THE PORTAL TREE, SOME KILLER CHILI, AND A DIVINE DOWNLOAD
I am just now able to write about an experience I had, although it happened several weeks ago… I went to meet some neighbors and
Author: Wildwood Walking
THE FIRST FEW STEPS ARE THE HARDEST (AFTER THAT, NATURE TAKES OVER)
These days, I am mostly an evening walker. I do some yoga in the morning after my meditations and then sit… way too much… at
TRAIL-TESTED SECRET TO TRULY CLEAN HIKING CLOTHES
Trail-Tested Secret to Truly Clean Hiking Clothes Let’s face it… the clothes we wear hiking, biking, working out, or doing anything that makes us sweat
THE MAGICAL REMEDY HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT
There is no shortage of tools available to the modern human seeking peace of mind. Meditation apps. Breathwork protocols. Journaling prompts. Affirmations recorded in soothing
THE NIGHT I STOPPED BEING AFRAID OF THE DARK
The year was 2000. I spent Y2K with a group of friends I met in a hiking club in Atlanta, camped at Lake Hartwell, waiting
ELEVEN RUNS THROUGH THE JUNGLE (And I Screamed on Every Single One)
I am not quite the adrenaline junkie I used to be. I say this as a woman who has skydived, bungee jumped, earned a blue
THE GREAT ESCAPE
What have I done? What have I done? What have I done? That’s all that was going through my head for the first six hours
THERE WILL BE MUD: A GUIDE TO SURVIVING THE MUCKETY MUCK
You made it through winter (almost!). You navigated snow, the ice, the wind that makes your eyes water in ways that have nothing to do
QUICK GUIDE TO COLD WEATHER HYDRATION
There’s nothing quite like walking up on a refreshing gurgling spring on a hot summer’s day, eagerly drinking after sweating through miles of trail. But
SACRED WALKING PERU: SALKANTAY & BEYOND!
Sacred Walking Peru: Salkantay and Beyond (2026) August 29 – September 10, 2026 Join Collin for a 12-day walking journey through the heart of the
FORGET NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS!
Forget New Year’s resolutions…. As 2026 opens its quiet doorway, consider stepping through with something gentler and far more sustainable: the intention to care for
THE POLITE MAGIC OF CROWN SHYNESS🌳
Look up in a maritime forest where live oaks reign, and you might catch one of nature’s most elegant mysteries: crown shyness. There, against the
WHAT’S BUGGING YOU? A GUIDE TO SURVIVING GNATS
What’s Bugging You? A Trail Guide to Surviving Gnats in the Smokies Let’s talk about that special kind of madness that only a swarm of
“IN DIFFICULTY LIES OPPORTUNITY”
“In difficulty lies opportunity.” I saw those words on a billboard today, somewhere between a gas station and the rising blue ridges, and they
MUSINGS FROM THE TRAIL: HITCH #8 ~ SEASON 2025
Musings from the Trail: Through the Lens of a Long-Season Ridgerunner on the Appalachian Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Hitch #8 —
SENIOR SURVIVAL: MY FIRST WEEKLONG BACKPACKING TRIP ON THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL
My first adult backpacking trip was with a hiking club I discovered in a Creative Loafing magazine classified ad after moving back to my hometown of Atlanta,
CHOOSING A COLD-WEATHER SLEEPING BAG❄️
My first season as a Ridgerunner on the Appalachian Trail in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park was incredible—but it started off cold. I quickly learned
ENJOYING A DAY OFF FROM HIKING? TAKE A WALK!
Yes! I take walks on my days off! (Well, at least on gorgeous days like this!) I learned the hard way some time ago that
OPPOSUMS! REAL LIFE MONSTERS OR SAVIORS OF THE UNIVERSE???
I saw an opossum walking down my snowy road the other day. I was admiring his cute little tracks. And then a powerful childhood memory
THE 2025 RIDGERUNNER SEASON HAS OFFICIALLY BEGUN! ❄️ PRO TIP: KEEP WALKING!
The first hitch of the 2025 Smokies Ridgerunner Season was delayed by a day due to a winter storm. I was originally to enter the
2025 SEASON RIDGERUNNER ON THE AT AGAIN! HURRAY!🥾
I have great news! I loved being an Appalachian Trail Ridgerunner in the Smokies SO MUCH I’ve decide to be the long-season Ridgerunner again for
WHO KNEW DOING SIMPLE CHORES BRINGS PEACE OF MIND…?!
The place I moved from last June, was affectionately known as “The Magic Box,” as it was literally a giant metal rectangular building with a
HURRICANE HELENE: MY JOURNAL FROM BEING TRAPPED ON A MOUNTAIN
This is a daily journal of some of my thoughts during the first ten days of Hurricane Helene. You are reading this after the rain
BACKCOUNTRY DUTIES: CLEANING A PRIVY!
This past week’s hitch was different from my regular 4-day adventures on the Appalachian Trail, in that the first two days were dedicated to cleaning
WHAT DOES “BEAR AWARE” MEAN?
WHAT DOES BEING “BEAR AWARE” MEAN? It’s that time of year again! Here in the Appalachian Mountains, the wildflowers are blossoming, the baren branches are
CONCERNED ABOUT NOROVIRUS? WASH YOUR HANDS!
CONCERNED ABOUT NOROVIRUS ON TRAIL? WASH YOUR HANDS! I am not going to lie… We hikers are typically dirty, smelly, and gross out on the
WHAT DOES AN APPALACHIAN TRAIL RIDGERUNNER DO?”
I frequently get asked, “What does an Appalachian Trail Ridgerunner do?” While there is an official list of “essential duties and responsibilities” (attached below),
SOMETIMES ALL WE NEED IS A LITTLE SUPPORT! 👣
One beautiful winter’s day in 2010, I was day-hiking with a dear friend just a few weeks before leaving for my thru-hike on the Appalachian
HEADED TO THE BACKCOUNTRY IN COLD CONDITIONS? STAY WARM AND DRY!
After a long day hiking in the rain, I passed the side trail to “Charlies Bunion,” a scenic rocky overlook that attracts many view-seeking hikers.
ANOTHER AMAZING ADVENTURE ON THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL…
I had the pleasure of sharing a wild Smokies Appalachian Trail adventure with the ATC’s newest ridgerunner, Andy… His excellent trail-maintaining skills were continually being
