Hiking Journal
About
Contact
Adventures
CDT 2023
BMT 2021
BMT/AT Figure 8 2020
Katahdin 2019
The Long Trail 2019
Appalachian Trail 2017
Earlier Adventures

Hey, Y’all.

Welcome to my blog.

Expect reflections on long distance hiking, hiking culture, nature, creativity and my undying love for backrests.

roo giordano
Last One There Wins!
BMT/AT Figure 8 Day 35:  On the Home Stretch, Now
Oct 6

Oct 6 BMT/AT Figure 8 Day 35: On the Home Stretch, Now

Roo Giordano
long distance hiking, roulette

I’m getting my trail legs, now. And it feels good to move, even uphill. It feels good to feel good.

BMT/AT Figure 8  Day 34:  A Milestone worth Celebrating
Oct 5

Oct 5 BMT/AT Figure 8 Day 34: A Milestone worth Celebrating

Roo Giordano
long distance hiking, roulette

Today I finished all 2,190 miles of the Appalachian Trail. WOOT!

BMT/AT Figure 8 Day 33:  Happily, Giddily Breaking the Rules
Oct 4

Oct 4 BMT/AT Figure 8 Day 33: Happily, Giddily Breaking the Rules

Roo Giordano
long distance hiking, roulette

I finally succumbed to Rebel Roo who always lurks just beneath surface, looking for a moment to break bad, bend the rules, step out of bounds.

BMT/AT Figure 8 Day 32:  Highest Point on the AT
Oct 3

Oct 3 BMT/AT Figure 8 Day 32: Highest Point on the AT

Roo Giordano
long distance hiking, roulette

I summit the highest point on the AT, but don’t stick around for long…it’s cold, and there are women in heels.

Oct 2
Oct 2 BMT/AT Figure 8 Day 31: Running Away from the Circus

Roo Giordano
long distance hiking, roulette

Today, I find the silver lining of surviving standing room only, a parade and a circus.

Oct 1
Oct 1 BMT/AT Figure 8 Day 30: I Spot a Rare Ranger

Roo Giordano
long distance hiking, roulette

Today I saw a ranger on the trail.

I’d been wondering if anyone actually worked here in the Smokies.

He told me he was out for two nights, picking up trash and checking privies since there’d been no ridge runners out this year.

Sep 30
Sep 30 BMT/AT Figure 8 Day 29: Last 72 Miles of the AT, Finally

Roo Giordano
long distance hiking, roulette

Even though these 70-ish miles through the Smokies are the last 70-ish miles I have to finish the AT, I’ve both dreaded and procrastinated this section. This is the third permit I’ve bought, and I’m determined that it will be my last. This time, I finish.

Sep 28
Sep 28 BMT Day 27: The End (of Thing One)

Roo Giordano
long distance hiking, roulette

And just like that, the BMT was complete.

Sep 27
Sep 27 BMT Day 26: A Bear and I Have a Chat

Roo Giordano
long distance hiking, roulette

Day of views, bears, moving goalposts, life-defying feats on rickety fire towers.

Sep 26
Sep 26 BMT Day 25: So. Much. Water. Some Heebie-Jeebies. And Silence.

Roo Giordano
long distance hiking, roulette

Day hikers continue to surprise me with their questions.

Sep 25
Sep 25 BMT Day 24: Unscheduled Pit Stop

Roo Giordano
long distance hiking, vanlife, roulette

Day 24 involved an unscheduled trip to Cherokee. And Cherokee is definitely a trip.

Sep 24
Sep 24 BMT Day 23: It's Raining Inside My Tent

Roo Giordano
long distance hiking, roulette

There are always good things, even on the worst days. And today ranked up there as one of the worst if you were inclined to look at it that way.

Load More

Sign up for my Substack newsletter, Totally Doable!

About once a week, when I’m out on trail, I’ll send a recap of the week’s adventures and misadventures.

Subscribe!
Home
Blog
Contact
Adventures