Preparations

MST. Post 1. Segment 18

This is my serialized story of hiking the Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST), a 1,175-mile route that crosses the state of North Carolina. I’m hiking west from Jockey’s Ridge near Nags Head on the Outer Banks of the Atlantic Ocean to Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome) near the Tennessee border in the Great Smoky Mountains. If you’d like to start at the beginning of my story, click here. 

See the Mountains-to-Sea map at the bottom for reference.

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My winter has been spent going to the Burn Boot Camp fitness gym. Karen, Helen and I have been attending on a daily basis for strength and fitness training.

For me, after hobbling on the Camino for 32 days, it is clear I need to get stronger, be in better shape, lose weight and eliminate plantar fasciitis from my life. Three months into it, I definitely “feel the burn!” AND no plantar fasciitis!

Bring on the Mountains-to-Sea trail! Time to start planning.

The Day Before.

The adventure begins! Practicing with my tent in the backyard and all my backpack carry-on spread out over the bed. The next morning we are off, and after a 4 hour drive, we arrive in Nags Head. A quick vegan lunch with Karen and Helen and it’s onward to the Mountains to Sea Trail.

The first leg of my 1,200 mile journey starts at Jockey’s Ridge and will consist mainly of walking the beaches of the Outer Banks. My goal is to complete the first three sections of the trail and end this stage eight days 200 miles later on the other side of the Croatan National Forest.

I don’t know if I am ready, but the weather is getting warmer and now is the time to get started. Plantar fasciitis and all the aches and pain of old age be damned!

Click here to read the next post.

Map of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail: This post focuses on Segment 18.