The Three Ridges along the AT in Central Virginia is touted as one of the most popular circuits in the Mid-Atlantic. With frequent and expansive views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, ample camping, and terrain that is just rugged enough to whet even die hard backpacker's need for a little challenge, it is easy to understand why this ranks as a regional favorite. At the end of 2015, Jordan, Jeff, Elisabeth and I planned to backpack the Three Ridges loop with the addition of Spy

Have you ever finished a week and just wanted to get away? That was this week. By the time Friday rolled around, I wanted nothing more than to leave dishes in the sink and work on my desk while I got the heck out of Baltimore. Labor Day Weekend 2015 Jordan and I planned to go to Grayson Highlands State Park with our friend, Jeff. Thru-hikers had told us about the wild, miniature ponies, abundant rhododendron, and the beautiful sweeping landscapes. Let's be honest, they di

DISCLAIMER: This is a long read, but then again, this was a long hike. Also, this Trip Report was not endorsed by any sock companies or PB&J manufacturers. Two weeks ago, on a long winter hike in the Adirondacks, a friend from high school who thru-hiked the AT told me about the Four State Challenge- a 45-mile trek between PA, MD, WV, and VA often tackled by thru-hikers in one epic day. That's when the idea hatched that I would take on the Challenge for the Spring Solstice.

Jen and I are the unlikeliest of pairs, but being roommates at Clarkson, we found a common love of the outdoors and in the heart of the Adirondacks on some twenty mile hike or another, our friendship was cemented. I invited Jen on an adventure for a multitude of reasons, the least of which frankly is, despite how much of a worker bee she may be, she can easily be swayed into abandoning work for time outdoors- my kinda girl! Probably more importantly though, despite our diff