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trekkingsketches

Kevin (Stretch 🦵 ) & Kathy (Lotus 🪷)
⛺️ AT ‘22 🥾NH 48/48 ❄️WNH 48/48 ⛰NE 67/67 🍃 LT 242mi/272mi 🇪🇸Camino Primitivo✍🏼 Our Blog ⤵️

Yesterday, we hiked a counter clockwise semi-Pemi,

Yesterday, we hiked a counter clockwise semi-Pemi, a ~26 mile loop including Bond, Bondcliff, West Bond, South Twin, and Galehead. It took us about 11 hours total with 9 hours of moving time.

We stayed at the @notchhostel and started hiking counterclockwise from Lincoln Woods at 3am. We’ve done a clockwise single day full Pemi before and even though it was tempting to do a full, we let our egos go, listened to our bodies, and opted for the semi-Pemi. We slowed down, basked in the sun, and embraced extended time on peaks looking into the Pemigewasset Wilderness. This area is one of the most beautiful places in the world and we love it so much. As a bonus, this route added two new trails we hadn’t hiked before. We aren’t officially tracing in the Whites, but who knows, maybe we will at some point!

We jogged the 5 miles of flat of Lincoln Woods and made it to Bondcliff just after sunrise. This was our first time mixing in running and hiking, and it felt good! But we are still learning about how our bodies respond to trail running. The Twinway had plenty of snow leftover, but we could bare boot through it. The real treat was the loveliness of descending from Galehead Hut on Twin Brook and Franconia Brook Trails! Verdant green leaves, blooming wildflowers, and relatively flat terrain to jog out on. What a beautiful day in the Whites.

Looking forward to doing a semi-Pemi of the other half soon!

📍 Wabanaki (Dawnland Confederacy) and Abenaki Native Lands

#pemigewassetwilderness #pemigewasset #whitemountains #wmnf #hikethewhites #wmnf_hikers #whitemountainwanderers #whitemountainsnh #wmnfhikers #amc4000 #amc4000footers #appalachiantrail #whitemountainnationalforest #nehikes #northeasthiking #hikenh #hikenh48 #484000footers #hikingadventures #coupleswhohike #semipemiloop #upperrightusa #at #dayhiking #hikerlife #hikerlifestyle #lettheoutsidein #getoutside #stioaffiliate #outdooradventure

May the fourth be with you. #tbt to when we spen

May the fourth be with you.

#tbt to when we spent the night sleeping on Big Bald and Lotus looked like a Jedi in this @appgearco alpaca sleeping bag liner she impulsively purchased @unclejohnnys_hikerhostel after days of sub 30 degree evenings! It was 16oz of extra weight, but entirely worth it for its coziness, warmth, and amount of laughter it brought us when she refused to take it off 😆

Oh AT, how we miss you.

#appalachiantrail #at #atclassof2022 #atclass #maythefourthbewithyou #maytheforestbewithyou #maythe4th #maythe4thbewithyou #hikerlife #hikersofinstagram #whiteblazes #whiteblaze #atflipflop #appalachiantrailthruhike #atthruhike #bigbald #northcarolinahiking #nchiking #nchikes #longdistancebackpacking #longdistancehiking #longdistancehike #longdistancehiker #coupleswhohike #coupleswhohiketogether #hikeon #hikertrashforlife #outdoorasian

Who else has gotten into trail running after a lon

Who else has gotten into trail running after a long-distance hike?

Running in the woods has helped us connect with nature more easily and kept us physically fit for upcoming backpacking trips when we don’t have time to drive further to the mountains.

Friends, any tips for trail running? Favorite trails in the Boston area? We are taking it slow and just getting started!

Stio discount code: TREKKINGSKETCHES

#stioaffiliate #lettheoutsidein #trailrunning #trailrunners #hiking #hikinglife #hikerlife #trails #hikingtrails #coupleswhohike #coupleswhorun #outdooractivities #hikemd #appalachiantrail #appalachiantrailhike #at #atclassof2022
#longdistancehiking #longdistancehiker #outdoorlifestyle #lifeoutdoors #hikingtrails #trailrunners #whiteblaze #whiteblazes #springhiking #springtrails #getoutdoors #getoutdoorsmore #outdooradventures

Last weekend we were honored to speak on a panel a

Last weekend we were honored to speak on a panel at the @appalachiantrail Flip Flop Kickoff in Harpers Ferry, WV. We had a great time meeting hikers either starting their thru or planning for future years and also just engaging with the community.

We got to sleep in our ⛺️ for the first time since the AT (we got the zippers fixed if you remember that it was a bit of a wreck at the end of our thru) and went for a run up to Weverton Cliffs. It felt so good to follow the white blazes again. We miss it so much 😭

📍Massawomeck and Shawandasse Tula Native Lands

#nationalparkweek #appalachiantrail #atclassof2023 #atclassof2022 #thruhikers #hikingcomminity #trailrunning #stioaffiliate #lettheoutsidein #outdoorexplorers #trailrunners #athikers #whiteblazes #whiteblaze #atflipflop #atflipflop2023 #flipflophike #harpersferry #harpersferrynps #coupleswhoruntogether #coupleswhohike #coupleswhohiketogether #hikerlife #hikerlifestyle #weekendhike #weekendhikes #campingcouple #camplife #myparkstory #hikertrashforlife

We don’t have to travel far to be with one of th

We don’t have to travel far to be with one of the most beautiful places on earth. 🌎

Hiking the Presidential Range on the Appalachian Trail. It felt like coming home.

📍 Wabanaki (Dawnland Confederacy) and Abenaki Native Lands

#trekkingsketches #earthdayeveryday #appalachiantrail #appalachianmountains #at2022 #atclassof2022 #presidentialrange #mountwashington #agiocochook #hikethewhites #whitemountains #whitemountainsnh #whitemountainnationalforest #wmnf_hikers #wmnf #appalachiantrailthruhike #atthruhike #atthruhikers #thruhiking #thruhikers #longdistancehiking #longdistancehike #lettheoutsidein #outdoorlife #whiteblaze #whiteblazes #2000miler #motherearthlove #motherearth #earthday2023

We are super jazzed to head to Harpers Ferry this

We are super jazzed to head to Harpers Ferry this Saturday, April 22nd to speak on a panel at the AT flip-flop kickoff about our thru-hike! Anyone gonna be there?!

On our own thru, it felt monumental to get to the psychological halfway point. We oozed joy walking into town, so excited to visit the ATC headquarters and get our Polaroid taken (check out our smiles). Once we got to HF, we felt so strong and just knew we’d make it to Springer. Can’t wait to be a part of sending others off on this journey.

📍Massawomeck and Shawandasse Tula Native Lands

#trekkingsketches #appalachiantrail #appalachiantrail2023 #appalachiantrail2022 #appalachiantrailclassof2022 #appalachiantrailclassof2023 #whiteblaze #thruhike #thruhiking #thejourney #harpersferry #atcspotlight #at2022 #at2023 #atflipflop #appalachiantrailflipflop #flipflopkickoff #flipflopseason #appalachiantrailconservancy #atflipflop2022 #thruhikers #longdistancebackpacking #longdistancehike #coupleswhohike #hikingcommunity

It finally feels like spring here in Boston! And i

It finally feels like spring here in Boston! And it’s perfect timing to try out our new @stio gear as affiliate influencers.

Since the #appalachiantrail we’ve realized two things: (1) we like running! Especially as we prepare for our 1,200 mile PCT LASH and (2) it is so important for us to move our bodies and spend time outside in any way possible.

We’ve been discovering trails in our neighborhood and Lotus is loving her new Stio running shorts and how sunny they are 🌼

Link in bio for our Stio affiliate link and discount code (TREKKINGSKETCHES) for 20% off full priced items!

#trekkingsketches #stioaffiliate #lettheoutsidein #stio #sunnyday #runlocal #running #getoutdoors #getoutdoorsmore #pcttraining #pct #pct2023 #weekendoutside #springrunning #trailrunning #trailrunner #getoutdoors #getoutandrun #trailrun #trailrunninglife #localhikes #localtrail #localtrails #hikelocal #runlocal #outdoorlife #weekendrun #runninggear #coupleswhotraintogether #coupleswhohike #coupleswhohiketogether

The Big Couloir at Big Sky: a series. The Big C i

The Big Couloir at Big Sky: a series.

The Big C is a bucket list item. Descending between rocky cliffs with around 1,400ft of vertical drop, it was certainly the steepest run we’ve ever done!

To ski/ride the Big C, you need take the Lone Peak tram to the 11,000 ft summit, sign in with ski patrol at the top, and carry avalanche gear just in case. You go in pairs of 2 at 15 minute intervals.

When we got there, honestly, we were nervous. But as we’ve learned through thru-hiking and years of skiing and snowboarding, we are capable of so much and we can do difficult things (and have fun doing them). We reminded ourselves of that and took on the challenge!

After dropping in, we made careful deliberate turns, tapped into the confidence we have developed over time, and drew on the energy of our family and friends cheering us on from the bottom! As you can see from the last picture, we were overjoyed. It was one of the best experiences. Until next year, @bigskyresort!

#trekkingsketches #skilife #skiandsnowboard #skibigsky #bigsky #bigskymontana #bigskycountry #bigskyresort #bigcouloir #skiholiday #snowboarding #snowboarder #skiier #sendit #powderday #skiingpowder #lonepeak #wintersports #skifamily #skicommunity #livebig #adventureoutside #adventureoutdoors #winteractivities #downhillskiing #skiingisfun #skiingisbelieving #snowboarder

Big Sky 2023 with the fam. Go big or go home! #sk

Big Sky 2023 with the fam. Go big or go home!

#skiing #snowboarding #bigsky #bigcouloir #skibigsky #johnnytsunami #shred #skimontana #skitrip #snowboardtrip #skiandride #skiandsnowboard #northface #skilife #snowboardlife #skifamily #snowboardfamily #gobigorgohome #sendit #skihard #lonepeak #freshpowder #shredallday #shredlife #moguls #treeskiing #ikonpass #bigskyresort #bigskycountry #bigskymontana

Sometimes we hear a song or see a picture and our

Sometimes we hear a song or see a picture and our hearts literally ache for our time on the Appalachian Trail.

A candid photo taken by Gumby right after hiking Avery and Bigelow in Maine.

📍 Wabanaki (Dawnland Confederacy), N’dakina (Abenaki), and Nanrantsouak Native Lands

#trekkingsketches #trekkingcouple #trekkers #trekking #appalachiantrail #appalachiantrail2022 #atclassof2022 #at2022 #at #whiteblazes #hikemaine #hikeme #mainehiking #thruhiking #thruhiker #thruhikers #backpackers #backpacking #backpackinglife #coupleswhohike #coupleswhohiketogether #adventurestogether #appalachiantrailconservancy #atcspotlight #atflipflop #2000miler #pauseandreflect #hikerlife #hikingadventures #mainetrails

Franconia Ridge. 7:03am. The power and magic of b

Franconia Ridge. 7:03am.

The power and magic of being in and a part of nature at different times of day.

The feeling of interconnectedness and impermanence.

The way we become the mountains—changing with the light and transforming from moment to moment.

📍 Wabanaki (Dawnland Confederacy) and N’dakina (Abenaki) Native Lands

#trekkingsketches #wmnf #hikethewhites #whitemountains #winterhiking #winterhike #winterhikes #sunrisehike #sunrisehiking #winterexplorers #whitemountainsnh #4000footers #nh4000 #nh4000footers #amc4000 #whitemountainnationalforest #wmnfhikers #wmnf_hikers #nhhikers #nhhiking #mountainscene #whitemountainwanderers #appalachiantrail #franconianotch #franconiaridge #upperrightusa #mountainmorning #mountainlife #newenglandhikes #arcteryxnewengland

4am start for a sunrise hike of Franconia Ridge wi

4am start for a sunrise hike of Franconia Ridge with this beautiful community. Thanks @notchhostel and @findingphilip for bringing us together on this unreal morning for our last winter hike of the season✨🔥

📍 Wabanaki (Dawnland Confederacy) and N’dakina (Abenaki) Native Lands

#trekkingsketches #wmnf #hikethewhites #whitemountains #winterhiking #winterhike #winterhikes #sunrisehike #sunrisehiking #winterexplorers #whitemountainsnh #4000footers #nh4000 #nh4000footers #amc4000 #whitemountainnationalforest #wmnfhikers #wmnf_hikers #nhhikers #nhhiking #hikingcommunity #whitemountainwanderers #appalachiantrail #franconianotch #franconiaridge #franconiaridgeloop #mountainmorning #mountainlife #hikerlife #newenglandhiking

Happy International Women’s Day! #wtrek #patago

Happy International Women’s Day!

#wtrek #patagonia #chileanpatagonia #backpacking #backpackers #womenwhohike #womenwhobackpack #diversifyoutdoors #bipochikers #asiansoutdoors #outdoorasian #inclusiveoutdoors #backpackingwomen #torresdelpaine #torresdelpainenationalpark #torresdelpainechile #trekkingwomen #trekker #trekkingchile #internationalwomensday #badasswomen #badasshiker #womenhikers #womenadventure #womenadventureriders

Breath, movement, flow, imperfection, play, connec

Breath, movement, flow, imperfection, play, connection.

Yoga and hiking. Two practices that have changed my life and share more similarities than I ever realized.

#trekkingsketches #handstands #handstand #yogapractice #yogaasana #yogaoutside #outsideyoga #outsideyogapractice #hikingandyoga #thruhike #thruhiking #appalachiantrail #hikingtrails #upsidedown #natureandyoga #hiking #hikerlife #mainehiking #maineyoga #100milewilderness #adhomukhavrksasana #breath #flow #movement #mindbodyconnection #handstandplay #backpackerlife #atclassof2022 #athiker #perspectivechange

New blog post up on our website for those aspiring

New blog post up on our website for those aspiring AT flip-flop thru-hikers out there! Link in bio.

One of the best parts of the trail for us was seeing how many creative ways there are to hike and experience the AT. We are firm believers that getting out there in any way you can and in any way that makes sense for you is wonderful. For us, flip-flopping the AT not only made the most logistical sense, but aligned with our goals for thru-hiking, which included a combination of solitude and community-building.

Blog post includes benefits and downsides of flip-flopping and links to our AT gear list!

#trekkingsketches #appalachiantrail #appalachiantrail2023 #appalachiantrail2022 #atprep #athikers #atclassof2022 #atclass #atclassof2023 #atc #appalachiantrailconservancy #atcspotlight #atflipflop #flipflopthruhike #longdistancebackpacking #longdistancehiking #longdistancehike #gearlist #atthruhike2022 #atthruhike #thruhike #thruhikers #thruhiking #thruhiker #whiteblaze #whiteblazes #backpackerradio #backpackertips

What a filling and rejuvenating weekend at the @no

What a filling and rejuvenating weekend at the @notchhostel. Lotus shared her experience as a long-distance hiker of color along with three other incredible panelists. Thank you so much to all those who showed up both in person and over Zoom. And, we got to reconnect with some of our AT friends who we haven’t seen in months! We all watched @trailheadjustin AT YouTube videos…if you haven’t seen them yet, do yourself a favor and check them out!

The next morning, 16 of us pulled up to a parking lot in the dark for a cold sunrise hike to Mt. Liberty. We rarely hike with groups, but moving up the trail by headlamp in unison with other hikers was a powerful experience. Last time we hiked up Liberty Spring Trail it was at the end of a 19 mile day on our Appalachian Trail thru-hike after already gaining over 7,000ft of elevation (bonus photo of Lotus at the end of that day 🤣). It was much more pleasant this time around!

Grateful for this community 🤍

📍 Wabanaki (Dawnland Confederacy) and N’dakina (Abenaki) Native Lands

#trekkingsketches #mountliberty #grouphikes #appalachiantrail #diversifyoutdoors #summitsinsolidarity #hikingcommunity #winter #winterhiking #nh48 #nh484000footers #hikethewhites #wmnf #wmnf_hikers #hikemore #hikemoreworryless #whitemountainnationalforest #winterhike #amc4000footers #optoutside #nh484k #bipochikers #hikersofcolor #hikingwithfriends

2022 in review: how thru-hiking the AT affirmed, c

2022 in review: how thru-hiking the AT affirmed, challenged, and changed us.

It is already 2023 and somehow we finished thru-hiking the AT over 2 months ago. It feels like a distant dream. For our most recent blog post (link in bio), we went back through our journals from the AT and compiled our reflections into 10 takeaways from the trail that we hope we will carry into our lives off-trail.

1. Slowing down, cultivating mindfulness, and being more present
2. Building confidence and realizing our capacity to handle uncertainty and challenge
3. Seeing the impermanence of everything
4. Appreciating our physical bodies and all they can do and endure
5. Strengthening our minds and bodies and feeling the connection between them
6. Deepening our partnership
7. Being grateful for what we have
8. Building community and contributing to its improvement
9. Connecting deeply with nature
10. Infusing joy and celebration

When hiking, we relished the time we had to deeply consider our priorities and figure out how to craft fulfilling lives for ourselves. Since the trail, we have made small daily changes including: spending more time outside; incorporating movement such as yoga, running, walking, and hiking; practicing meditation; and prioritizing physical space for art and creativity.

The AT certainly was not without challenge. But, we will be forever grateful for the joy and growth we experienced.

#appalachiantrail #at2022 #atclassof2022 #atthruhike2022 #atthruhike #thruhike #thruhiking #thruhiker #thruhikers #longdistancehiking #longdistancehiker #backpacking #backpackers #takelessdomore #everythinglessmatters #hikingcouples #adventureoutdoors #outdooradventure #outdoorexploration #exploreoutdoors #whiteblazes #atcspotlight #atc #appalachiantrailconservancy #whiteblazes #whiteblaze #hikingadventures #hikingtrails #traillife #optoutside #hikeon

This Fireside Chat is coming up on February 4th!

This Fireside Chat is coming up on February 4th!

White Blazes and White Gazes: Hikers of Color Discuss their Experiences on the Appalachian Trail is a panel that I, along with three other incredible AT hikers, will be speaking on. Don’t miss it. I haven’t talked a ton about my experiences as a Vietnamese woman on trail, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have a ton to say. Come hear it first at the chat and join us for an unguided sunrise hike with friends up to Liberty the next morning.

Head over to the @notchhostel for details and to register to attend in-person or virtually. See you there!

#diversifyoutdoors #inclusiveoutdoors #hikersofcolor #bipochikers #summitsinsolidarity #thruhikers #thruhiker #appalachiantrail #at #asianhikers #asiansoutdoors #outdoorasian #bipocoutdoors #atclassof2022 #at2022 #outdooraccess #whiteblazes #whiteblaze #georgiatomaine #atthruhike2022 #atthruhike #wehiketoheal #healinghikes #asiansoutdoors #getoutside #outsidemagazine #optoutside #longdistancehiking #longdistancebackpacking

Close-ups of some of the incredible plants and flo

Close-ups of some of the incredible plants and flowers in Chile. One of the best parts of backpacking trips with lower mileage days is having the space and time to really slow down, notice what’s around you, and connect with nature.

#trekkingsketches #wtrek #patagonia #patagoniachile #chile #visitchile #outdoorexplorers #backpacking #coupleswhohike #coupleswhoadventure #travelingcouple #coupleswhotravel #chiletravel #patagoniatravel #torresdelpaine #torresdelpainenationalpark #torresdelpainechile #wtrekpatagonia #chileanpatagonia #myfujifilm #fujifilm #fujifilmglobal #myfujilove #fujimag #flowers #noticemore #naturephotography #naturelovers #flora #plantart

Day 8 (12/29): Las Torres sunrise! Seeing Las Tor

Day 8 (12/29): Las Torres sunrise!

Seeing Las Torres light up with the sun was a breathtaking experience. We started hiking by headlamp from Refugio Chileno at 3:30am. The climb itself was much steeper than the other climbs from the W Trek. It was rocky and wonderful, reminding us of the terrain in the #whitemountains that we love. We reached the famous towers of Torres de Paine National Park by 5am and spent 2 full hours watching them transform colors as the sun rose. The setting felt otherworldly like it was out of a dream. It was absolutely freezing, but we didn’t care. We were so grateful to get such a clear day and were complete filled by the majesty of this place.

#trekkingsketches #wtrek #patagonia #patagoniachile #chile #visitchile #backpackinglife #outdoorexplorers #outdooradventure #coupleswhohike #hikingcouples #adventuringcouples #coupleswhoadventure #adventureoutdoors #travelingcouple #coupleswhotravel #trekkingchile #chiletravel #patagoniatravel #hikingadventures #torresdelpaine #torresdelpainenationalpark #torresdelpainechile #wtrekpatagonia #chileanpatagonia #myfujifilm #fujifilm #fujifilmglobal

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Recent Posts

Review of Stio Women’s Terral Run Shorts and Second Light Shorts
May 12, 2023
A Thru-Hiker’s Guide to Flip-Flopping the Appalachian Trail
January 23, 2023
2022 in Review: How Thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail (AT) Affirmed, Challenged, and Changed Us
January 2, 2023
Days 143-146 on the Appalachian Trail: Georgia
December 8, 2022
Days 132-142 on the Appalachian Trail: Tennessee and North Carolina – Second Half
November 29, 2022

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