Audrey Payne

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

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

Oct 12, 2018 : Audrey Payne
Maine: I’ve Reached the Promised Land

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. There’s a good reason we got

Sep 25, 2018 : Audrey Payne
The Highs and Lows of New Hampshire

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

Sep 11, 2018 : Audrey Payne
A Tale of a Muddy Trail, and Muddier Relationships

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

Aug 10, 2018 : Audrey Payne
Connecticut, Massachusetts: Gateways to the North

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

Aug 7, 2018 : Audrey Payne
There’s Magic on the Trail in New Jersey

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

Jul 9, 2018 : Audrey Payne
Virginia: Another State Down and More to Love

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

Jul 2, 2018 : Audrey Payne
The Grayson Highlands: Virginia’s Fairyland

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

May 24, 2018 : Audrey Payne
Straddling the Border: The Highlights Reel

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

May 7, 2018 : Audrey Payne
The Splendor of the Smokies

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.

Apr 14, 2018 : Audrey Payne