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
Author: Wildwood Walking
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
I AM ALWAYS SAFE AND PROTECTED…
I frequently ask my guides and guardian angels to keep me safe and protected. This ritual has helped me create more personal trust and less
IF YOU WANT SOMETHING, JUST ASK FOR IT!
On my last backpacking trip just before I left for Nepal last October, ironically in the Smokies, I had a critical equipment malfunction… the dreaded
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY CAN MAKE!
I have to be honest. My first two “hitches” (each 4-day stretch on the trail is called a hitch) have been relatively intense. I knew
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU TOOK A HUGE LEAP OF FAITH?
When was the last time you made an enormous, unplanned decision that altered every facet of your daily life??? Embarking on a journey of personal
TWO ROADS DIVERGED IN A WOOD…
Are you familiar with the poem, The Road Not Taken, by Robert Frost? This enchanting poem has always spoken to me. It stirs something within
DID YOU KNOW GRAFFITI HARMS TREES?
I walk by these trees frequently and always find myself confused at the thought of someone… anyone… ALL of these people… doing this. It breaks
GOT STRESS? WALK IT OFF!
GOT STRESS? WALK IT OFF! Amidst the common stress and overwhelming pressure that define our nonstop busy lives, many struggle to find the balance within.
STAY SAFE AND WARM WHILE WALKING IN A WINTER WONDERLAND❄️
Walking in the depths of winter is to experience life in a cycle of quiet, peaceful slumber. The gilded glow of the winter sun streams dimly
WHEN THE UNIVERSE DELIVERS PRECISELY WHAT YOU ASKED FOR… YOU SAY YES!
Hey friends, I have big news!! I have officially accepted an Appalachian Trail Ridgerunner position in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park for the 2024
HONORING MARTIN LUTHER KING: MODERN-DAY HERO
Martin Luther King Jr.’s compelling dream, eloquently articulated and fueled by a profound commitment to justice, has indeed altered the trajectory of history. His vision,
HERE IS YOUR POST-HOLIDAY HUMDRUMNESS CURE
The calendar may have flipped over to January 2024, but I am still savoring the absolute fullness of this past year. I am not quite
2023 WAS A TREMENDOUS YEAR!
Do you feel like you give yourself enough recognition and praise for the things you set out to do and accomplish? I know I don’t.
ANOTHER AMAZING ADVENTURE IN THE BOOKS… TREKKING IN THE ENCHANTED LAND OF NEPAL 2023!
I was honored to have eight incredible women accompany me on the trek of a lifetime in the Annapurna region. Everyone did fantastic and an
WHY BECOMING DEATHLY ILL IN INDIA CAN BE A PROFOUND BLESSING… [PART 1]
The reality didn’t hit me fully until I was brushing my teeth after arriving home in an emergency 4-flight, 38-hour travel marathon. As I washed
ARE YOU FANTASIZING ABOUT TREKKING IN NEPAL? HERE ARE SOME TIPS…
Proper etiquette and observing local customs while Trekking in the Enchanted Land of Nepal RESPECT THE LOCAL CULTURE: As in anywhere in the world, it
NEW MOON IN LIBRA ECLIPSE MAGIC!
🌑🌟 New Moon in Libra Eclipse Magic! 🌟🌑 [Saturday, October 14th 1:54pm EST] Embrace the Cosmic Dance! As the cosmos prepares to unveil its celestial
WALKING IN THE WONDER OF AUTUMN…
There is a delight in every step when you walk in autumn’s wonder… As the world transitions from the warm embrace of summer to the
LONG-DISTANCE HIKING
Are you considering hiking a long trail? There are numerous benefits to committing to such an undertaking. Here is an (unedited) section of my soon-to-be-published
WHAT’S SO SCARY ABOUT THE WOODS?
Why have the woods traditionally been portrayed as a dark and scary place? Timeless fairytales of old often feature the deep, dark forest where who
