Benj vs the AT

08/22/2025

It's 6 weeks later now. I'm back in polite society. I wear different clothes every day. I use a full-length toothbrush with real toothpaste. I shower every couple days at least. I don't carry my trash around with me for days on end. Basically, I look and smell a bit less like I live outdoors now. Here are some stats I've tallied in the aftermath of my northbound AT thru-hike from January 17 to July 4, 2025:...

It’s 6 weeks later now. I’m back in polite society. I wear different clothes every day. I use a full-length toothbrush with real toothpaste. I shower every couple days at least. I don& #…

07/05/2025

Just a quick post here to let you all know I finished yesterday! No more white blazes for me, no more 4000 to 5000 kcal diet, no more blending in while smelling like… this. So far the day after just feels like another “zero” day, but getting home will help me quickly shift gears back to civilian life. I do want to tell one quick story while I have your attention....

Just a quick post here to let you all know I finished yesterday! No more white blazes for me, no more 4000 to 5000 kcal diet, no more blending in while smelling like… this. So far the day after jus…

06/29/2025

I’ve only done one hike, the 192mi Wainwright Walk across England, that’s more than 100 miles. Every other “long” hike has been around 80mi. So this last 4.5% of the AT is more ambitious than almost every hike I’ve ever undertaken. Crazy! If all goes according to plan, one week from now I’ll be down off Katahdin, celebrating, and figuring out how to return to civilization....

I’ve only done one hike, the 192mi Wainwright Walk across England, that’s more than 100 miles. Every other “long” hike has been around 80mi. So this last 4.5% of the AT is more ambitious than almos…

06/11/2025

I turned 50 last week. We climbed a mountain to celebrate. Get it? 🙄 I should rename my blog Migratory Double Entendres. Readers should not be subjected to this much titular cleverness without a warning label. Sorry. I initially booked the only 6 bunks available (of 90) at my favorite White Mountains hut, Lakes of the Clouds, for my birthday....

05/11/2025

I’m in Vermont. And I’m on the struggle bus. It’s rained 5 of the past 6 days. Yesterday it rained so hard all day I couldn’t use my phone because the touchscreen was too wet, and my gloves were too wet, and my fingers were too wet. Luckily Siri was able to send a message to my shuttle driver through voice commands, and I was able to get into Bennington for a zero day today....

I’m in Vermont. And I’m on the struggle bus. It’s rained 5 of the past 6 days. Yesterday it rained so hard all day I couldn’t use my phone because the touchscreen was too wet, and my gloves were to…

04/17/2025

Another challenge, another vlog post. This one I’ve been preparing for since birth. Every Reese’s Pieces Sundae at Friendly’s with Granny. Every visit to Rota Spring, Holy Cow, or Kimball Farm. Every chased down ice cream truck at East Waushacum or Wyman Pond. Every shameful stop at T.J.’s to grab a comfort pint on the way home. They’ve all led to this moment....

Another challenge, another vlog post. This one I’ve been preparing for since birth. Every Reese’s Pieces Sundae at Friendly’s with Granny. Every visit to Rota Spring, Holy Cow, or Kimball Farm. Eve…

04/11/2025

Finally, I bring you a vlog post. Maybe the only one from the trail? After all, this thing is basically half over. Or maybe it’s a sign of things to come… But don’t get your hopes up. (Unless you’re hoping for fewer vlog posts.) I’ll let the video speak for itself. But for SEO purposes, let me just get the words Maryland Challenge on here along with Harpers Ferry, West Virginia and Pen Mar, Pennsylvania....

Finally, I bring you a vlog post. Maybe the only one from the trail? After all, this thing is basically half over. Or maybe it’s a sign of things to come… But don’t get your hopes up. (Unless you’r…

03/30/2025

For those following along at home, you can update your maps to place Luscious at Rockfish Gap, mile 864.6, next to Waynesboro, VA, gateway to the Shenandoahs. I have about one more week before I’m done with this beautiful state. I can’t imagine they get better than this. (They certainly don’t get longer than this!) I sure will miss it....

For those following along at home, you can update your maps to place Luscious at Rockfish Gap, mile 864.6, next to Waynesboro, VA, gateway to the Shenandoahs. I have about one more week before I’m …

03/19/2025

Rope bunny and luscious! Nobo thru hikers that started mid January. Out early crushing miles! Happy trails guys!!

02/28/2025

Those of you who are just here for the beard? Come back in 3 or 4 weeks. There’s been an accident. It involved some shears over at Eula’s Hairstyling in Damascus, Virginia. That’s right, I’m in Virginia! Only 10 more states to go. Plus… Virginia. It has a longer stretch of trail than 7 of the other states combined. It’s a solid 25% of the entire trail, so we’ll be here for the rest of winter and well into spring....

Those of you who are just here for the beard? Come back in 3 or 4 weeks. There’s been an accident. It involved some shears over at Eula’s Hairstyling in Damascus, Virginia. [Side note for my softwa…

02/20/2025

This hiker-friendly pub seems to specialize in Benj Beer (the darker the better), and their fish & chips were 👌

Luscious is a NOBO hiker on the A.T. He has decided to stay with us a couple of nights while the snow comes through.

02/15/2025

Let me bring you up to speed. If you’re following along on a map, you can put a dot at Devil’s Fork Gap, NOBO mile 311.5. I crossed the 300 mile mark today after 4 weeks! So I guess I’m averaging a little better than 75 miles per week. I expected to be doing more like 100, but maybe that’ll happen once spring comes and I can swap out some of my winter gear?...

Let me bring you up to speed. If you’re following along on a map, you can put a dot at Devil’s Fork Gap, NOBO mile 311.5. I crossed the 300 mile mark today after 4 weeks! So I guess I’m averaging a…