After test hiking a section of the Colorado Trail, we headed north to the Black Hills in South Dakota and the 124-mile Centennial Trail.
The Colorado Trail is one of the premiere hiking trails in the country. We decided to test it out first before we attempt a thru-hike of its 486 miles.
We didn’t realize until we arrived that this campground was just reopened this year after the massive Little Bear Fire of 2012 that consumed more than 44,000 acres.
Naturally, Rusty wanted to hike Texas’ highest peak, so we headed to Guadalupe Mountains National Park to spend five nights at the park’s main campground, Pine Springs.
On our way through Oklahoma, we passed the Talimena State Park, which is also the western terminus of the Ouachita Trail. What a perfect opportunity to stop and share one of my favorite hikes with my life partner.
We had gone into this hike, enamored by the history of the Natchez Trace, the beautiful pictures on the NPS website, and our previous experience with the amazing Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia/North Carolina. This adventure failed on all three counts.
The Yockanookany Section of the Natchez Trace Scenic Trail had both good bits and very bad parts. But in the end it was too much, even for us.
Our first 27 miles on the Natchez Scenic Trail are challenging, with both good parts and bad. But it’s definitely good to stretch our legs with some serious hiking again.
The day after Mother’s Day, Rusty and I left Amelia Island heading west toward Florida’s panhandle. We had planned to do this trip out west last year, but then Covid happened.
A hidden gem named Lake Conasauga Recreation Area sits atop the northeastern Georgia mountains, and is home to a primitive campground, lake, and more. But getting here is not for the faint of heart.
We are Girl Hobo and Rusty (Ren and Troy), two greys who met on the Appalachian Trail. We started a life together, converted a van to travel and hike across the country, and we like to eat well. Now, we’re sharing what we’re learning on the road, and we’d love you to join us!