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  • Appalachian Trail
    • Dreams Begin & The Appalachian Trail
  • Maine AT
    • Day 0 – Slackpacking Maine
    • Day 1 – Slackpacking Maine – AT Hike #11
    • Day 2 – Slackpacking Maine – AT Hike #12
    • Day 3 – Slackpacking Maine – AT Hike #13
    • Day 4 – Slackpacking Maine – AT Hike #14
    • Day 5 – Slackpacking Maine – AT Hike #15
    • Day 6 – Slackpacking Maine – Summit Katahdin
  • Maryland AT
    • Hike #24 Purpose, Peaks, and Privy | Kicking off the State of Maryland on the AT
    • Hike #25 Best Laid Plans & Beauty of the Detour
    • Hike #26 The Blair Witch Project: Fear, Forests & the Fierce Path Forward
    • Hike #27 From Bike Tires to Hiking Boots: A Full-Circle Journey to Harpers Ferry
  • Massachusetts AT
    • Day 0 – Slackpacking Massachusetts
    • Day 1 – Slackpacking Massachusetts
    • Day 2 – Slackpacking Massachusetts
    • Day 3 – Slackpacking Massachusetts
    • Day 4 – Slackpacking Massachusetts
    • Day 5 – Slackpacking Massachusetts
    • Day 6 – Slackpacking Massachusetts
  • Pennsylvania AT
    • Hike #1 | 9.05 miles | Pennsylvania | Sheet Iron Roof Rd to Boiling Springs
    • Hike #2 | 8.71 miles | Pennsylvania | Bernheisel Bridge Road to Boiling Springs
    • Hike #9 From Doubt to Delight: A Newbie’s Unexpected Fondness of the AT
    • Hike #10 Adventure and Shadows: A Hike Through Duncannon’s Dark Past
    • Hike #21 Frozen On The Trail And In Life
    • Hike #22 – The Dragonfly & Lessons From the Trail
    • Hike #23 Mile by Mile: The Power of Small Goals on Big Journeys
  • Vermont AT
    • Hike #28 The Cairn Field | A Path Marked by Intention
    • Hike #29 Suspended Between Struggle and Gratitude
    • Hike #30 The Weather Queen Said Rain… We Said Game On
    • Hike #31 Forget the Views, I Found My Quartz
  • Virginia AT
    • Day 1 – Slackpacking Virginia – AT Hike #16
    • Day 2 – Slackpacking Virginia – Time & Choices – AT Hike #17
    • Day 3 – Slackpacking Virginia – Beauty in the Struggle – AT Hike #18
    • Day 4 – Slackpacking Virginia – Why? – AT Hike #19
    • Day 5 – Slackpacking Virginia – Grandma Gatewood & Zero Day – AT Hike #20
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    • Appalachian Trail, Hiking, Virginia
    • September 5, 2024

    Day 4 – Slackpacking Virginia – Why? – AT Hike #19

    Hike #4 Virginia – Elk Garden to Bear Tree Gap 13.2 Miles 2,881 gain 4,281 loss Today, we experienced our,...
    • Appalachian Trail, Hiking, Massachusetts
    • June 13, 2024

    Day 6 – Hike #8 Slackpacking Massachusetts

    Day 6 – Appalachian Trail – Cheshire to Mt Greylock 8 miles with 3,048 gain and 528 loss. “We’re leaving,...
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  • Kim Ford Day 5 Slackpacking Appalachian Traip Massachusetts
    • Appalachian Trail, Hiking, Massachusetts
    • June 12, 2024

    Day 5 – Hike #7 Slackpacking Massachusetts

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    Day 5 – Slackpacking Maine – AT Hike #15

    • August 7, 2024
Kim Ford, SIOR, LEED AP

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  • Appalachian Trail
    • Dreams Begin & The Appalachian Trail
  • Maine AT
    • Day 0 – Slackpacking Maine
    • Day 1 – Slackpacking Maine – AT Hike #11
    • Day 2 – Slackpacking Maine – AT Hike #12
    • Day 3 – Slackpacking Maine – AT Hike #13
    • Day 4 – Slackpacking Maine – AT Hike #14
    • Day 5 – Slackpacking Maine – AT Hike #15
    • Day 6 – Slackpacking Maine – Summit Katahdin
  • Maryland AT
    • Hike #24 Purpose, Peaks, and Privy | Kicking off the State of Maryland on the AT
    • Hike #25 Best Laid Plans & Beauty of the Detour
    • Hike #26 The Blair Witch Project: Fear, Forests & the Fierce Path Forward
    • Hike #27 From Bike Tires to Hiking Boots: A Full-Circle Journey to Harpers Ferry
  • Massachusetts AT
    • Day 0 – Slackpacking Massachusetts
    • Day 1 – Slackpacking Massachusetts
    • Day 2 – Slackpacking Massachusetts
    • Day 3 – Slackpacking Massachusetts
    • Day 4 – Slackpacking Massachusetts
    • Day 5 – Slackpacking Massachusetts
    • Day 6 – Slackpacking Massachusetts
  • Pennsylvania AT
    • Hike #1 | 9.05 miles | Pennsylvania | Sheet Iron Roof Rd to Boiling Springs
    • Hike #2 | 8.71 miles | Pennsylvania | Bernheisel Bridge Road to Boiling Springs
    • Hike #9 From Doubt to Delight: A Newbie’s Unexpected Fondness of the AT
    • Hike #10 Adventure and Shadows: A Hike Through Duncannon’s Dark Past
    • Hike #21 Frozen On The Trail And In Life
    • Hike #22 – The Dragonfly & Lessons From the Trail
    • Hike #23 Mile by Mile: The Power of Small Goals on Big Journeys
  • Vermont AT
    • Hike #28 The Cairn Field | A Path Marked by Intention
    • Hike #29 Suspended Between Struggle and Gratitude
    • Hike #30 The Weather Queen Said Rain… We Said Game On
    • Hike #31 Forget the Views, I Found My Quartz
  • Virginia AT
    • Day 1 – Slackpacking Virginia – AT Hike #16
    • Day 2 – Slackpacking Virginia – Time & Choices – AT Hike #17
    • Day 3 – Slackpacking Virginia – Beauty in the Struggle – AT Hike #18
    • Day 4 – Slackpacking Virginia – Why? – AT Hike #19
    • Day 5 – Slackpacking Virginia – Grandma Gatewood & Zero Day – AT Hike #20
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Photo of Kim Ford

Kim Ford

People who say they never got the chance never took the chance. The scariest place to be is the same place as last year. Just do it.... take the first step.
Appalachian Trail Hiking Vermont

Hike #31 Forget the Views, I Found My Quartz

Kim Ford4 weeks ago126
Kim Ford Vermont Appalachian Trail Quartz Rock

Rain hid the vistas on today’s hike, but the quartz reminded me what really matters. Strong, steady, and shining through the storm, just like my husband, Carl. My rock in life’s adventures, big and small.

Continue reading
Appalachian Trail Hiking Vermont

Hike #30 The Weather Queen Said Rain… We Said Game On

We asked the Weather Queen (aka my pickleball pal Chris) if our hike would…

Kim Ford 4 weeks ago
Kim Ford Vermont Suspension Bridge on Appalachian Trail
Appalachian Trail Hiking Vermont

Hike #29 Suspended Between Struggle and Gratitude

A suspension bridge, a mountain summit, and a sweet message from an old friend,…

Kim Ford 4 weeks ago
Cairns Vermont Appalachian Trail
Appalachian Trail Hiking Vermont

Hike #28 The Cairn Field | A Path Marked by Intention

Cairns don’t just guide the path, they honor the pause. On this cold morning,…

Kim Ford 4 weeks ago
Harpers Ferry, WV AT
Appalachian Trail Hiking Maryland West Virginia

Hike #27 From Bike Tires to Hiking Boots: A Full-Circle Journey to Harpers Ferry

We hiked 40+ miles across Maryland on the Appalachian Trail, ending in Harpers Ferry.…

Kim Ford July 27, 2025
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339.13 MILES ON THE AT
Kim Ford, SIOR, LEED AP

Trailblazing Next

People who say they never got the chance never took the chance. The scariest place to be is the same place as last year. Just do it.... take the first step. As my daughter says, "Beauty in the Struggle."

Recent Posts
  • Kim Ford Vermont Appalachian Trail Quartz Rock 1

    Hike #31 Forget the Views, I Found My Quartz

    • September 24, 2025
  • 2

    Hike #30 The Weather Queen Said Rain… We Said Game On

    • September 23, 2025
  • Kim Ford Vermont Suspension Bridge on Appalachian Trail 3

    Hike #29 Suspended Between Struggle and Gratitude

    • September 22, 2025
  • Cairns Vermont Appalachian Trail 4

    Hike #28 The Cairn Field | A Path Marked by Intention

    • September 21, 2025
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  • Kim Ford Vermont Appalachian Trail Quartz Rock 1

    Hike #31 Forget the Views, I Found My Quartz

    • September 24, 2025
  • 2

    Hike #30 The Weather Queen Said Rain… We Said Game On

    • September 23, 2025
  • Kim Ford Vermont Suspension Bridge on Appalachian Trail 3

    Hike #29 Suspended Between Struggle and Gratitude

    • September 22, 2025
Kim Ford

Trailblazing Next

People who say they never got the chance never took the chance. The scariest place to be is the same place as last year. Just do it.... take the first step.

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