Read, Write, Drink, Eat, Adventure

Trek Dirty to Me: 40 days until I voluntarily move to bear country, and let's dive into Tennessee for a minute!

February 21, 2020 by AJ Feeney-Ruiz in Appalachian Trail, Trek Dirty to Me, Projects

The third state (of 14) on my way north to Maine is Tennessee!!! I have driven through here. Peyton Manning played college football here. They have BBQ on the other side of the state. I’m here twice on the Appalachian Trail. Two nights in Gatlinburg and a week and a half further north in East Tennessee. That’s all I’ve got. I have questions. Who wants to meet up? What should I do? What should I eat?

Trek Dirty to Me: 41 days until trail life consumes me, and I'm considering warming up with a thru-hike of a portion of Indiana's Knobstone Trail.

February 20, 2020 by AJ Feeney-Ruiz in Appalachian Trail, Trek Dirty to Me, Projects

Want a short backpacking trip within an hour-ish of Indianapolis? I am strongly considering a 4-5 day warmup/shakedown hike of the 50-mile Tecumseh Trail portion of the 160-mile Knobstone Trail. It’s a great chance to maybe sneak off to Bloomington to drop me off, or grab ice cream in Martinsville to pick me up. Or maybe you want to join me for a little multi-day walk in the woods (that is close to home this time)?

Trek Dirty to Me: 42 days until I start hiking 2,200 miles to Mt. Katahdin, and please help me raise $2,200 to promote healthy lungs!

February 19, 2020 by AJ Feeney-Ruiz in Appalachian Trail, Trek Dirty to Me, Projects

I have pledged to raise $2,200 (or $1 for every mile I will be thru-hiking of the Appalachian Trail beginning April 1, 2020) for the American Lung Association's Fight For Air Climb to raise funds for healthy lungs and clean air. On March 7, I will climb 47 flights of stairs up Salesforce Tower in downtown Indianapolis, carrying the weight that I will be bringing along for my thru-hike. I need your help to raise the money before I climb!

Trek Dirty to Me: 43 days until it's time to put one foot in front of the other, and it is a good time to dig into North Carolina!

February 18, 2020 by AJ Feeney-Ruiz in Appalachian Trail, Trek Dirty to Me, Projects

The second state (of 14) on my way north to Maine is North Carolina!!! Yes. I have spent about seven total days in the great state of North Carolina. Once for a long weekend/spring break when I was not yet even legal to drive. Once for a two-day law school visit (not my visit mind you) to Duke. Consider me a Tar Heeled virgin. I have questions. Who wants to meet up? What should I do? What should I eat?

Trek Dirty to Me: 53 days until I start scootin' up the trail, and I want your (audible) book recommendations!

February 08, 2020 by AJ Feeney-Ruiz in Appalachian Trail, Trek Dirty to Me, Projects, Books

A short history of why I hike with headphones and a request for your favorite books on tape that I should bring on the trail with me.

Trek Dirty to Me: 64 days until the Appalachian Trail train leaves the station and WTF is the deal with Gatlinburg, TN?

January 28, 2020 by AJ Feeney-Ruiz in Appalachian Trail, Trek Dirty to Me, Projects

What the hell do I do in Gatlinburg, TN? Where do I eat and drink? What is the deal with this place? I know many of you have been here. A lot.

Trek Dirty to Me: 65 days until GA-ME and I'm making a list of your questions and ideas!

January 27, 2020 by AJ Feeney-Ruiz in Appalachian Trail, Trek Dirty to Me, Projects

I want to know what questions you have for me, other hikers (section hikers and thru-hikers), the folks that feed the millions that hike the Appalachian Trail each year, and the folks who give them a roof over their heads. I also want to know what topics you would find interesting for the blog, vlog and podcast. Finally, let me know if there is a person I should contact or a, place or thing related to the AT that I should absolutely dig into. Also, this person could be you!

Trek Dirty to Me: 67 days until the first step and I have Georgia on my mind.

January 25, 2020 by AJ Feeney-Ruiz in Appalachian Trail, Trek Dirty to Me, Projects

So let’s talk about the first state (of 14) on my way north to Maine. Georgia!!! Yes. The Princess Peach state. Home to Delta Airlines Skymiles and some fizzy beverage that may or may not have cocaine in it. I have driven through Georgia on many a trip to and from the state that shall not be named to the south of it, but this will absolutely be my longest stay and I have questions. Who wants to meet up? What should I do? What should I eat?

Trek Dirty to Me: 68 days until we're off, and I need your help to start my Vlog!

January 24, 2020 by AJ Feeney-Ruiz in Appalachian Trail, Trek Dirty to Me, YouTube, Projects

Help me, friends on the interwebs. You all are my only hope! I need your very capable assistance to grow my YouTube channel by subscribing and to give me all of those super smarts (that I know you have) in order to create the very bestest video blogging (or is it jogging? is the ‘J’ silent?) we can for Trek Dirty to Me and Books Bourbon & Bacon!