Huffhike

Keep Movin’

April 27, 2026

Day 7 (mile 125.4)
After arriving at the hostel the night before they asked me if I would like to be dropped off where I was picked up or at Winding Stair Gap (10 miles ahead). They kindly mentioned that because where I was picked up was out of the way, to be dropped back off there would come with another $70 charge. So I opted to be dropped off at Winding Staor Gap and slid the 10 miles. They then told me they could shuttle me as early as 7:30am so me and Cry Baby hopped on the shuttle for 7:30 and were back on the trail at 8am.

Naturally, we spent the first hour or so just conversing over the food we got at our resupply his big win being the oatmeal cream pies, which were on sale. While my big win was the belveta breakfast bars which had the same amount of calories as a snickers bar in half the size.

After walking for a bit we ran into a couple from Flamoth, and hiked with them a bit. Cry Baby was then ready to crush some miles so he took off. I kept hiking with the couple and found out that they were doing the AT and logging the mushrooms and wildlife they found along for their blog / Instagram (Mushroom Monday). I ended up hiking with them for a while, of course asking them the name of every plant I saw. After a bit it started to drizzle so I threw on the rain jacket and took off till the next shelter. In a way the rain was an extremely rewarding as it cooled the temperatures a bit and it also reminded me of new england. I eventually made it to camp where I made some dinner and eventually doze off to the sound of rain drops

Day 8 (Mile 144):

Prior to falling asleep the night before, I noticed that 11 miles away from the Nanthan Outdoor Center. Knowing that it was my resupply, I looked at the map and noticed there was a shelter 7 miles after. So I started out, it was a gorgeous day, and the hike was great going into the NOC. Downhill and extremely enjoyable. I caught a gorgeous sunrise at one of the balds, and another great view on top of one of the fire towers.

After a good hike, I hit the NOC and found the outdoor Center where my box was located. The employee gave me my box and pointed me in the direction of there hiker section, where it was stocked with wall outlets, and camp chairs. So I set up camp there and started to fill my food bag. After I filled my bag, I walked over to the General Store where I grabbed a pint of ice cream (birthday cake) and a Dr. Pip to avoid going to the restaurant. After eating, I grabbed my phone and went to fill my dirty water bag, when I noticed a leak. I then headed back to the outdoor center to buy a new bag. After browsing a bit I noticed the cheapest bag was 70 bucks (regularly like 30). So I said fuck that and bought a smart bottle to use as my dirty water source. I then quickly grabbed my bag and ran out to avoid spending more money.

The climb like most climbs out of a gap was brutal, straight up hill. After a grueling 6 miles I made it to camp and ate my special resupply dinner, Mac and Cheese. While talking at camp someone mentioned that the Fontana Damn Shelter had power and showers. So I did some quick calculations and realized it was a 22 mile hike. With a storm coming on tuesday, I figured I could make that push Monday and do a light day the following day.

Day 9 (Mile 166)

I ended up setting my tent up on a hill the night before, so after a few hours sliding around I got up at 6am and headed off to Fontanna Damn. It was a pretty uneventful day hiking, it was an extremely hot 80 degrees all day will an enormous amount of PUDS (pointless ups and downs). But I was able to get in a call with my dad and listen to alot of Alan Watts and Pearl Jam.

While hiking and thinking, I was thinking about a conversation I had earlier this week with a day hiker. She asked me why I was hiking the AT this year. I laid out the reasons like I had in the past to her, like I have done a few times with other hikers or here. In the Spring of 2025 I had some external and internal stressors that lead me to have a panic attack and that mixed with training for an Ultramarathon led me to have a shingles outbreak which made re assessed where I was at in life, and ultimately led to me doing the trail now.

Maybe it was from me listening to far too much Alan Watts, but I started to really think about how every hiker asks another that same question. Almost as if we want point to some event to justify the hike, but at the end of the day, everyone who is out here genuinely wants to be out here which is extremely cool and something I don’t know if Ill experience again.

Anyways, after the 22 miles in the heat and the trail, I hit the Mariana (a mile from camp). I then ran into another hiker who advised me to take the shuttle into town to hit up the general store. A bit hesitant I agreeded, one I got there I met a hiker Ax who was looking to do laundry so we split the charge and he also game me half of his muffin he didnt want.

I then took the shuttle back where they have a shower and power outlets in the bathroom (where Im writing this now). Not to be that guy but this is on par with a night at the Roxbury for me! Tomorrow, Ill take a short day due to the storm and be in the Smokey Mountians.
The bear necessities

April 26, 2026

Day 5 (mile 81.2):
Before I fell asleep, I did my normal pre sleep ritual where I hang my bag on the pegs in the shelter. The reason you do that is to avoid the mice from crawling near your face while they are sniffing the bags for any food. However another hiker had a bag that did not fit on the pegs so he asked if he could place his bag next to me. Seeing there wasnt anywhere else to go I agreed.

When 2am rolled around, I heard some scurrying around the shelter. Knowing that mice are generally a problem I thought it was no big deal, just a minor nuance. However, I slowly realized when I looked to my right that the mice were scurrying around to make it to the hikers hip pocket. Effectively using my sleeping pad as a place to crawl over. Extremely frustrated I got out of the shelter and walked to the bench to look at the stars while I decompresed. I then zippered the hikers hip pocket and pulled my sleeping pad all the way down the shelter to the point my feet where hanging out.
I didnt sleep much afterwards, but I was awoken from my restless sleep at 5:30 to someone shifting. Knowing I had to cover 11 miles by 10am to make a free shutrle, I quickly packed up my gear and headed on the trail. Even when pumping out miles watching the sun slowy crest over the surrounding mountains and hilltops were amazing. At one point, I was so in the zone I accidentally spooked a fellow hiker in a cowboy hat.

But by 10am I was sitting in the shuttle, after a bit the same hiker I spooked came into the shuttle. After shooting the shit, I learned that he thru-hiked the AT last year and was hiking to trail days to get his legs ready for the PCT this year. On top of that he had the same plan as me to shuttle to Ingles in Hilloswasset and then hitch back to trail.

Once we got to Hilloswasset I did my normal food resupply where I dump out all my food and see what I needed / didnt need. I did the math and realized I needed only 3 days of food so I wrote down what exactly I would need food wise, which consisted mostly of snacks and bought a 3 pack of sandwiches for lunch. I then checked out, plugged in my phone and power bank to charge and repacked my food. After Oz wrapped up his food prepping we then threw the thumbs out and waited for a ride.

After 30 minutes of hitching an extremely nice pickup pulled over and asked us where we needed a ride to, after we explained the driver said hop in. After making it back to the trailhead I hiked a bit with Oz until we hit the split for my shelter, wanting to only do 15 miles I headed towards the shelter as he kept pushing on.

Once I made it to the shelter I eventually set up camp, made my dinner, and then started to look ahead to the next resupply. After sitting there I realized my next resupply was in 67 miles. Knowing I had only 3 days of food I realized I had two options, pack up camp at 5:30 push miles to make the average 20 a day, or push more than 20 for 3 days.

Feeling a tad motivated, I quickly packed up camp and headed off to Mustrack Shelter 7 miles away. While pushing miles I finished Georgia and crossed into North Carolina. Meaning I completed my first state. I then zoomed my way up one of the hardest climbs I’ve done on trail, and rolled into camp at 7:45. I then set up my tent and watched a beautiful sunset. After the sun set I wanted down by the shelters and hung my bear bag. I then slowly fell asleep to someone in camp playing the flute.

Day 6 (mile 99.6):
After falling alseep to the sounds of flutes, I woke up to the sounds of russelling outside of my tent. Having some experience hiking and backpacking I know that for the most part when you hear the russelling it is almost always smaller animals as bears will see the tent and bolt.

For some reason I had the intuition to look outside of my tent, after a quick glance I saw 4 black paws peaking under my vestibule. Trying to slightly spook the bear, I coughed and moved around in my tent. However, the bear did not move, meaning it was not afraid of humans. Knowing there wasnt much else I could do I sat in my tent until I eventually dozed back off.

Then I was awoken to the sound of a loud crash, then another, and another. Knowing it was the bears, I just stayed calm and kept trying to fall back asleep. Eventually, I feel back asleep and woke up at 7:30, which is extremely rare as normally, Im up closer to 6am. I then did some light streching and headed out.

On my way out I ran into Oz and he asked me about the bear last night. Come to find out he had his bear canister in the vestibule of his tent, and the bear walked straight up to his tent and sniffed it. Being freaked out he grabbed his canister and moved it away from his tent. Jokingly I told Oz I should probably go make sure my food bag was still there.

After arriving to the tree I noticed my bear hang was gone and all that remained was the string. Not knowing what to do next I walked around the woods looking for it or at least the trash. After about 15 minutes I realized it was gone. I then pulled out FarOut and started looking for the next place to hitch into Franklin (the next town). After a bit of looking I realized my only option was Winding Stair Gap. Which would be a 28 mile hike without any food or electrolytes.

The first thing I did was start looking fot a hostel so I could get a place to stay after I bought a new bear bag and resupplied. The first person to reachout was Willow from the Grove hostel. She was extremely quick and gave me a schedule for a free bus as well as the prices for a ride at various spots. I then started heading up the trail. After a bit I realized a few signs on the trees that said we were leaving a bear sanctuary. Which meant that the shelter was in the sanctuary.

After hiking a bit I finally ran into some day hikers, where I explained my situation and as politely as possible begged them for food. They kindly shared an oragane and gronla bar with me. It was amazingly kind of them, I then continued to hike throughout the day. At around the 18 mile mark my legs started to feel heavy, and I slowly started to realize that I was not going to make the 3:45 bus, so I texted the Grove and asked if they would be able to pick me up for the $70 shuttle fee.

After about 45 minutes they arrived and picked me up, and gave me a bag of cheeots and body armour free of charge. They then dropped me off at the hostel and let me know where the outfitters was as well as the grocery store. I then went to the outfitters and got the coolest bear bag of all time, and also recieved a code for $80 from Hilltop Packs as they felt bad about the situation. I then re bought my food supply and made myself at home at the hostel.

After a bit I ran back into Peter from day #2 at the hostel, and I explained why I was there and he gave me the trail name Bear Bait (BB). So from now until I finish there is no Jt or James just Bear Bait. Anyways, after a well deserved shower myself and a few other hikers went to a bar, got some food and drinks, and then called it for the night.
Off He Goes

April 23, 2026

Day 0:
Like all great adventures, this trip started with lack of sleep and pushing through some pre trail anxiety. Anxiety about every little thing that can and might go wrong. After a bit I silenced the what ifs, and by the bright time of 3am, I was off to Logan with Logan being my shofer. After an hour, we arrived in one piece (barely). I then said my goodbyes, and checked in my ikea bag, and made my way to my gate. Trying to not vomit again on the plane, I downed about 3 Dramamines and boarded the flight.
Pinching every penny possible, I opted for the middle seat. As the other passengers passed I realized I got lucky and was going to be able to take the aisle seat for free! Then my luck imploaded… A lady hopped on the plane walked over and said I was in her seat. So I shifted over brugently, and 10 minutes later, the pilot went over the intercom and said that the flight was having mechanical issues and they needed IT. Seeing how much I love flying I instantly started to think of 9/11 as one does. Believe it or not I over reacted, and after a half an hour later we were in the air.
After 3 hours of being way to aware of every creek I landed in Atlanta feeling tired, worn out and achy. But the trail provided and Matt (Damsel’s boyfriend) was kind enough to give me a ride to her house. I then got the tour of her apartment. Then we got down to business with a pack shake down, afterwards we all hung out (Damsel explained why she loved the Long Trail so much (who wouldnt)), and we headed to do a quick resupply.
Our first stop being REI for some fuel, followed by the Dollar Tree for a full resupply at a really really good deal. For those who havent thru-hiked before the Dollar Tree as all the essentials, Pop Tarts, Ramen, Candy, granola bars, pain meds, etc. We then went back to her place had some wicked good nachos. After letting the nachos digest we went for a quick walk. As we were finishing the walk, I felt my back seize up. So I instantly went to work on that streching, rolling, the whole nine yards. I kept up on that for the reminder of the night, and applied a Tiger balm patch and went to bed.

Day 1 (mile 2.8):
Due to the flight amd lack of sleep the moment I laid down, I was out. Thankfully, that meant I avoided any pre trail anxiety the night before, however that did not stop the tight back. So after I woke up I instantly got to work, I started with my daily streches for my legs, and then threw in some back specific streches to get the blood flowing. It ended up work because after a bit I was feeling less and less tight. After a few times of re shuffling my pack, I had it set and we packed into the car and were off.
As we got in the car it got real for the first time, I looked down and my hands were shaking and I became extremely chatty (both signs of a nervous Jt). But I powered through and we took the hour and a half drive to Amicalola Falls, after checking in I was told I was hiker #2126 for this season, however Id have to wait till Damacus for my hiker tag. I then did the obligated photo shoot and began walking to the falls. Matt, Damsel, and I walked the first 175 steps to the base of the falls; we said our good byes, and I took the remainder 425 steps to the top of the falls. After catching my breath, I continued on the approach trail towards the Appalachian Trail.
After 8.8 miles I finally hit Springer Mountain, the start of the AT. I saw the plack and saw the first white blaze that I will be following the whole way to Maine. I was so excited that I almost forgot to take a picture, but after a bit I found another thru hiker from Japan, mimed the international sign for picture; and we both took pictures for one another. I then walked 2.8 miles to Stover Creek Shelter. I then took some time to do some streching, writing, and ate some Mac and cheese. All in all a pretty solid first day on the trail.

Day 2 (mile 24):
Prior to the start of the trail, I told myself that I would not have any 20 mile days within the first 200 miles. Just to prevent burning myself out too soon. That rule lasted a whole day. When I woke up I quietly packed up my sleeping stuff and headed off to trail. Normally, I dont figure out where I may stay until I look at a map. So after about a mile in I figured the best place to say would be gooch gap mountain shelter. It would be roughly a 13 mile hike. Nothing too crazy or unreasonable.
After planning my day, I started a new ritual where I spend an hour of my morning listening to a lecture from Alan Watts. Not to go too deep into it but it was incredible. One line that he said that stuck out was the idea that the verision of you in each moment of life is a different verision of yourself and thus you should embrace the uncertainty and change that exists in everyday life. For example, if a man goes on a train, the verision of him who leaves the train will be a different version then the person who entered the train.
That thought process ran around my brain for about 11 miles until I ran into another thruhiker named John. John’s a wicked cool guy from the rockies who I guess is running for president in the next election; so vote away. Anyways, we ended up hiking together for around 2 miles. As we approached the shelter another hiker came in, his name was Peter and he is thru hiking 25+ miles a day as he is trying to finish before he starts college in Canada.
After asking where he was heading today, he mentioned he was going to head to Lance Creek Campsite. He explained to me that because he didnt have a bear canister he needed to push to that section, so he can easily cover the bear canister section without having any issues. Realizing that I also dont have a bear canister, I quickly packed up and asked if I could tag along with him.
After a bit of hiking I realized that I was talking to an Ultralight king. He had managed to cut his base weight down to 7lbs!! Anyways, after around 7 or 8 miles of hiking, we ended up making it to Lance Creek Shelter. All in all the total milage for the day ended up being around 21.1 miles, which felt very doable.

Day 3 (Mile 52.7):
When I woke up from the tent site I noticed that my sleeping pad seemed a bit low. Knowing that it was a cold night I investigated my pad and didnt notice any holes or anything so I assumed that the cold air caused the pad to delfate. After a quick 5-10 minutes I packed up my tent and headed off to Mountain Crossing to grab my resupply box (roughly a 7 mile hike).
After crossing Horseborne Gap I was headed up a hill when I saw a small back object cross the trail. Instantly I thought black bear as I was in the section where bear canisters were forced. Naturally, I said “Hey bear” and I kept walking up the trail, to try to scare it away. I then got closer and I saw a small grey dotted creature encompassing it. Obviously my first thought being an ugly duckling situation…. Reality hit me when I heard an onking sound and realized that it was a pack of maybe 30 wild pigs. As I got within 3 feet of them the pack split in either direction of the trail, and ran by me trying their hardest to avoid me.
I then continued on the trail summiting Blood Mountain, and eventually making it to Mountain Crossings and of course got a picture / video of the tree where hikers who get off trail throw their sneakers in the tree. I then checked in and where got my resupply box, and Peter and I split a frozen pizza that they offer.
I then kept on hiking; still unsure of where I wanted to end I told myself I would hike to Bull Gap campsite and reasses where I was at. When I got there I saw two hikers who told me there was trail magic at Tesnatee Gap. Obviously I then put on some RHCP and figured I would knock out some miles ASAP to not miss it.
Within a mile I ran back into Peter and we started to guesstimate what glorious trail magic was ahead of us. Of course we both were way to optomistic and settled on it being hamburgers and ice cream. Either way it caused us to push miles and eventually we hit the gap where we were greeted by a church group with soda, water (which was an amazing sight as I was in a 10 mile dry section with one liter) and ham and cheese sandwiches. Obviously I partook in everything and ate a bannana, sandwich, a strawberry fanta, and some liquid IVs. The best trail magic one could ask for!
About 3 miles later, I hit the 14 mile mark for the day, consequently there was a beautiful stealth campsite. So I pitched my tent, and made myself ready for the day. After about half an hour Huber, from the first night (from Austria) showed up and pitched his tent. So I had a friend for the night, after talking vegetables for a while, I hung my food and headed off to bed with a way too full stomach.

Day 4 (58.4):
After waking up I started to look at my map, to look for the next water source. Seeing that I didnt have any water left as I was in a dry section, I pushed the first 4 miles to the next shelter at low gap. When I got to the water source I instantly chugged a liter of water and re-filled my two liters. Feeling really good, I then put back on my podcast and got to walking.

One of my favorite things about hiking in Georgia is the terrain. For those who have hiked in New England youll know three things to be true, the trails are streams, the trails are rocky, and the trails are hilly. Fortunately in Georgia the trails have only been hilly which makes the miles feel incredibly cruisy. After maybe 5-10 miles I looked on Farout and noticed there was a shelter. Feeling a bit ready for lunch I stopped to have a bite to eat, after mowing down, I figured I would look through the log book where I noticed a note from Damsel, which was wicked cool.

After eating a bit more I packed up and hit the road, because of how beautiful it was (60s and not a cloud in the sky) I decided I would continue to push miles in an attempt to speed up my resuppy by a day, hoping to aim for Cheese Factory campsites. After about half an hour I ran into a fellow thru-hiker. He told me there was a free shuttle I could use to get a Ride to Hilloswasset tomorrow. So I snapped a picture of the schedule and kept on walking. After about an hour I hit the campsite and my legs still felt great. So I pushed an extra 5 miles to Tray Mountain AT Shelter. At the shelter I ran into Hubert again and a handful of other hikers. While eating my ranch instant potatos (7/10) they informed me that the shuttle left Dicks Creek gap at 10am meeting to make the shuttle Id have to cover 11 miles by 10am. After a bit of streching and rolling, I made camp and slept for the night.

Baseweight: How much his pack weighs without food and water
Ultralight: You buy VERY VERY expensive equipment to try to lower your pack weight, anything below 10lbs is impressive.
Stealth Campsite: A site not listed on Farout or maps.
Runnin’ Down A Dream

March 31, 2026

So here we are, after years of saying, maybe next year. I am finally within a month of my start date of my attempt of the Appalachian Trail. As I sit here at home reflecting on what is ahead of me in the next 5 months, it’s hard to not get caught up in the emotions. Some coming in the form of uncertainty that the future may hold, and some in what got me here today. But at the end of the day I’ve never been more excited for something in my life.

For so long of my life, I have wanted to hike the AT (Appalachian Trail). I grew up in a small town in the shadow of Mount Monadnock. With being in such proximity to so many beautiful trails and naturally untouched sections of forest, it is not shocking that I find myself writing this today. Growing up it was highly encouraged by my parents to get outside in some form. At a young age, I was not as enthusiastic about spending a week camping or hiking as I am today. But, my dad persisted, and whenever he had time off he would spend it with us hiking. At one point, when we were living in military housing in Rhode Island, he took the 2 and a half hour drive to camp with us at Otter River State Forest. Then the next day, he’d bribed me and my younger brother up Mt. Mondadock with Recess cups and the promise of Kimbles at the end of the day.

Those little moments of enjoyment and love of nature, went dormant in my teenage years and my early 20s. As I became more and more separated from nature and the peace that it has to offer, I found myself more and more lost as a person. Then when COVID started, I found myself hiking more and more. Eventually, I started to feel whole again, and I think a better version of myself was formed. After I started to get in better shape I began working on completing the NH48 4,000 footers list. At first it started with me and my younger brother just hiking to knock out a list, but somewhere along the way, I started to realize that there was something to the peace that the woods have to offer. The first notion of this “peace” came when I was offered a full time position at my current company, Research Results. At the time I was a recent college graduate and I was pondering their offer against a different company. But, after hiking through the Presidential Traverse, I realized that they had the “personality” that I would prefer in a company and took there offer. Some four years later, it’s a decision that I haven’t regretted since.

As I grew as a hiker, my goals shifted. As you can assume by this point, by looking at this blog or my Instagram, it doesn’t stop. There is always the “next” hike. So of course once I finished the NH48, I had my eyes on thru-hiking. My first technical thru-hike was the New England Trail. Aside from the wellness check from the Hartford PD, I managed to finish the trail with a bigger love of thru-hiking then day-hiking. So, naturally, I planned my next thru-hike of the Long Trail where I took 2 weeks off of work, and thru-hiked the entire trail. This trail was the most amazing experience I had in my life. I was in love with every second I spent on the trail and I met some of the most amazing people.

When I finished the Long Trail two years ago, I knew I was going to attempt this hike. I hadn’t realized the when quite yet but I knew I would attempt it at some point. In November, as I mentioned in a previous post, I listened to the universe’s signs, and informed my work of my decision. Thankfully, they were understanding, and allowed me to step away from my career temporarily to chase my personal legend and return in September.

So you may be asking yourself, why am I doing this? I am hiking this trail now because it is something that I have always wanted to do, and I know that I also want to own a big chunk of property and settle down when I find the lucky gal. I also know and acknowledge that if I don’t pursue this now, I won’t be able to. More importantly, I am attempting this hike, because I find that when I am thru-hiking I am the best version of myself, I genuinely love nature and love to feel the connection to it, as well as the sense of community and commonality that you find when thru-hiking.

So where does that leave me today? On April 18, I will take a flight to Atlanta, where I will meet up with my friend Damsel, who I met on the Long Trail. She is then doing me the ultimate favor of giving me a ride to Amicalola Falls State Park the next day, where I’ll take the 8.8 mile approach trail to Springer Mountain where I’ll start the AT. The trail spans 2,197.9 miles and goes through 14 states along the east coast. I will be a North bound hiker (NOBO) attempting to thru-hike the entire trail.

Obviously, when attempting something like this, I would be oblivious if I didn’t comprehend the effect that this may have on others around me. Which in part is why this is a blog and not a journal. Through this blog I would like to give the people close to me the opportunity to follow along on my journey. Maybe even coax some people into providing some trail magic?

At the end of the day as I start this, I want to thank everyone who has helped me get to this point. I’m incredibly grateful to have so many amazing people in my life. But I want to dedicate a special shoutout to my folks. I have so much love and appreciation for everything they have done for me in my 27 years on this floating rock. It’s incredibly rare to have parents who are willing to support me as much as they have. They have constantly sacrificed for me and my brother’s well being. It’s something that I will never take for granted, and something I am extremely grateful for.

Happy Trails!

Guide for hiking terms:
-NOBO (North bound hiker)
-Trail Magic (People meet either friends or strangers thru hiking and give them food at trail heads)
-Thru-hiking (When you hike the trail continuously in a calendar year)
-Approach Trail (a trail to take to the start of the “main” trail)
-NH48 (New Hampshire has 48 4,000 foot mountains)
-New England Trail (A national scenic trail that goes from Royalston MA to Guilford CT)
-Long Trail (the oldest continuous trail in the US that goes thru Vermont)
The Waiting

January 25, 2026
As the Appalachian Trail gets closer, it feels appropriate to finally update where I’m at. Both mentally and logistically, as well as what I’ll be bringing on the trail. Part of my motivation in these blogs is to provide people a free and ad free blog that showcases what Im doing. Just in case someone someday uses these blog posts as a reference point, as I have done in the past.

Right now, I’m in what I’d call the waiting phase. As everyone knows, and as Tom Petty famously sang, “the waiting is the hardest part.” Some days I feel nothing but excitement and the thrill of chasing this dream. Other days, I’m filled with self-doubt and a strange internal feeling that I’m doing something “wrong” or “irresponsible.” But both of those feelings are fair, and both are valid. At the end of the day, I think that tension is proof that I’m doing something worth doing.

So where am I at?

From a work perspective, I know I’m approved to take a five-month unpaid sabbatical. Over the next three months, I know I need to be more intentional with how I use my time at work. Instead of annoying my bosses or watching traffic and hawks, I need to focus on preparing my coworkers for my absence. I need to fully articulating what I do and how I do it, so things continue to run smoothly while I’m gone.

On a personal level, I still need to book my flight down to Georgia. I need to start getting my body accustomed to longer miles and more weight on my back. I also need to call hostels and a few stores along the trail to make sure they’re still open and accepting hiker resupply packages.

The exciting part of the waiting phase is knowing that every day I take a metaphorical step closer to the start of the trail. Most of those steps are small, but they’re still steps. Boxes are packed. Gear is purchased. And now, the blog is written.

That brings me to gear. Thankfully, at this point outside of shoes and minor gear, I already own and have fully confidence in each piece of gear that Im bringing and own.

But the beauty and care of the hiking community helped me purchase some gear at a discount. On that front a special shoutout to Jollygear, Sawyer Squeeze, Huega House, and Jereko Gear. Each company either gave me gear or discounts towards gear.

Big 3:
- Tent: Hyperlite Mid 1
- Bag: Hyperlite Junction Black 55L Tall
- Sleeping bag: Revelation Quilt 850FP by Enlightened Equipment
Sleep System:
- Pad: Thermarest NeoAir XLite
- Pad: Gossamer Gear Thinlight Foam Pad
- Pillow: Trekology Pillow
Food system:
- Bear bag: Food Bag (Hill Top Packs)
- Pot: TOAKS Titanium 900ml
- Stove: BRS 3000T Stove
- Spoon: snow speak spork
Water:
- Bottle: 2 smart bottles
- Filter: Sawyer Squeeze
- Dirty water bag: Cnock Water bag 2L
Clothing:
- Pants: Long Underwear, shorts, sweatpants (various brands)
- Top: Jolly Gear Triple Crown Button Down Long Sleeve
- Sweater: Senchi A90
- Jacket: Men’s Ghost Shadow Hooded Jacket
- Rain jacket: Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket
- Hat: Huega House Grey Nylon Hat
- Winter Hat: SmartWool Unisex-Adult Thermal Merino Reversible Cuffed Beanie
- Winter Gloves: Smartwool Merino Gloves, Breathable Merino Wool Touchscreen Compatible For Men and Women
Devices / Miscellaneous :
- Garmin In-Reach Mini
- Amazon Kindle
- Soundcore by Anker Space A40
- Skullcandy Wired earbuds
- Anker USB C Charger Block, 33W 2 Port Compact Charger
- Anker Portable Charger, 325 Power Bank
- Miscellaneous cords
- NightCore NU21 headlamp
- First Aid Kit
- Face cloth
- Pocket Knife
- Cork Ball
End of the Line

December 24, 2025

This year, I told myself I wanted to run at least one mile every day for an entire year. I’d like to say I came up with the idea on my own, but that wouldn’t be true. Last fall I learned about Hellah Sidibe, alongside people like David Goggins and Tara Dower, Hellah is someone I consider a total badass. He has run every single day since May 15, 2017. Inspired by that streak, I decided that in 2025 I would try my own version. I’d run one mile every day.

Once January rolled around and the streak passed the early milestones, I started to realize that running every day was going to be harder than I had originally imagined. It wasn’t always inspiring or fun. Living in New England, and with my general dislike of treadmills, meant running through everything the seasons had to offer. Snow, rain, heat, cold, gray days, I ran through all of it. And every day, no matter what, I laced up my shoes and got in my mile.

After about sixty days, my legs started to feel heavy. The feeling of running every day began to set in. Life, of course, didn’t stop because I had to run. There were days when I didn’t want to do anything at all. Weeks where things felt messy and overwhelming. Nights when I found myself running at 11:30 p.m. after an eleven-hour drive. But the agreement I had made with myself was simple: lace up the shoes, run the mile. So I did.

Thankfully, not all of those days were hard. Many of them were genuinely fun. A lot of my runs were spent jamming to Tom Petty, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and countless other artists who made the miles fly by. Feeling the seasons slowly change sometimes day by day, became one of the most rewarding parts of the streak.

Running every day also opened the door to experiences I never would have had otherwise. I ran with people I hadn’t seen in years. I ran with people I had just met. One of the more memorable runs happened in September, while searching Hinge for my future wife. I met a girl who mentioned she liked running. Trying to impress her, I told her about my streak. So, for our first date we went and ran a mile together. The relationship never went past that first date, but it remains one of the most interesting first dates I’ve ever had.

In October, I traveled to Cleveland. Seeing they finally acknowledged Soundgarden as hall of fame worthy, I stopped by the Rock and Roll hall of fame, and eventually caught the Packers game with my Aunt and Uncle. As amazing as that weekend was, one of my highlights of that weekend was running in downtown Cleveland with my aunt. Running past the Indians and Cavaliers stadiums to keep a streak alive was incredibly cool and is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Of course as a hiking and outdoors nerd, it was only a matter of time before trail running entered the picture. After watching Tara Dower crush the Long Trail fastest known time, I had to try it myself. This led to countless memorable trail runs on places like the Tully Loop and the Wapack Trail. As amazing as those trails are, two trails I did stood out to me this year.

The first was the Presidential Traverse in the White Mountains. This trail is 23 miles long and goes over the highest peaks in the White Mountains. To make it work, I had to get an early start and run up Eisenhower. The climb was exhausting, but watching the sun slowly rise made it worth every step. Another advantage of running this Traverse meant I beat the first train up Mount Washington. So when I summited I only had to wait a few minutes to get my picture. The only downside being that instead of getting a slice of pizza at the concession stand I had to settle for Sprite and candy.

A few weeks later, after a company outing, I drove from Fitchburg to Franconia. I stopped at a McDonald’s to get in my designated mile, then waited for nightfall before parking at Lincoln Woods. I slept in the luxurious Camry, woke up at 4 a.m., and set out on a 24-hour Pemi Loop attempt. Along the way, I caught an incredible sunrise from Mount Liberty and I ran over Franconia Ridge. I met two people on the trail, and together we finished the loop in just over thirteen hours. It became one of the highlights of my entire year.

During my thru-hikes of the Midstate Trail and the North–South Trail, the running streak followed me there too. That meant running through residential neighborhoods in the middle of the day with a backpack on, I had plenty of confused side-eyes. As awkward as it probably looked, I loved every mile.

There was also beauty in the struggle. After Thanksgiving, I got my first tattoo. Anyone with a tattoo knows the goal is to avoid sweat during healing, so for about a week my daily mile turned into a putter where I had to slow down the moment I felt my body begin to heat up.

Another winter run stands out clearly. I was running downtown, stuck deep in my own head, overthinking, analyzing, and being far too hard on myself. Suddenly, someone yelled out of a passing car, “Who’s going to carry the boats?” It snapped me right out of my thoughts and back into the run. I then spent the remainder of the run extremely proud.

Somewhere along the way, I realized that running every day, like most daily commitments, is a near-perfect analogy for life. There were days that felt bad, when things didn’t go as planned or didn’t go Jt’s way. And there were days that felt good, when everything seemed to click. But at the end of the day every day was neither good nor bad. They were just days. Just miles.

Running at noon on a quiet rail trail, listening to birds. Running late at night in the middle of a snow storm. None of it was inherently good or bad, it simply was.

That realization helped me finally understand a quote from one of my favorite philosophers, Alan Watts:

Things are as they are. Looking out into the universe at night, we make no comparison between right and wrong stars, nor between well and badly arranged constellations.

I guess sitting here at The end of the line I am proud of myself not because I did something particularly challenging or hard, I am proud that I showed up for myself. One mile and day at a time. I learned to keep going and not judge an event, person, or run as good or bad. But just take it for what it is and keep on moving forward.
Something in the Way

November 30, 2025

As I sit here writing this, I find myself reflective and a bit nervous. Since I graduated from college 4 years ago, I have worked for the same company; Research Results. The work can be a bit monotonous at times but my coworkers, upper management, and the company culture have been unmatched. I can truly say that during my time there, I have never considered looking elsewhere, solely because I love my coworkers and the culture.

But on Tuesday I will be sending my upper management an email to ask for a meeting. I need to tell them that on April 20th, I will attempt a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. This decision will absolutely impact my long-term future with the company.

I’ve wanted to hike the AT for as long as I can remember. Even if I didn’t finish, having the courage to pause life to chase your personal legend itself is honorable in its own regard. Back in college, I told myself I’d do it after I graduated from college. Then I started to work, and I told myself I’d do it after I settled down and bought a house. But the truth and reality of life is that I may never meet my person, and I may never be able to afford a house. And frankly, life is incredibly fragile. I could die at any moment, like everyone else who inhabits this rock.

This thought has been very present in the past few months. Recently, I have found myself in therapy. In some of these sessions, I have discussed with my therapist why I feel so driven now to attempt this hike now and not previously.

After analyzing so many different aspects of my past, I realized that many of my major life decisions were based on what I perceived as the “smartest” decision. Go to an affordable school to save money. Live at home to save money. Work, save, repeat. I used to think that I did all this because of some expectation from society, which I’m sure is part of it. But through therapy, I pieced together that part of me made these decisions because I didn’t trust myself. Community college was financially smart, but it was also safe. Living at home has been financially smart, but again, it was safe.

That lack of faith in myself had seeped into everything at one point in my life. But the truth is, I control my own thoughts. I’ve been my biggest enemy for years, and I chose not to trust myself. But the beautiful thing about humans is that we can change our habits and we can change our mindset at any moment. Choosing the AT over my career is extremely risky. I am risking my income, health insurance, stability, and maybe setting myself back a few years. To be honest, that scares me to my core. But that is okay, this is my personal legend, and I need to trust myself.

For so long, there was always something in the way of me chasing the AT. But this year it seemed the universe was providing me sign after sign that I needed to pursue the trail.

As it says in the Alchemist

“When a person really desires something, all the universe conspires to help that person realize that dream” -Paulo Coelho.

The first sign came in the early days of spring on the New England Trail. I ran into a thru-hiker at the Richardson-Zlogar shelter. He told me he once stood exactly where I am, working a 9-5, unsure what to do. He said he ended up quitting his job to hike the AT. He told me it was the best decision that he had ever made.

A couple of weeks later, on the Monadnock Greenway Sunapee trail, I was summiting Mount Monadnock. I met a group of day hikers, and one of the hikers noticed the patches on my pack. After noticing the Long Trail and NET patch, he asked when I was going to do the “big one.” I told him that I was planning on purchasing a house and then doing it later. He told me that he said the same thing at my age. And looking back, he regretted not doing it when he was young and wasn’t “house poor”, as he felt it was now an impossible goal.

One of the biggest signs the universe sent my way was when I went to a forest bathing class in July (look it up before you get judgmental). I met this wicked cool guy who was a member of the Peace Corps, military, and also thru-hiked the AT. I of course started to talk to him about thru-hiking. When I told him my reasons for delaying the AT, health insurance, housing, and any other reason to mask my own self-doubt. He said something that struck me hard:

There will never be a perfect time, and every year you wait, the harder it will become.

Since that conversation in July, I have been pondering this move. Today is the day where I decided that I am going to put total faith in myself and attempt to thru-hike the AT. I don’t know what I’ll be doing or who I’ll be in a year, or where I’ll be, or what I’ll be doing. That unknown is terrifying. But for the first time, I trust myself to figure it out.

And if I don’t figure it out?

That’s okay too.
Chasing Blue Blazes to the Atlantic

October 9, 2025

On May 27, I completed my thru-hike of the Midstate Trail in Massachusetts. But instead of calling it quits, I decided to tack on an extra challenge: the North-South Trail. This 77-mile trail begins at the end of the Midstate Trail in Douglas State Forest and ends at Blue Shutters Beach on the Atlantic Ocean in Charlestown, Rhode Island. I completed the trail on May 30.

Day One: Slogging Through Soreness

After finishing the Midstate Trail, I took a quick lunch break. My normal tortilla wraps with buffalo chicken packets and the last of the Cheetos I’d packed out the day before. Still sore from two long days of hiking, I stretched and chatted with someone who had just completed a section of the North-South Trail. He warned me about the ticks, a nuisance I had been dealing with since I started hiking in Massachusetts.

My plan was to hike 11 more miles to George Washington Campground for the night, which would give me a chance to rest and recover. This meant stacking those 11 miles on top of the 12 I’d already hiked earlier that day to finish the Midstate.

Those miles were brutal. Every few miles I had to stop and rest my legs. Each step was agonizing, but I eventually made it to the campground about half an hour before it closed. I asked the ranger about ice for my swollen ankle, but no luck.

With no convenience store in sight, I opened up Uber and found a driver willing to take me 15 miles to a Walmart. I grabbed a bag of ice, and thankfully, the driver offered to bring me back. At camp, I iced my ankle using sandwich bags, took two extra-strength Tylenol, and crashed hard.

Day Two: Won’t Back Down

I woke up extremely sore and swollen. I wasn’t sure if it was from the miles or a tweak in my ankle. Either way, I realize I need to be more proactive with stretching and recovery in the future.

After icing my leg with a delivery from Walmart, I debated what to do. Should I continue? Take a nero? Quit?

Eventually, I decided to push six miles to the next campground and reassess. I usually avoid music in the mornings, preferring to stay connected with nature, but given that over 50% of this trail is road walking, I made an exception. The first song that came on: “Won’t Back Down” by Tom Petty. It’s impossible to quit after hearing “No, I won’t back down. You can stand me at the gates of hell. But I won’t back down.” I wasn’t planning on quitting but I sure as hell wasn’t gonna quit after hearing that.

The walk included some woods, but mostly neighborhood roads. I pushed past the first campground and set my sights on Colaluca Campground. Which would bring the day’s total to 20 miles. I skipped summiting Rhode Island’s highest point, Jerimoth Hill, to keep my momentum going.

A kind stranger gave me a lift for the final few miles, cutting off some dreaded road walking. Unfortunately, the camp store was closed, so no ice. I settled for a shower, applied a ton of Tiger Balm, took Tylenol, charged my battery bank, and watched Con Air until I fell asleep.

Day Three: Arcadia and the Accidental Detour

I didn’t sleep much. My white, semi-transparent tent lit up like a lantern under the campground’s streetlights. Every time I woke up mid-dream, it took me forever to fall back asleep.

Still, I had miles to cover. I woke up at 5:30 and started walking. I had 46 miles to go, so I planned to hike 30 that day, leaving 16 for the final stretch. The terrain was more wooded, which made a longer day more manageable.

Not long after my morning break, I hit the halfway point—only 39 miles from the ocean! That gave me the boost I needed. I even squeezed in my daily mile run (a New Year’s resolution I’ve kept all year).

Then came Arcadia Management Area. This section was stunning: tall green trees, chirping birds, and trails that were neither too rocky nor too flat. But while soaking it all in, I zoned out and missed a blaze. I ended up on the 95 Trail, which paralleled I-95. I stayed on it since it reconnected with the North-South Trail in a few miles. Plus, there was a privy.

After a break, I kept walking but missed another turn and ended up wandering down Route 3. I definitely regretted that detour, as it caused more highway walking and less trail walking. Eventually, I rejoined the correct route and started charging my phone, only to get a “liquid detected” error in the port. Perfect.

Back on the trail, I passed a golf course and hoped for real food. The clubhouse didn’t have a restaurant, but I found Alaina’s Guac n’ Roll just off the road. I devoured a massive quesadilla and got a water refill. Afterward, I walked a few more residential miles, hit 30 for the day, and found a quiet patch of woods to camp in.
Day Four: The Ocean at Last

In my past thru-hikes, the final night on trail usually feels bittersweet. You know you’re about to leave the peace of the woods behind. But not this time. I was mentally done. The road walking, lingering ankle pain, and exhaustion had caught up with me.

I hit the trail at 5:30 again. Surprisingly, the last day’s roads were pleasant, then the previous days. Rather than highways and neighborhoods I passed farmlands, and nice homes. In between, I hiked through some lovely woods.

During breakfast (applesauce, a Pop-Tart, and a meat stick), I heard rustling nearby. At first, I thought it might be a deer. But then, just a couple feet away, a coyote appeared! My brain screamed mountain lion! before reason kicked in. I picked up the pace.

Later, I passed through a massive field. Something I didn’t expect in Rhode Island and then entered the final section through Burlingame State Park. The last two miles were along beach houses until finally, I reached the Atlantic Ocean.

Reflections

When I first planned this trip, I thought it would take nine days to complete both trails. I did it in seven.It was physically exhausting, mentally draining, and full of unexpected moments. But it was also incredibly rewarding. I was glad to be done walking on pavement for a while, though.

My original plan was to chill on the beach until my ride arrived. But the wind and rain quickly ended that. I got an Uber to North Kingstown and killed time at the outdoor shopping plaza. After grabbing a pizza (which I wasn’t allowed to eat inside because I’d ordered it to-go), I ate outside and read until I could catch a movie (Sinners). Then I got a ride back home.

And just like that, the trip was over.

These trails drained me physically but challenged me in a way I didn’t expect. I’m naturally an introvert, so writing, posting, or speaking about myself can feel like I’m overstepping some unspoken boundary. But after hiking these two trails, I don’t feel that way anymore.

I’m not about to become a social media influencer (still not a fan, no matter how much I try to be), but blogging feels like a natural way to share what I’ve been doing out there. I’m really grateful for the opportunity The Trek gave me. The chance to write, reflect, and connect with the experience in a deeper way.

Hopefully, whenever and wherever my next thru-hike takes place, I’ll get the opportunity to blog it again.

Until then—happy trails.
Thru-Hiking the Midstate Trail: Mud, Miles & A Little Tom Petty Wisdom

October 4, 2025

Thru-Hiking the Midstate Trail: Mud, Miles & A Little Tom Petty Wisdom

From May 24 to May 27, I thru-hiked the Midstate Trail, a 92-mile trail running through central Massachusetts. I had given myself five days to finish it, but thanks to some unexpectedly big-mile days, I wrapped it up a bit quicker than planned (and I’m definitely feeling it now as I write this).
I’m not totally sure what the best way to blog about a trail is, but breaking it down day-by-day feels the most natural to me, so here goes.

Day 1: Kicking Off the Midstate Trail
I woke up around 6 a.m., did some doomscrolling, checked the weather, and got a ride to the trailhead from my younger brother.
Because of how the trail is set up, the first mile or so is essentially a loop back on itself, so the hike started with some redundant footsteps. As we neared the start, I told my brother how great New England is for hiking since black bears are the only “threatening” animal. Just as the words left my mouth, a black bear came stumbling down the trail. That was the first bear I’ve ever seen on trail, despite years of hiking and even spotting moose before on two separate occasions.
I took the usual “start of the thru-hike” selfie and hit the trail.
The weather was typical New England: light drizzle, on and off. With the recent rain, the trail had turned into a flowing stream, but what else would you expect hiking in New England.
By noon, I was eating lunch in the parking lot of a flower shop. A few hours later, I crossed the overpass I usually drive under on my way to work, which was a cool full-circle moment. I hiked on to Crow Hill and made camp there for the night.

Day 2: Tom Petty Made Me Hike an Ultramarathon
I woke up shivering at 4 a.m. The night before the trip, I’d debated between bringing my 30-degree or 50-degree sleeping bag. The forecast said 45, so I chose the 50. Stupid idea I know.
Being that cold definitely motivates you to move, so by 5:30 a.m., I was packed up and hiking, wet socks and all.
I soon reached the ski lot at Mount Wachusett and spotted a massive line of porta-potties. Relieved, I ran toward them… only to find every single one locked. Pretty shitty way to start the morning (pun intended). Naturally, I put on some Red Hot Chili Peppers to shift my mood and summited Wachusett.
As I descended, I noticed a bright blue shape near the summit parking lot: an unlocked porta-potty. That tiny win turned my day around.
The Midstate doesn’t offer huge views or dramatic peaks, but it’s full of quiet beauty: spiderwebs, blooming lady slippers, and all kinds of fun shaped trees.
By lunch, I reached Barre Falls Dam (mile 41.4). I checked my Google spreadsheet (no FarOut for this trail, so I was using AllTrails) and saw that shelters were at mile 48.2 and mile 55.6. With rain in the forecast, I decided to aim for the closer one.
While approaching the first shelter, Tom Petty’s Crawling Back to You came on. The lyric “Most things I worry about never happen anyway” took my mind on a wild adventure and I got lost in thought. I then completely walked past the shelter, and didn’t realize it until I passed the halfway marker.
At that point, I figured I was committed and pushed on to Buck Hill Shelter. My Baker’s cyst hated every step. But I made it to the shelter before dark. Logging around 35 miles on the day. I stretched, massaged my legs with a cork ball, and braced for the pain tomorrow.

Day 3: From Coyotes to Campgrounds – One Long, Indecisive Day
I fell asleep to the sound of coyotes howling. Which was an odly peaceful way to fall asleep.
After the previous day’s mileage, I hoped to sleep in, but by 6 a.m., the local birds were evicting me from the shelter I was borrowing from them. So, I packed up and hit the trail.
I noticed on my map that a Walmart was about a mile off-trail from an upcoming road crossing. I figured I’d grab some fruit, a knee brace, and Tiger Balm for the cyst. I stuck out my thumb and after a few cars passed, got a ride.
I grabbed what I needed, ate my fruit, and tried hitching back, with no luck. So I walked the mile back to the trailhead and resumed hiking.
Just like the last two days: mud, mud, and more mud.
I eventaully hit the start of another road walk . So I stopped to debate my water options. Being picky, I refused to drink from a tea color stained stream a mile prior. Luckily, some section hikers pulled up and, after some chatting, offered me some water. We snapped a photo (probably floating around a Facebook group somewhere), and I moved on.
Eventually, I reached Four Chimneys Parking Lot, just 10 miles from my resupply point in Oxford. I figured I’d hike into town, resupply, and crash at a hotel.
Problem: I never checked if there was a hotel nearby.
At Carol’s Pizza, I ordered a pepperoni pizza and asked how to get to Market Basket. I said I was going to hitch. The owner looked at me like I had five heads and kindly insisted I take an Uber instead. He let me leave my pack while I went.
After resupplying, I returned, crushed my pizza, and realized: no hotels anywhere nearby. I had two options either hike 7 miles to the next wooded section, or hike 4 miles to a campground that was a mile off trail.
I called Sutton Falls Campground and asked the only question that mattered: “Do you have a shower?” They did, and they closed in two hours. I booked a site and hustled.
The owner gave me a discount and a powered site which I greatly appreciated. I pitched my tent, took a shower and dried off with the face cloth I usually use to wipe tent condensation. I then checked my watch: 30 miles again. So much for a short day.
I had five blisters per foot, two sore knees, and a full belly of pizza. I stretched, took Advil, and crashed hard.

Day 4: Pained and Drained
I woke up wicked sore from two straight 30-mile days. But I only had 12 miles left, so I started moving, with a podcast and some determination.
The day began with a four-mile road walk. Normally I hate those, but this one had pretty views: farmhouses, classic New England homes, and nice open fields. Eventually, I reached Douglas State Forest after passing through a few people’s backyards.I was in full struggle-bus mode, taking breaks nearly every mile to rest my feet. I reflected on how last spring, I did this section to prep for the Long Trail and it seemed so much eaiser. Wild how things come full circle.
After a bunch of slow miles and sore stops, I finally reached the southern terminus. I took a photo to mark the moment… and just like that, started walking the North-South Trail.
Final Thoughts
Thru-hiking the Midstate Trail was an unforgettable adventure.
Navigating without FarOut was harder than I expected. And, honestly, not having anyone to talk to at the end of each day was brutal (thank god for books. Lol).
But there’s something peaceful and grounding about this trail. The Midstate doesn’t scream for attention, it just shows you the little beauty that is in central Massachusetts .
If I were to do it again, I’d probably section hike it. But even with the blisters, soggy shoes, and sore legs, it was worth it.

Happy trails!
Coming Home to Nature: My Next Thru-Hike on the Midstate Trail

September 28, 2025
Discovering the Trail Beneath My Feet

Last year, I completed my first thru-hike. I hiked the entire 273 miles of Vermont’s Long Trail. For those unfamiliar, a thru-hike is typically defined as hiking the full length of a trail in a single season. The Long Trail tested me physically and mentally, and left me wondering, what would be next?

As winter set in, I found myself doing what I assume every hiker does. Looking for the next trail. Would I finally knock off one of the big hikes from my unofficial bucket list (AT, JMT, PCT, CT)? Or would a shorter hike better fit my schedule and budget this year?

Back to My Roots

I grew up in Winchendon, Massachusetts. One of the last towns before the New Hampshire border. A short drive from Mount Monadnock, reportedly the most-hiked mountain in the United States. My parents often took me, my brother, and our friends hiking in local parks and forests. Two things always happened on those hikes:
1. We came back with our pockets full of trash (“If you pick it up, you pack it out,” as my dad would say).
2. We always ended up on some part of the little-known Midstate Trail.
Fast forward to 2020. I was a full-time student working at the local Cumberland Farms, completely disconnected from nature and feeling the weight of it. During the pandemic, like many others, I turned to the outdoors. One day, I hiked Mount Wachusett, a local mountain I hiked countless times as a kid (located on the Midstate Trail). After the hike I felt great both physically and mentally.

That one hike rekindled my love and appreciation for nature, reminding me of what I had been missing. From day hikes to overnight trips, I quickly became obsessed with the outdoors. Eventually, I moved into backpacking, and from there, into the world of thru-hiking. That hike led me to the Long Trail, New England Trail, and now my next thru-hike.

Why the Midstate Trail?

This winter, while planning for summer, I revisited a section of the Midstate Trail just to log a few miles. As I walked the trail I’ve hiked countless times, the memories from my childhood rushed back.

That hike inspired me to dig a little deeper into the trail itself. I learned that the Midstate Trail runs 92 miles north to south, cutting directly through Massachusetts, mostly along Worcester County. It begins at the New Hampshire border and ends at the Rhode Island state line. From there, it connects seamlessly with the North South Trail, a 77-mile route that continues to the Atlantic Ocean.

That sealed the deal.

This year, I’ll be thru-hiking both the Midstate and North South Trail, a combined 169 miles. Starting from the New Hampshire border to the Atlantic ocean. I’ll be hiking from May 24th to June 1st, aiming to complete the journey in about nine days.

Sharing the Journey

This will be the first time I document a thru-hike publicly. I’ve never blogged before, and until recently, I hadn’t even used social media. But over the past month, I’ve been practicing posting stories and learning how to better share my journey online.

These trails are lesser-known, even among local hikers, and I hope that by sharing my journey, I’ll inspire someone to explore a nearby section of trail, even if it’s just for an afternoon. The beauty, clarity, and peace that nature offers aren’t exclusive to a thru-hike or an expensive get away. Sometimes, they’re right in your backyard.

Looking Ahead

As the late, great Tom Petty sang in Time to Move On:

“What lies ahead, I have no way of knowing
But under my feet, baby, grass is growing
It’s time to move on, time to get going.”

That’s exactly what I am hoping to do on this thru hike. Face the unknown, return to the trails that I hiked as a kid, and hopefully, do a good job displaying the uniqueness of each trail via Instagram and blogging.

Happy Trails!