Hi, everyone! Glowstick here, a 2018 Appalachian Trail (NoBo) thru-hiker. You could call it the "seven year itch" - after almost seven years working a desk job in our nation's capital, I decided to leave my (great) job and head out into the wilds to reconnect with nature and have a great adventure. When I'm not hiking (or working, of course), I can usually be found at the climbing gym, a music festival, daydreaming about my next big trip, or wandering about with a large cup of coffee (caffeine addict right here). Future ambitions include hiking the PCT, learning to mountaineer, and maybe adopting dog. :)
Posts
The Comedown from Katahdin
It's been about a month since I finished my thru-hike. I've been wanting to write---wanting to put into words what it all meant to me, but I've
Maine: I’ve Reached the Promised Land
Maine. The way a thru-hike should be. The reward for hiking almost 2,000 miles prior to arrival. The promised land. Theres a good reason we got
The Highs and Lows of New Hampshire
When I met Miss Janet in Pennsylvania, she told me that thru-hikers arrive in New Hampshire feeling like they're ten feet tall, only to quickly be
A Tale of a Muddy Trail, and Muddier Relationships
I have a lot of feelings about Vermont. Or rather, I had a lot of feelings in Vermont. Some were good, some were bad. Either way, I don't think I
Connecticut, Massachusetts: Gateways to the North
Connecticut and Massachusetts were a bit of a blur, though both perfectly lovely states to hike through, and nice gateways to the north. Connecticut
There’s Magic on the Trail in New Jersey
New Jersey has been such a pleasant surprise. After the trials of Pennsylvania, which included a heat wave (where I may or may not have gotten heat
Virginia: Another State Down and More to Love
Virginia is a lovely state. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. And come to think of it, don't let anyone tell you it's flat, either. I'm writing
The Grayson Highlands: Virginia’s Fairyland
The evening before we would enter Grayson Highlands State Park, we had to scramble to make it to a shelter as a big lightning storm rolled in. We had
Straddling the Border: The Highlights Reel
The last few weeks have been an absolute whirlwind and a delight. I can't believe it has been this long since I've written. But rest assured, I'm
The Splendor of the Smokies
There is a rumor mill on trail the likes of which I haven't seen since high school. Seriously, word gets around the trail, and it gets around fast.