AT SIX — Designs by Bink

Wow, Vermont has been some real special magic. The vegetation is straight out of a storybook. There’s so much lush green vines, ferns, moss, and mushrooms everywhere. The trail has been getting a little higher in elevation, so I’ve been experiencing more of what I like to call ‘gnome forests’ because the trees get really short, and that’s where the gnomes live. I was traveling solo for a few days. I had no idea how badly I needed that. I’m feeling really really recharged and energized by the scenery. I have fully surrendered to living not only day by day but minute by minute. I’ve been running a bit, I’ve been dancing a bit, I have been playing a new game called ‘see how long you can go without looking down or stubbing your toes’. I’m getting pretty good. Every day continues to be amazing. This is a hell of an experience.

So happy in my tent 🤗

The lush magical forests of Vermont

Storybook vibes

The stoke I feel at the end of every day

I woke up the morning of the Fourth of July pretty cranky because I realized I was almost out of snacks and all my stuff was just smelly and wet. I had just been in town and didn’t take advantage. So, I spent the morning kicking myself for not planning better. I ended up going into town, finding a laundromat and Walmart, and was able to completely refresh myself, my gear, and my food. Town was 6 miles off trail, which is pretty far, but my hitch game is very impressive. I was able to get a ride in and out of town fairly quickly. When I got back to trail, I immediately came across a river. With a huge smile on my face and a can of wine in hand, I soaked in the wonderfully cold water. That night I found myself a small little stealth spot and watched the full moon rise. This was my second night completely alone on trail, the only other time being my very first night! It was so necessary and so refreshing. The Fourth of July was simultaneously my crankiest and most refreshing day on trail yet.

The next day I really felt like I was on rocket fuel. I charged up to the Glastonbury fire tower first thing in the morning. Fire towers are super cool. I am huge fan of heights. I continued to be in a stellar mood all day, singing to myself, running, dancing, just feeling really really renewed. I just kept walking and kept walking and before I knew it I had climbed Stratton Mountain, where there was another fire tower! I had no plans or intentions of this when I left camp in the morning. It was an accidental 20 mile day... I was rewarded with a sunset dinner in the fire tower, where I stayed the night.

My Instagram post that day, “ I have fully surrendered. Yesterday I did 20 miles, a few days ago I did 6, and the other day 10ish. I run some miles and I dance at about 1 mph for others. I have let go of routine, of planning when I’m going to start and stop. I have nothing to prove. I have zero consistency. I have no one to please but myself. And DAMN, does this feel good. I also slept in a fire tower last night and I really don’t know if this is real life.....”

Sunset in the Stratton Mountain fire tower

Sunrise from the fire tower

Swimming everyday, often multiple times

The sunrise woke me up nice and early so I was able to get in a very thorough yoga session before hitting the trail again. I hiked down to Stratton pond and went for a good morning swim! I moved fairly slow for the remainder of the day. It was hot and I was pretty tired. But I was still very happy. I hitched into town quick to grab a bite to eat and an ice cream sundae from Ben & Jerry’s. I’m always so relieved when I make it back to trail. There’s a sense of release when you see that first white blaze again, like ‘phew, I made it back. I’m home.’ I hadn’t been paying attention to time, so it was pretty awesome when I made it to the top of Bromley Mountain literally just in time for the sunset. I’ve been really enjoying the surprises and fun happenstance that comes when there are no plans or expectations. I went to bed, yet again, with a shit eating grin on my face thinking how the hell does this happen every single day…

Hiking up ski trails at Bromley

Camping on top of Bromley

I’ve got a few ideas up my sleeve, I never want to leave the trail..... I may hike the rest of the Long Trail in addition to this.. but I also talked with another flip-flopper who is going to continue South past Georgia and go all the way to Key West..... haha. I am just so happy. Like really freakishly happy.

All the river dips

Mom and dad ❤️

I had a couple more solo days with lots of river dips and moving at whatever pace I wanted in the moment.

At the Vermont Route 103 crossing, my parents were in the parking lot! They brought me my resupply and got me a hotel room! We got drinks and found Krispy in Rutland, had a yummy dinner, and talked about trail and what life is like back in the ‘real world’. It was great to see them.

I hiked up Killington peak the next day, caught the sunset and camped up on the summit. Killington was the first 4K foot peak on the trail for me! The climbs have been really fun, I am enjoying getting my heart pumping hard. It was also fun to be somewhere that I’ve been before, and to have walked there…

Climbing up Killington

Sunrise at camp on top of Killington

I was reunited with my friends Goat, Sauce, Picasso, Fonzy, and Krispy. The 6 of us got a very special treat, and we stayed at the Sylvester’s house at Bear Mountain. Huge shout out to Nick, Carina, Jack and Auntie Janny for letting us live the luxurious life for a couple of days. This was quite the upgrade from the trail..... we have been ballin’. Goat is a chef, like a really really talented chef, and he’s been making us the most delicious meals. My sisters, Neil, and the pups came to hang with us Saturday night! We’ve been having a blast. It was really heart warming to have my worlds collide a bit. It’s been weird not walking, so we’ve found ourselves pacing around the house haha. We have renamed the tramily ‘the Wonderlurkers’.

Reunited with my Sauce!

So much love. Tramily dinner ❤️

Trail fairies!

Just smiles.

The Wanderlurkers ready to head back to trail

Shake Down

As my imposter syndrome is starting to wear off... I am feeling a bit more comfortable talking about my gear. I’ve got almost 700 miles under my feet but still 1500 more before I can call myself a thru-hiker... but a lot of you have been asking and I’m absolutely in love with my set up, so here’s a full pack shake down for your viewing pleasure!

My Big 3

PACK

zpack arc scout 50L

My pack has been perfect for me. It’s on the smaller side, and is definitely way more comfortable with less stuff but I can’t imagine carrying anything bigger.. There are tons of adjustments to get the proper fit. There are few pockets- two water bottle side pockets and one big mesh one on the back(which was one of the selling features for me), I added a small pouch to the front of one of my shoulder straps for phone, hand sanitizer and snacks. There are no internal pockets.. I am pretty organized and usually love pockets for things to have a home.. but I have instead been using a bag system to keep everything organized.

I attached a little fanny pack for my important things, like wallet and mask, for easy access and so they don’t get lost in all the packing and unpacking.

SLEEPING BAG and PAD

Enlightened equipment quilt 20 degrees,
Thermarest neoair xlite

Blowing up my sleeping pad is definitely the hardest part of my day haha, but I try to go slow and make it a meditation. It packs so small and light. I have found that when not blown up all the way, it’s cushier and doesn’t make noise (as much) when you roll around at night. It took a little getting used to, as my preferred sleeping style is- one I like to call the starfish, but I wouldn’t trade my pad for anything else out here.

My sleeping bag is quilt style, meaning it opens all the way up and can be used basically as a blanket. It’s great, stays dry and is very warm, however I have been getting super hot at night and have been toying with the idea of getting a sheet...

TENT

zpack duplex

My tent is the shit. Period. It was by no means cheap but I am SO pleased with it. It’s technically a 2 person tent, so I can lay all my stuff out inside while I’m sleeping, which has been clutch for these really rainy spells. It’s made of a fancy ultra light waterproof fabric called Dyneema and basically shakes dry. It uses my trecking poles for it’s structure, leaving stakes as my only hardware. I’m obsessed. It takes about 5 minutes to set up and take down. I’m in love with her... she has been named the honey comb.

The full rig, lets dive in

My daily uniform 🤗 - toes socks, bike shorts, tank, bandana, neck knife. Not pictured- I started with Altra, but ended up going back to my OG - Brooks Cascadia trail runners. I am on my third pair of shoes (the altras wore through really fast), and just got a new pair of shorts because I had a lot of holes and wore through the seams. I wear the same thing every day and it’s so fun.

All my clothes. I’ve got my hiking outfit, a sleeping outfit, and a town outfit. I have a long sleeve hiking shirt for cold mornings, a puffy for cold nights, and a rain jacket. Hat and sunglasses. A couple bandanas, that serve so many purposes!

At night, I lay out my sweaty hiking clothes to dry and stuff all the rest in a bag to use as a pillow. Not pictured is a bathing suit I keep hooked on the outside of my pack for easy access when I stumble upon water to mermaid in.

My battery pack (holds about 4 recharges for my phone), a phone charger, headphones, sharpies, headlamp, extra batteries, matches, journal and pencil, and my AWOL, which is a guide to the trail with all the info you could ever need, such as an elevation map with water, camping, view points, and resources/recommendations for when you go to town.

I’ve got a lot of toiletries... Toothbrush and toothpaste, shower wipes courtesy of Goodwipes, q-tips, ibuprofen and allergy pills, witch hazel, nail file, small mirror, hair brush, hair clips, scrunches, elastics of various sizes, deodorant(which I really just use after my nightly wipe down and before I put on my sleep clothes to keep them smelling as nice as possible), tweezers, little scissors, nail clippers, diva cup, toilet wipes, toilet paper, lots of bandaids

Pot, stove, homemade pot koozie, lighter, fuel, food bag all packed, talenti jar for cold soaking, collapsible cup, spoon, bag of tequila, bear bag kit

*update, I ended up mailing my stove home

These reusable free people shopping bags are super lightweight and stuffable and have been awesome to help organize. Shout out to Pearl for mailing me a ton before I left ❤️

These all live in the pockets on the outside of my pack- hand sanitizer, bug spray, Dr. Bronners, clips, and they serve as duct tape storage too!

My Nomadix towel is gold. It doesn’t hold dirt, dries super fast, and is great for stretching on. I use it ALL the time. I am the only one I know who carries a towel, but I am also the only one swimming multiple times a day haha.

Trekking poles, umbrella, xero shoes(I have been hiking in these on really wet days and it’s been a blast), 2 1L water bottles with sawyer water filters

I am by no means ultralite. My pack weighs in at about 32lbs when it’s fully loaded with food and water and tequila.

Loving my set up, my groove, this life.
Sparkle on! xo

To Bee a Flip Flop

tales of the Sparkle Chasing Mountain Mermaid called Neck Knife

700 mile Shakedown