Therese Marie

That’s right! One beach, lots of cousins/family friends, and five hours of car time later I am back on the Appalachian Trail!

Today, an awesome thing happened: I hiked down a hill without experiencing excruciating pain!! It’s crazy, I honestly didn’t realize until now just how much pain I was in.

Did I see a real doctor?

Nah, man. After doing some thorough internet research, I’ve concluded it was just strained muscles. After 2 days of hiking, I haven’t felt any sort of pain comparable to that which plagued me prior to the break. So no doctor for this girl. Plus, I’m eating an apple every day so I should be set right?

How’d I Get Back?!

In the beautiful new car chaufeurred by my dear cousin Jack! We took a quick 5 hour ride down to Roan Mountain.

Here’s Jack! As you can see, he’s havin’ a grrrrreat time

The Art Of Staying Positive

It’s been pretty rainy down here in the hills of Tennessee/North Carolina. We were pretty damp by the time we arrived at camp and spent the night getting more damp. The rain didn’t stop and my sleeping bag got wet because the wind was blowing directly onto my tent and I slept too close to the sides. My shoes were still damp in the morning. Whoops.

And yet, I am happy as a clam, even if that means being a damp clam. Here are some tactics I use to stay excruciatingly positive:

1. Always look on the briiiiight siiiiiide of life! Yeah, it’s raining now. But the rain will stop eventually. The sun HAS to come out again! And when it does? Take that tent out and DRY it! Bask in the sun! Get repaired! Yesterday blue skies broke through the cloud cover around 3pm, and it was god damned unexpectedly beautiful. Imagine if whatever drama or problem you had in your life could disappear by 3pm.
2. Excersize makes ya happy so don’t you dare stop moving!
3. Good humans = good times. Find someone to set up camp with and laugh about how frigid you are, how deeply satisfying it is to put on dry clothes. Talking keeps the brain busy, community makes the heart warm.

Hostel Review: Mountain Harbor

Beautiful, easy place to stay. Definitely refreshing! The hostel is cute and cheap – we tented out back to save some cash. I highly recommend this place because of its ease and also its breakfast. If you’re not staying and just want to do laundry and a shower, the convenience factor is high! If you are staying, GET THE BREAKFAST. Mary and Shannon are amazing women who will feed you ample home cooked dishes and fresh fruit.

What’s The Plan Now, Stan?

To HIKE ON! Yes, the time cometh where I am strong, I am knowledgeable, I am so much less afraid that I was three weeks ago. I am not invincible, but I am a hiker god damn it!

By the looks of it, I should be in Damascus, VA in a week! In the mean time I’m going to hike, (try to) avoid thunder storms, be awesome, and have fun!

Until the next time,

FLY ON!

Xo Lil