One More Day on the AT

06/08/2026

⛰️Thru-Hikers, drop your current mileage in the comments and let us know where the footpath has taken you so far!

🌲Every mile on the Appalachian Trail tells a story. The footpath has a way of challenging us, humbling us, and reminding us why we keep putting one foot in front of the other.

06/05/2026

✨Flashback Friday✨ Mary, aka “Shades,” a One More Day On The AT scholarship recipient from 2023.


These photos capture a special milestone as Mary and her guide dog crossed the border between Tennessee and Virginia in June of 2024. At the time, the two had completed more than 1,100 miles on the Appalachian Trail across their 2023 and 2024 journeys.

Mary’s hike wasn’t without challenges. In 2023, she made the difficult decision to leave the trail when her mother was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma. She chose to spend that precious time with her mom.

We’re honored to have been a part of Mary’s Appalachian Trail journey and are inspired by her perseverance, resilience, and determination to get back on trail.❤️

06/04/2026

🥾 Thru-hike Thursday UPDATE from Elizabeth!

This week, we’re checking in with our 2026 One More Day on the AT partial scholarship recipient, Elizabeth, who is continuing her northbound Appalachian Trail journey through Virginia.

Elizabeth is currently taking a well-deserved zero day in Burke’s Garden after being diagnosed with Lyme disease. Thankfully, she caught it early…about three weeks after finding the tick. After receiving IV antibiotics at the hospital and starting a course of oral antibiotics, she expects to make a full recovery and be back to enjoying the trail soon.

Before this unexpected pause, Elizabeth experienced one of the highlights of her hike so far: the breathtaking beauty of the Grayson Highlands State Park. While she knew the famous wild ponies would be special, she was amazed by the landscape itself. She arrived just in time to witness peak rhododendron season, with entire mountainsides painted in shades of pink. Combined with perfect weather, vivid blue skies, and lush greenery, it created a scene she won’t soon forget.

One of her favorite memories was camping at The Scales, where she woke up to wild ponies grazing all around her tent!

Elizabeth also recently crossed an exciting milestone, passing the one-quarter mark of the Appalachian Trail! Like many thru-hikers, she’s feeling both proud of how far she’s come and humbled by how much trail still lies ahead.

And after enduring nine straight days of rain, she’s finding beauty in the aftermath. Virginia’s forests are now bursting with mushrooms of every shape and color, becoming one of the defining sights of this section of her journey.

We’re grateful Elizabeth took the time to share this update with us. Please join us in wishing her a speedy recovery as she continues making her way north, one more day on the Appalachian Trail at a time. 💚

06/03/2026

Cam aka Banana Bread, our 2026 full One More Day on the AT scholarship recipient shared with us his trail name tale and what the term ‘One More Day’ means to him.💚

Thanks for sharing

📍: 🎥:

05/29/2026

✨Flashback Friday✨ to our board member and 2022 One More Day On The AT partial scholarship recipient, Carly Rae aka “Hippea.”

📍April 13th, 2022 — Day 3 on the Appalachian Trail, Georgia, A journal entry:

“Started the day moving a little slow, but once we hit the trail, the energy kicked in. Light rain followed us through the morning while word spread that a storm was on the way.

We experienced our very first trail magic! A cooler waiting at a gap stocked with bottled water, powdered gatorade, and even a place to dump trash. Small acts of kindness mean everything out here.

At a trailhead, I found just enough service to FaceTime my students back home. One of my students even shared trail history facts with me during the call. He’s been doing his research!

A hiker named Kathleen Turner Overdrive offered us Reese’s Cups in exchange for filling out a hiker survey. That conversation turned into the very first interview for my Trail Name Tales project. Moondoggy, who was nearby also offered to share his trail name story. We’ll see where this project goes!”

05/28/2026

🥾Thru-hike Thursday UPDATE from Elizabeth 💚

After Trail Days, Elizabeth headed back out into the rain, the mud, and the mental challenges that come with settling back into thru-hiker life. She shared that leaving Trail Days was bittersweet, one of her favorite moments was the hiker parade, seeing so many thru hikers from previous years inspired her to keep pushing forward.

Since hopping back on trail, it hasn’t been easy. Nearly nonstop rain, soaked gear with little chance to dry out. But beyond the physical challenges, Elizabeth shared something many hikers can relate to, once the excitement fades, the real mental work begins.

She opened up about starting this journey was to prove to herself that she could complete something long, difficult, and meaningful. To keep moving forward even when the “newness” wears off.

Crossing into the state of Virginia does have so much to look forward to though. Grayson highlands and falling inlove with the highlands ecosystem. Roan Mountain is now one of her favorite sections of trail so far.

We’re so proud of you, Elizabeth. Keep taking it one more step and one more day at a time. 💚

05/26/2026

05/25/2026

⛰️Mental Health Awareness Month

🤝One of the most powerful parts of the Appalachian Trail isn’t just the views, it’s the people you meet along the way.

💚Strangers become trail family. Encouragement comes from trail angels whom you’ve just met.

💬Who was someone on the trail that made a positive impact on your mental health, and why?

⬇️Tag them below or share your story with us.

05/22/2026

✨Flashback Friday✨ to Nate, aka “El Chapo,” hitting mile 600 on the Appalachian Trail. 💚

Our scholarship was created to honor Nate’s journey of the trail he loved so deeply. When Nate passed away, we knew we wanted to continue sharing his love for the trail and help others find their way to this footpath of magic, healing, friendship, and adventure.

Every hiker we support carries a little piece of that legacy forward. 🥾✨