So far

Sorry for the delay in between this post and my last! Service has been hard to come by, and when I do have service it's normally because I'm in town to resupply. 

Mom & Dad

I'd like to start this post off with a huge thank you to my parents. I was planning on starting my hike with Sullivan (my dog), but dogs aren't allowed in the Great Smoky Mountains and I was unwilling to board him. So, my parents have been watching him for the last 3 weeks while I've made my way to/ through GSM, and I can't thank them enough. In addition, they provided me with my trip essentials: my backpack, tent, and steripen (water purifier). They were left with a house full of my hastily moved furniture, and have been making post office trips for my mail drops whenever I need them. You two are an integral part of what has already become the best experience of my life, and I am eternally grateful! 

I GOT A TRAIL NAME

It's sugar magnolia 

Apparently it's a grateful dead song, but I like it either way. 

That being said

I've come so far since my last post! I'm currently in the Great Smoky Mountains, and am well over 200 miles into my hike! I've hiked all of Georgia, and am going back and forth between North Carolina and Tennessee for the next week or so before returning to Virginia! I've survived snow and multiple thunderstorms. I've climbed to the summits of well over twenty mountains, and have had breathtaking views daily. Today I woke up at 5 am, packed up, and hiked in the dark to watch the sun rise on the highest point on the AT, Clingman's Dome. It was cloudy, but still beautiful, and it makes me truly happy to say that this will be my life for the next 5ish months. I started out hiking 10ish miles a day, and now I'm averaging closer to 15. I'm still waiting on trail legs, but hopefully I'll be averaging 20+ miles a day by the time I enter Virginia. 

Weird things 

Unlike a lot of my fellow thru hikers, I didn't really read or follow any blogs before I began my hike. I was totally unprepared for drastic changes. I'm a little less than 3 weeks in, but so far I've noticed:

Tan lines- I'm generally hiking in the same direction every day, and as a result the right side of my face is significantly more tan than the left side of my face. I also thought I had dried dirt around my socks, but it's actually just the most intense sock tan I've ever had. 

Hiker hunger- I heard tales of hiker hunger, and was immediately concerned because I already love to eat. I heard stories about hikers stopping in town, going to restaurants, and ordering 4 burgers per person. Obviously I thought this was exaggerated, but it wasn't. I've been consuming around 4,000 calories a day, I'm still losing weight, and am constantly hungry. I've tried to suffer through and eat less (because eating more isn't cost effective), but that's been a failure. 

Constant fatigue- I expected this, but on a lesser scale. I have plenty of mental energy, but my body feels like it needs a week long break. I've been sleeping 10+ hours a night (I used to average 6), solely because my body needs the recovery time. My joints feel like they've aged 30 years, but my legs have started to feel stronger every day! 

Loss of manners- As a result of hiker hunger thru hikers refuse to waste food. If you drop food on the ground you ALWAYS pick it up, dust it off, and eat it. Maybe this is gross, but a dirt covered Oreo is better than no Oreo when you've been hiking for 9+ hours. 

Frequently asked questions 

In an attempt to reassure all of you I'm going to try and answer the questions I get asked the most. 

1. You're hiking alone?! Is that safe?

I'm as safe as I can possibly be. I try to constantly be aware, and make good decisions! The AT is incredibly social, and I haven't spent a day alone yet! 

2. What do you need for maildrops?

Food! Letters! Really anything you feel like sending me! I'm always in need of food! Lightweight, easy to carry foods are best! I'm able to text/ use social media on a semi regular basis, but I still get homesick! Letters from friends and family are always a nice surprise, and make me happy! 

3. When will you be at (insert town/ place)? 

I'm not sure! My mileage has already changed drastically, and so much depends on terrain and weather. I'll be able to give better estimates once my mileage stops changing. Currently I can figure out where I'll be and when for the next 100 miles or so, but that's it! 

Side note: I do post on social media a fair amount, but normally I will only post/ not check. If you have asked me questions on Facebook I'm not ignoring you! It's easiest for me to communicate via text. 

I'm also going to try and be better about blogging regularly! 

I promise I'll actually write about hiking next time!