other miles were spent hiking in and out of towns to resupply, adventuring off the trail, or getting lost in the woods. Some days (and nights) were spent hiking, some days were spent foraging, some days were spent hunkered down in the tent due to inclement weather, and some days were spent simply living in the woods by a peaceful stream, a warm fire, or a breathtaking mountain view. On the days we hiked, we averaged 15-20 miles/day, with our longest day being 47.5 miles.

Bear…because he wasn’t able to kick me out. Just kidding (but seriously)–we ended up becoming amazing friends and roommates and our relationship developed over time. Over the years, we’ve dreamed of hiking together and adopting a liberating life in a van to travel the country and immerse ourselves in being advocates and educators for a healthy, compassionate, and environmentally regenerative world. For 4.5 years, we planned to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. We wished to build out a van to become our home, so that when we finished the trail, we could slowly integrate ourselves back into a social life without being overwhelmed by society. But for 4.5 years, most of our plans seemed like they were only unrealistic dreams, far away from being tangible.

who were interesting in learning life changing information. In the past 4 years, we coordinated over 30 festivals along with other fellow solutionary volunteers, directly reaching over half a million people throughout the state of Florida. Coordinating festivals and changing lives was incredibly rewarding volunteer work. But it was also incredibly stressful and overwhelming volunteer work, on top of having to both work full-time jobs to survive financially. We were far beyond burnt out. By the summer of 2019, we made each other a promise that somehow, we would find a way to make our dream of hiking the AT become a reality no later than March of 2020.

were overwhelmed by the love, support, and encouragement we received and following our marriage celebration, we were successful in purchasing and building a fully liveable adventure vehicle.

and their cubs, locked eyes with a mountain lion in the glow of the moonlight, had close calls with brilliantly camouflaged venomous snakes, and woken up to the majestic echos of moose calling out during twilight. We have formed friendships with toads, mice, squirrels, porcupines, and chipmunks (welcomed and unwelcomed), and have observed a vast variety of wildlife and plant life, including many rare and endangered species. We have seen the worst in people and we have also seen the best in people. And karma has become so incredibly real.