Hanna Espie

Hey there! I'm Hanna from Michigan, an AT NOBO starting March 14th. Other than hiking, I enjoy travelling to new places, learning about people, and reading new ideas and stories. I'm excited to share my AT thru hike with you and hope it sparks your own adventure.

Posts

Seven Unexpected Trail Obstacles

Seven Unexpected Trail Obstacles

I have now been on trail for 1,700 miles. Along the way I’ve encountered many of the more common trail challenges (rain, mud, bad days, rain and mud

Sep 6, 2018 : Hanna Espie
Unexpected Gems Between Erwin and Damascus

Unexpected Gems Between Erwin and Damascus

There are a lot of lists out there on what not to miss on the AT. Where the best views are or what trail challenges to do. Well, if we’re making

Jun 9, 2018 : Hanna Espie
Avoiding the Town Food Trap, Making Reservations, and Other Tips

Avoiding the Town Food Trap, Making Reservations, and Other Tips

Leaving the Smokies brought all the heat I had been missing in the park. The lower elevation brought warmth and a change of landscape: waterfalls,

May 26, 2018 : Hanna Espie
Why I Love to Hate the Smokies: Fontana Lodge to Davenport Shelter

Why I Love to Hate the Smokies: Fontana Lodge to Davenport Shelter

Great Smoky Mountains National Park was always going to be a big milestone in my hike. They say (I don’t know who “they” are) that if you make it

May 7, 2018 : Hanna Espie
Expectation vs. Reality: Franklin, N.C., to Fontana Lodge

Expectation vs. Reality: Franklin, N.C., to Fontana Lodge

You go into a thru-hike with a lot of expectations. What the landscape will be like. How you’ll feel. The people you will meet. I left Franklin in

Apr 29, 2018 : Hanna Espie
Eating My Way Through Franklin, N.C.

Eating My Way Through Franklin, N.C.

Getting back on trail after time in town is always a little difficult. However, this instance was different because it came with the knowledge of

Apr 24, 2018 : Hanna Espie
When Things Don’t Go as Planned: Neel Gap to Dicks Creek

When Things Don’t Go as Planned: Neel Gap to Dicks Creek

After making it to Neel Gap, a couple of women I’d been hiking with and I decided to get a cabin at Blood Mountain Cabins for a warm bed and a hot

Apr 2, 2018 : Hanna Espie
My First 40 Miles on the AT: Approach Trail to Neel Gap

My First 40 Miles on the AT: Approach Trail to Neel Gap

My first five days on the Appalachian Trail were an eye-opener. For better or worse, I decided to hike the approach trail, which proved to be some

Mar 29, 2018 : Hanna Espie
My Lists for Mentally Preparing to Thru-Hike the AT

My Lists for Mentally Preparing to Thru-Hike the AT

Preparation is key for any thru-hike. When I started to research and agonize over gear, I had no idea mentally preparing for a thru-hike was even a thing. I hope my three lists of why I'm hiking the AT, what I hope to get from the trail, and how I will feel if I don't complete it.

Mar 5, 2018 : Hanna Espie