Sarah Drumm
@sarahdrumm.bsky.social
Writer, editor, journalist, hiker | https://www.sarahdrumm.com/
DAY 18 - Many exciting milestones today. We climbed to the top of Kuwohi mountain (aka Clingmans Dome) which is the highest point of the AT. We also crossed the 200 mile marker! We took a shuttle to Gatlinburg which is... an interesting place. Like a MAGA Margate in the mountains.
November 27, 2024 at 10:53 AM
DAY 18 - Many exciting milestones today. We climbed to the top of Kuwohi mountain (aka Clingmans Dome) which is the highest point of the AT. We also crossed the 200 mile marker! We took a shuttle to Gatlinburg which is... an interesting place. Like a MAGA Margate in the mountains.
DAY 17 - 18 miles of up and down today, phew! The woods are getting more beautiful by the day — shoots of grass are appearing and wildflowers are starting to carpet the forest floor.
November 25, 2024 at 10:29 PM
DAY 17 - 18 miles of up and down today, phew! The woods are getting more beautiful by the day — shoots of grass are appearing and wildflowers are starting to carpet the forest floor.
One exciting thing about this day is that it's when entered the Smoky Mountains National Park, the most visited in the US (for good reason - it is beautiful). Normally visitors must book their spots to sleep in the park's shelters, but as thru-hikers we were permitted to pitch our tents. (2/2)
November 24, 2024 at 5:31 PM
One exciting thing about this day is that it's when entered the Smoky Mountains National Park, the most visited in the US (for good reason - it is beautiful). Normally visitors must book their spots to sleep in the park's shelters, but as thru-hikers we were permitted to pitch our tents. (2/2)
DAY 16 - My toughest day on trail so far. I was exhausted, extremely hungry from days of hiking + not eating enough, and unenthused by the 4,500ft climb we had ahead of us today. We’re not the only ones hitting a rough spot; a guy at the Marina called his hike yesterday. (1/2)
November 24, 2024 at 5:22 PM
DAY 16 - My toughest day on trail so far. I was exhausted, extremely hungry from days of hiking + not eating enough, and unenthused by the 4,500ft climb we had ahead of us today. We’re not the only ones hitting a rough spot; a guy at the Marina called his hike yesterday. (1/2)
DAY 15 - We’re now more than two weeks in and I am ACHEY despite holing up in hostels at any opportunity. Today we hikes 14 miles and climbed 3,000 ft to arrive at Fontana Dam. We grabbed a free beer at the Marina, then hitched a ride in a golf cart to the lodge, where we met up with another hiker.
November 24, 2024 at 5:18 PM
DAY 15 - We’re now more than two weeks in and I am ACHEY despite holing up in hostels at any opportunity. Today we hikes 14 miles and climbed 3,000 ft to arrive at Fontana Dam. We grabbed a free beer at the Marina, then hitched a ride in a golf cart to the lodge, where we met up with another hiker.
DAY 14 - The rain kept on coming! Last night a hiker told me the point of waterproof clothing isn’t to keep you dry, it’s to keep you alive. Alive? Check. Not dry? Check. We slogged through 14 more miles of misty ridge walk then bailed to a local cabin in the woods to dry out and eat pizza.
November 22, 2024 at 10:18 AM
DAY 14 - The rain kept on coming! Last night a hiker told me the point of waterproof clothing isn’t to keep you dry, it’s to keep you alive. Alive? Check. Not dry? Check. We slogged through 14 more miles of misty ridge walk then bailed to a local cabin in the woods to dry out and eat pizza.
Over the years, public discourse has become more polarised and disturbingly dehumanising. Social media and the behaviours it encourages has a lot to do with it, imo. But this Daily Mail article — good grief. Why does hating a rebrand morph into an opportunity to target marginalised communities?
November 22, 2024 at 10:02 AM
Over the years, public discourse has become more polarised and disturbingly dehumanising. Social media and the behaviours it encourages has a lot to do with it, imo. But this Daily Mail article — good grief. Why does hating a rebrand morph into an opportunity to target marginalised communities?
DAY 13 - The rain. My god. People talk about rain on the AT, but you have to experience it to know it. We managed to snag a bunk at the Nantahala Outdoor Center that night, where I also saw my first ever GROUNDHOG. I had no idea what this giant rat was so I showed this pic to a waitress who told me.
November 21, 2024 at 3:53 PM
DAY 13 - The rain. My god. People talk about rain on the AT, but you have to experience it to know it. We managed to snag a bunk at the Nantahala Outdoor Center that night, where I also saw my first ever GROUNDHOG. I had no idea what this giant rat was so I showed this pic to a waitress who told me.
...this was a fun and jam packed day of hiking, so it gets two posts. We hiked up two 'balds' and got great views, and I was also handed my first trail beer at the top of the second. Cheers! (2/2)
November 20, 2024 at 2:21 PM
...this was a fun and jam packed day of hiking, so it gets two posts. We hiked up two 'balds' and got great views, and I was also handed my first trail beer at the top of the second. Cheers! (2/2)
DAY 12 - A church in Franklin runs an all-you-can eat pancake breakfast for hikers in exchange for some light proselytisation, which sounded like it would set us up for the 17m of hiking we had planned. Worth the sermon. They also took photos of us and got us to write letters to our parents (1/2)
November 20, 2024 at 2:15 PM
DAY 12 - A church in Franklin runs an all-you-can eat pancake breakfast for hikers in exchange for some light proselytisation, which sounded like it would set us up for the 17m of hiking we had planned. Worth the sermon. They also took photos of us and got us to write letters to our parents (1/2)
DAY 11 - Another day off. Looking back, it's interesting how easy we took it at the start compared to what it was like by the end. Hiking all day every day is an adjustment! Today we sent 2KG of kit home to the UK — including my tent! I thought I'd want alone time but so far I'd only set it up once.
November 19, 2024 at 9:43 AM
DAY 11 - Another day off. Looking back, it's interesting how easy we took it at the start compared to what it was like by the end. Hiking all day every day is an adjustment! Today we sent 2KG of kit home to the UK — including my tent! I thought I'd want alone time but so far I'd only set it up once.
DAY 10 - Today we hiked into Franklin, TN, passing the 100 mile marker on the way! After we showered, we hit the local brewery where we met a councillor who treated us to some welcome beers. He said the trail does a lot for the town - hikers arrive hungry and thirsty, which is great for business.
November 4, 2024 at 9:15 PM
DAY 10 - Today we hiked into Franklin, TN, passing the 100 mile marker on the way! After we showered, we hit the local brewery where we met a councillor who treated us to some welcome beers. He said the trail does a lot for the town - hikers arrive hungry and thirsty, which is great for business.
DAY 9 - My hangover was gone & my trail legs were back! We hiked 16.2 miles, another longest-ever day. It was worth it; tonight's campsite was a beautiful spot by a creek and nestled among rhododendrons. This was also the first time we’d had to hang our food — behold, our very not-to-code bear hang.
November 3, 2024 at 5:18 PM
DAY 9 - My hangover was gone & my trail legs were back! We hiked 16.2 miles, another longest-ever day. It was worth it; tonight's campsite was a beautiful spot by a creek and nestled among rhododendrons. This was also the first time we’d had to hang our food — behold, our very not-to-code bear hang.
DAY 8 - Some people offering “trail magic” are actually trying to make money off hikers, like the guy we met today who lost his mind when we didn’t want to pay him for a ride to the trail. Anyway, today was SLOW because of the beers the night before. But we crossed into a new state!
November 2, 2024 at 6:15 PM
DAY 8 - Some people offering “trail magic” are actually trying to make money off hikers, like the guy we met today who lost his mind when we didn’t want to pay him for a ride to the trail. Anyway, today was SLOW because of the beers the night before. But we crossed into a new state!
DAY 7 - Today we moved from the Around The Bend hiker hostel — a very fun place run by a guy who is like John Lennon reincarnated — to the Budget Inn Motel in Hiawassee, GA. It lived up to its name! We picked up some food for the next stretch, then hit the local brewery. 😎
November 2, 2024 at 9:32 AM
DAY 7 - Today we moved from the Around The Bend hiker hostel — a very fun place run by a guy who is like John Lennon reincarnated — to the Budget Inn Motel in Hiawassee, GA. It lived up to its name! We picked up some food for the next stretch, then hit the local brewery. 😎
DAY 6 - It's funny going back over these early days and seeing just how good we were at sniffing out a real bed for the night. The AT has MANY amenities in the early stages & they are cheap too (about $30pp/pn, often less). This evening we were at the must-stay AT hostel Around The Bend.
October 31, 2024 at 12:08 PM
DAY 6 - It's funny going back over these early days and seeing just how good we were at sniffing out a real bed for the night. The AT has MANY amenities in the early stages & they are cheap too (about $30pp/pn, often less). This evening we were at the must-stay AT hostel Around The Bend.
DAY 5 - Our longest yet at 15.6 miles! We’d been keeping milage low to avoid injury, but we're getting in the swing of it now. We also experienced our first “trail magic” — people setting up food and drink stations for hikers. They must've heard the Brits were coming because they had shepherd’s pie.
October 30, 2024 at 9:59 PM
DAY 5 - Our longest yet at 15.6 miles! We’d been keeping milage low to avoid injury, but we're getting in the swing of it now. We also experienced our first “trail magic” — people setting up food and drink stations for hikers. They must've heard the Brits were coming because they had shepherd’s pie.
DAY 4 - I heard somewhere that 25% of AT hikers quit just 30 miles in, which would be here. The shoes in this tree are the ones that never made it to Maine. But this wasn't where our journey was ending, so we grabbed a coffee from the outfitter, said good morning to their cat and kept walking.
October 29, 2024 at 2:47 PM
DAY 4 - I heard somewhere that 25% of AT hikers quit just 30 miles in, which would be here. The shoes in this tree are the ones that never made it to Maine. But this wasn't where our journey was ending, so we grabbed a coffee from the outfitter, said good morning to their cat and kept walking.
DAY 3 - Today's task was to climb Blood Mountain, the AT's highest peak in Georgia (4.4k ft). There was lots of fear mongering about this - we'd learn this is a common feature of the AT - but for those who brave the treacherous rocks, there's hot pizza & bunk beds at an outfitter on the other side!
October 28, 2024 at 6:10 PM
DAY 3 - Today's task was to climb Blood Mountain, the AT's highest peak in Georgia (4.4k ft). There was lots of fear mongering about this - we'd learn this is a common feature of the AT - but for those who brave the treacherous rocks, there's hot pizza & bunk beds at an outfitter on the other side!
DAY 2 - I woke up at 5.20 to discover I had started my period. As I wrote in my journal: "Hello, you bastard". At that time in the morning the woods are dark but people's tents are glowing - the morning phone scroll routine is hard to kick.
October 27, 2024 at 9:58 AM
DAY 2 - I woke up at 5.20 to discover I had started my period. As I wrote in my journal: "Hello, you bastard". At that time in the morning the woods are dark but people's tents are glowing - the morning phone scroll routine is hard to kick.
This was my first time hiking in the US and it was interesting comparing the outdoor culture with that of the UK. The wilderness is a lot more vast in the US, but the path we were hiking also had a lot of infrastructure. We'd often camp near backcountry shelters - here's one we stopped by that day.
October 26, 2024 at 6:24 PM
This was my first time hiking in the US and it was interesting comparing the outdoor culture with that of the UK. The wilderness is a lot more vast in the US, but the path we were hiking also had a lot of infrastructure. We'd often camp near backcountry shelters - here's one we stopped by that day.
DAY 1 - Our first proper day on the Appalachian Trail. It's 26 March and at this time of year the mornings are cold, the afternoons are sunny, and the AT hikers PLENTIFUL. We set up camp that night with people we'd be hiking alongside for the next 2,200 miles.
October 26, 2024 at 6:15 PM
DAY 1 - Our first proper day on the Appalachian Trail. It's 26 March and at this time of year the mornings are cold, the afternoons are sunny, and the AT hikers PLENTIFUL. We set up camp that night with people we'd be hiking alongside for the next 2,200 miles.
DAY 0 - Before you hike the Appalachian Trail, you must get to the Appalachian Trail.
This involved a 1.5 hour drive from Atlanta to Amicalola Falls state park, an hourish to collect my thru-hiker tag & learn to hang a bear bag, & an 8-mile hike to the top of Springer Mtn - the start of the AT.
This involved a 1.5 hour drive from Atlanta to Amicalola Falls state park, an hourish to collect my thru-hiker tag & learn to hang a bear bag, & an 8-mile hike to the top of Springer Mtn - the start of the AT.
October 25, 2024 at 10:08 AM
DAY 0 - Before you hike the Appalachian Trail, you must get to the Appalachian Trail.
This involved a 1.5 hour drive from Atlanta to Amicalola Falls state park, an hourish to collect my thru-hiker tag & learn to hang a bear bag, & an 8-mile hike to the top of Springer Mtn - the start of the AT.
This involved a 1.5 hour drive from Atlanta to Amicalola Falls state park, an hourish to collect my thru-hiker tag & learn to hang a bear bag, & an 8-mile hike to the top of Springer Mtn - the start of the AT.
I'm planning a big adventure for 2025 and it's made me nostalgic for last year's Appalachian Trail hike. One of the best times of my life!
So, inspired by @derinhiking.bsky.social, I'm going to post a pic a day from that trip. Follow along if you're curious what 6 months of hiking looks like 🥾🐻🏕️
So, inspired by @derinhiking.bsky.social, I'm going to post a pic a day from that trip. Follow along if you're curious what 6 months of hiking looks like 🥾🐻🏕️
October 25, 2024 at 9:49 AM
I'm planning a big adventure for 2025 and it's made me nostalgic for last year's Appalachian Trail hike. One of the best times of my life!
So, inspired by @derinhiking.bsky.social, I'm going to post a pic a day from that trip. Follow along if you're curious what 6 months of hiking looks like 🥾🐻🏕️
So, inspired by @derinhiking.bsky.social, I'm going to post a pic a day from that trip. Follow along if you're curious what 6 months of hiking looks like 🥾🐻🏕️