In early May 2025, I set out on a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail as the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s first artist-in-residence. I’m blogging periodically about my progress, so stay tuned for future updates. Thanks for following along!

Appalachian Trail, Days 41-43
Appalachian Trail Mallory Weston Appalachian Trail Mallory Weston

Appalachian Trail, Days 41-43

There was a veritable nest of earwigs in the trekking pole wells of my tent as I was disassembling it for the day. I contended with the swarm, grossed out as I tried to relocate the scary bugs as smoothly as possible. Thank goodness for the layer of mesh between me and them last night. At least I could look out over the view to see the slowly swirling clouds lifting for the day. As I set off, I called my dad to say Happy Father’s Day. In the tedium of the morning, I thought about how Burke’s Garden, once the ocean floor of an ancient sea, now a fertile crater, would make the perfect place to ride out a zombie apocalypse.

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