Springer Mountain!!

We completed our journey on the afternoon of December 12th! The 2,179 mile trail took us just over 5 months or 158 days. We are now finished and at our homes with our families. These videos help tell some of the story!

At the Lodge the day after we finished! Eating breakfast with our families! At the Dollar General waiting for our ride. We got a hitch from some guys out joy riding there Jeeps in the snow. It was the last ride off the mountain or we would have been spending a long cold night in the storm that had just moved in.

It has been five months. We stayed in different places, met new faces and adventures head on. We have changed. We are two different men then we were when we started because of the things we encountered. Without the love and support of our families and friends we would not have been able to do what we did. The hardest mountain I feel that we climbed was Springer mountain. Physically it was perhaps one of the easiest but knowing that at the top of that mountain our adventure would end was what made if difficult. The way of life that we had come to know, understand and love was about to change. We accomplished our goal of walking the entirety of the Appalachian trail from Maine to Georgia but we accomplished something much more important than that. We embraced the journey. We laughed and cried. We were filled with joy and we were also at times completely misereable but through it all we embraced it. This would not have taken place if it were not for a few friends of ours. Thanks to Wolfman, Stoker, Babyface, Lone Ranger, Full Value, Dread, Roots Rock, Catfish, Churchill, Geo, Domelight, Dodger, Sherpa, Boss lady, Pre-life Crisis, Crazy talk, Radar and Plug. Thank you all for in your own individual ways being a part of our journey.

The reason that I started this dream was because it was the original dream of a friend of mine. This man that I began this journey with and spent the most time with on this trip (all but 4 nights) is someone who I can absolutely call a brother. He was known by many names including but not limited to Thunder, Tail End, Emperor and the only name that really stuck Mikey Baby!! Thank you brother for your inspiration and your encouragement. We have finished our AT journey and are now looking forward beginning a new one. Thank you all for everything!! Love.

Until the next adventure,

Addison (Reset)

Hiawassee, GA!!

We are now is Hiawasee, Georgia! We have 67 miles to go!! Since my last blog a lot has happened!

We got caught in the Smokies in the snow! The majority of the trail turned to ice!

We made it to Georgia yesterday! This is me a the state line!

The Smokies

Short post today! We need to get out of town to finish this thing out. I will blog all of the other stuff that you missed from home! We are almost there! Three days left and then ill probably be very confused because I wont have to walk all day! Springer Mountain bound! Thank you all for everything. See you all soon!

Walking south,

Addison (Reset)

In Asheville, NC with Mike's family for thanksgiving! We are acutally in Hot Springs, NC on the trail which means we have 271 miles left! We are here until Sunday and then back to the grind! We are closing it out and we promise its not freaking us out...


Riding out a cold rainy day under an overpass for about two hours. It was a good lunch spot!

(Me and Stoker)

On one of the balds in Virginia. In the background is Roan Mountain, the second largest mountain on the trail at 6,000 something feet.

This is a picture of the common room at Kincora hostel. This is my favorite hostel on the trail so far. It was an awesome log cabin with a wood burning stove run by an incredible man named Bob Peoples.

Sunrise over the valley in Tennessee

Waterfall in Tennessee

Trail magic from a youth group in Tennessee. Cold soda and honeybuns!! First trail magic since New York state.

Videos from the ponies in the Grayson Highlands (Southwest Virginia)

Only 270 Left! It feels good to be with family (Mike's family which is now mine too...I had to beg them) Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts. We are about to close this thing out and be home. Our finish date is December 12th. We love you.

Walking south,

Addison (Reset)

Damascus, VA 460 miles left!

Its going to be a short one! I have to re-supply and such. We are in Damascus, VA right now with only 460 to go! We had a great last stretch and are about to push 9 days into Hot Springs, NC in order to catch thanksgiving with Mike's family! Things are going great and since this is our last day in VA we can officially say that Virginia is for lovers......and ponies.

Wild Ponies!!!

This pony chewed two holes in the grip of my trekking pole....quality.

We are doing well and are about to push pretty hard for the next 9 days. Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. Sorry no videos this time! I will post lots of the ponies next stop. We love you all!
Walking south,
Addison (Reset)

Oh yeah and rifle season started. Heard 6 gunshots before I got out of my sleeping bag two days ago....makes things spicy.

Pearisburg, VA...things just got real.

We are in Pearisburg, VA staying at the Holiday Motor Lodge for a exciting 37 dollars a night. We have now walked 1552.7 miles!

Mcaffees knobYesterday was a fun one as you can see from the picture below! Ill let the videos explain...

My feet hurt but my soul feels good. The cold is a constant reminder of our weaknesses which I feel is a good thing. To be strong at times means to be weak. We are walking home and will be there soon. Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.

Walking south,

Addison (Reset)

Just a little shelter fun when the rain started.

Shenandoa National Park the bonus package.

The writing below was three days ago! Now we are in Glascow, VA. Its a thriving town of about six people it seems. We have about 700 something to go!! Here are some pictures from the Shenandoa's also just some good quality video action.

We walked out of Shenandoa National Park yesterday afternoon and are now in Waynesboro, VA. The park was incredible and I saw my first bear of the trip. It was a bear cub running away from us following its mother we were hoping??? We have 800 something left to go and are moving pretty fast. Its getting cold now we are walking in the 40's and 50's and the nights are starting to dip into the 30's. Oh boy the smokies are going to be cold. About to go eat a bunch of pancakes then walk 20. Thank you all for everything!

My favorite picture so far!

A dog followed me and mikey then our friend Roots Rock for about 20 miles then Root Rock returned it to its owner.Mike got us lost...I promise.

Your welcome.

Thank you all for everything! I am once again getting kicked out of a library. Time to go eat some gas station food. Life is good.

Walking south,

Addison (Reset)

Mama and Papa are here!! and we are in Virginia!

We are in Virginia now and mom and dad are here! Its been great to be around family and eat some good "southern food". Things are going great and we are walking along.
Here are some picture of the Mom, Dad and the boys!

Mom and dad are leaving tomorrow and its back to "real" trail life. We only have 500 and something miles left in Virginia and that means we are basically in Georgia. No biggie. Hope everyone is keeping well! Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers!

Walking south,
Addison (Reset)

Duncannon, PA

Howdy all! We are in Duncannon, PA at mile 1041! We are about 40 miles from the halfway point! Things are going great and we are rolling along. Here are some updates from PA.

Our first day in PA just above the Delaware Water Gap.

They said PA was rocky and well it is. Most of the trail looks like this. We call it a 20 mile foot massage.

The hurricane that hit turned into a tropical storm and hit us pretty hard. We got like 6 inches of rain one day that shut down all of the towns around us. Needless to say we decided not to walk that day so this is 501 shelter where we zeroed. Well remember when I said we aqua blazed the Delaware River??? Here is how it started!

This is Mikey, Churchill, and myself just wasting time in New York State at Bear Mountain Zoo?? The trail runs right through it haha.

As you can hear in the background we really just wanted a soda.

Thank you all for everything! Momma and Papa Shock are coming up in 7 days!! More to come soon! Thank for all the prayers and thoughts.

Walking south,

Addison (Reset)

P.S. Dont be made at me but the last connecticut challenge video will not load for some reason!! next post I will narrarate it for you!

Its been a while!!

I am currently in Hamburg, PA! It has been a good while since I posted last so I am going to give a run through of our events. (These first three are old)

The boys cooking supper at a shelter in Massachusetts.
Me at bear mountian bridge that crosses the Hudson River.
Eating breakfast (yogurt) outside of a gas station in Vermont.Ok now to what we have done since I posted last:

Went to New York City.

This is us eating with Loui's family. They are Italian...really Italian. It was like Olive Garden on steroids. It was just great to be around family and so refreshing. Below is New York City from his apartment.Finished New Jersey (One of my favorite states so far)
and Aqua Blazed (paddled canoes) 26 miles down the AT into Delaware Water GapI cant upload any videos in this library because the computer is slow but I will post them next time I promise!! We will be in Duncannon, PA on Saturday. Thank you all for everything!

Walking south,

Addison (Reset)

P.S. more videos to come soon!

Connecticut Challenge!!

The Connecticut Challenge. Some call it stupid and some call it crazy, I call it brilliant! The state of Connecticut is 53.7 miles long and the Connecticut challenge is walking the whole state in one 24 hour calender day. The day was Monday, September 6th and the participants were myself and Babyface (guy I have been walking with from New York state) This tells the whole story!! Enjoy!!

In all we walked 54.9 miles in 23 hours and 15 minutes. It was physically the hardest thing I have ever done. It was an experience! The final video I will post at the end of the next blog. Thanks for everything!

Walking south,

Addison (Reset)

Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut finished?? I am in New York??

I am in New York!! A lot has happened since I last blogged. Sorry I have not been keeping you all up to date. Its been a crazy few weeks. I am about to get kicked out of another library so will be short! I am going into New York City with Wolfman and Stoker. Two guys from Jersey we are walking with. We will be there from theSeptember 14th to the 17th. You can send mail to 1590 Anderson Ave. Apt 19 K For Lee, New Jersey 07024. I will give a full and comprehensive blog finishing out Vermont, highlighting Massachusetts, and the oh so painful and quick Connecticut Challenge!!! Get ready for more exciting stories to come!

Took this from a firetower in Vermont
I have an important announcement to make about two very close friend of mine. Ronnie and Lilly are having to leave the trail due to a health issues. It is a sad day but I am proud of them for the making it about 685 miles. I will miss you two and always remember how bad you made my feet feel.








The friends who will be filling their shoes ,no pun intended, will be Roco and Lola. They are a little more reserved but still just as fun loving and entertaining.

A little rope swing action in Massachusetts.

Manchester, VT

We are at the Green Mountain House in Vermont! We are at mile 538 which represents 25% of the trail done! Vermont is a much more forgiving state when it comes to terrain. Switchbacks exist and there are a lot less rocks. Just a few more days and we will be in Massachusetts. I have no pictures to post as of now but I can tell you that the place we are staying tonight is probably nicer than any house I will ever live in. Its incredible! It reminds me of a beach house that I would pay five hundred dollars for a weekend stay, however it comes with a pint of Ben and Jerry's ice cream and is only 15$ ha. (when I said that I would pay that much to stay in a weekend beach house I meant that other people would pay that much to stay...just to be clear) The last three days were our rainiest so far but we managed just fine.
Tip to future AT thru-hikers: 1. Don't walk two and a half miles then realize you left your rain jacket then proceed to ditch your pack on the side of the trail and run the five mile round trip to retrieve it. I would suggest just not leaving your rain jacket in the beginning to remedy this situation.
2. Always floss.


Thank you all for everything! Hope all is well!
Walking south,
Addison (Reset)

Hanover, New Hampshire

We are 2 miles from Vermont and being done with New Hampshire! There is one thing that is now for sure and that is that we are out of the Mountains! This is the first meadow we have seen since being on the trail. Cooking supperHuge fire tower at the top of one of our last mountains. The view from the top was incredible! have decided to let everyone know that there are two things that I have started doing since beginning the trail:

1. Flossing
2. Walking

Thats about it.....ok good talk!

Love you all and thank you for everything. I have had several requests from people who want to send me things while I am on the trail and want to know what to send. I am going to place a wish list soon!!
Walking south,
Addison (reset)


Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountains and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can ever learn from books. -John Lubbock