My name is Anna, but I also go by "Magic". I was given this seemingly outlandish name during my 2021 thru hike of the Appalachian Trail. From March 22 - September 7 I walked the 2193.1 miles between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. This journey taught me more about myself and the world we live in. It changed my worldview, caused me to reexamine many of my values, and taught me how to better love others. 

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In the months following my thru hike, I worked as the sole caretaker of the Appalachian

Trail-er bunkhouse in Hot Springs, NC. I prepared gear for Blue Ridge Hiking Company's guided backpacking trips, ran shuttles along the trail, and hosted a variety of guests. After the conclusion of this job, I briefly reentered the corporate world before realizing that working behind a desk made me miserable.

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In order to realign myself with the outdoors, I accepted a job in Gatlinburg, TN as a backpacking guide. My partner, Cade, whom I met during my AT thru hike, also became a guide and together we moved to the mountains. We have been working and playing in the Great Smoky Mountains Nation Park since March 2022.

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I started this blog in the winter of 2021 with hopes of reigniting my passion for the trail when the spark was threatened to be snuffed out by everyday life. I originally only wanted to publish my daily journals from my thru hike, but along the way, I have discovered a love for the written word and have begun pursuing a career in writing.

 

Revisiting my adventures by storytelling is such a joy, and I am grateful to have you reading along. Happy trails!

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