Des Hikes Thru

Day 67 Black Rock Mountain Hut to Pine Field Hut Miles Hiked: 13.4 AT Milage: 897.6 Today I left camp at about 8am. I was really tired since I could barely sleep last night. I ended up staying up and talking to Lionheart until 2am because we both couldn't sleep and everyone in the shelterContinue reading "Day 67: SNP Day 2 – A Mom and Her Cubs"

Day 66 Calf Mountain Shelter to Black Rock Mountain Miles Hiked: 13.6 AT Milage: 885.0 This morning I woke up and my feet were still in awful pain. A girl named Fun-Shine knew I was injured and helped me by taping my feet a special way for plantar fasciitis with KT tape that she had.Continue reading "Day 66: SNP Day 1 – Revisiting Some Familiar Miles"

Day 65 Waynesboro, VA (Rockfish Gap) to Calf Mountain Shelter Miles Hiked: 8 AT Milage: 871.4 This morning I woke up a little before 8am and got my pack and cot packed away. I ate some cereal at the church before I left at 9am with Toucan and Fancy Feast. Toucan and I went toContinue reading "Day 65: Calf Mountain Shelter"

Day 64 Hanging Rock Overlook to Waynesboro, VA Miles Hiked: 22.8 AT Milage: 863.7 Last night I successfully camped alone for the first time ever! I didn't sleep very well but I did it and I'm proud of myself. I woke up at 5:30am to see the sunrise but it was very overcast and IContinue reading "Day 64: Not Today"

Day 63 Seeley Woolworth Shelter to Hanging Rock Overlook Miles Hiked: 18.4 AT Milage: 840.9 I left camp before anyone else today at 7:15ish. I hiked 3 miles to spy rock where I put down my pack and enjoyed the great view. I had to use my hands and feet to climb on top ofContinue reading "Day 63: The Hardest Climb in Virginia"

Day 62 Punch Bowl Overlook to Seeley-Woolworth Shelter Miles Hiked: 24.9 AT Milage: 822.5 This morning my parents dropped me off at Pubch Bowl Overlook at 8am. I slack packed 11ish miles to route 60 where I met my parents again who were doing trail magic. At route 60 I got my backpack back again.Continue reading "Day 62: Father’s Day"

Day 61 A Zero day in Lexington, VA Miles Hiked: Zero Today I did more things than I've ever done on a Zero day. The breakfast at the hotel was great. I sorted out all of the food my parents brought me to take on the trail and figured out when my next resupply willContinue reading "Day 61: A Zero in Lexington"

Day 60 Thunder Hill Shelter to Punch Bowl Mountain Overlook Miles Hiked: 25.7 AT Milage: 797.6 Last night was very windy and freezing. It was probably one of the coldest nights I've had on the trail. I was wearing all of my wool layers plus my puffy coat and still shivering! I'm glad I didn'tContinue reading "Day 60: One Pound Reese Cup"

Day 59 Bobblet's Gap Shelter to Thunder Hill Shelter Miles Hiked: 23.7 AT Milage: 771.9 This morning I didn't leave camp until almost 9am. I was so frustrated because I was very ready to leave and hit the trail before 7am but it rained all night long and didn't stop until after 8am. After theContinue reading "Day 59: Grateful"

Day 58 Daleville, VA to Bobblets Gap Shelter Miles Hiked: 18.7 AT Milage: 748.2 This morning I got on trail close to 9am because I slept in and ate breakfast at the hotel. Flip and Cocoa had some town errands to run so they were supposed to get on trail after me. I am kindContinue reading "Day 58: 1/3 Way"

Day 57 A Zero in Daleville, VA Miles Hiked: Zero AT Milage: 729.7 Today I decided to take a zero because the last week has been my toughest week on the AT so far and my feet were just hurting so bad. I enjoyed lots of food including continental breakfast and dinner at Three PigsContinue reading "Day 57: I Need This"

Day 56 Johns Spring Shelter to Daleville, VA Miles Hiked: 18.8 AT Milage: 729.7 I slept for maybe three hours last night. I've been having a lot of trouble sleeping on the trail and it's really frustrating. It makes me so exhausted. I got on the trail in all my wet clothes before 7am. IContinue reading "Day 56: Slap Happy"

Day 55 Niday Shelter to Johns Spring Shelter Miles Hiked: 23.7 AT Milage: 710.9 This morning I woke up screaming. I was sleeping in a shelter with 5 other people and we all woke up in a panic at 6am because a huge tree branch fell on the roof of the shelter. Some people heardContinue reading "Day 55: It’s still raining?"

Day 54 Laurel Creek Shelter to Niday Shelter Miles Hiked: 12.4 AT Milage: 687.2 Last night the rain never stopped. I was very slow getting ready and didn't leave until after 8AM. Putting on wet clothes in the morning is one of the worst things. I figured out a great trick that works for meContinue reading "Day 54: Slippery Slab"

Day 53 Pine Swamp Branch Shelter to Laurel Creek Shelter Miles Hiked: 18.5 AT Milage: 674.8 Last night it down-poured all night long. I was so glad to have a spot in the shelter. I slept next to Flamingo and both of us couldn't sleep so we stayed up talking. This was one of myContinue reading "Day 53: Running Away"