May 5, 2026
View from today! (5/5/26)
Follow me to Maine!
Northbound Appalachian Trail thru-hike / Georgia to Maine
Map
The full route stays visible from day one, and pinned check-ins appear once the hike starts.
Spotlight
Featured trail moments and standout snapshots from the trip.
May 5, 2026
Journal
Open any entry without leaving the homepage. Entry numbers match the mileage log below, and older updates scroll sideways.
May 10, 2026
Okay I need to pre-address some rumors because itâs 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 isnât 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 Mtnâs is so amazing. Lots of beautiful views. Lots of cool people. Legs and blisters feeling good, knock on wood. Clingmanâs Dome coming up soon already!
Goodnight, Whack-A-Mole out!
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 âAmericaâ 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 đ
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 đ
Current check-in plus the last few updates nearby.
May 7, 2026
Went waaaaay down a big mountain to the famed NOC (I didnât bother flashing my proverbial thru-hiker card but there wasnât 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. Canât remember what day it is anyway⊠so my birthday isâŠuhhh. đ
Shoutouts Dreamcatcher, Horsepower, and On It for all taking trail names!!! Tried assigning a musical theatre major âLa La Landâ but she said the movie stunk. I beg to differ, La La Land
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 (6âŠ7..) 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 Iâm digging. Made it to this Cold Gap Shelter place and get to go to the famed âNOCâ tomorrow to lose my money!!
-Whack-A-Mole (yes, Iâm embracing it)
Also- I donât take onto account any trash talk into my daily mileage, but I welcome it nonetheless.
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 Iâm 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 đ
P.S. I am backloading photos!
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Current check-in plus the last few updates nearby.
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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Current check-in plus the last few updates nearby.
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. Iâll try to find a solution, but if not, just imagine really pretty mountainscapes for 8hrs a day. Itâs 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 donât regret it one bit. Plus, now I can watch the Celtics play game 7!! But otherwise, Iâm 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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Current check-in plus the last few updates nearby.
May 1, 2026
Here we are on day 3 (I think?! Itâs 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 isnât much of a worry! Iâll add photos when I can, the service isnât great and itâs tough to do while walking.
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Current check-in plus the last few updates nearby.
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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Current check-in plus the last few updates nearby.
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, â99). 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 đ
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Mtnâs! | 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 inâŠactuality! | 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.
WOW! Incredible adventure! I wish I were YOU....well, until I got hungry or developed a blister.
Wishing you an awesome trip that you'll remember forever.
Stay well & safe and enjoy every refreshing step in nature!
Mary Kay
Information desk at the Courthouse
You are incredible as always.. in the grand scheme of things :â) be safe & enjoy the journey đ
Hi Justin- I'm thinking about you and sending positive thoughts your way. Can't wait to hear more about your adventures đ
Keep on whacking on!!!