Monthly Archives: September 2012

Appalachian Trail: First Signs of Fall

Posted on September 30, 2012 by

Fall is coming! The days are getting shorter, the leaves redder, the acorns more treacherous, the bears fatter, the turtles braver and the bees and the butterflies lazier. How do I know? By walking through the woods this morning on … Continue reading →

Posted in Appalachian Trail, Bowie & D.O.G., Hiking!, Photography, Vagabonding 101 | 13 Comments

Free National Park Day Saturday!

Posted on September 28, 2012 by

Hey everybody! In case you haven’t heard, in celebration of National Public Lands Day, admission to all National Parks is free this Saturday! The day is intended as a volunteer day so do your part by picking up trash or joining … Continue reading →

Posted in Hiking!, Photography, Road tripping!, Sustainable Living, Vagabonding 101 | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Some People Make the World Brighter, Just By Being In It

Posted on September 25, 2012 by

Some people make the world brighter just by being in it. My grandmother, Mary Cape Banks Smith, was one of those people. Thirty years ago, after the sudden and unexpected death of her beloved husband, my grandmother “Capie” commandeered an … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 17 Comments

Packing for Backpacking: Shenandoah!

Posted on September 21, 2012 by

This weekend I’m going backpacking in Shenandoah National Park! Shenandoah is the first place I ever went backpacking and one of the loveliest places on Earth. Today, in between learning all about Mercury (the planet, not the element) and interviewing … Continue reading →

Posted in Appalachian Trail, Bowie & D.O.G., Hiking!, Photography, Teardrop Trailer, Vagabonding 101 | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Rain or Shine on the Appalachian Trail

Posted on September 20, 2012 by

Summer is still lingering in southern Virginia and the days have been hot and muggy. When I woke up the other morning to rain, I gladly headed out for a hike. I’ll take warm rain over heat and humidity any … Continue reading →

Posted in Appalachian Trail, Bowie & D.O.G., Hiking!, Photography, Uncategorized, Vagabonding 101 | 12 Comments

A Special Auction: Thank You!

Posted on September 16, 2012 by

Thanks to everybody who came out yesterday to the 23rd annual benefit auction in support of the Clinic For Special Children! As always, it was an amazing day for a wonderful cause. Hope to see you again next year on … Continue reading →

Posted in Photography, Uncategorized | 6 Comments

All Seasons: Shenandoah National Park, VA

Posted on September 14, 2012 by

I go for a hike almost every day and cover a lot of the same ground, over and over, in all weather and in all seasons. Exploring new terrain is always exciting, but there is also something deeply satisfying about … Continue reading →

Posted in Bowie & D.O.G., Hiking!, Photography | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

A Special Auction

Posted on September 13, 2012 by

My favorite day of the year is always the Third Saturday of September: Auction Day! On this day, every year for the past 23 years, the Amish and Mennonite communities of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania have held a spectacular benefit auction … Continue reading →

Posted in Photography, Uncategorized | 23 Comments

Crossing Paths: AT Critters

Posted on September 10, 2012 by

After more than a year exploring the wild West, I was ready to head East. I grew up in Pennsylvania, spent most of my childhood summers in West Virginia and logged my first real trail miles on the Appalachian Trail … Continue reading →

Posted in Bowie & D.O.G., Hiking!, Photography | 7 Comments

Next Chapter: the Appalachian Trail!

Posted on September 9, 2012 by

Those of you who know me as a Teardrop-towing road warrior may be surprised to hear that driving isn’t my favorite mode of transportation. I much prefer to see the world on foot. After a summer on the road from … Continue reading →

Posted in Bowie & D.O.G., Hiking!, Photography, Road tripping!, Uncategorized, Vagabonding 101 | 22 Comments