White blazes white blazes!

So started at Amicalola falls stayed the night in the shelter which was cold but I stayed warm thanks to my amazing gear. Woke up still so cold and began the truck up 604 stairs a nice welcoming to the trail, so we hike the approach trail all that day hiked up springer mountian which was so satisfying! Stayed the night at Stover creek shelter and glad cause it poured like crazy! Woke up with rain got packed up slowly hoping the rain would let up and thankfully it did! Now staying at another shelter don't know the name it's dark so dunno.. Oh day one miles 11.6 day two miles 13!! Happy safe surrounded by beautiful people and beautiful things not to much green right now still cold but saw a. Few pilliated woodpeckers squrriels chipmunks the usual :) light n love to you all I'm pooped!

Far thee well

AT starts today!!! Keep posted :)

The low down

Soo..this is what's happening we are renting a car tonight from Orlando airport and driving at 5 am tomorrow morning to Atlanta airport getting there at noon. Then thanks to Ron Brown a amazing thru hiker assister he will be picking is up at the airport and taking us to Amicalola Falls well night hike for how ever long then set up camp!! Just so you all know a day behind :) so very excited!!

Just throwing it out there thank you survivor Dave and Ron Brown!! If you ever need a lift thru hiking to trail head in Georgia hit those guys up!!

Gearing Up

This is my gear:



My Pack - Granite gear crown 60L  
Pack cover - Sea to Summit Ultra sil            

Sleeping Goods -
Sleeping bag - Western mountianeering 15 degree down bag
Sleeping pad - Big Agnes insulated Qcore pad
Big agnes dry sack that blows up the sleeping pad (pretty sweet!!)
Sleeping bag liner- Cocoon silk mummy liner (also adds 10 more
    degrees of insulation)
Pillow- use my clothes

Food and Water -
Dualist system cook pot (includes 2 mugs, 2 bowls, scraper/brush,
     camp soap, olive oil, hot chocolate, and green tea)
1- Spork!
2L outdoor product water bladder
1L patapus water bag
32 oz Nalgene bottle
Water purifier - steri pen adventure
Chain mail simple outdoor solutions bag
One dry sack loaded with my tasty dehydrated creations for
breakfast and dinner, tuna creations, power bars, home made trail mix,
muscle milk, green vibrance (a powder that consists of alot of vegetables
 kale, spinach, wheat grass,. etc.) bee pollen, maca powder, chia seeds,
a variety of spices

Clothes -                       **= ditching as soon as it gets hot
1- Vasque GTX womens hikers
1- Pair of Crocs (for in town and night)
1- Pants zip off  **
1- Thermal pants **
3- Tee shirts (it is a lot but im tiny and they are super light HA)
3- pairs of socks
2- pairs of underware
1- base layer long sleeve shirt
1- Tecwic base layer coat **
1- sports bra
1- thermal **
1- pair of athletic shorts
1- wool hat **
1 - smartwool gloves **
1 - Berghaus raincoat (sick ultra light raincoat)

Other -
50 ft. rope
Gerber knife
Swiss army knife
Spool of floss for any repairs
2 - needles
A bit of wire (had my crocs break before wire is a perfect fix)
Blister and band aids (little first aid kit)
Nikon p500 camera
1- Toothbush, toothpaste, 4 oz Doctor B's, floss, tweezers, nail clippers
A small quick drying camp towel and washcloth (super tiny)
A note book with two JELLY DONUT PENS!!!


I think that covers it WOOW :)

Starting Tomorrow

So i am in Orlando Flordia right now! It is warm going from conneticut weather to here, humid! I came to meet up with my hiking buddy Bruce. We will most likely be renting a car to drive from Orlando airport to Atlanta airport. From there we are still figuring out there are quite a few buses picking up from the airport to the trail heads the plan is to start at Amicalola Falls which is more of a gradual hike to springer mountians summit. Getting to climb a nice 604 stairs to the top! Hoping to hike 10 miles to Springer mountian shelter.

This is me and thank you

My name is Chanelese and i am about to go on a journey that has been long awaited, i am thru hiking the Appalachian Trail. I begin the hike on March 20th...so two days away! The people in my life have been more than supportive. The good energy that i have received has been a blessing and i thank you all more than i can explain! It hasn't even hit me yet even though i get on a plane tomorrow. I am completely ready, pack packed and drive up high. My pack only 27 pounds with five days of food and water!  I have been dehydrating foods: apples, bananas, pears, blueberries, raspberries, peas, beans, sweet potatoes, mangos, and the list keeps on going. My family is so amazing and supportive they will be helping me throughout the hike by sending me tasty foods. My mom will keep on dehydrating, my dad is my anchor he'll be sending me supplies throughout the trail. Which i can't thank them enough! Also all the beautiful people that have met while working at Me and MeGees and Mama Rouxs you have made me more driven than i can say, i will be able to complete any challenge with the energy sent to me. If any one messes with me too i have a bamboo sword! Hahaha (thank you Vaughn!!) My friends have also been more than supporitve and oh i will miss them! But all your butts will be meeting up with me! And so my adventure begins...with one thing left... deciding whether to bring an instrument or not!! Hard one :)