When I finally sit down to write these posts, I have a hard time knowing what to share, or what people are wondering. So, my peanut gallery, Mom, Sara, and Pearl, provided me with some questions. To end this post, I will share with you some Q&As—

What’s your favorite snack?

I made an amazing trail mix of cashews, dark chocolate covered almonds, coconut crisps and banana chips!! It’s pretty wonderful. But also peanut m&ms. 

What’s your least favorite thing about hiking?

Areas with tall grass or mosquitos. It’s funny that the smallest things on trail will be the ones to kill me. 

Have you thought about your roots with the pink hair? Or will you just learn how fast your hair grows?

I’m just going blonde now. I may have some trail angels bring me hair dye…

I know you have a fear of snakes.. are you worried about them cuddling you at night in your tent?

Snakes have been a really cool metaphor for me conquering my fears on trail. I am getting more interested and desensitized to their presence. 

What’s your trail name? 

It was a fun journey but I finally have one that has stuck and been really fitting. Always a sparkle chasing mountain mermaid, but going by Neck Knife, or Knife for short(story of how that came to be in my last post). 

What’s your favorite non-essential item?

My Nomadix towel!! I use it all the time- to sit on, stretch on, yoga on and dry things off before I pack them away. It’s big and light weight. I love it! It’s also cute and really spices up my pack aesthetic. 

What was it like to be hiking naked? Did you scare anyone?

Hiking naked was so liberating. It really made me feel free and totally present. No surprise to anyone who has known me for a while, I was in my element- I don’t think I would be surprising anyone if I became a nudist.... I did not scare anyone, haha, I’d like to think I served as good entertainment and brightened peoples’ days!

Did you chafe when you hiked naked?

Surprisingly no!! I was so sweaty that my legs just glided past one another haha. 

Did you see any families on naked hiking day?

A father and daughter and a father and son, but no one under the age of 20, so that was good, haha.

What are the origins of this holiday?

Not sure. A thru-hiker celebration of the first day of summer! 

What are you supposed to do when you see a rattlesnake? What did you do?

Slowly back away. They don’t want anything to do with you and will only strike if threatened. And I do not intend to try to pick them up or kill them.

What size are your feet now?

My feet grew! How crazy? I started at a 7.5, moved up to an 8.5 in Pennsylvania(aka Rocksylvania) but am probably back down to an 8. Crazy and weird and I’m not sure if it’s forever....

What was your most interesting experience so far?

Oh wow. I don’t even know. It’s all been really crazy. It’s been nothing like I expected, and (I think) very different this year than normal years. Extended Trail families are really interesting. There are all these people you meet along the way and think you won’t see again, and then you run into them a week later. It’s really fun and unexpected. 

I also had an interesting run-in with a donkey… But I won’t get into that here. 

What was your most challenging day?

Probably my 3rd or 4th day when I wanted to hike big miles and my feet were like, no thank you. Or when I pushed myself to go 24 miles to get margaritas. Or any day I have been meeting someone from off trail. There’s a great deal of anxiety that has come when people are depending on me to be somewhere at a certain time... I found that the less planning and the more surrendering to the flow, the more successful and at peace I am. 

What was your best view so far?

The sun coming through the trees every morning is so energizing and beautiful... but in terms of a more traditional view, my favorite so far was the Mount Race ridge at sunset. The Baewatch Bandits took a very long break in Salisbury... When we got back on trail everyone had different levels of energy. I thought I had the lowest amount of energy and would have been the first one to bail and set up camp, but I surprised myself and pushed on. I ended up on the ridge at sunset by myself. It was really magical and just before I was about to leave, I see my girl Sauce coming up the ridge!! It was really fun to have her show up in such a beautiful moment and then we got to hike to camp in the dark together, where Krispy was waiting with nice flat tent sites all picked out.

What is the prettiest state so far?

I don’t think one exists. One of the coolest parts about this hike, and just my travel experiences in general, is the difference in landscape and vegetation and animals. Nature holds so much beauty and the variety is pretty incredible, each state has been really different. 

Do you feel disconnected?

Yes. 100%, in a really liberating way, but I have also felt a bit guilty and privileged to be able to disconnect in this way..

Is it as hard as you imagined it to be?

Not at all. It’s been surprisingly simple. Life has been boiled down to the necessities. I have few responsibilities, to go north and survive- food, water, keep moving and smiling. 

What do you think about all day?

All the things, the past chapters of my life, my current chapter, how I want to exist in the world, how to love myself and be more grateful, and things I want to know learn more about

Do you think you have lost any weight?

Haha yes mom, I’m definitely much lighter than when I started. No idea how much though. Haven’t found a scale.

Is endurance improving?

I’m not really sure. I was in pretty good shape when I started... I am getting used to my pack, so that’s been nice.

How do you know how far you've gone? Are there mile markers?

There aren’t any mile markers on trail, maybe a few novelty signs, but not really. I have a fancy GPS app, called Guthook, on my phone that shows my exact location on trail, and marks all campsites and shelters, view points, water sources, peaks, etc. I also have a paper guide version of the trail called ‘Awol’s guide’. 

Do you bury your period blood like you bury your poop?

Haha yes, sorry for the TMI, but my period on trail has been an FAQ. I have found the cup method to be the best and I just dump it in a privy or In a hole and rinse it with my water bottle. Having my period on trail has been surprisingly simple! 

Are you wearing underwear?

Nope. So done with that. I’ve never been a fan, never will be. I have one pair that I keep with me to swim in when in public areas haha but otherwise it’s just another thing to cause chafing. 

How often do you clean your clothes?

I wash them in streams as much as possible, but only use a washing machine every couple weeks... 

Have there been any politics on the trail?

Haha… Yeah. A bit. I’m not very good at biting my tongue when I hear something disrespectful or that I disagree with... I have been calling a lot of people on their shit... some people may think I’m an asshole but I’m tired of ignorance and bullshit and am happier when I speak my mind. I do think I have opened up some closed minds though!! Doing what I can. 

Where do you poop? Do you have a shovel to dig your poop hole?

There are privys at most shelters, but yes, I dig a hole when there is no privy. I have a trowel, called the duece of spades haha. 

What’re you eating?

I’m not eating that much differently than my usual life. I eat a high fat, low carb diet and intermittent fast, eating between the hours of 11am and 7pm, kind of a slow Keto diet. I find I perform better with a higher fat diet and do my best miles in the morning on an empty stomach. Definitely not for everyone, but I’ve been eating this way for a while and it carried over pretty well to trail. For breakfast I have a chia pudding with nut butter. I snack on nuts, jerky, and chocolate and eat a protein bar for lunch. Then for dinner I have some dehydrated veggies and meat. In typical me fashion, I consume a lot of powders haha, some amino acids for muscle recovery, liquid IV which is a powder hydration enhancer, a greens powder to get some extra vitamins and probiotics, and then a magnesium supplement to help my muscles chill out while I sleep. My go-to town meal is a cheeseburger with mushrooms, bacon, no bun and a huge salad.

How are you charging your phone?

I have an external battery pack that gives me about 4 recharges, and I recharge every time I get to a town which has been every 3 days or so. I keep my phone in airplane mode 90% of the time though. 

How are you surviving without bubbles?

I am a bubble water addict. I get one every time I’m in town and it is such a treat. 

How do you plan which camp you land at each night? 

It’s different every day. Weather, towns, and my feet all play a role. But I usually shoot for the shelter closest to 15 miles away. The Appalachian Trail is unique in that there are 3 walled ‘lean-tos’ or shelters scattered throughout the trail. There are campsites as well. Some days I don’t want to set up my tent and will sleep in the shelter and it feels like I’m at summer camp. Most of the time I set up my tent though, it’s amazing and cozy and feels like home, it is my home haha. 

What’s the biggest / hardest peak you’ve hiked so far?

No big peaks yet, I’ll get plenty of those when I get to the White Mountains.

How are your feet?

My feet are great!! My body has totally acclimated and I finally have my trail feet.

Are you really smelly?

Not as smelly as some people.... I haven’t gotten that smelly truthfully. I’ve gone swimming almost every day, hence the mountain mermaid nickname. Currently at this very moment though, I am very smelly- it’s been raining the last 4 days and I smelly like wet dirty socks.... 

Do you listen to music when you hike?

80% of the time I hike with just the sounds of nature. There are so many sounds and I like to be fully present. I also have too many ear piercings to wear earbuds and ditched my big headphones at the last minute, so when I do listen to anything it’s out of my phone speaker.... that being said I do listen to music if I need to crush a few more miles at the end of the day, or when I’m feeling playful, and I have been listening to audio books and podcasts as well. 

Is there something in your pack you haven’t used yet?

Band-aids and anything else in my first-aid kit.... but I feel like I can’t ditch it... it’s light.