Nancy East

Appalachian Trail: Day 1

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 11:53:57 +0000

15 miles (which included a 2.5 mile trek to Gooch Gap for Fresh Ground’s Trail Magic!) After a 10/10 start to my NOBO Appalachian Trail thru hike the day before, I woke wondering how it could ever be topped. The only way to find out was to hike the miles and see what unfolded. But...

The post Appalachian Trail: Day 1 appeared first on Nancy East.

Appalachian Trail: Day 0

Sun, 15 Feb 2026 04:11:21 +0000

After three decades of dreaming about it, I started my Appalachian Trail northbound (NOBO) thru hike on February 9, 2026. I was delayed a week from my intended start date of February 2 by an epic ice storm in the southeastern United States, quickly followed by a sizable snow event. To make matters even more...

The post Appalachian Trail: Day 0 appeared first on Nancy East.

Gros Morne Long Range Traverse: Day 2

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 16:05:51 +0000

Surprisingly, I slept well. I was scared to move for fear of inviting new cramps, but the water and electrolytes must have worked their magic through the night. The air was still and cool as I packed up as much as possible inside my tent. Surprisingly, the flies clinging to the tent mesh’s exterior from...

The post Gros Morne Long Range Traverse: Day 2 appeared first on Nancy East.

Gros Morne Long Range Traverse (Day 1)

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 02:34:59 +0000

Saying I “woke up” feels inaccurate since my nerves kept me up most of the night. I peeked out the window of the van and the skies were clear which was a huge relief since Newfoundland fog would make navigation on the Long Range Traverse infinitely harder. Who knows what would evolve throughout the next...

The post Gros Morne Long Range Traverse (Day 1) appeared first on Nancy East.

Newfoundland Road Trip: Gros Morne Long Range Traverse (Part I)

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 00:45:13 +0000

I woke with a smile on the seventh day of the trip, still enamored with my very special camp spot. I took my time getting ready for the day, since I didn’t have to be anywhere except an orientation at the Gros Morne National Park Visitor Center at 2:30 p.m. The ranger-led orientation is required...

The post Newfoundland Road Trip: Gros Morne Long Range Traverse (Part I) appeared first on Nancy East.

Newfoundland Road Trip: Days 5 and 6

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 02:14:42 +0000

Day 5 (a.k.a. the day things fell apart…literally) I woke with the sun again, around 5:00 a.m. I peeked out the mesh window of my “bedroom” in the van and noticed runners in the field beside the road I’m parked on. I’d later discover the field had a mowed path for the community. The road...

The post Newfoundland Road Trip: Days 5 and 6 appeared first on Nancy East.

Newfoundland Road Trip: Days 3 and 4

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 00:50:53 +0000

Day 3 I wake at putt putt after a decent night’s sleep. Unlike Wadel’s Dairy which was out in the country and quiet, there was a bit of traffic noise as cars cruised by through the night. Also, the parking lot’s lights were bright, so I had to lower the opaque window shades over the...

The post Newfoundland Road Trip: Days 3 and 4 appeared first on Nancy East.

Newfoundland Road Trip: Day 2

Sun, 03 Aug 2025 23:12:23 +0000

Day 2 I wake with the sun as the light streams through my van’s mesh windows surrounding the “upstairs” bed. I had a delicious night of sleep. The air was cool, but not cold, and it was as silent as a stone. I take my time getting ready, with no schedule to keep except to...

The post Newfoundland Road Trip: Day 2 appeared first on Nancy East.

Newfoundland Adventure: Day 1

Sat, 02 Aug 2025 22:52:09 +0000

Last September, I backpacked the 336 km (209 mile) East Coast Trail (ECT) for my ‘mombatical.’ I only got so far sharing the epic adventure, because Hurricane Helene hit our region a couple of days after I returned home. Life was significantly altered for a very long time. The posts I wrote are on my...

The post Newfoundland Adventure: Day 1 appeared first on Nancy East.

ALPAKA Flight Sling and Zip Clutch Review

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 14:54:39 +0000

When I was in veterinary school, Auburn University had a herd of alpacas that was used for research studies. One of my classmates accidentally left their pasture gate open one day, and chaos ensued when the camelids took full advantage of their newfound freedom. They found their way into every nook and cranny of the...

The post ALPAKA Flight Sling and Zip Clutch Review appeared first on Nancy East.