Get Out of the Box and Explore

Blissful Hiking Adventures Podcast Show Notes

Get Out of the Box and Explore – An Interview with Hiker Blissful

In Episode Two, Lauralee Bliss, trail name Blissful, shares with listeners her motivation for hiking and exploring the trails. This interview was conducted by WhiteFire Podcasts about long distance hiking adventures and other interests with valuable lessons learned along the way.

What are the differences between hiking the Appalachian Trail vs the Florida Trail?

The Appalachian Trail or AT is widely recognized, being next to many major

metropolitan areas of the east coast, with books and movies about it. It has plenty of mountain adventures and is good for short term hikes. And it was the hike Blissful did as a long hiking adventure with her teen son.

The Florida Trail is a low elevation trail with flora and fauna inherent in a southern state. It gives a different perspective of wilderness set in swamp, palm trees, palmettos, with fauna and flora all its own. It provides good long-distance adventure in the winter. Blissful gives examples of the challenges found in a solo hike.

What is your background?

Lauralee Bliss, trail name Blissful, grew up in the Catskills of New York with a mountain in her backyard. Blissful enjoyed traveling in the family RV to destinations where great hikes abounded, including the Appalachian Trail. She lives the adventure rather than just talking about it due to a goal driven mentality and seeing a dream fulfilled with no regrets.

How did you accomplish your hikes?

Read about it, set a plan into motion, hear from others who have done it in podcasts such as this, on hiker forums like in Facebook, in chats, in webinars and other video platforms. Learn what gear will work and what won’t. Read a lot, a dream a lot, then do it.

Final Thoughts

Blissful realizes life is crazy. But you can turn the craziness about into an adventure that may seem crazy to others but actually becomes a trail to healing and learning much about yourself and others. Make life count, and when you go through those adventures, tell others. Don’t keep it to yourself. It’s not just about you.

So get out of life’s box, explore, and share it far and wide!

  

Never miss an episode! Be sure to subscribe to the Blissful Hiking Adventures podcast.

Don’t miss Episode 3 - Hiking and Exploring in our National Parks

Coming Soon – Running those Ridges, the Life of a Ridgerunner on the Trail

Also available, the Hiking Adventure series of books on the Appalachian Trail (both north and south) and the Florida Trail from these sources:

WhiteFire

Amazon - Florida Trail and Appalachian Trail

Barnes and Noble - Florida Trail and Appalachian Trail

The Hiking Adventure Series!

National Scenic Trails Adventures! 

A National Scenic Trails Adventure is not just a dream but a goal. Journey with Blissful the Hiker, wandering over 5,000 miles of National Scenic Trail in all kinds of terrain and situations - from the lofty peak of Katahdin on the Appalachian Trail to the swamps of Big Cypress on the Florida Trail. It doesn't get any better or wilder than this!


Mountains, Madness, and Miracles! North AND South adventures on the Appalachian Trail AND with a teenager who gives his own experience on a trail adventure! 

Paperback and e-book formats ORDER








Gators, Guts, and Glory - Adventures Along the Florida Trail. A wild hike like no other - sucking mud and gators and Tahiti and all. A Reader favorite. 

Paperback and E-book formats ORDER 




 

Makes a great gift for the hiker in all of us! Plan that dream hike in 2020.

My Gear Favs

Here are some of Blissful Hiking's favorite gear picks - I love this stuff...

As I tell others, some collect shoes and what-have-you - I collect gear!
(And I've got a series of great adventures on our National Scenic Trails!) 


Sea to Summit Ether Light Insulated Sleep Pad - Check out a full review of it on SectionHiker. Nice pad, very comfy, sleeps a bit cold though compared to Neoair X Lite in my opinion.

The Evernew water bottle. Compatible with the Sawyer squeeze filter (see below which has blown out my Platypus and a substitution for the Sawyer bags which also fail. Bombproof, works great.

Socks are a hiker's best friend, and it might as well be a pair that works great and lasts forever. Hence our fav pick is Darn Tough. They are pricey but a high-quality sock with an unlimited guarantee to boot. In fact, they dare you to wear out their socks! Pretty cool.

Assorted cuben fiber stuff sacks. Waterproof, durable, great for adding protection in your backpack or for keeping sleeping bags and clothes dry. We have used them in all shapes and sizes (they make a good hiker wallet too). The thicker the material, the more durable Z Packs has a great selection. Cuben fiber (now referred to as Dyneema) has also been used in ultralight tents and backpacks as well (but they are pricey).
Other gear websites: Mountain Laurel Designs, Hyperlite Mountain Gear

Basic rain gear is a must in a hiker's backpack. If only out for short jaunts, Frogg Toggs makes an ultralight and cheap means to stay dry with a jacket and pants for around $30 bucks (though be warned, they are NOT durable for lengthy ventures). We find the jacket also provides good warmth in windy weather. Another fav is the rain kilt or rain wrap that does a great job of protecting without the need for cumbersome and hot rain pants.
Some gear shops for a rain kilt:
Lightheart Gear,  ULA

The Sawyer Filter -  a fav for Appalachian Trail adventures. We use the bigger model that filters water much quicker than its smaller mini model for a mere ounce or two more (though some like to have the smaller Sawyer mini filter attached to a Smartwater bottle for quick drinking).

Of all the eating utensils, the simple titanium spoon is our fav. Unlike the Light My Fire sporks that seem to break on a whim (and we've gone through many), This has been on dozens of trips and remains tried and true (gets out gooey stuff like PB from a jar without breaking), and good also for scraping away food while cleaning the pot, too.

National Scenic Trail Adventures - for the Wanderer in All of Us!

To a backpacker who dreams of hiking the Appalachian Trail or just someone who wants to read a tale of adventure, especially with a mom and son, this one-of-a-kind book covers the trail north and south, including ideas from a teen son hiking with his mom, a solo adventure, and the spiritual aspects gleaned on a long distance adventure! Endorsed by long-distance hiker Jennifer Pharr Davis. Available on Kindle or paperback.

ORDER

So what's it like doing a long-distance hike in Florida of all places, among the palms and palmettos, and yeah, the gators, cotton mouths, and other critters? Check out Gators, Guts, and Glory! An adventure on the wild side!


ORDER

Is it all Gators, Guts, and Glory?

Yes!

And it's right here! The long anticipated second book in the Blissful "Hiking Adventure Series"

What does the state of Florida give visions of? Beaches? Ocean waves? Resorts far and wide? Walt Disney World? 

What could it possibly give to the interest of a hiker?  

Blissful the Hiker takes you on a wild and wonder-laden trek on the Florida Trail through pristine cathedral palms, thick woods of palmettos, sky high scrub pine, Lord of the Rings forests of oak and cypress knees, a lounging gator or two, exotic birds, vast prairies, and maybe some swamps for fun. Not to mention the interest of assorted dogs who would rather hike with Blissful than guard property and the joy of trail angels who will do anything to help a hiker in need when storms arise.

Welcome to the release of Gators, Guts, and Glory – Adventures Along the Florida Trail. This humorous and painfully realistic tale of an 1100 mile trail stretching from Big Cypress National Preserve to Gulf Islands National Seashore will inspire hikers with a journey unlike any other to be found in the U.S.

What popular authors and hikers have said about Gators, Guts and Glory – Adventures Along the Florida Trail:

“Lauralee paints a richly descriptive and realistic picture of the unique challenges faced by long distance hikers walking from the swamps to the seashore as they traverse the length of Florida on the Florida Trail.”  – Sandra Friend, Author of The Florida Trail Guide

“Lauralee's inspired writing provides us with a richly detailed account of hiking the Florida Trail. Her writing is genuine and thorough and reveals to us the rigors, emotions and ultimately the joy of long distance backpacking."  - David Miller, author of The A.T. Guide and AWOL on the Appalachian Trail 

So immerse yourself in adventure beyond your expectations! And hopefully begin your own trek on this unique trail.

Order on Amazon

Check out also Blissful’s first book in the Hiking Adventure Series – Mountains, Madness, and Miracles – 4000 Miles Along the Appalachian Trail

Amazon

Blissful Hiking End of the Year Tidings

Another year has come and gone. Hard to believe. When 2017 ended, I was coming off a great year of hiking, from the palmettos of Florida to the grand Rockies of the Colorado Trail, plus ridgerunning in Shenandoah National Park.

2018 saw me return to the Florida Trail to complete the 500 mile long section of the Panhandle in January and February and thus finish the whole trail. The Panhandle section of the trail ended up

St Marks National Wildlife Refuge

being a fascinating journey of rivers, and palmettos, of a wildlife refuge, a boat ride, long needle pine and titi (that indicates swamp ahead) and a beach walk to its end at Fort Pickens. Then there was the multitude of trail angels who helped me out, and especially one I now call my big sister for all we went through together for nearly ten days as she took care of me on the trail.

The FT finish at Fort Pickens

As I write this, hikers are gearing up for a Florida Trail adventure as the season for hiking it spans from December to April. You can find more about the trail through the FloridaHikes! or the FTA web site, including some section wanders along it.

Unfortunately, the night I returned from the trail I was in an auto accident that basically curtailed any kind of lengthy backpacking for the rest of the year. I am still under care for it, and wonder how a backpacking trip will change when I do return. But that is what 2019 is for, I hope and pray. I am already planning a return to Florida to complete the Blackwater section that will take me to Alabama, along with my new big sister from February’s wander.

In July of 2019 will also see the publication of my Florida Trail journey in "Gators, Guts, and Glory –Adventures on the Florida Trail" by WhiteFire Publishing. Plus I have already set up for more programs at libraries about my trail adventures.  Stay up-to-date with all the happenings by signing up to receive our quarterly newsletter for details of adventures to come and about the book’s upcoming release. See the button on the left column of this blog site to sign up!

Thanks for being a part of Blissful Hiking, and here’s to more adventures on and off the trails in 2019.

A Thanksgiving Recipe Trailside

When you are out hiking for days, weeks, even months on end, thoughts of food occupy your mind day and night. So it was on our adventure on the Appalachian Trail. Knowing you are burning upwards of 4-6,000 calories per day hiking, it's nearly impossible to carry that much food to satisfy your need for nutrition. And eating meals trailside, day after day, one looks for creative ways to get the calories you need and still eat a good meal. Check out this blog also for hiker food kinds of stuff.

Here is a typical day on the trail. We cooked over a tiny stove called a pocket rocket that ran on a canister. We made one pot meals to share. Since our pot came with a lid, I gave Paul Bunyan food in the lid and I ate out of the pot. The pot it made out of titanium, a great lightweight option for cooking. We liked the pocket rocket canister stove to cook our meals. A simple lexan spoon or a titanium spork ( a combo spoon with fork tines, my fav) works great as a utensil. 

Lobster trailside? Not quite, but I was invited to a hiker's home for the evening while I hiked the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The invite came as a total surprise, hence the name "trail magic." The hiker (or in this case, trail angel) rolled out the red carpet for me, including a dinner of lobster and wine. Wow, I was really living it up on the trail! Towns are a great place to resupply food needs and to get a good meal, especially if a hiker can nail an AYCE restaurant (all-you-can-eat).



Ready for a THANKSGIVING recipe? Yes, you can enjoy Thanksgiving dinner on the trail with this which Paul Bunyan and I enjoyed many times on the trail. It feeds two.

(This recipe is adapted from the The Appalachian Trail Food Planner by Lu Adsmond, published by the ATC)

1 can chicken, dehydrated (canned chicken dehydrates really well, believe it or not. Don't use real chicken, it's too tough to rehydrate).
1/2 packet chicken gravy mix (I like the organic variety without msg)
1/4 tsp salt (carry more for taste)
dash of pepper
1/4 tsp poultry seasoning
(put these ingredients in one snack size ziploc bag)

1 cup stuffing mix (I like Pepperidge Farm)
1 cup unseasoned potato flakes
(put these ingredients into another Ziploc bag)

When you get to camp, let pkg 1 sit in your pot filled with approx 3 cups of water to rehydrate as you make camp. Let it come to a boil, boil for 10 minutes. Put the pot in a pot cozy to keep warm. Add package number 2. Let stand a few minutes. Adjust seasoning and liquid to taste and consistency,
Wa la, Thanksgiving dinner on the trail!


Check out my 4,000 mile Appalachian Trail Adventure on Kindle and in paperback! Find out what a teen thinks about hiking with Mom and what it's like to be a solo adventurer! Makes a GREAT gift, too.  

   

Blissful Hiking is Taking to the Road!

AND not just any road....we are packing up and heading to the beautiful state of Pennsylvania for a statewide Speaking and Book Tour this Fall!

We are very excited to have the opportunity to share 4,000 miles of Appalachian Trail stories at nine libraries through Pennsylvania- from the Allegheny region to north of Philly to Camp Hill and Hershey and beyond!

Plus I will be signing copies of my book- Mountains, Madness, and Miracles - 4000 Miles Along the Appalachian Trail!

SO come be part of this great statewide event!   Book Tour Details

AND if you want me to come speak to your library, drop me a line at blissfulhiking(at)gmail(dot)com

A Colorado Trail Adventure

Review: Shades of Gray, Splashes of Color - A Thru Hike of the Colorado Trail by Bill Cooke

I was eager to read this account as I had not yet read a thru hiking book on this famed 486 mile trail that spans the length of wild and beautiful Colorado, from north in the San Juan National Forest to Durango. To me, an easterner, the Rockies seem like wild mountains in need of special skills. I had visions of plowing through big snowfields and other major obstacles. But Bill Cooke’s book put to rest a good many fears.

It was great having some intro to the trail, mileage, facts, etc. to start off. Once the hike began, it grabbed my attention and held it throughout.  I liked it too that Bill was honest about how he felt (sometimes he wasn’t well either) and what gear he brought. He didn’t gloss it over but you felt as if you were on the journey, struggling with him, even as his partner obviously had better strength on the trip. But it didn’t bother Bill or get to him. He hiked along anyway and they had a good time despite their different hiking speeds. The account also gave good ideas on trip planning, like the summer thunderstorm issue and resupply points.

 I always like to read accounts of trail magic and trail angels, and they both had their share with folks giving them rides to town or helping out with slackpacking. This gives me assurance that there are people eager and ready to help out in more remote areas. But beyond that, the descriptions of sheer Colorado beauty is enough to send a hiker like me packing up my backpack and heading for the far reaches of the Rockies.

I was also eager to hear about the mountain bikers as I had heard conflicting reports on them. I liked it how Bill worked with the bikers on the trail and not against them. He made friends, and they found themselves equals, sharing the trail rather than getting on each other’s nerves. It made for a better experience.

On the downside, I only wish the map of the trail was bigger so I could see where they were at different places in the book (I’m visual that way). Also the pictures of the flowers in black and white didn’t do them any justice. Color photos would have been great, to be honest.

If you are thinking of doing this trail or just want a good read on a hiking adventure in the Rockies, be sure to pick up this book. It will make you believe you can do it!

More information on the Colorado Trail:

Ordering the book

Colorado Trail Foundation

Colorado Trail End to End Guide

Other reads: Mountains, Madness, and Miracles – 4,-000 Miles on the Appalachian Trail

Remembering a Great Man - Bill Irwin

Bill Irwin was an amazing man who did an amazing feat – he was the first blind man to hike the entire Appalachian Trail with his guide dog Orient. Now he has received his reward – leaving this earth for a heavenly home on March 1, 2014.

Bill wrote about his journey in the memoir, Blind Courage. I bought his book back in the early nineties and it became my favorite read for years until I did my own thru hike in 2007. Bill was an incredible inspiration. I still cannot believe he hiked this trail blind.

Just last summer I decided to approach him to see if he would look over my book on my AT hike. I wasn’t sure what to expect as he was always busy. But I found him wonderfully warm and eager to take time to read my book and endorse it.

Here is what he said to me via e-mail about the book only a few months ago (July, 2014) -

“I can sit in my new home on top of a mountain facing the last 110 miles of the AT.  Straight down our driveway is White Cap Mountain, I know you remember that one.  To the extreme left is Barron and Chairback range and to the far right is Mt. Katahdin, that we call, “The Mountain”, around here as it is so magnificent!  Albeit 90 miles away from our home my wife, Debra can see this magnificent mountain from her chair! How blessed can a person get! Eh?  Praise God for His wonderful surprises and love for us!

I did read every single wonderfully written word of your book and thoroughly enjoyed all of it!  I just wanted it to go on and on; the dream of every writer is to have his audience to say that, and I do mean it!

I feel like I know you like a book!  You are the only person that has had to go through much more testing an whittling than I! :O).

I have prayed a lot about what to say in a very short space; this is so difficult as I could go on and on about Mountains, Madness, and Miracles 4,000 miles Along the Appalachian Trail, but knowing how it works with publishers  I know that every word that I write must  count and that is where a lot of prayer comes into play; just what to say that will let people know exactly what a spiritual journey this actually was for you! here goes

with a few sentences, (tongue in cheek):

John Wesley, a great leader of the past once said, “It is the duty of all believers to go out into all parts of the world and share the gospel message with all whom they meet and occasionally even use words.”  This means that what one does is so loudly spoken that another cannot even hear what they say.

And in this new book of Lauralee Bliss, Mountains, Madness,and Miracles 4,000 miles Along the Appalachian Trail, is exactly what Lauralee did! In the beginning, and even earlier in her planning of this very arduous task that God called her to, she was mostly focused on her own aspirations and life goals. This was definitely a priority! Then as time and the innumerable difficulties transpired her spiritual growth became evident and by the time she got back home from her first thru-hike of the most difficult and famous trail in the world, The Appalachian Trail, she was much more focused on her son, Joshua who was with her, and her husband, Steve, who, without his help Lauralee would not have been able to accomplish this great journey.  And a journey it was at that!  She took the focus off of the destination, which was very anticlimactic, and focused on the journey which transformed her life into a more Godly and selfless person. I know without one bit of doubt God smiles every time He thinks of this courageous woman who took a chance on losing her life, and that of her only son, known on the Trail as, “Paul Bunyan”, to share the message with everyone with whom she met and did it mostly with her feet and not her mouth.

 

I cannot even imagine anyone else who had so many obstacles to encounter than Lauralee and she did it like a champ. You must read this great and inspiring book; it will literally change your life!      

Well, this is my opinion, and I am sticking with it! Huge :O)

It was certainly a pleasure for me! The time it took was nothing compared to the blessings I received by doing it! Time well spent!”

>>>>>> 

Well, Bill it was time well spent reading your adventure in Blind Courage year after year and using your

example as an inspiration to make my hiking dream come true, no matter how tough it can be. Thank you!!

Book Review - Called Again

Jennifer Pharr Davis is an incredible athlete and a gifted writer. I read her first book, Becoming Odyssa with great interest. But I looked forward to her second book, Called Again, as it chronicled her long distance achievements in the areas of the Long Trail and the Appalachian Trail, holding the fastest women's record and overall record respectively.

In this memoir of her latest accomplishment, breaking the world record for the fastest Appalachian Trail hike, Jenn's true to the fact that this is not a memoir of the glamour and giddiness of becoming a renowned athlete. Far from it. Rather she candidly outlines the true grit, struggles, the trials, the strength when there is none to be found, in order to accomplish this amazing feat. She makes no bones about it when she credits it all to her faith, her husband and the many people who helped her along the way. I also must say I enjoyed reading about the different foods she ate on her stops, too. (What hiker doesn't like to read about food?). And her husband Brew was there at every stop, with all kinds of great snacks to keep the momentum going. As well as providing support and words of encouragement, too.

This book is not so much about Jennifer’s remarkable feat, which is indeed a triumph. Rather it is a gift to the enduring legacy of faith and of loved ones who bear the banner of confidence and support as we seek to realize our dreams in life. Without faith and love there would be no hope, and for Jenn, no record. I for one know that well. If you have a dream, be sure to invite others to be a part of it. They may well be the very ones who help make it come true.


Related Blogs

We All Are on Journeys
We Are All Winners
Why Read This Appalachian Trail Book

First Aid – Fundamentals for Survival

So you are ready to head to the outdoors, but have no medical background to handle those injuries that might come your way. Or what to do about a sudden bee sting. Encountering poison ivy. Or knowing the signs of hypothermia before it is too late. 

Look no further than this handy guide that gives a fine outline of common maladies affecting hikers and what to do. The book is divided into sections dealing with the issues that can arise. It gives a short easy to understand description of the condition, the signs and symptoms, and how to treat. 

Topics covered include first aid supplies, resuscitation, hydration, exposure, skin wounds, reactions, bones and joints. 

 

A bee sting reaction

While not a substitute for actual training like taking a Wilderness First Aid course or in place of seeking medical attention, this manual is a valuable tool for a hiker to know what to do when the unexpected can and will happen. It should be required reading before any major hike.

Living Ready Pocket Manual – First Aid, Fundamentals of Survival

by James Hubbard, MD

Dr. Hubbard is a long time family doctor of 35 years. In addition to his MD, he also has a Master’s in Public Health. On his website Dr. Hubbard shares how to treat medical problems when medical professionals are unavailable. He is also the author of The Survival Doctor’s Guide to Wounds and The Survival Doctor’s Guide to Burns. All books are available through his website.

Related Blogs:

First Aid, Trail Medicine and other Issues

Take Wilderness First Aid!

When Injury Sidelines You

I Want to Long Distance Hike - How?

Okay, so you are going to have a great adventure either this coming year or in the  near future (which is always sooner than you think!). How can you get ready, gear wise, health wise, mentally?

We've got several great ways to get ready for your backpacking trip so it will be an adventure of a lifetime!


1. This blog. You are at a great resource for many hiking topics. Look up the topics on the right or do a search to pinpoint topics you are interested in. Gear reviews also are available as well as guest blogs. Enjoy exploring, like this blog that starts a series on northbound vs southbound Appalachian Trail thru hiking.


2. Attend a Hiking Event. A Calendar of some good events are coming up. It's great to get together with hikers learn and share your passion for backpacking.

3. Read. Yes, there are lots of published books by hikers, especially on the Appalachian Trail. And some great ones, too. I want to highlight this one - Mountains, Madness, Miracles - 4000 Miles Along the Appalachian Trail, the ONLY account that covers the Appalachian Trail north and south in one book. It's not a publication of a day by day trail journal. It also delivers advice from a teen hiker as well as from a mom and a solo hiker. There's even questions at the end, perfect for a reading club or for personal reflection. Endorsed by Jennifer Pharr Davis - the world record holder for hiking the trail, the late Bill Irwin - the first blind hiker to complete the trail, and Paul Stutzman - author of Hiking Through.

Available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble

What a few reviewers have left on Amazon in recent months:

"I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in hiking the trail and wants a woman's perspective. I plan on hiking a lot more of it this year and found her book to be inspiring. It is very well-written and an easy, enjoyable read."

"If you ever wondered if you could do a through hike on the Appalachian trail, Lauralee's book will give you the feeling and information to make that decision!"

"I so enjoyed the journey with Lauralee. A truthful and enlightening tail of what it really is to hike daily thru nature, hardships and miracles. Do yourself a favor and take the journey...."



4. Join some social network forums and trail groups. Facebook (like the group we founded - Appalachian Trail Section Hikers) and White Blaze are popular for Appalachian Trail enthusiasts. And become involved in a trail advocacy group like the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and many others like:

PCT
Continental Divide Trail
The Long Trail
The Long Path
The Finger Lakes Trail
Great Eastern Trail
North Country Trail
Mountains to Sea Trail
Florida Trail
Benton MacKaye Trail
Wonderland Trail
John Muir Trail
Colorado Trail
Buckeye Trail
Sheltowee Trace
Natchez Trace Trail
Tuscarora Trail
Foothills Trail
Ice Age Trail

Book Release Party Day 5 - What are Friends For?

Day 4 of the Book Release Party for Mountains, Madness, and Miracles celebrates friendships. The Appalachian Trail brings together a closeknit circle of friends unlike any other community. No matter your background or where you come from, when you are out on the trail, you are one hiking together. You are there enjoying the triumphs and the hardships, sharing about gear, the trail, and the next meal. And you develop friendships that last way beyond the hike itself.

Hikernutt and I were reunited on the trail in Maryland where I worked as a ridgerunner

Today's special guest is an interview with one of my close friends I met because of the Appalachian Trail. Her trail name is "Hikernutt."  Without her friendship in the Smokies, I doubt very much I would have lasted. You see, I was ready to quit when I ran into her. She kept me going with encouraging words and a smile you will never forget. I talk about her in my book, but now, find out more about this great hiker and friend of the trail.

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I am 47 years old and love to hike.  My husband and I started hiking back in 2000. We went out for a four day trip, met lots of great hikers that we are still in touch with today and we have been hooked on hiking ever since. We spent every weekend and week long vacations on the AT. In 2000 we made it to Fontana and then in 2001 we picked back up at Fontana and every weekend and week long vacation we could fit in we were on the trail and finally made it Damascus VA where we ended our hike together. We would get out ever weekend and hike somewhere. Then in 2007 I decided to leave my job of 18 years and try to do a thru Hike on the AT. I had met Blissful when we were starting through the Smokey Mountains. I was so scared heading into the Smokies and I don't know why, I had been through the Smokies several times but this was different for some reason. Then on the first night I met Blissful and we sat and talked and all my fears went away. It was so great meeting her.  

Why did you decide to hike the Appalachian Trail?

My husband and I hiked it together in 2000 and 2001 and I feel in love with the beauty and magic and peace the Appalachian Trail brings to me.  I can be in such a bad mood or down in the dumps and go for a hike and within 15 minutes I feel so much better, even on the worst days on the AT. 

How did you meet Blissful and Paul Bunyan?

Hikernutt and I at Newfound Gap in the Smokies

I was starting to enter the Smokey Mountains and was scared, I was stopped for a break and here came Blissful and Paul Bunyan.  We managed to stay at the same shelters every night and hike together most of the time during the day. If it had not been for meeting Blissful and Paul Bunyan I probably would not have made it through the Smokies.  

  

Thinking back on your trail experiences so far, what have been the highlights for you?

Meeting all the great people and learning so much about myself, learning that I can take care of myself.

For those thinking of the hiking the Appalachian Trail, what are two things you recommend?

Always listen to your body, and don't get in a hurry. The mountains are not going anywhere.

What is your favorite piece of hiking gear?

My Mountain Hardware -15 degree sleeping.

If you had to describe yourself in one word, what would it be?

Happy

On Charlies Bunion, in the Smokies

To Order Mountains, Madness, and Miracles  - 4000 Miles along the Appalachian Trail

In Print - Amazon and Barnes and Noble

E-book - Kindle  or  Nook