Trout Stocking at the RRG

I have felt spoiled lately. I am able to fish, hike, and backpack anytime I feel the urge to get outside. Although I rarely stop and ask, "Who made this day possible for me?" So, when I heard the KY Department of Fish and Wildlife needed volunteers to help stock local trout streams, I jumped at the chance.

This was my first time helping with stream stocking, and like any new experience, I was a little nervous. I showed up to the scheduled meeting place, and was immediately put to ease by the great group of volunteers that had assembled. We talked about our favorite fishing spots and were eager to discover where we would stock trout that day, secretly hoping for private insider information that would help perfect our fishing strategy!

The hatchery truck showed up and we were off! The first streams we stocked were the Middle Fork Red River and the East Fork Indian Creek in Kentucky's Red River Gorge. These streams had easy drive-in access, so we used a highly technical method I like to call "dumping". Here is a short video of one of the volunteers at work:

Next we traveled to Swift Camp Creek. That's when things got fun! Access to Swift Camp requires a hike. We received a bag full of rainbows each to backpack in at different points along the stream. Once we found a place we thought would make a good trout home, we set the bag in the stream to allow the trout to acclimate, and after a few minutes released them.

My trout looking happy to be free! 

Overall, it was a great day of volunteering! I was happy to give back to an area that has been such a fun place to fish, and look forward to helping in the future. If you are interested in helping with a local trout stream stocking I suggest talking to your local Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Lake Cumberland Tailwater - Long Bar Fishing Access

To cross the river you may:

A) attempt to ford the river

B) caulk wagon and float across

C) take a ferry across

D) wait to see if conditions improve

E) make your husband wade across and hope he doesn't drown 

You guessed it! Option E is correct. 

Unfortunately, the flows were to big so we were unable to cross to prime trout water. Still caught a fish so it was a fun day!

Appalachain Trail Breakdown 2015

Many friends and family have lots of questions about my time on the trail.

Here are a few fun facts about my time on the AT:

Miles Walked: 1498.9 miles

Miles Left to Walk: 690.3 miles

States Finished: 10 states (GA, NC, TN, VA, WV, MD, PA, NJ, NY, Conn)

States Left: 4 states (Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine)

Number of Bear Sightings: 13 bear! 

Number of Rattlesnakes: 2

Times I Peed in the Woods: Oh, countless. 

Average Pack Weight: 25 pounds

Pairs of shoes: 4

Main Injuries: 1 sprained ankle in VA, multiple stress fractures in Conn

Amount of pop tarts consumed: 186

Taylor Swift Songs Sung: 7 (minimum)

Kick-ass Friends Made: Oh, countless.

Days I miss the trail: 84 days and counting

Hope to make it back: June 2016

Appalachian Trail Update

For my friends and family that do not know... I am off the trail.

I rolled into Salisbury, Connecticut on the night of June 25th with extreme right foot pain. Admittedly, it was a pain I had been ignoring for a week, but I kept telling myself to suck it up! You are a thru hiker damn it! Pain is the nature of the game. No pain, no Maine - am I right?

The next day I told my hiking friend, Mouse, I thought I would go to the hospital just to check it out. I figured they would tell me I was crazy and I could gladly hop back on the trail the next day. Instead, after an MRI they told me I had multiple stress fractures and to go home. I was devastated and immediately started crying, which immediately made the doctor uncomfortable. I could tell he had no idea what the hike had meant to me and so many other thru hikers like me. I had just made it to mile 1499 and only had 690.2 miles to go! I think he just thought I was some dirty hippie instead of an athlete trying to hike over 2,000 miles.

A few of my trail shoes and my newest shoe! 

I got a ride back to the hostel from the sweet lady that owned it and made my going home plan. I hated seeing Mouse head back to the trail alone, and hated the fact that I was headed back to KY via train then plane.

Don't get me wrong, I love being home with my husband and my two pups, but there are things I love and miss about the trail. Here are just a few of those things:

The Community

Every person I met on the trail was amazing. You feel an instant connection with everyone you meet. It's crazy how people you barely know become your family in a matter of minutes. I never thought I would bond with a bunch of guys while singing Taylor Swift. But hey, it happens. You also meet hundreds of people off trail that are willing to help you, give you a ride, or cook you a meal. The trail renews your faith in mankind.

Confidence

I know this sounds cliche, but I felt confident for the first time in years. I was making all my own decisions, carried all my own gear, felt I could conquer any challenge, and never for a second worried about how I looked when hiking! This confidence wasn't there on day one, but it is something I feel all thru hikers gain each day they are on the trail.

Sleeping

After walking 20 miles, you sleep because you are tired. Now that I am home confined by a boot, I am never tired. I find myself back to my bad ways and staying up all night! I miss getting up with the sun and falling asleep at dark.

Even though I am off trail and most likely done for this year, I one hundred percent will finish the last 690 miles of the trail next year. It was my original goal to thru hike in one year. Instead, I get to hike it over two seasons, doubling the amount of wonderful people and memories I will take from the AT. Thank you to everyone who helped me along the way!