This coming weekend, we are planning on backpacking 14 miles on the AT. We will hike from Carvers Gap to US 19E. It’s a busy section of the trail with many hikers claiming it’s the prettiest section of the entire Appalachian Trail. That said, it is the prettiest section in North Carolina, hands down. We are excited about the change…
Happy FriYay: Hiking Tales and Homeless Backpackers
Happy FriYay! It’s been a busy week here in the Carolinas. We went out and hiked 5 miles with our packs on Sunday after Mass. After the previous week and vertigo, I was a bit nervous. It turned out fine, thankfully. After my urgent care visit and a stronger antibiotic, the middle ear infection is gone and has not returned.…
Top Benefits of Using Grayl Geopress: Cleaner Water on Your Adventures
I am so excited about the Grayl Geopress! While we already own a Sawyer Squeeze water filter, we decided to give the Geopress a try. The biggest reason is that it filters out viruses as well as bacteria and other pathogens. We’ve recently experienced some pretty nasty things while hiking. Dirty diapers left right at the base of a waterfall,…
Healing Through Nature: My Journey to Section Hike the Appalachian Trail
I am in South Carolina for work this week and have done a lot of driving. It’s a big state! I was in Myrtle Beach yesterday and this morning. I am now in Columbia. As I drive around for work, I listen to quite a few podcasts. If you have not checked out the Huberman Lab podcast, you need to!…
Hiking with Ear Issues: My Experience. Gear Part II.
Yesterday, we loaded our packs and headed to Hanging Rock State Park. At just over a mile on the trail, I continued to get dizzy and ended up throwing up 3 times. Not fun. I did make it back and carried my own pack over a mile after this. Whew. Do not recommend! While we were at Red River Gorge,…
Gearing Up
Eighty-eight days until we hit the trail. We are figuring out the shuttle points and getting our gear together. Originally, we were going to shuttle to the end and back to the start. Marty had the idea of leaving a car midway and then at the end. Just in case something happens that we need to get out – heaven…
70 Miles on the Appalachian Trail
We are preparing to hike a 70 mile section of the AT this coming October. It’ll be a beautiful hike with the fall foliage in full glory. I have done many, many day hikes since getting out of the military, but I haven’t done a week long ruck or hike since then. I have officially been out of the military…
Red River Gorge
If you need to refresh your soul, this is a place to visit. We hiked almost 42 miles this past week in Red River Gorge, Natural Bridge State Park, and the Daniel Boone National Forest. Trekking through the woods feels like any forest in the USA, the you come to these glorious arches and think, “Holy Cow! Am I still…
Three Sisters Swamp- Black River
We paddled 9.1 miles on the Black River and through Three Sisters Swamp today.I got to touch a tree that is 2,624 years old- Methuselah or BLK227 is considered the oldest-known living bald cypress and the oldest of all tree species east of the Rocky Mountains in North America. Its inner ring is dated to 605 BC!God’s Creation is AMAZING.…
McIntosh Reserve Park and Lee State Park–South Carolina
What a week this has been! Last Friday, we left to go down to Georgia to see my sister. This was the 3rd time I had ever met her since I found out she existed 6 years ago. It was great seeing her for a short visit. I ended up working Saturday morning while Marty rode his bike on the…
My Little Red Bike 