Glasgow, VA | 28,963 | 16.06 mi | 787.8 | 14.5 | 1,410.1 |
| 46 | Trail Running! | 6/12/26 @ 6:50pm | Bedford, VA | 43,500 | 24.33 mi | 773.3 | 23.7 | 1,424.6 |
| 45 | Blue Ridge (Mtns…) Parkway | 6/11/26 @ 7:12pm | Buchanan, VA | 39,655 | 21.98 mi | 749.6 | 18.5 | 1,448.3 |
| 44 | VA Triple Crown | 6/10/26 @ 9:56pm | Daleville, VA | 51,171 | 28.36 mi | 731.1 | 25.7 | 1,466.8 |
| 43 | Seven Hundred | 6/9/26 @ 3:22pm | Catawba, VA | 30,557 | 17.02 mi | 705.4 | 14.4 | 1,492.5 |
| 42 | Hot Dogs! | 6/8/26 @ 6:49pm | Catawba, VA | 41,963 | 23.25 mi | 691.0 | 20.8 | 1,506.9 |
| 41 | Will Bear #1 Please Stand Up? | 6/7/26 @ 7:49pm | Goldbond, VA | 45,601 | 25.27 mi | 670.2 | 24.3 | 1,527.7 |
| 40 | I blaze trails | 6/6/26 @ 7:29pm | Narrows, VA | 38,400 | 21.29 mi | 645.9 | 20.1 | 1,552.0 |
| 39 | Woods Hole Hostel | 6/5/26 @ 5:58pm | Pembroke, VA | 27,242 | 15.1 mi | 625.8 | 13.5 | 1,572.1 |
| 38 | Nightswimming!! (Good R.E.M. song) | 6/4/26 @ 8:00pm | Bland, VA | 40,035 | 22.2 mi | 612.3 | 18.0 | 1,585.6 |
| 37 | Helveys Mill Shelter | 6/3/26 @ 8:36pm | Bland, VA | 43,823 | 24.28 mi | 594.3 | 22.8 | 1,603.6 |
| 36 | Burke’s Garden Hostel | 6/2/26 @ 5:08pm | Tazewell, VA | 32,314 | 17.92 mi | 571.5 | 15.5 | 1,626.4 |
| 35 | Zero Day #2 Beard Update | 6/1/26 @ 3:34pm | Ceres, VA | 1,624 | 0.9 mi | 556.0 | 0.0 | 1,641.9 |
| 34 | Well… 25% there | 5/31/26 @ 5:57pm | Ceres, VA | 39,599 | 21.96 mi | 556.0 | 21.6 | 1,641.9 |
| 33 | Don’t dial 1 first! | 5/30/26 @ 6:49pm | Two Pond Trail, VA | 45,551 | 25.3 mi | 534.4 | 23.9 | 1,663.5 |
| 32 | I [did] walk 500 miles… | 5/29/26 @ 7:54pm | Marion, VA | 34,190 | 19 mi | 510.5 | 20.5 | 1,687.4 |
| 31 | Re-Route, Magpie, Spearmint, and Gabe | 5/28/26 @ 7:28pm | Marion, VA | 33,687 | 18.7 mi | 490.0 | 18.7 | 1,707.9 |
| 30 | Virginia is for lovers | 5/27/26 @ 10:00pm | Damascus, VA | 37,652 | 20.88 mi | 471.3 | 18.7 | 1,726.6 |
| 29 | Miss me Tennessee | 5/26/26 @ 7:05pm | Elizabethton, TN | 45,865 | 25.4 mi | 452.6 | 23.9 | 1,745.3 |
| 28 | Maximum Effort! | 5/25/26 @ 8:13pm | Hampton, TN | 29,468 | 16.34 mi | 428.7 | 14.6 | 1,769.2 |
| 27 | 400! | 5/24/26 @ 6:10pm | Roan Mountain, TN | 33,054 | 18.32 mi | 414.1 | 18.5 | 1,783.8 |
| 26 | Zoinks Scoob | 5/23/26 @ 8:54pm | Roan Mountain, TN | 40,123 | 22.24 mi | 395.6 | 24.8 | 1,802.3 |
| 25 | Take It Easy | 5/22/26 @ 7:10pm | Roan Mountain, TN | 25,810 | 14.3 mi | 370.8 | 12.9 | 1,827.1 |
| 24 | Helene Detours | 5/21/26 @ 7:42pm | Unicoi, TN | 25,952 | 14.4 mi | 357.9 | 13.4 | 1,840.0 |
| 23 | Zero Day #1 | 5/20/26 @ 3:57pm | Erwin, TN | 4,710 | 2.62 mi | 344.5 | 0.0 | 1,853.4 |
| 22 | Here’s (Uncle) Johnny!!! | 5/19/26 @ 5:58pm | Erwin, TN | 16,753 | 9.29 mi | 344.5 | 6.2 | 1,853.4 |
| 21 | If a tree falls…? | 5/18/26 @ 8:00pm | Erwin, TN | 38,550 | 21.4 mi | 338.3 | 20.7 | 1,859.6 |
| 20 | Creature from Belarus | 5/17/26 @ 9:11pm | Marshall, NC | 40,256 | 22.35 mi | 317.6 | 22.8 | 1,880.3 |
| 19 | Double Trail Magic! | 5/16/26 @ 6:38pm | Marshall, NC | 35,584 | 19.72 mi | 294.8 | 19.6 | 1,903.1 |
| 18 | Mountain Towns > | 5/15/26 @ 6:49pm | Hot Springs, NC | 24,578 | 13.64 mi | 275.2 | 7.9 | 1,922.7 |
| 17 | The grassy knoll (my campsite) | 5/14/26 @ 5:57pm | Hot Springs, NC | 30,410 | 20.9 mi | 267.3 | 20.2 | 1,930.6 |
| 16 | Goodbye Smokies :-( | 5/13/26 @ 7:09pm | Clyde, NC | 33,037 | 18.3 mi | 247.1 | 23.4 | 1,950.8 |
| 15 | 10%…Complete! | 5/12/26 @ 8:00pm | Cherokee, NC | 37,160 | 25.2 mi | 223.7 | 15.7 | 1,974.2 |
| 14 | It’s all downhill from here | 5/11/26 @ 7:17pm | Gatlinburg, TN | 28,059 | 15.6 mi | 208.0 | 17.9 | 1,989.9 |
| 13 | Still [White] Blazing! | 5/10/26 @ 5:56pm | Gatlinburg, TN | 24,828 | 13.8 mi | 190.1 | 17.5 | 2,007.8 |
| 12 | Great Smoky Mtn’s! | 5/9/26 @ 5:39pm | Almond, NC | 21,010 | 11.7 mi | 172.6 | 13.2 | 2,025.3 |
| 11 | Up and down and up and down | 5/8/26 @ 8:00pm | Robbinsville, NC | 26,296 | 14.6 mi | 159.4 | 15.4 | 2,038.5 |
| 10 | Bumblebee Tuna | 5/7/26 @ 6:46pm | Bryson City, NC | 30,918 | 17.13 mi | 144.0 | 18.6 | 2,053.9 |
| 9 | May Showers (what rain?) | 5/6/26 @ 5:44pm | Franklin, NC | 35,590 | 19.74 mi | 125.4 | 19.5 | 2,072.5 |
| 8 | Hostel #2… Cinco de Mayo | 5/5/26 @ 1:57pm | Macon County, NC | 22,476 | 12.46 mi | 105.9 | 12.2 | 2,092.0 |
| 7 | Gone to Carolina in…actuality! | 5/4/26 @ 7:00pm | Hayesville, NC | 35,136 | 19.5 mi | 93.7 | 19.8 | 2,104.2 |
| 6 | Georgia (almost) off my mind | 5/3/26 @ 5:57pm | Hiawassee, GA | 39,420 | 21.84 mi | 73.9 | 21.2 | 2,124.0 |
| 5 | Hostel #1 | 5/2/26 @ 3:26pm | Towns County, GA | 20,814 | 11.54 mi | 52.7 | 9.7 | 2,145.2 |
| 4 | May the first! | 5/1/26 @ 6:07pm | Helen, GA | 30,853 | 17.2 mi | 43.0 | 15.3 | 2,154.9 |
| 3 | Follow up | 4/30/26 @ 7:48pm | Suches, GA | 39,471 | 21.9 mi | 27.7 | 19.6 | 2,170.2 |
| 2 | Numero Uno | 4/29/26 @ 5:15pm | Suches, GA | 28,315 | 15.7 mi | 8.1 | 8.1 | 2,189.8 |
| 1 | The prequel | 4/28/26 @ 6:00pm | Dawsonville, GA | 10,134 | 5.83 mi | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2,197.9 |
Notes
Recent encouragement from family and friends. Open a note to read the full message.
Sending all the good vibes and well wishes from 315 Court Street. What an amazing journal you've created to take us all on the trail with you! Glad you are with family and on the mend. Happy Trails!
Yo team WAM! We need to launch this guy back on his journey! Send +++vibes for good weather, big energy, and renewed strength. Hoping to have another family event and off he goes. See you again soon Justin
Well, what a roller coaster the last 24 hours have been! Good news today, I’ll let W-A-M tell y’all about it. So glad and relieved and thrilled that this all happened when and where it did, more synchronicity on the trail and beyond! Looking forward to rest relaxation recovery and togetherness until Justin’s journey continues. Peace out, Rescue Mama
Hey y’all he’s “home”;safe n sound and can’t be anymore proud that Justin has made the decision to rest relax and recover in his family friends territory. Love to have him here and know there is some medical info to work thru. This is such an amazing support group keep up the +++. He’s sharing some incredible AT stories and pics. I am the happiest mama in the world right now.