“At 11:20am on Monday, October 11th, after 207 days of life on foot, I summited the majestic 5,269 feet of Mama K. Mount Katahdin.”

“Tuning in from the infamous Shaw’s Hiker Hostel, in Monson, Maine, you’re finding me full of whimsy.”

“…the rain is gone. I can see allllllll obstacles in my way! Gone are the daaaark clouds that had me blind. It’s gonna be a bright, BRIGHT sun shiny day…”

“Ccccaaaannn you taaaallllk??”, I asked Donald as I was struggling to see through my tears, let alone catch my breath while climbing West Mountain.”

“You look good, kid”, my Dad said as I wearily walked towards the picnic table in Pen Mar Park.”

“I know, I know…it’s been a while. But I am committed to prioritizing 3 things first and foremost- 1.) My safety. 2.) My mileage. 3.) My presence.”

“The “Virginia Blues” are a phenomenon that portray the end of the honeymoon phase of one’s thru hike, where the hardships and realities of living in the woods for 6 months have set in.”

“Who are “they”? Seriously. Who ARE “THEY ”?”

“A mere 8 days ago, I was bartering with Mother Nature, “if it’s never this frigid again, I promise, PROMISE not to complain about the heat. No matter HOW hot it gets.”

“The ‘kids’ made me do it!!”, I’ll respond when questioned as to why I am now partial parrot.”

“For Hiker Trash.” 

“Where is home?”

“ ‘Tis the evening of Saturday, April 24th, as I lay keeping warm in my sleeping bag for the 23rd consecutive hour…”

“Well, now that I have your attention…”

“Considered an utter nightmare to some yet a right of passage to a thru hiker, we want to lay our eyes on a bear.”

“I GOT to manage the flesh-eating fungus that has found refuge on my hands.”

“Ron Haven for president!” we all chanted as 14 of us poured out of the trail legend’s 6 passenger van.”

“One state down, 13 to go!”

“A phrase that I did not coin, but one that I can most certainly attest to.”

“I made it to the highest point in Georgia yesterday, Blood Mountain. Elevation 4461 feet.”