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 on the trail is primarily [...]
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 the end of the trip, [...]
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 the weather could potentially be brutal in the Smokies… [...]
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 millions, was a beacon that [...]
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 my face, rinsed my mouth out, and took a sip [...]
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 gentle chill of fall, the beauty that unfolds beneath your [...]
“Fourth of July” holds a sacred significance far beyond its traditional patriotic associations… inviting us to reflect on the values of freedom, independence, and unity at a deeper level. This day serves as a reminder [...]
I startled a large deer on the trail today. He didn’t scamper very far away, maybe fifteen feet, and for a few moments, we just sat there and stared at each other. Luckily, I had [...]
Walking as a Sacred Practice… The Art of Slowing Down My pace quickens as I make my way to the trailhead. And the very moment I step one foot into the forest… whoosh! I am [...]
I held the intention to walk the length of the Foothills Trail, present, and intuitively… choosing a place to camp each night based on how I felt and where I wanted to travel… feeling fully [...]
Do you ever get the “mulligrubs” on the gray, dismal days of late fall and winter? This was a word my grandmother used to say. Even without defining it, I think the word mulligrubs perfectly expresses [...]
(Mount Everest Base Camp Trek: Part II) Things I inadvertently learned while ascending to 17,598' in elevation… Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) It took nine days to ascend to Mount Everest Base Camp (17,598') [...]
This kind of stuff just doesn't happen to me! I always have snafu-free adventures. I meet interesting people and have nothing but magically synchronistic encounters and experiences when I travel. I have met some of [...]
I am currently sitting in the very back row of a tiny American Eagle. It is deafening. I can't even hear my own thoughts! My whole body vibrates violently as I view the majestic mountains [...]
The Three Rivers Land Trust, the Uwharrie Mountain Trail Club, and many wonderful volunteers make this 4-day backpacking "thruhike" a truly spectacular event! They truly spoil us with cookouts, snacks, cold drinks, [...]
Today is the second time in a row that I have seen bears on my walk. Today, I stood there… in complete awe… watching the grace and ease with which she ambled along down the [...]
I aspire to improve my relationship with technology, release my seemingly innate resistance to it, and stop longing for the days of parchment paper letters written in calligraphy with a fountain pen. Well, maybe not quite, [...]
The Art of Slowing Down People ask me all the time, “What is WildWood Magic?” And although I have at least a thousand things to say about it, the phrase “The Art of Slowing [...]
Combining the Magic of the WildWood and practical skills has been my goal for as long as I can remember. I have created my own version of "Leave No [...]
Let's take a Walk... and celebrate Earth Day every day! Here are some of the gorgeous waterfalls at Stone Mountain State Park in Roaring Gap, NC. Enjoy! xoCollin https://vimeo.com/702686102
On Earth Day (this Friday, April 22nd), many think of groups coming together to clean up trails, pick up trash along the roadside, and participate in a myriad of other environmental service projects. (Yay!! Thank [...]
I am so grateful for REST STOPS! Being a frequent traveler, one of the things I appreciate most about American highways is the super nice rest stops I stumble across! They show up on the [...]
Packing my backpack to walk the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu has me thinking ahead of how I want to present my being... my essence... to this ancient and mystical place. What kind of energy [...]
I don't know about you, but in the past, I rarely looked for an "easier" way to do things. I usually would just charge forward, full steam ahead, into projects, ideas, and sometimes difficult terrain. [...]
Ever since I got back from living in India, I have had a “thing” with dogs. Without getting into every terrifying detail, let’s just say, I thought I was going to die from a [...]
I find myself these days particularly searching for positive things that have resulted from the pandemic. I am grateful to report that I have accumulated quite a long list, and now I can add [...]
As I sit next to my altar and practice my meditations this morning, I erupt in unexpected, raucous laughter. Primarily at the realization that I am blowing my nose with a roll of toilet [...]
Have you had excellent service lately? A great haircut? Massage? Brake Service? If you want to support your friends in local businesses, how about going to Google and leaving them a review? It doesn’t take [...]
Here's a short video of my 40-mile walk in the Wild Woods of the Uwharrie Trail! The weather could not have been better, the trail is in terrific condition, and I met a lot of [...]
What is Wildwood Magic? The Wild Wood is an enchanted place where we take our physical body for a simple walk in the woods and are, in turn, gifted with nothing less than a most [...]
