BACKCOUNTRY FOOD STORAGE: I HEART BEAR CABLES
THINGS RIDGERUNNERS WANT HIKERS TO KNOW: PART 1
EMBRACE THE STINK
“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 swirled themselves around my brain. The […]
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 — South Section | April 10–13, […]
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, Georgia, in 1998. Little did […]
CHOOSING A COLD-WEATHER SLEEPING BAG❄️
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 this was a sure-fire remedy […]
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 popped into my mind that […]
THE 2025 RIDGERUNNER SEASON HAS OFFICIALLY BEGUN! ❄️ PRO TIP: KEEP 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 the 2025 season! As a […]
WHO KNEW DOING SIMPLE CHORES BRINGS PEACE OF MIND…?!
HURRICANE HELENE: MY JOURNAL FROM BEING TRAPPED ON A MOUNTAIN
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 out a remote backcountry privy […]
WHAT DOES “BEAR AWARE” MEAN?
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 trail. Maintaining hygiene 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), I trust that my presence […]
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 Trail. Her former career had […]
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. Typically, many day-hikers are headed […]
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 put to the test. He’s […]
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 in fear. The intense weather […]
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 fatal-boot-blow-out. Thankfully, it was toward […]
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY CAN MAKE!
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 growth often requires us to […]
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 that cannot be put into […]
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 my heart because this tree […]
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. The accumulation of worry, anxiety, […]
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 through windswept trees. The air is […]
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 season! What is a Ridgerunner, […]
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, etched in the hearts of […]
