Des Hikes Thru

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"

Day 52 Pearisburg, VA to Pine Swamp Branch Shelter Miles Hiked: 19.3 AT Milage: 656.3 Today we got a hitch from some other hikers going to the trail head. We got on trail about 9AM. My legs were feeling great after the rest! It was so humid outside I had sweat pouring off of meContinue reading "Day 52: Pine Swamp Branch"

Day 51 Miles Hiked: ZERO Today I ate as much food as I could and tried to move as little as possible. We ate at. Chinese Buffet for Lunch/ Dinner and I smacked on strawberries, blueberries, chocolate, and bananas the rest of the day. Other than that, all I did was lay in bed andContinue reading "Day 51: A Zero in Pearisburg"

Day 50 Doc's Knob Shelter to Pearisburg VA Miles Hiked: 9.4 AT Milage: 637.0 This morning I left camp at 6:30 AM. I was excited to get to town because I was supposed to eat at a Chinese buffet with Crunchy at 11am. I stopped at Pearis Ledges and looked at the view for aContinue reading "Day 50: Breaking Up"

Day 49 Jenny Knob Shelter To Doc's Knob Shelter Miles Hiked: 24 AT Milage: 627.6 Today I woke up around 7am and was pretty lazy about getting ready so I didn't start hiking until after 8. I called my mom and talked to her for the first hour or two of my hike. I crossedContinue reading "Day 49"

Day 48: Suiter Road Campsite to Jenny Knob Shelter Miles Hiked: 18.9 AT Milage: 603.6 This morning I woke up at 6am and got on trail before 6:30. I had a 7 mile hike until I reached the road I was supposed to meet Emma and Crunchy at, at 10:30am so we could hitch aContinue reading "Day 48: A Doe, A Deer, A Female Deer"

Day 47 Knot Maul Branch Campsite to Suiter Road/ Laurel Creek Campsite Miles Hiked: 23.9 AT Milage: 584.8 Today I left camp before Emma and Crunchy around 8am. I started hiking commando in just my rain gear with no underwear or bra on because all my clothes were wet and stinky from the rain stormContinue reading "Day 47: Chestnut Knob"

Day 46 Stealth Spot to Stealth Spot Miles Hiked: 19.4 AT Milage: 560.8 Last night it rained all night while we were sleeping. I barely slept 4 hours which is frustrating because it was my longest day yesterday. We got on the trail about 8AM. The first excitement of the day was an old oneContinue reading "Day 46: Sunoco"

Day 43 Damascus, VA to Elk Garden Miles Hiked: 24.2 AT Milage: 494.8 Today we packed up and left the hostel just after 7am. We hiked along the road for a while and then the creeper trail before we got back on an actual hiking trail for the AT. Emma hiked with me for aContinue reading "Day 43: Fresh Legs"

Day 45 Hurricane Mountain Shelter to Stealth Spot Miles Hiked: 26.4 AT Milage: 541.4 This morning I got out of camp right before 7am. I left before Crunchy and Emma because I needed to filter water. As soon as I left I started hiking as fast as I could so I could get to theContinue reading "Day 45: The First Marathon Day"

Day 44 Elk Garden to Hurricane Mountain Shelter Mike's Hiked: 20.2 AT Milage: 515.0 This morning Emma, Crunchy, and I all got on trail around 7:30. Emma and I saw a black bear on the hill above us about two miles into our hike. We stopped to fill up our waters for the day andContinue reading "Day 44: (500 Miles) The Proclaimers and Ponies"