Read, Write, Drink, Eat, Adventure
I decided to take a zero day today and just chill. In the post, there is a far cuter picture of this gorilla (minus my bobble head) that I got to hang out with in Rwanda. Enjoy your Sundays, wherever you are!
Read MoreA 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.
Read MoreAlright Indianapolis! I have put together 112 miles (approximately one week of my anticipated distance to travel on my thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail) of trails in our beautiful city. I would love for you to join me for a little stroll on any or all of them. You don’t have to wear a full pack like me, but why not explore our beautiful city with me for a bit?
Read MoreSo here is the nutrition plan I have put together as nutritional insurance on the Appalachian Trail. Dr. Mom was a huge help in making sure that I don’t OD on any particular vitamins or supplements. Please feel free to steal any or all of it.
Read MoreThank your mothers folks! In this particular case, big thanks to Dr. Mom today for listening to me run on about the Appalachian Trail all day and helping me lock down my on-trail nutrition plan.
Read MoreFor a variety of reasons, I want to wear barefoot shoes to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. Unfortunately, I’ve had some difficulties finding the right pair to go with my problematic feet. I think that I may have found the right match, but time and geographic constraints are going to make our pre-hike courtship brief and intense.
Read MoreFor my thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, I am building a list of food and drink dives and upscale destinations. Hiker favorites, gourmet hidden treasures, signature dishes and cocktails, and eating and drinking challenges that are part of Appalachian Trail lore. Please let me know any and all that you can share. Photos of my long relationship and fandom with food in the post.
Read MoreAny ideas on what my trail name on the Appalachian Trail and moving forward might/could be? I have ideas, but genuinely would like to see how things shake out on the trail. I’d love to hear your ideas though. In the meantime, here is a collage of some of my Safe For Work nicknames.
Read MoreI grew up camping, hiking and backpacking. And when I did that with my family, we fished. It has been almost twenty years since I dropped a line in a stream and pulled out a trout, and I’d like to return to this huge part of my previous life while I am on the Appalachian Trail. I think that I found a system, but I can use all the help that I can get from folks who know the lakes, rivers and streams along the trail.
Read MoreMany thru-hikers love to say ‘embrace the stink’ and forgo most hygiene on the trail. Cool for them. However, my project and my general sanity require me to be less laissez-faire with my smell and appearance. So I think I have figured out a way to live in both worlds. My ultralight attack to resist the stink.
Read MoreI realized that, during my ‘zero day’ from Appalachian Trail thru-hiking prep, that I have created a pretty great routine over the last few weeks and how much I enjoyed the routines from childhood summer camp experiences and how they apply to the trail. Stick around to the end and see my 50-task routine that I’m thinking about for my thru-hike.
Read MoreWhile I have gravitated towards minimalism over the years, I don’t have the best track record at keeping my pack under 50lbs. Until now apparently. Check out my very not ultralight past, and get a sneak peak at my gear list and almost ultralight future!
Read MoreWhat 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.
Read MoreI 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!
Read MoreTime for an update on ‘Dad Bod Winter 2020’ and my training for my Appalachian Trail thru-hike coming up in April. Come for the intermittent fasting and keto stuff, stay for the extremely effective, efficient and fun “Dad Bod Pool Bounce” work out that I have incorporated into my daily routine. #justbounce
Read MoreSo 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?
Read MoreHelp 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!
Read MoreIt is no secret that I love to cook, eat and talk about food. So why have I decided to drink the majority of my meals for six months while I’m hiking the Appalachian Trail?
Read MoreCome on, let’s play! There will be ample opportunities along my thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail during which you can join me or meet up with me! That would be awesome, an amazing chance to reconnect (or connect), get outside, check out trail towns, and more.
Read MoreI finished mapping out my 175-day trekking plan for the Appalachian Trail after four straight days in research hell. But I have it for you in spreadsheet form so that you can offer your additions, ridicule, desire to join me for a walk or a meetup or anything in between. Highlights include 100 days of camping and accommodation in one (maybe two) cults, a strip club and a nudist colony.
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