Hi, I'm Audrey. But on trail, I'm known as Glowstick. In 2018, I quit my amazing job in Washington, D.C., to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. I loved every second of it! Now, I'm living the dream in Boulder, Colorado, hiking, skiing, and paddleboarding in my free time, and dreaming of my next big adventure. I'm here to share my joy for the great outdoors and adventures big and small. I share information about thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, hiking trail spotlights, how tos, hiking gear tips and tricks, vlogs from my backpacking trips, and more. Follow me on Instagram @audipayne and feel free to reach out if there's a specific trail or topic you'd like me to cover! Check out my Appalachian Trail memoir, "Where the Rhododendrons Bloom," on Amazon and Kindle: amzn.to/4977DMA.
Good common sense reminders !!! What towns have the worst supply options ??? Cuz thats the. Place i like 2. Send my resupply goods !! I don't like junk food !! Sounds like u have done it more than 1x !!????? I hear col west is more scenic than east... do u think that true ?? West more wrk ???( elevation ).... Good job thank. U !!!!😊
Wow. Even socked in its beautiful. I can tell you are totally digging it. Would love a review of the upgraded Mariposa. I opted not to buy and am continuing to duct the holes in my one for now. Happy trails.🤟🏻🥾🏔
I saw they are selling the old models for a steep discount right now! I'm upset. Had I known, I would have waited and gotten an old one. Here's the link: www.gossamergear.com/collections/gear-closet-sale. I will definitely consider a review of the new one, but I don't have too much to say about it. It's like the old one, but a little heavier, a little stiffer, and the material feels a bit thicker. They also did not seem to add heavier-duty buckles, even though those breaking are a known problem. The buckles are a little different, but still feel flimsy.
I’m almost finish with your book! I couldn’t put it down. It is one of my favorite trail books to date. Thank you for sharing your memories with us all!
@@AudreyAdventures I meet you at trail days this year and bought your book. I’m planning my hike now after canceling my 2020 attempt due to Covid. Reading your adventure has been so inspiring and was the push I needed for me to start planning my 2025 start.
I love it, thru hikers will scold you for certain items out there on the trail like they know what I need. Can't they see the hubris in that? I almost wanna bring two pads and two tents just to mess with them.
Haha so true! Personally I buy lightweight gear so that I can bring the luxury items that I want without being too weighed down haha. But seriously, people get too judgmental about gear, in my opinion. Bring what makes you happy as long as your body can handle the weight.
How cool! I don't remember ever seeing that many moose together. I'm no expert, but I thought they were solitary for the most part. Audrey, I just ordered your book on Amazon. Would it be possible for you to autograph my copy, please? Maybe that's impossible, logistically. I'm curious: Since you previously lived in DC, did you ever visit Shepherdstown, WV? Only about an hour and a half west, also on the banks of the Potomac River.
@@johnholliday1695 Hi! Yeah I’ve only ever seen up to 4 moose together before this, so this was wild! Thank you so much for buying my book!! Unfortunately I can’t sign the ones bought on Amazon because those are print on demand so they print them then ship them. So sorry about that! I feel like maybe I went tubing in Shepherdstown but not totally sure. Near Harper’s Ferry?
@AudreyAdventures Your book arrived today! I'm sure it will be a great read sans autograph! 😀 Shepherdstown is about 12 miles upstream from Harper's Ferry, so yes, it's definitely possible that you tubed nearby. I just thought you might have a specific memory of Shepherdstown. It's a pretty special place. Sadly, it seems way too many people are discovering that to be the case. Kinda the same thing in CO, huh? Keep getting after it and loving life, Audrey! Thanks so much for sharing your adventures!!
@@johnholliday1695 Ahhhh it sounds familiar but guessing I never actually went in town or it sounds like I’d remember it! And yes, alas, I’ve seen Boulder change so much in just the 5.5 years that I have lived here. Thanks so much, John! I hope you like the book! ☺️
The Crab Shack was closed (for hot meals. drinks and candy only) when we did it... only like the 3rd time in 40 years.. just my luck. I did get a $15 strongbow tho...
It was excruciating/irritating to listen to her for 26 LONG minutes. Y do U inflect at the end of a sentence? Y do U giggle at NOTHING? Be real instead of plastic please. ANNOYING TIMES TEN!
@@AudreyAdventures Cool. 😁 You just made this Pacific North-Westerner beam with pride. It is a very special place and I hope you get to see a lot more of it!
Good video. That is a very kool cable car at 03:30. Those old horse drawn roadgraders are everywhere. I came across one in the Black Hills of South Dakota in 1975. Those beaches remind me of the movie "Goonies"(I know, way before your time). Happy Trails. Good Luck, Rick
Ah I did not know it was so common to leave these contraptions behind! Oh of course I know the Goonies - a classic! I was terrified of it as a kid haha.
I started at Springer with a 43 pound pack because I didn't know what to expect . I had it down to 31 pounds by Blood Mountain 😂 I didn't know any hikers so I had to learn everything for myself.
@@AudreyAdventures it was mostly unnecessary gear and too much clothing. After a few days I quickly found out what I did and didn't need . It looked like other people did the same thing , from the discarded gear I seen at the first garbage can in Georgia. I remember seeing lots of bear spray and those military style folding shovels.
@@AndyObusek Not if you’re starting in the Brainard Lake area - there’s no camping in the 4 Lakes Zone (unless you do paid camping at Pawnee campsite but that books up early in the season).
great memories. I am glad you got to the beach/rocks out of Pachena. We did that too in the other direction 11 yrs ago. I heard some people were being forced to take the inland trail for that Pachena section which is apparently one of the roughest toughest sections of the WCT - but the beach is easy and scenic. It's all wonderful until the hard part begins at Walbran going south lol.
How cool. This looks like it’s going to be an amazing journey. First day tenting on the beach and seeing sea lions and orcas. … amazing. Happy trails.🤟🏻🥾🏔
I couldn’t believe we were seeing orcas already!! I vaguely remembered someone telling me once to go to Vancouver Island to see them, and I guess they weren’t kidding!
I've waiting for your videos on this trail. Looks like it didn't disappoint to say the least. For a second, I thought all of those bouies sp? were food bag hangs.
It absolutely did not disappoint! This trail was so very different than any I’ve done before, and so very cool! Bahaha that would be a lot of food bags!
Good video. Interesting trail. I've not seen any other videos of that trail. Those ladders looked sketchy. You cut out crossing the river! How did you do it? The orcas are waiting for the sea lions. Happy Trails. Good Luck, Rick
@@richardross7219 Thanks, Rick! We put on our sandals and walked through. 😄 I had the same thought about the sea lions…. Must be rough out there for them!
@@AudreyAdventures Its tough for most animals in nature. I've got a big hawk that occasionally grabs a bunny. I wish it would take the woodchuck that is eating my squash. Good Luck, Rick
Soooo...When I hiked the WCT last fall, I found that Parks Canada liked to pump up the difficulty of the trail, probably to make most of the other hikers feel like they accomplished more than they actually did. Im not trying to shit on the other hikers, but 90% of the hikers I met, this was there first overnight hike, nevermind their first short thru hike. I saw sooooo many 60-70 lb packs out there! I think its nuts that Parks Canada recommends taking 6-8 days to do the entire thing! Its not that difficult!!! Pretty views for sure (if you can camp away from a tent village lol)
Spoiler since I have already finished the trail: I completely agree with you. I did not find this trail to be difficult at all, but I'm sure it would be with a 60-lb pack in the pouring rain. The lighthouse keeper basically reamed us out for planning to do it in five days and had this whole "I know best" attitude even though we told him we have thousands of miles under our belts, which makes me think he has never hiked anywhere else. All that being said, I loved this trail and had a blast on it!
it was mostly overheavy packs we saw when we did it 11 years ago. Our packs were 24-27 lbs starting out, fully loaded and we carried too much water. 5 days. We had done 1 night outings before on JDF trail, but also we are used to these rough coastal headland trails, living in Victoria. Going into alpine is harder I think - riskier weather, altitude adjustment, and bugs to deal with, unlike the WCT.
I’m really surprised to hear that! I don’t often run into many mosquitoes in Colorado, and I didn’t have any at all that I recall on the Colorado Trail. Where did you run into them? Lake City is amazing! 🤩
I’ve been on a Ren fair YT kick, and now I’m wondering if seeing yours started it or if I’m just coming across this one now! 😁 Anyway, you did a wonderful job with this, and I now have a new bucket list adventure!
Also remember these numbers come from someone carrying film equipment, electronics ect. If your just hiking to do the trail, you can cut about $2k off your trail budget by avoiding towns outside a resupply, don't use lodgings, and get good equipment and take care of it. From what I've learned, $2-3k of budget can be downsized if you keep your needs and budget in line. Buying fastfood or eating out in town can get expensive. But once again this is just what I've learned watching several different hikers opinions. I'm planning an at thru hike next year, and this lady and a few others can offer great advice.
Thank you! That’s where most people say they park but I was confused because I’ve also read you’re not supposed to park overnight there. But I wasn’t sure how much they enforce that. I saw you can also park overnight at the Andy Layne lot.
