In 2018, I quit my amazing job in Washington, D.C. to thru-hike all 2,190.9 miles of the Appalachian Trail. I lived in a tent for six months, carrying a heavy backpack up and over mountains all day every day through 14 states from Georgia to Maine. I hiked through freezing cold, sweltering heat, swarms of mosquitoes, roaring wind, droughts, floods, and even occasionally some sunshine. I watched the forest come alive with green in spring and begin to retreat in vibrant color toward fall. I listened to bears plod around my tent in the night, petted wild ponies, and got yelled at by more red squirrels than I can count. I played in waterfalls, jumped off a bridge, and tore a dreadlock out of my hair. I got addicted to Coca-Cola and ate candy for every meal of the day. I got to know myself again without the deafening hum of society drowning me out and I met some of the best people of my life. The journey wasn’t perfect, but it was more meaningful and beautiful than I could ever put into words. It was hands down the best experience of my life (and trust me, I’ve done some cool stuff, like living in a tent for a semester in Madagascar during college). I blogged along the way for TheTrek.co. Here are those blog posts chronicling my journey, along with some informational posts about hiking the AT that I’ve written afterward. I also have a YouTube series about the Appalachian Trail, so be sure to check that out as well!

If you’re interested in more of my writings about the Appalachian Trail, check out my Appalachian Trail memoir, “Where the Rhododendrons Bloom,” on Amazon and Kindle: https://amzn.to/4977DMA.