The Smokies from atop Clingman's Dome

A friendly “hey!” from Gatlinburg, TN. I’m halfway through the Great Smoky Mountains, passed the 200 mile mark, and into Tennessee. The Smokies have been a challenging test so far. Heavy rain and 60 MPH winds have been the norm. Add on top of that high eleva...

Sunset at Brown Fork Gap

A cheerful good morning from Fontana Dam, NC. I’m writing this post from a blessed bath at Fontana Village inn. A few days ago I split up with my original hiker pod, losing Tent Peg, Body Shop, and Iceman. It was hard to say goodbye. Hence the title of today’s post. My l...

A warm howdy from Franklin, NC. I’m neroing at the Hilltop Inn, just about to go celebrate Peroni’s birthday at the local brewery. This week we’ve been dialling up our distances and speeds a bit. Testing our limits without trying to exceed them. For the uninitiated, a notch is another term for a g...

The plaque delineating the Southern Terminus of the Appalachian Trail

Hello from Blairsville GA! I’m currently writing this post from a canopied hammock, watching the rain go by on my first zero. I've been christened "High Speed" as my trail name already. Ironically despite my new nickname, the ...

Sunset over Killarney Park in my 2022 Spring gear tests

After years of preparation, I'm finally hiking the Appalachian Trail this March. I've been doing quite a bit of training over the last year to help my thru hike. Here's a rundown of my routine so far, across gear tests and personal training...