About

Thru-hiking first came on my radar when I was home from college one summer, reading Wild by Cheryl Strayed for fun. I was in a phase of living vicariously through adventurous novels, and the rawness of her story really resonated with me. It was around the same time I watched a video that made a compelling case for having a bucket list. So naturally, thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail was the first thing to go on my new list.

Fast-forward a couple years, the bucket list was longer, and still largely unchecked. The family member of someone close had just finished a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. In middle age, by herself. Joined by family at the summit of Mt. Katahdin in Maine. I struggled to grasp the enormity of the task, but I remember being so impressed by the feat. By her strength and determination. And curious about all of the logistics. It’s the same curiosity I have felt from others since I announced my plans – “You are doing what?!? How!?!…Why?” (with some blood, sweat, and tears, hopefully that will turn into: “You did what?!? How!?!…Why?”)

Although shorter than the PCT, the AT has always seemed more Herculean to me because it was more tangible, weaving in and out of my New England backyard. Unknowingly, I had already hiked some of it. It crept through towns I had driven by and to, skied in, or just heard about in the far reaches of the remote and rural parts of the northern-most states. Many of the peaks were very familiar, and equally notorious. The AT was more tangible also because I had driven to Georgia from Massachusetts – and it wasn’t close. We drove fast, we stopped outside D.C. and again in Myrtle Beach. All of that wasn’t enough to dissuade me from putting pen to paper: naturally, again, my bucket list got longer.

Upon learning that every year, people actually attempt to walk from Georgia to Maine (or vice-versa) along the Appalachian Trail, I think I underwent a paradigm shift in understanding of what can be possible. Or I at least learned that people are willing to try their hand at some seemingly difficult tasks, and amongst those, some are skilled, fortunate, and strong enough to succeed. It’s still mind blowing, honestly. But the AT sat dormant on my bucket list for 10 years… Occasionally I’d go down a YouTube rabbit hole, think about how difficult it would be to set my life up to leave it for 4+ months, worry about leaving my health issue-prone cat behind, and table the daydream for another day.

Until, well… now.

The stars have aligned (as much as they can, anyway), and I am very excited to be attempting a thru-hike of my own starting April 29th, 2026, leaving northbound from Springer Mountain in Georgia. My goal is pretty simple: reach Baxter State Park in Maine and summit Mt. Katahdin before October 1st, 2026. I am looking for a physical and mental challenge, and to push myself outside of my comfort zone. I want to spend more time in nature, and experience living in a more free way.

So, bon voyage to me, and thank you for reading. Follow along on this fun journey, however far I make it.