Editor’s Note: This is the second in an ongoing series following Westbrook native Gretchen Carroll as she hikes the 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine to raise money for Rippleffect, a local organization focusing on outdoor education for youth.

I can hardly believe I have been hiking for a month! Thus far it has been a wonderful experience. I am doubtful that I will ever again be able to spend this much time outdoors in my life. Fresh air is good for the body and soul and I love it. I rise and sleep with the sun, rarely making use of my flashlight. Life is simple and fulfilling. I am content.

It has occurred to me multiple times now that thru-hikers are a bit like a herd of turtles. This seemed even more true as six of us came off the trail following one another. We followed the white blazes for the Appalachian Trail across a road, around a corner, over a bridge, under an overpass, and up a set of rock stairs on the other side. We were slow moving with packs on our backs. Surely thru-hikers are a new breed of turtle migrating north for the season.

My favorite day on the trail thus far was the day we climbed Clingman’s Dome, the tallest mountain on the Appalachian Trail, and we crossed the 100-mile mark. Both of those things are great accomplishments but had nothing to do with my level of happiness. I saw the most beautiful views of the Smokies on the way to the top of Clingman’s Dome. The mountains seemed to go on forever into the distance, becoming one shade lighter with each ridge as they reached toward the horizon. As I looked out and tried to take in the view I realized just how happy I was to be hiking. The evening at the shelter that day was great too – great people, good stories, good company, and good music (another couple had a ukulele, too!) made for a relaxing, good-natured evening.

However, there are mice in shelters. This makes shelters bittersweet – no need to set up a tent and you are safe from the rain. The cost is not sleeping due to nibbling and squeaking with the possible added bonus of hearing others snore. One night I ditched a shelter after trying to sleep for a couple hours. It was a beautiful night with clear skies, and I was able to set up by moonlight. The results were great; I slept well. Of course wearing ear-plugs works well, too, as long as you don’t accidentally stow them in a bear bag hung in a tree before getting ready for bed.

On a lucky day, thru-hikers encounter trail angels and trail magic. We had one very magical day in the Smokies. We were fed biscuits and gravy at Newfound Gap. In addition there was a huge variety of snacks, candy, fresh fruit and drinks. There were multiple sets of angels present, all thrilled to be there, and their mission was to feed hikers. It was fantastic! Later on the trail a day hiker turned into a trail angel as she gave each of us a fresh clementine. Trail magic, as these experiences are called, can be big or small and seems to make everyone happy.

To donate money for outdoor education scholarships at Rippleffect visit www.gofundme.com/GretchenAT.

To read more about my hiking experiences on the trail visit www.mtnrvr.blogspot.com.

A view of the Great Smoky Mountains on the way up Clingman’s Dome.Chameleon, left, Leap Frog, middle, and Ukalady (Gretchen Carroll) enjoy a sign of progress along the Appalachian Trail.Leap Frog, Ukalady (Gretchen Carroll) and Chameleon have big smiles after eating biscuits and gravy given by a trail angel along the side of the road at a trail crossing.