Only 3 weeks til Burning Ma’aM YEAR 6!!!!! So here’s a look back at the first five years 🥹 a big ol thank you to everyone who keeps coming out year after year, and official reminder to GET UR TICKETS!!! 🫵🎟️♥️
$10 delights at Ortlieb’s 3•11!!
Come see @tawobihbc@red_king.phl & Septic Bath for a single Hamilton
And score yourself a Hotdog, shot, and beer for ANOTHER Hamilton
Graciously put together by @brendanr2000 & @dev_devvvvvvv 🙏
Fun history fact: Alexander Hamilton is on the $10 bill
RECAP: Days 105 - 121
Northern Virginia: 294 miles
Virginia!! How grand and beautiful she is, finally departing from the sharp, rocky ridgelines of the mid-atlantic and ushering back big mountain climbs with the return of 4,000 footers. The northern part of the state eased me back into longer climbs with generous switchbacks that did not exist on the northeast's steep ascents. Spanning over 550 miles (more than a quarter of the entire AT), she has the reputation of giving thru-hikers the "Virginia Blues", but I cannot report back to you that I felt far from blue as I hiked thru this lovely state.
Within a few days, I walked into my first national park of the trail: Shenandoooaaahhhhh! Blackberry shakes and Skyline Drive vistas were sprinkled about the park's 100 miles of trail (don't tell the ATC but sometimes I walked on the road). As September passed into October, daylight was still aplenty and the early foliage clung firmly to the branches; the air was crisp and the vibes were high.
Trail magic was also in the air! I was constantly being given free food, from tupelo honey treats, to Pakistani cookout leftovers, to whatever Fresh Ground had on the menu. And then of course was NEROpalooza at Devil's Backbone brewery. Hikers hiked and hitched in from far and wide to attend this gathering of wanderers, and with a turnout of 10 SOBOs, that means that 10% of every southbound hiker was at this event. For many, this would be the last time we would see each other all trail! Tenting together that night, we all tried to get some sleep as our camping neighbor went on and on, quite loudly and emphatically, about the Turkish trance group he's been listening to lately, and how everyone needed to give their live sets a try. Virginia really had it all. And this was only the northern half!
-Frogger 🐸
#AppalachianTrail #ThruHike #TrekTheAT
Yesterday I completed the Appalachian trail, with some amazing people! a lot to process right now…but this magical journey has come to an end (for now!)
Miles Hiked: 2120.2 miles
Miles Left: 78.3 miles
13/14 states complete!
Started TN/NC with a 180 mile push over 10 days to catch up with the rest of our Tramly for Thanksgiving. We had been separated from them for over 1000 miles, but finally linked back together!
During that time we stayed in the worst mice infested shelter I had ever been in. The mice were running across our bags while we were setting up. At night I had two run across my sleeping bag and one land on my head from the ceiling. In the morning I woke up to more than a pound of nuts in an open pocket in my backpack. They had tried to build a nest there overnight.
After finally catching up with everyone and having Thanksgiving, we got offered free slack packing from a trail angel legend, Miss Janet. It was great to get some good miles in and hangout with her and her crazy dog at camp.
The smokies started great, but got coldddd! I got caught on an exposed ridge where the rain turned into sleet and froze to my face and beard. It was warmer at lower elevations, so I was only in a T-shirt and shorts when it rolled in. Everything was soaked when we got to camp, but we all worked together to get a fire going out of wet wood and dried out clothes. In the morning we woke up to two inches of snow and started hiking. Luckily things thawed out, but the highs stayed in the 30s through the rest of the smokies.
We got to Fontana Dam where another trail angel Grambo, took us into Robinsville for resupply. There was a random Christmas parade that we were able to catch as we did our laundry. Grambo slack packed us for 2 days until we got to Natahala Outdoor Center.
The last 1/5 of NC was some of the coldest camping I have ever done. We had a night at 9 degrees, and one at 0. I'm so glad I picked up a warmer sleeping bag a couple of weeks prior.
As I hike my last week, it feels surreal. I am so excited to see friends and family, but will truly miss the trail. I have learned and experienced so much from it and it will always be a part of me.
#AppalachianTrail #hiking #adventure #mountains #outdoors #camping #getoutside #hike #optoutside #backpacking #thruhiking #TN #NC #TrektheAT #Tennessee
Neropalooza for 2025 SOBOs was forced to be canceled because of the government shutdown. The uncertainty about the campground being open at all, trash pick-up being active, and the bathrooms being locked was too much to risk so much prep for. So I went for some alternative fun.
Hosted a great group of 5 in the middle of the week, tried my best to give them all food babies. Then met back up with them at Devil’s Backbone that weekend, which would’ve been the night of the party. We gathered some other thrus last-minute and made it a somewhat impromptu SOBO party at the brewery.
These folks were a real treat, and everyone made the best of the alternative plan.
Despite the difficulties of 2025, the Neropalooza parties WILL be back and better than ever in 2026, and I hope to see many of you there.
Also… don’t tell anyone, but SOBOs are my favorite.
