Jackie Dee Hikes The AT

Jackie Dee Hikes The AT I'm planning on thru hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2026. This page is to update family and friends.

05/15/2026

Resting my knees..

Back on trail... Or so I was... I made a smart decision yesterday, although it wasn't a decision I wanted to make. I'...
05/14/2026

Back on trail... Or so I was... I made a smart decision yesterday, although it wasn't a decision I wanted to make. I'm back off trail. I'll make a more detailed post in a day or 2. I'm fine. I'm a little frustrated. But, I'm not done... Technically, if I can rest and re-evaluate, I could still complete by doing a flip flop if I have two good knees by the end of June.
Or I could just go with the flow of life and see what happens.

I'll share the story of my getting back on and off trail soon.

I did get to see some ponies though.

05/06/2026

I have my plane ticket to get back on trail. My knees are better than they were when I left. I was home when I needed to be... I still have several days before I head back, but I was where I needed to be because "my knees hurt!"

Hot Springs to Erwin...Spring Creek Tavern /HostelThe Cookie LadyHemlock Hollow HostelSlack packingLots of rocks...Cold ...
04/24/2026

Hot Springs to Erwin...

Spring Creek Tavern /Hostel

The Cookie Lady

Hemlock Hollow Hostel

Slack packing

Lots of rocks...

Cold and ice...

Flowers, butterflies, and bees...

Big Bald

Uncle Johnny's Hostel

Increased daily mileage...

And pain...

04/23/2026

I'm taking a break from the trail for a week or two. My knees need some rest. It's cheaper for a plane ticket home than it is to stay in a hostel or hotel for a week or two. I'm not quitting, just taking a break!

Hounds are special dogs! ❤️
04/16/2026

Hounds are special dogs! ❤️

04/16/2026

Max Patch

After the Smokies to Hot Springs...My feet hurt!My hurt knee yells at me once in a while. The prednisone has clearly wor...
04/16/2026

After the Smokies to Hot Springs...

My feet hurt!

My hurt knee yells at me once in a while. The prednisone has clearly worn off. 🙄

My other knee likes to keep me on my toes... It just decides to make some random moves and noises once in a while.😬

I felt so sluggish today, but when I got to town by 1:30, I felt like oh... you crazy girl... you did 9.5 miles before 1:30. It's okay. ***Get some food and beer. (2 IPAs). You'll feel better.

Town hostels were full but I did find a hostel (Trail-er) that allowed me to get a shower and was my clothes. 10$ total. 😁

Next, I looked for a place to stay. I need to resupply my food in the morning. 60$ for a campsite... I guess I'll take it...🤨 (The trail is much more expensive than what I planned). Share rooms and shuttles when you can *if you vibe right...

A fellow hiker also asked me to send this "Florida weather" back home. Hikers are getting sunburnt. I'm getting quite the tan!

The snakes are moving! I've seen 3. I didn't see an important one... I apparently walked right past it. It shook it's tail at the hiker behind me. He got a picture of it.

I'm quite glad to be "dispersed" camping. The last 3 nights, I have camped with very minimal people.

Max Patch was beautiful! I'll post videos separately!

04/11/2026

Waterfall near I-40 after the Smokies...

I'm through the Smokies.I never thought I would say or think that I'm so glad I'm out of the Smokies.I thought about qui...
04/11/2026

I'm through the Smokies.

I never thought I would say or think that I'm so glad I'm out of the Smokies.

I thought about quitting the last two mornings.

Was it the trail?
No. I've hiked the Smokies since I was 7.

Was it all the ups (elevation)? No.

What was it?
It was the people. In the Smokies, you have to stay in shelters.
I was going to post yesterday morning and say "People are so inconsiderate."
Today, my post would have started something like... "People are rude (AF)!" And you guys can guess what the AF stands for. I would have loved to show them how quick or quietly a backpack could have been packed or put together outside the shelter without shining headlamps at others in the shelter.

I was so mad that I cried when someone asked me how my hike was going. It's been mostly good to great. But no, I cried. And then I said it's just a bad morning. And then I was even more mad at myself...

I made arrangements for a shuttle to town to resupply. That made me feel better. (Also, I made sure that town wasn't Knoxville, so I couldn't get on a plane. And then I got trail magic. A burger... from a church. God knew I needed that burger! I did manage to get turned around on the trail today after the burger. My shuttle was waiting on me and I texted him, told him I was STILL a mile away, and he said they would wait.

I'm not quitting.

So the milestones for today are...
I made it through the Smokies.
I made it past my 1st personal "okay to jump off trail" point. I posted that picture of the AT sign in the fall at Newfound Gap. Well, I made it that far and I'm still going.

Photo dump of the Smokies...

Video's will be individual posts.

I did see some incredible views and go through my favorite type of forest. I didn't have a charged phone one full day plus... in the Smokies.

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Pisgah Forest, NC

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