Wow… hearing about Little Bears dream tells about her remarkable faith that I could only dream about at her age. She can teach me a few things about my faith too.
I had chills and teared up when she was telling me the whole thing in detail. One, because her connection to God is supernatural and the most beautiful thing ever. And two, because I already knew what He had spoken to me. The confirmation from her was nothing short of amazing. We are so grateful.
I knew you guys would be back! I do think you were meant to do it this way. Thank you for your support to all the affected areas. Can't wait to watch you guys again- but even more so can't wait to see you! Little Bear you have grown so much! ❤
Jen!! We can’t wait to see you guys! It will surely be a highlight of this trek, too. 💙💙💙 I agree with you. As time has passed and we have had even more opportunity to process things, I think this was the plan all along. We are so grateful. Looking forward to spending time with you. 🙏🏼
You both are just special because of your faith and listening for His guidance! What a wonderful cause to take this journey and we your online tramily are your cloud of witnesses and you will have many prayers I’m sure ❤
Thank you so much! We appreciate you and your prayers and support! We’re excited for this continuation of our journey and glad you’ll be here to share it with us. 💙☀️🙏🏼
This really touched me.I think you both have moved to do great things.I can't wait to see what the trail has for you this coming year.Little Bear will gain more wisdom from this.God bless you.
Thank you. We are humbled by this opportunity and look forward to all that is to come. Thank you for sharing this journey with us. God bless you. 💙☀️🙏🏼
I didn’t think I could love you guys more, but after this video, I certainly do. Firstly, that you were willing to risk your life to save what you thought was a kitten says a lot about your heart. And your mission to hike the AT again is awesome! Using your platform to benefit those enduring such devastation is such a noble and wonderful thing to do. I can’t WAIT to watch your journey again. God is good, all the time!
Amen! God is so good!! All the time! Thank you for your kind words. We sincerely appreciate them as it gives us so much encouragement. (And yes! I most definitely would fight a gator or moccasin or whatever to save a kitten, puppy, raccoon, squirrel, etc! 😂 I literally prayed over us for protection when I thought we were going in! I rebuked anything dangerous!) We pray that we can continue to support Appalachia and that this walk for healing benefits them in a big way! Together, we can make a difference! Love and light to you! 💙☀️🙏🏼
Thank you. It is an honor and a blessing to do whatever we can to help Appalachia heal, recover, and eventually rebuild. I pray your home and family are ok. 💙☀️🙏🏼
This is an amazing idea, it will help raise awareness of the true trail conditions and reroutes that may be in place . I look forward to following your journey and will support your efforts.
It is awesome that you both are going back to the trail with a bigger purpose. There is a part of me envious. I made it to the 700-mile marker and got off at 4 Pines hostel. The reason, I got off the trail was because of returning foot pain. And I got tired of hiking in pain. I don't know who is more blessed…you or your daughter to be doing this together. I would probably pick your daughter, because she has such a strong MoMA in so many ways who is setting and teaching good examples. The close bond is priceless. The Lord is Good. I look forward to seeing you both succeed. Take care and God bless! -Praiser
Hi Praiser! Thanks so much. We’re so excited to get out there again. We miss the trail and are looking forward to hiking for a cause so near and dear to our hearts. I pray your foot pain has healed, although I know it can take months to recover from the rigorous daily abuse we put our bodies through on trail. The trail is hard enough, but then doing it in pain is very, very difficult. Do you think you’ll try it again or go out for sections? Thank you for your kind words. I definitely feel blessed to answer God’s call, and to do this with my sweet girl. We appreciate your kindness and support. Can’t wait to share this adventure with you! 💙☀️🙏🏼
@ Thank you, yes, my foot is better. I would love to do the trail again Lord willing. There were positive effects on my body. I suffered from hemorrhoids before starting my hike. I was only having a bowel movement every 4 to 5 days. And the day before coming off the trail, my bowels started moving regularly. And still good today… No more problems… sometimes I am going 3 to 4 times a day. So the Lord did answer a big prayer for me. Praise the Lord. I lost 31 pounds from the 700 miles. I did gain some weight back, but in a healthier way. Yes, I do miss the trail too, and maybe I will be blessed with the opportunity to walk it again. Happy trails to you both! 🙏🙌🏻
I didn’t come across your channel until after you had gotten off trail, but have binge watched the entire 80 days since! I have loved watching your journey and am excited to get to see it in real time next year!
Hi there!! Welcome! We’re so glad you’re here! We sure didn’t see this coming, but we’re excited for all that is to come! Thank you for joining us and sharing our Hike for Healing in Appalachia adventure! 💙☀️🙏🏼
Great news! I absolutely love the sensitivity to God’s urging. I definitely felt God’s presence in sharing the gospel while on my long section hike last year. You two are two of my favorite sisters on UA-cam! It’s great to know that if we never meet on this side, we will enjoy His presence together on the other side. 👍🏼🙏🏼💕
Thank you! We are eager to follow God’s plan! His plan is so much better than any we could imagine. We genuinely appreciate your kindness and support. 💙☀️🙏🏼
I am excited for you and Little Bear and support your Mission for Appalachia. It is a powerful mission with a purpose to help others that makes you both so special. God Bless and God Speed!
This is great news! When you get to Mass next year we have a room and homemade meals for you. I may not be able to contribute financially. This is another way to contribute. I invite everyone to open there home along the trail so the money spent on food and lodging can be put into your cause. You send off love and light i send send off peace love and understanding
I'm so happy and proud of you ladies. I felt in my heart this was the message you were going to share. I believe God will do amazing things through you both
Yay! Let's GO! Kudos to your sweet hubby for tossing the idea around with you. What an awesome chance to really impact lives in Appalachia. Yall are such an inspiration! It'd be an honor to donate to Hike for Healing in Appalachia!
I’m so grateful to my husband. He is truly my biggest supporter and best friend. 💙 Thank you so much. We are honored. Together, I believe we can all make a huge difference for Appalachia! Can’t wait til February! 💙☀️🙏🏼
Love to hear it! You both have a sweet spirits. I followed you last year and would love to again next year. What a great thing to make it a fund raiser too 👏🏼
You have such beautiful hearts and to hear you will walk with Jesus once again and with purpose of healing is giving me goosebumps! Thank you for sharing your insights and for Little Bear sharing her faith. I am inspired by your Faith journey and cannot wait to support you as I follow along!
Thank you. 🥹 Your kind words and support mean a lot to us. God’s plan is so much better than any plan we could ever even imagine. Thank you for joining us. 💙☀️🙏🏼
Thank you! I have missed the two of you so much. Your words and videos were often the highlight of my day and when you got off trail my heart was saddened. It was purely for my selfish reasons because you brought me so much joy. I did understand the decision but my hope was you would return. Prayers were answered and I'm so looking forward to February! Love and Light to you!
Hey there! Thank you so much. Your kindness, encouragement and support mean so much to us. Seriously, it really does. I’m so thankful you’ll join us again for this epic adventure. God’s plan is unfolding and we’re so here for it! Love and light to you! 💙☀️🙏🏼
No wayyyyyy!!!! I am so thrilled you're giving it another go. This was an awesome surprise. It is worthwhile cause and validation that God always has a plan. I am very excited to follow along again. God bless and many blessings yeahhhhh🥾⛰️
What great news! I admire your faith and trusting God’s plans for you both. What a great fund raiser for so many people that are hurting. Can’t wait to journey with you once again. And like I said before if you need a place to get out of the weather or a bed to sleep in I live in Blairsville about 25 minutes from Neels Gap…Winkle
Thanks Winkle! We appreciate you so much. We’re excited to get out there and Hike for Healing in Appalachia! God’s plan is so much better than any we can imagine. 💙☀️🙏🏼
Thank you so much. The volunteers, sawyers, and trail maintainers are working so hard and making a lot of progress! There will definitely be some reroutes (particularly around the Nolichucky River in Erwin). If we need to shuttle around a closed section, we will and then come back later that year to complete it. The southern portion of the trail will certainly look different than when we hiked it before.
We’re excited and eager to eager back on trail. The southern part will certainly look a bit different. I’m so glad we got to do that part before the storm.
Great to hear that you are getting back out there again. My wife and I enjoyed watching your videos of your hike this year and were sorry to see you get off trail. I will be starting in Feb 2025 as well, so hope to see you out there. God bless.
I'm not remotely religious but using a hike to fundraise for others in need sounds like a really great idea. Hopefully you can get a big group together and help in a big way.
Yay!! So excited to follow along! 🎉 Thank you for sharing how God moved in your lives regarding your thru hike and the fundraising for Appalachia. 🙌 I'll commit to praying for you. 🙏
Thank you so much! We’re so grateful for your prayers, kindness and support! We’re humbled by God’s plans are excited to follow them. Let’s do this together! 💙☀️🙏🏼
Hey Guys..I’m so proud of you. You Guys were a testament to ministry everyday on your 2024 hike. I know this because you helped me so much. I believe it’s simply why we are here… to extend that hand out to whoever needs it… our soul purpose! God’s love thru our fingertips…I will do all I can to help… 🙏🏼✌️🙂❤️
Hey there! Thank you so much. Your continued kindness and support has really helped us. We genuinely appreciate you! We feel incredibly blessed to be walking in faith with God. We had no idea of His plans, but we will blindly and obediently follow Him. His plans are greater than we can even imagine! Let’s do this together! 💙☀️🙏🏼
We are happy to hear that God has called you for this mission. We are s blessed that we found you and your family. May the Lord continue to give you wisdom and discernment. God has talk to my daughter and I through dreams in fact that is How the Lord convicted me of sin and I woke out of that dream asking Him for forgiveness and salvation, and I felt like my heart was filled with overflowing love. God bless you all and our prayers will always be with you.
Oh wow! Thank you for sharing! God is so good. I’m so glad you received His word and chose obedience. The life He has for us is so much better than trying to do it on our own. For as long as I can remember, God has always spoken to Little Bear in her dreams. Her relationship with Him is so special. 💙 Thank you for your prayers. I can’t tell you how much they mean to us. When we were out there walking this year, we felt like we were walking in a bubble of protection and we know that’s because of your prayers. Thank you for joining us again next year as we Hike for Healing for Appalachia! 💙☀️🙏🏼
@wildflowersadventures You're very welcome❤ We serve an amazing God. We have not stop praying for all those affected by the hurricane, and the Lord has put appalachia in our 💕s.
Morning, Mama Bear and Little Bear. Loved the wetlands walk. Love seeing all the birds and flowers. What a surprise. I had already started praying about who I was going to follow along the trail this year. I "knew" you two had planned a LASH so knew I'd be with you through that. But had no idea who else, if anyone. So now I know. I commit to praying you up the trail. I'm excited for both of you and believe in you and your purpose. You two are full of surprises. Take care. Stay safe. See you next time.
Good morning! ☀️ Thank you so much. We honestly can’t express how much your prayers mean to us. We could feel your prayers as we walked those 758.8 miles this past year. We felt like we had a bubble of protection around us. We are so humbled and honored to walk for Appalachia’s healing next year. God had a plan all along and we’re honored. Love and light to you. We’ll see you next time.
You are thoroughly prepared. Surprises, if any, will be dealt with calmly. One step at a time. The AT becomes a "Camino" (The Path or The Way) for you. The Trail will provide for you. The Path or The Way will provide. An amazing moment in the life of your family. Thanks for sharing. We are near Pine Grove Furnace when you get to the half way point if you need anything.
Thank you for your kind words and encouragement! We feel such peace and calmness and confidence going into this hike. We’re ready! Hope to meet you near Pine Grove Furnace. 💙☀️🙏🏼
Congrats! This is awesome news. I hope you can make it through this time. I recommend you going SOBO. This way you will be heading towards home while hiking.
I’m so excited for you two. And that’s such a great cause. I look forward to supporting you guys and seeing you on trail again and helping out in whatever way I can with bringing “Healing to Appalachia”. How early in February will you be starting??
Hey friend!! Thank you! We’re stoked! Hiking for Appalachia means so much to us. We pray we’re able to continue to raise awareness as people tend to forget as the months pass, as well as funds to help them heal, recover, and eventually rebuild. I’ll message you with tentative start date. 🙏🏼
We have Mockingbirds in Oklahoma that not only mimic cats, kittens, other birds, but car alarms, doorbells, and cell phones. Awesome that you will thru hike again!
Oh wow! Isn’t that interesting?! I’m just glad I didn’t risk my life and limbs to save a frog thinking it was a kitten! 😂 And thank you! We’re super excited! We hope you’ll join us.
@ If not in reality perhaps virtually. I did snag a permit for the PCT. But my first love is the AT. I may just relinquish it and hike what we can of the AT. I plan to fund raise for the AT communities as well. I love the effort being made currently of giving community members without homes, prebuilt sheds for temporary shelters at least. This way they don’t lose the little they have to theft when left in a tent. Bri From Scratch has been organizing a lot of that work.
Had no idea you were from Melbourne area! Im here in Satellite Bch and have been section hiking the A.T. for 6 years. Almost to Harpers Ferry where I plan to stop and hopefully take a leave from BPS and finish the trail this summer!
Awesome! Wow you girls GO! Asking our Lord and Savior to lead and guide you all the way ! KNOW you two will be salt and lite on trail! Sooooooooo excited to follow along with you and Jesus!
@ just fyi I live on Lookout Mountain. If you guys are this way at Cloudland Canyon please give me a shout would love to bring you a bit of trail Magic. Blessings!
@cindymessinger7666 Oh!! One of our favorite places in the world. We were just there in September and plan to go back once we complete the AT next year. 💙☀️🙏🏼
A kind word of caution... As I live and work alongside the AT, I recall a person coming to our cafe in February. He said it had gotten so cold in the middle of the night that he had to break camp and hike out as the snow fell.
Hi friend. Thank you for that. We appreciate you sharing that with us. I believe we are prepared for the cold weather. Our first day on trail this year, it was 15 degrees and we were warm and toasty with our gear choices. We have the Nemo Tensor Extreme (8.5 r value), along with 10 degree quilts and super warm merino wool (260) sleep clothes and socks. As always, we will be safe and get off trail in the event of a potential dangerous weather event. 💙☀️🙏🏼
Yay!!🎉 Wow, February, that's just around the corner. I'm so excited! Prayers for you guys 🙏. My family and I were at Grayson Highland this past Sat. We hiked toward Mt. Rogers to go through the Fat Man Squeeze that we've seen only on AT videos. As we hiked, I was thinking MB and LB were here not too long ago 😊!
Aww, that’s so cool! Thanks for thinking of us. I look forward to that section again! February will be here before we know it! So excited! We hope you’ll join us again! 💙☀️🙏🏼
Ok…I’m just now seeing this and understand why you replied to my comment on Nahamsha’s vid about my ‘25 Thru-hike Attempt with…“We’ll see ya out there”. I really enjoyed your vids on your last attempt. Little Bear is SUCH an impressive young lady! I too prayed a lot about my hike. I thought I was going to attempt it a year earlier, when unexpectedly my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. Needless to say, it didn’t happen. Looking back, I wasn’t truly ready. God had other plans for us. My wife is in a good place now with her health and the timing just seems right. I early retired in June. So, I too, hope to see you guys out there!! 🙌🏻 #ATthruhikeClassOf25
Hey friend!! Haha, sorry, I should have clarified on your post. Thank you for your kind words. Little Bear is so awesome, truly the toughest human I’ve met to date! I’m so happy to hear your wife is well and you’re able to get on the AT! Thank God for her healing! We hope to meet you on trail! Let’s do this! 💙☀️🙏🏼
Hi there! Thank you for your interest. 😊 So, no matter what, we will miss our family and it will be a challenge. But, this time, we have a different mindset….not better or worse, just different. On our first go round, we were hiking just for fun. Smiles over miles. So, when we missed our family more than we were having fun, it was an easy choice to come home. The fun wasn’t worth missing our family anymore. This time, we are hiking for a cause that we’re passionate about, a cause that’s much bigger than hiking just for fun. It’s something to fight for and worth being away from our family. We can achieve smiles and miles and further the worthy cause of continuing to raise awareness and funds to help our beloved Appalachia heal, recover, and eventually rebuild. Mindset and purpose: those are the biggest game changers. Additionally, my family will hopefully be able to visit more this coming year, but if not, it’s something we will work through together. And we will lean on God more than we did last time. We will lean on Him for strength instead of trying to muscle through it on our own.
I'm very pleased you're going to attempt the AT again. Will gladly follow. I was there in 24, doing a flip-flop. Had to stop after 350 miles due to injury.
This is a wonderful plan! We too helped in Burnsville NC near Mountain Harbor and the only description is that it’s a war zone. A secondary fundraiser will be the simple fact you are hiking and using the businesses along the trail. ❤
Thank you! Although unexpected, I think it’s a great plan. And thank you for helping, too. You’re right. A war zone is a great description. Genuinely heartbreaking. And that’s a great point! The trail towns also need revenue. That’s a secondary, but equally important issue affecting Appalachia that I think some don’t realize. Their businesses are their livelihood and the way they feed their families. This is why we did a small section in Georgia in the way home from Erwin. They suffered a loss of business when people were told the GA trail was impassable, too.
Can’t wait to see you back on the trail In February. Will your journey start where you left off or starting at Springer Mountain again ? Take care & God Bless Hike on!! 🥾🏕️
Maybe you should take the word “attempt” out of your word list. You and God have this! My vote? Samaritans Purse. They have been so faithful being immediately on the front lines around the world when needed. Soooo excited to follow you. (Little Bear! You’ve grown a few inches haven’t you?!)
Good idea! I love the way you’re thinking! I am currently talking to Samaritan’s Purse as I feel the same as you. They are the real deal and doing such good work! Little Bear isn’t so little anymore, right? Sigh! My baby is growing up! 💙☀️🙏🏼
Hope to see you on the trail !! I will be leaving Florida also and starting the trail in February . I feel for the people there in Appalachia and know first hand about devastation. Oct 10, 2018 Category 5 Hurricane Michael came across Bay County and it looked like an atomic bomb had been dropped on our town. It took years, but it is coming back. People will come together to help them build back , as they did here. It just takes time. I will support them any way I can while I am there🙂
Thank you! I agree. I’m currently talking to Samaritan’s Purse and hope to firm up the details soon! Thank you for your support! February will be here before we know it. 💙☀️🙏🏼
I’m so excited for you both! I wish I had the chance again next year as well. You guys will rock it in 2025, I’m sure of it! Tell little bear I said hello! - Princess
Wow, I didn’t see this coming! I think that’s what I said when you decided to quit last time! lol Good for you two! That’s a great idea to make it a fundraiser! I’ll definitely support your fundraiser! There are some great organizations that are out there! Obviously you want to make sure it stays in the Appalachia area that was hurt by Helene! I followed you two last year so I will gladly follow you again next year! Wish you two the best of luck on your 2025 AT adventure! ❤️
That makes three of us! 😂 We didn’t see this coming either, but we’re so grateful for this opportunity. Thank you for your kindness and support. Let’s do this together! 💙☀️🙏🏼
Trips home, and trail visits from family often should be part of your plans. I know it's complicated, and challenging but I believe it's possible to do with airports and shuttles, possibly some trail angels can offer airport shuttles for your family. It will be awesome to keep up the awareness of all the affected communities, it really is overwhelming how much devastation there is.
Thank you 🙏🏼 Those are good ideas and we will make that more of a priority this time around. Our mindset is completely different than the first time around…not better or worse, just different. Hiking for a cause, to me, is much more powerful than just hiking for fun. I’m praying that we can help to keep Appalachia and their needs on the forefront so people can continue to help in any way that they can. It’s going to be a long road for them, but together, we can all make a significant difference! 💙☀️🙏🏼
Have you tuned in to YT to see Hiking the Appalachian Trail for Parkinson's Disease when a mom (66) and her daughter (27) hiked the trail a couple of years ago? I love how they did periodic updates along the journey on the status of the fundraiser and I loved their attitudes all along the way! They (trail names became Lilo and Stitch) ROCKED it and I KNOW you both will as well, and this time with assistance for Appalachia being your motivation!
Hey there! No, I haven’t heard of them, but they sound pretty awesome! Maybe I’ll check them out! Thank you for the suggestion! We appreciate your kind words. We are honored to hike for such a worthy cause. 💙☀️🙏🏼
The blue herons are so beautiful!! I am so happy with your news!!! 🙏🏼. You will finish this time, i know it- you have a purpose! You will need winter gear correct? Starting in Feb? So looking forward to this for you!! For helping people!
Thank you! Yes, we have a different mindset this time…not better or worse, just different. We’re hiking for a purpose and a cause so much bigger than ourselves. I believe our current winter gear is sufficient. We have an 8.5 r value pad (Nemo Tensor Extreme) and 10 degree quilts. Our sleep clothes are 260 merino wool base layers that are very warm. Our first night on the AT last year was 15 degrees and we were warm. Thank you for joining us again. It’s going to be amazing! 💙☀️🙏🏼
Hi Mama Bear and Litfle Bear! You saw a lot of awesome birds and wildlife on the wetlands walk! My husband loves photography so we often go on nature walks and hikes. There is a free app called Merlin that will pick up on the types of birds that are around you when they make a noise. Lol I would have been nervous if a gator decided to make a youtube debut. Oh wow! I am so happy to hear your announcement about thru-hiking in 2025! I definitely will be following along on your journey. I believe with your previous thru-hike attempt that God was preparing you for a mission. I think that it is amazing that you will be hiking to raise money for Appalachia. I would love to donate something for sure. I believe it's all in God's timing that he wants both of you to use your hiking talents for His mission. God bless you both as you prepare to embark on this journey! 😊❤️
We did see a lot of cool birds, and are kinda glad a gator or two decided against making their UA-cam debut! 😂 We might download that app. We’ve heard it was a good one. I bet the walks with your husband are very special. I think you’re spot on about this attempt at a thru hike. God always has a plan and it’s far better than any one we can imagine. I think that’s why we were so at peace when we decided to come home prematurely this year. Although we didn’t complete our goal to Katahdin as we had originally set out to, us coming home wasn’t premature at all, in God’s plan. It’s exciting and humbling to watch the plan unfold, step by step. Thank you for joining us again and for your continued support and encouragement. As soon as I get the details for the fundraiser ironed out, I’ll share it with everyone. Together, we can truly make a difference in the healing, recovery, and eventually rebuilding of Appalachia. 💙☀️🙏🏼
Almost forgot, have LB listen to a catbird mew. They're migratory birds that are here in the northeast from April to August. Then they head back your way. They so sound like 🐈 😂
Great news! I hate to be so assertive to say it, but I knew you would be back, because once that trail gets in your blood it's hard, to impossible to stay away from it for very long. The calling from an old love is strong. And maybe, your first 700 miles was God's way of preparing you for the Big hike and helping Appalachia recover. I'm proud for you and will help support your hike. Kanati, AT class 08
Hahaha, I think you are absolutely right! It called us back and I do believe that first 700 miles was a warm up because God had a better plan. Thank you so much for your kindness, generosity and support. Can’t wait for February! 💙☀️🙏🏼
This is amazing!! I am so excited to hear about this and I cannot wait to find out how to support you both in addition to standing with you in prayer as you live out Ephesians 2:10 We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do; and Matthew 5:16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. You are both salt and light!!!
Amen!!! Thank you for sharing this! We are humbled and honored to follow God’s plan. We appreciate your support and are excited to share this journey with you. 💙☀️🙏🏼 God bless!
Wow this is a wonderful idea ..I hiked 52 miles in two days and raised 1, 600 dollars for stop suicide for veterans..this is something I definitely would love to be a part of since I'm attempting my thru hike in 2025..I wasn't sure if those sections will even be open..however please let us no if other hikers can help with this is know many who would support this ..I even know friends who deliverd supplies down there ..please keep us in the loop ..I'm thinking starting in march ..
Hi there! Thank you. After completing 758 miles this year, we left a big part of our hearts in Appalachia. Once we came back from our volunteer work in Erwin a few weeks ago, the strong pull to help in whatever way that we can is leading this effort. I’m currently talking to a few people and getting guidance on the best way to go about it. I should have a link to a page where people can donate soon. Once I post it, one of the biggest ways you can help is to share it so it reaches as many people as possible. We’ll need help getting the word out and that will take all hands on deck. Thank you for your offer to help. We appreciate you so much. 💙☀️🙏🏼 We hope to see you out there next year!
I wonder if you’d be better off starting later in the season, starting where you left off, and hiking north to Katahdin. Then, if you still feel like hiking, go back to your 25 start and hike south to Springer. If you get homesick again, you might still finish the trail in two big LASHes. If you can do the whole thing, you’ll have given the trail more time to recover from Helene and have no risk of trail closures in the south.
Thanks for your thoughts. We have considered many things in making our decision and have decided to start from Springer and head NOBO. We’re prepared to shuttle around areas that may still be impassable. Luckily, with the significant amount of work that has already been accomplished by so many amazing volunteers and trail maintainers, I think it will be doable. We appreciate you and understand some will have different opinions. 💙☀️🙏🏼
Happy for you both and can’t wait to see you on the trails. PS. I will be attempting my blue belt in BJJ in a few weeks. It’s been a beautiful experience but my body is starting to fall apart 😂🥋⛰️🥾🐻🧸❤️👍
@@wildflowersadventures Thank so much. I will definitely let you know when I succeed. They call me ‘ The OG’. The Original Gangster 🤣. I’m currently the oldest student. I just turned 67 in October! Never give up. Life is short, don’t sit still 👍🙏😊
Hi mama bear and little bear unknown soldier here glad to here your back on trial in February I'm still looking to get out on trial in 2026-27i will be following you as you do the second round and I've seen pictures of the devastation looks like an atomic bomb hit the area without everything being set on fire from it my prayers go out to you love life and God bless the Unknown Soldier
Hey Unknown Soldier! I was hoping you’d see this video and announcement. We appreciated your kindness, encouragement, and support during our first attempt. You make a difference. 😊 Yeah, the pictures and videos barely scratch the surface in conveying the complete devastation. It’s our hope we can continue to help Appalachia heal. Love and light to you, friend. God bless! Your hike will be here before you know it!
Thank you! We do, too. Although we can tolerate the cold much better than the heat. I think our gear is pretty solid. Our first night on the AT this year was 15 degrees and we were toasty.
Some of the trail is in really bad shape. Why not do a flip flop starting in Roanoke going north, then come back and redo the affected area after the maintainers have had time to rebuild. Ramdino has a pretty good review of the current status. That would also open up unlimited options on time constraints. Just a thought. Looking forward to following ya'll!
Thank you! We’re glad you’ll be a part of our journey. The trail is coming together quite quickly, despite the initial devastation. I’ve been following along and have spoken to quite a few people on the progress. I think it’ll mostly be passable by the time we get to the damaged areas. I think we will for sure have to do a short road walk in Erwin around Uncle Johnny’s, and there will be other reroutes, but I think it’ll be ok. If we have to skip a few small sections, we’ll complete them on the way back home with my husband. 😊
I agree with that plan. You would be completing a two year through hike while retaining the option to complete a calendar year through hike. Thus becoming two time AT through hikers.
Hope you stay at many of hostels to support them. So many platform to support. Many do two fund raise one to help hikes community to rebuild other Samantha( sp?)purse.
Absolutely! We will do our very best to stay at as many hostels and shop in the towns that were affected, as budget allows, of course. It can get very expensive, very quickly, especially with 2 of us, but it’s our goal to support the trail towns as much as possible. 💙☀️🙏🏼
Thank you! I think mid February will be perfect for us. We have very warm winter gear, plus, it’ll hopefully spare us from the difficult heat of the height of summer. Some people are leaving January 1. I think that might be a little too cold for a little too long for us. We’ll see you on trail! 💙☀️🙏🏼
So sweet that you wanted to save a possible kitten. I would caution you though that unless you can see it, if you don’t know where it is you may be setting yourself up for failure and possible danger since you can’t see animals around you in that brush.
Hey friend!!! Thank you! One thing people know about us is our love for animals. I’d fight a gator and a moccasin to save a kitten! 😂 Glad we didn’t have to and nearly positive it was that dang frog! Thanks for your word of caution. I kept praying, Lord protect us if we have to go in there!
Yall wil be walking a very different trail thru Georgia, North Carolina, Etc, from the Hurricain damage. Probably a few total new work arounds, at least for a bit. Please document those parts of the trail well. Many will want to know.
The trail will look quite a bit different than the last time we walked it. Georgia is completely unaffected, but parts of Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia will consist of less tree, reroutes, and some structural changes. Many volunteers, sawyers, and trail maintainers are working so hard on restoring our beautiful trail. The progress they have already made is nothing short of impressive. We’re so thankful for them and look forward to documenting our journey. We hope you’ll join us!
What,what,what ? LOL 😄 wow that's great 👍 and to start over from the very beginning too ! I thought you'd start from where you left off ? congradulations on your big news ! I think that's wonderful! Are you going to takeyour same gear as before? Or will you change it out ? The reason why I'm asking is because I'm on the verge / cusp of buying a hyperlite backpack either the junction or the unbound 40 L but not even sure if i should . ( psss,,, God is telling me I don't need to spend the money ) soo there's that . But we're you happy with your hyperlite? I've seen countless videos of people on the AT that swap them out after a while saying there hips or shoulders hurt after a while. I should listen to God right ? Lol 😊 anyway thanks for the video ! That place looks very nice !
Hey there! Thank you! We’re stoked!! Yeah, we’re starting from Springer. Originally we had planned to just section hike it next year, picking up from 758.8. God had different plans! 😊 Yes!! Shouting from the rooftops, yes! I love my HMG Junction so much. I wouldn’t change a single thing. Taking it this go round, too. On the contrary for me…all the videos I’ve watched with HMG bags have been super positive. It sounds like if their shoulders or hips hurt, it wasn’t fitted right. But anyway, yeah, listen to God. Maybe He’s just saying not yet. lol!
If you were at peace when you left the trail then you did the right thing. God was speaking to you. May have been a good reason not to complete the trail then.
I agree. I’m telling you….it was strange. We were never miserable or unhappy. It went from, we’re happy and things are great (still missing family, of course, but completely manageable) to we’re ready to go home….almost overnight. Then, when we took a few days off in Roanoke to continue to pray and process, the peace was the driving force and ultimate decision maker. As we continue to process this whole thing, we’re confident God’s plan is better than any plan we could imagine. We’re excited for all that’s to come!
Yay!! Can’t wait!
Thank you! We’re excited. We appreciate your kindness and support and look forward to sharing this journey with you. 💙☀️🙏🏼
Wow… hearing about Little Bears dream tells about her remarkable faith that I could only dream about at her age. She can teach me a few things about my faith too.
I had chills and teared up when she was telling me the whole thing in detail. One, because her connection to God is supernatural and the most beautiful thing ever. And two, because I already knew what He had spoken to me. The confirmation from her was nothing short of amazing. We are so grateful.
I knew you guys would be back! I do think you were meant to do it this way. Thank you for your support to all the affected areas. Can't wait to watch you guys again- but even more so can't wait to see you! Little Bear you have grown so much! ❤
Jen!! We can’t wait to see you guys! It will surely be a highlight of this trek, too. 💙💙💙
I agree with you. As time has passed and we have had even more opportunity to process things, I think this was the plan all along. We are so grateful.
Looking forward to spending time with you. 🙏🏼
You both are just special because of your faith and listening for His guidance! What a wonderful cause to take this journey and we your online tramily are your cloud of witnesses and you will have many prayers I’m sure ❤
Thank you so much! We appreciate you and your prayers and support! We’re excited for this continuation of our journey and glad you’ll be here to share it with us. 💙☀️🙏🏼
This really touched me.I think you both have moved to do great things.I can't wait to see what the trail has for you this coming year.Little Bear will gain more wisdom from this.God bless you.
Thank you. We are humbled by this opportunity and look forward to all that is to come. Thank you for sharing this journey with us. God bless you. 💙☀️🙏🏼
I didn’t think I could love you guys more, but after this video, I certainly do. Firstly, that you were willing to risk your life to save what you thought was a kitten says a lot about your heart. And your mission to hike the AT again is awesome! Using your platform to benefit those enduring such devastation is such a noble and wonderful thing to do. I can’t WAIT to watch your journey again. God is good, all the time!
Amen! God is so good!! All the time!
Thank you for your kind words. We sincerely appreciate them as it gives us so much encouragement. (And yes! I most definitely would fight a gator or moccasin or whatever to save a kitten, puppy, raccoon, squirrel, etc! 😂 I literally prayed over us for protection when I thought we were going in! I rebuked anything dangerous!)
We pray that we can continue to support Appalachia and that this walk for healing benefits them in a big way! Together, we can make a difference!
Love and light to you! 💙☀️🙏🏼
Being from Appalachia, I am so appreciative of your following what God is guiding you to do. Will definitely be following your journey.
Thank you. It is an honor and a blessing to do whatever we can to help Appalachia heal, recover, and eventually rebuild.
I pray your home and family are ok. 💙☀️🙏🏼
Woohoo!!! Will walk with yall again!
Thank you so much! We appreciate your kindness and support! 💙☀️🙏🏼
This is wonderful news! So happy to hear you will be back on trail!! ❤❤
Thank you! We’re hiking for healing in Appalachia! We hope you’ll share our journey again. 💙☀️🙏🏼
@wildflowersadventures Absolutely! You both bring joy to so many and this is for such a good cause!! ❤️❤️
Thank you! We’re excited and ready! 😊
This is an amazing idea, it will help raise awareness of the true trail conditions and reroutes that may be in place . I look forward to following your journey and will support your efforts.
Thank you so much! We’re so glad you’re here and will share our journey with us. We’re honored to be hiking for such a good cause!
I felt like you would do it again. ❤ I'll be here along your journey again.
Thank you! We’re so glad to have you join us again! We are grateful! 💙☀️🙏🏼
Yes!!!! I’ve chosen my first 2025 hikers to follow now!! So happy for you!!
Thanks Stick! We appreciate you so much. We’re so happy for you and your success! 💙☀️🙏🏼
@ success is the extent to which we follow God. I’m not always sure what that looks like. Thank you.
It is awesome that you both are going back to the trail with a bigger purpose. There is a part of me envious. I made it to the 700-mile marker and got off at 4 Pines hostel. The reason, I got off the trail was because of returning foot pain. And I got tired of hiking in pain.
I don't know who is more blessed…you or your daughter to be doing this together. I would probably pick your daughter, because she has such a strong MoMA in so many ways who is setting and teaching good examples. The close bond is priceless. The Lord is Good.
I look forward to seeing you both succeed. Take care and God bless!
-Praiser
Hi Praiser!
Thanks so much. We’re so excited to get out there again. We miss the trail and are looking forward to hiking for a cause so near and dear to our hearts.
I pray your foot pain has healed, although I know it can take months to recover from the rigorous daily abuse we put our bodies through on trail. The trail is hard enough, but then doing it in pain is very, very difficult. Do you think you’ll try it again or go out for sections?
Thank you for your kind words. I definitely feel blessed to answer God’s call, and to do this with my sweet girl.
We appreciate your kindness and support.
Can’t wait to share this adventure with you!
💙☀️🙏🏼
@ Thank you, yes, my foot is better. I would love to do the trail again Lord willing. There were positive effects on my body. I suffered from hemorrhoids before starting my hike. I was only having a bowel movement every 4 to 5 days. And the day before coming off the trail, my bowels started moving regularly. And still good today… No more problems… sometimes I am going 3 to 4 times a day. So the Lord did answer a big prayer for me. Praise the Lord. I lost 31 pounds from the 700 miles. I did gain some weight back, but in a healthier way.
Yes, I do miss the trail too, and maybe I will be blessed with the opportunity to walk it again.
Happy trails to you both! 🙏🙌🏻
I didn’t come across your channel until after you had gotten off trail, but have binge watched the entire 80 days since! I have loved watching your journey and am excited to get to see it in real time next year!
Hi there!! Welcome! We’re so glad you’re here! We sure didn’t see this coming, but we’re excited for all that is to come! Thank you for joining us and sharing our Hike for Healing in Appalachia adventure! 💙☀️🙏🏼
I can’t wait! Eeek loved watching you and can’t wait to see you summit ❤
Yay!! Let’s gooo! It’s going to be epic! 💙☀️🙏🏼
Great news! I absolutely love the sensitivity to God’s urging. I definitely felt God’s presence in sharing the gospel while on my long section hike last year. You two are two of my favorite sisters on UA-cam! It’s great to know that if we never meet on this side, we will enjoy His presence together on the other side. 👍🏼🙏🏼💕
Thank you! We are eager to follow God’s plan! His plan is so much better than any we could imagine. We genuinely appreciate your kindness and support. 💙☀️🙏🏼
You have my support!! God bless you and your family, looking forward to this adventure ❤️🙏❤️
Thank you so much! We appreciate your prayers, kindness and support so much. Let’s do this together! 💙☀️🙏🏼
I am excited for you and Little Bear and support your Mission for Appalachia. It is a powerful mission with a purpose to help others that makes you both so special. God Bless and God Speed!
Thank you so much. We’re honored you’ll join us again next year. We’re honored to be Hiking for Healing in Appalachia. God bless! 💙☀️🙏🏼
This is great news! When you get to Mass next year we have a room and homemade meals for you. I may not be able to contribute financially. This is another way to contribute. I invite everyone to open there home along the trail so the money spent on food and lodging can be put into your cause. You send off love and light i send send off peace love and understanding
Thank you so much for your generosity and kindness! We’ll see you when we get to Mass! This is going to be an amazing journey! 💙☀️🙏🏼
I'm so happy and proud of you ladies. I felt in my heart this was the message you were going to share. I believe God will do amazing things through you both
I am so excited for you two!!! I will be praying and will be here following yall all the way! Can't wait!! This is how it was meant to be!
I agree! Thank you so much for your kindness and support! Let’s do this! 💙☀️🙏🏼
So happy you’ve decided to go again!! Happy to follow along. Congratulations 🎉🎈
Thank you so much! We’re excited to Hike for Healing for Appalachia! We’re so glad you’re here and will join us!
Glad to hear this. Ill be praying over you guys.
Thank you so much. Your prayers mean everything to us! 💙☀️🙏🏼
What a beautiful mission, I will follow and support ❤️
Thank you so much! We’re thankful to have you with us! 💙☀️☀️
Yay! Let's GO! Kudos to your sweet hubby for tossing the idea around with you. What an awesome chance to really impact lives in Appalachia. Yall are such an inspiration! It'd be an honor to donate to Hike for Healing in Appalachia!
I’m so grateful to my husband. He is truly my biggest supporter and best friend. 💙
Thank you so much. We are honored. Together, I believe we can all make a huge difference for Appalachia! Can’t wait til February! 💙☀️🙏🏼
Love to hear it! You both have a sweet spirits. I followed you last year and would love to again next year.
What a great thing to make it a fund raiser too 👏🏼
Thank you! We’re so happy to have you a part of this continued journey! 💙☀️🙏🏼
You have such beautiful hearts and to hear you will walk with Jesus once again and with purpose of healing is giving me goosebumps! Thank you for sharing your insights and for Little Bear sharing her faith.
I am inspired by your Faith journey and cannot wait to support you as I follow along!
Thank you. 🥹
Your kind words and support mean a lot to us. God’s plan is so much better than any plan we could ever even imagine. Thank you for joining us. 💙☀️🙏🏼
Yay! Will be following you.
You are braver than me walking on that trail. I’d be nervous of alligators.
Thank you! We look forward to sharing our adventures! 💙☀️🙏🏼
Wow exciting and unexpected. Great idea and cause. 🙏😊❤️
Thank you so much! We hope you’ll join us as we hike for healing in Appalachia! 💙☀️🙏🏼
Thank you! I have missed the two of you so much. Your words and videos were often the highlight of my day and when you got off trail my heart was saddened. It was purely for my selfish reasons because you brought me so much joy. I did understand the decision but my hope was you would return. Prayers were answered and I'm so looking forward to February! Love and Light to you!
Hey there! Thank you so much. Your kindness, encouragement and support mean so much to us. Seriously, it really does.
I’m so thankful you’ll join us again for this epic adventure. God’s plan is unfolding and we’re so here for it! Love and light to you! 💙☀️🙏🏼
No wayyyyyy!!!! I am so thrilled you're giving it another go. This was an awesome surprise. It is worthwhile cause and validation that God always has a plan. I am very excited to follow along again. God bless and many blessings yeahhhhh🥾⛰️
Thank you so much! God’s plans are always so much better than anything we can imagine. We’re honored and excited! God bless you!
What great news! I admire your faith and trusting God’s plans for you both. What a great fund raiser for so many people that are hurting. Can’t wait to journey with you once again. And like I said before if you need a place to get out of the weather or a bed to sleep in I live in Blairsville about 25 minutes from Neels Gap…Winkle
Thanks Winkle! We appreciate you so much. We’re excited to get out there and Hike for Healing in Appalachia! God’s plan is so much better than any we can imagine. 💙☀️🙏🏼
Very cool!! Hoping the trail will be ready for you when you come.
Thank you so much. The volunteers, sawyers, and trail maintainers are working so hard and making a lot of progress! There will definitely be some reroutes (particularly around the Nolichucky River in Erwin). If we need to shuttle around a closed section, we will and then come back later that year to complete it. The southern portion of the trail will certainly look different than when we hiked it before.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Our Lord goes before you in all things always in all ways.
❤ &🕯️
Amen! Amen! Thank you!
wow! part 2 from the beginning. going to be soooo much different this time on the trail. will be a nice contrast of the before and after the storm.
We’re excited and eager to eager back on trail. The southern part will certainly look a bit different. I’m so glad we got to do that part before the storm.
@wildflowersadventures will be sad to see the places you stayed at no longer there.
Great to hear that you are getting back out there again. My wife and I enjoyed watching your videos of your hike this year and were sorry to see you get off trail. I will be starting in Feb 2025 as well, so hope to see you out there. God bless.
Thanks so much! Good luck to you! I’m sure we’ll see you out there! 💙☀️🙏🏼
I'm not remotely religious but using a hike to fundraise for others in need sounds like a really great idea. Hopefully you can get a big group together and help in a big way.
Thank you so much! I really hope we can raise a significant amount to help the people of Appalachia.
Yay!! So excited to follow along! 🎉 Thank you for sharing how God moved in your lives regarding your thru hike and the fundraising for Appalachia. 🙌 I'll commit to praying for you. 🙏
Thank you so much! We’re so grateful for your prayers, kindness and support! We’re humbled by God’s plans are excited to follow them. Let’s do this together! 💙☀️🙏🏼
Yay! I'm so excited for ya'll! Happy trails!
We are too!! This is going to be amazing! 💙
Hey Guys..I’m so proud of you. You Guys were a testament to ministry everyday on your 2024 hike. I know this because you helped me so much. I believe it’s simply why we are here… to extend that hand out to whoever needs it… our soul purpose! God’s love thru our fingertips…I will do all I can to help… 🙏🏼✌️🙂❤️
Hey there!
Thank you so much. Your continued kindness and support has really helped us. We genuinely appreciate you!
We feel incredibly blessed to be walking in faith with God. We had no idea of His plans, but we will blindly and obediently follow Him. His plans are greater than we can even imagine! Let’s do this together! 💙☀️🙏🏼
We are happy to hear that God has called you for this mission. We are s blessed that we found you and your family. May the Lord continue to give you wisdom and discernment. God has talk to my daughter and I through dreams in fact that is How the Lord convicted me of sin and I woke out of that dream asking Him for forgiveness and salvation, and I felt like my heart was filled with overflowing love. God bless you all and our prayers will always be with you.
Oh wow! Thank you for sharing! God is so good. I’m so glad you received His word and chose obedience. The life He has for us is so much better than trying to do it on our own. For as long as I can remember, God has always spoken to Little Bear in her dreams. Her relationship with Him is so special. 💙
Thank you for your prayers. I can’t tell you how much they mean to us. When we were out there walking this year, we felt like we were walking in a bubble of protection and we know that’s because of your prayers.
Thank you for joining us again next year as we Hike for Healing for Appalachia! 💙☀️🙏🏼
@wildflowersadventures You're very welcome❤ We serve an amazing God. We have not stop praying for all those affected by the hurricane, and the Lord has put appalachia in our 💕s.
Sounds Great, I will follow and support you and Appalachia. Good luck and have fun.
Thank you so much! We appreciate you. 💙☀️🙏🏼
Morning, Mama Bear and Little Bear. Loved the wetlands walk. Love seeing all the birds and flowers. What a surprise. I had already started praying about who I was going to follow along the trail this year. I "knew" you two had planned a LASH so knew I'd be with you through that. But had no idea who else, if anyone. So now I know. I commit to praying you up the trail. I'm excited for both of you and believe in you and your purpose. You two are full of surprises. Take care. Stay safe. See you next time.
Good morning! ☀️
Thank you so much. We honestly can’t express how much your prayers mean to us. We could feel your prayers as we walked those 758.8 miles this past year. We felt like we had a bubble of protection around us.
We are so humbled and honored to walk for Appalachia’s healing next year. God had a plan all along and we’re honored.
Love and light to you. We’ll see you next time.
Can't wait. Let's do this!
Let’s gooo!
You are thoroughly prepared. Surprises, if any, will be dealt with calmly. One step at a time. The AT becomes a "Camino" (The Path or The Way) for you. The Trail will provide for you. The Path or The Way will provide. An amazing moment in the life of your family. Thanks for sharing. We are near Pine Grove Furnace when you get to the half way point if you need anything.
Thank you for your kind words and encouragement! We feel such peace and calmness and confidence going into this hike. We’re ready! Hope to meet you near Pine Grove Furnace. 💙☀️🙏🏼
That's great news. I surely will follow your journey !!
Thank you!! We are so glad you’ll join us! Let’s do this!
Love this so much!
Thank you! We hope you’ll join us. It’s going to be an epic adventure! 💙☀️🙏🏼
Great news, looking forward to following again.
Thank you! We’re so glad you’ll join us again and share this journey!
Congrats! This is awesome news. I hope you can make it through this time. I recommend you going SOBO. This way you will be heading towards home while hiking.
Thank you! We’re excited! SOBO was definitely a thought, but Little Bear voted NOBO.
I’m so excited for you two. And that’s such a great cause. I look forward to supporting you guys and seeing you on trail again and helping out in whatever way I can with bringing “Healing to Appalachia”. How early in February will you be starting??
Hey friend!! Thank you! We’re stoked! Hiking for Appalachia means so much to us. We pray we’re able to continue to raise awareness as people tend to forget as the months pass, as well as funds to help them heal, recover, and eventually rebuild.
I’ll message you with tentative start date. 🙏🏼
We have Mockingbirds in Oklahoma that not only mimic cats, kittens, other birds, but car alarms, doorbells, and cell phones. Awesome that you will thru hike again!
Oh wow! Isn’t that interesting?! I’m just glad I didn’t risk my life and limbs to save a frog thinking it was a kitten! 😂
And thank you! We’re super excited! We hope you’ll join us.
@ If not in reality perhaps virtually. I did snag a permit for the PCT. But my first love is the AT. I may just relinquish it and hike what we can of the AT. I plan to fund raise for the AT communities as well. I love the effort being made currently of giving community members without homes, prebuilt sheds for temporary shelters at least. This way they don’t lose the little they have to theft when left in a tent. Bri From Scratch has been organizing a lot of that work.
Had no idea you were from Melbourne area! Im here in Satellite Bch and have been section hiking the A.T. for 6 years. Almost to Harpers Ferry where I plan to stop and hopefully take a leave from BPS and finish the trail this summer!
Hey neighbor! That’s so exciting. Maybe we’ll see you on trail! 😊
This is so nice, that are going to walk the trail again. To help with the relief of the hurricane 🌀. The smokey mountains, are a special place.
Thank you! We hope you’ll join us and share this adventure.
Awesome! Wow you girls GO! Asking our Lord and Savior to lead and guide you all the way ! KNOW you two will be salt and lite on trail! Sooooooooo excited to follow along with you and Jesus!
Thank you so much for your prayers and support. It means the world to us. We’re so happy you’ll join us in our journey. 💙☀️🙏🏼
@ just fyi I live on Lookout Mountain. If you guys are this way at Cloudland Canyon please give me a shout would love to bring you a bit of trail Magic. Blessings!
@cindymessinger7666 Oh!! One of our favorite places in the world. We were just there in September and plan to go back once we complete the AT next year. 💙☀️🙏🏼
A kind word of caution...
As I live and work alongside the AT, I recall a person coming to our cafe in February. He said it had gotten so cold in the middle of the night that he had to break camp and hike out as the snow fell.
Hi friend. Thank you for that. We appreciate you sharing that with us. I believe we are prepared for the cold weather. Our first day on trail this year, it was 15 degrees and we were warm and toasty with our gear choices.
We have the Nemo Tensor Extreme (8.5 r value), along with 10 degree quilts and super warm merino wool (260) sleep clothes and socks.
As always, we will be safe and get off trail in the event of a potential dangerous weather event. 💙☀️🙏🏼
Excellent news. What a glorious cause. 🥰 Hope to see y’all on trail. 🐻
Thank you! It’s such a worth reason to hike. Hope to see you on trail, too! 💙☀️🙏🏼
Yay!!🎉 Wow, February, that's just around the corner. I'm so excited! Prayers for you guys 🙏. My family and I were at Grayson Highland this past Sat. We hiked toward Mt. Rogers to go through the Fat Man Squeeze that we've seen only on AT videos. As we hiked, I was thinking MB and LB were here not too long ago 😊!
Aww, that’s so cool! Thanks for thinking of us. I look forward to that section again! February will be here before we know it! So excited! We hope you’ll join us again! 💙☀️🙏🏼
Ok…I’m just now seeing this and understand why you replied to my comment on Nahamsha’s vid about my ‘25 Thru-hike Attempt with…“We’ll see ya out there”. I really enjoyed your vids on your last attempt. Little Bear is SUCH an impressive young lady!
I too prayed a lot about my hike. I thought I was going to attempt it a year earlier, when unexpectedly my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. Needless to say, it didn’t happen. Looking back, I wasn’t truly ready. God had other plans for us.
My wife is in a good place now with her health and the timing just seems right. I early retired in June.
So, I too, hope to see you guys out there!! 🙌🏻
#ATthruhikeClassOf25
Hey friend!! Haha, sorry, I should have clarified on your post.
Thank you for your kind words. Little Bear is so awesome, truly the toughest human I’ve met to date!
I’m so happy to hear your wife is well and you’re able to get on the AT! Thank God for her healing!
We hope to meet you on trail! Let’s do this! 💙☀️🙏🏼
I'll give it another chance, hope the outcome is different this time. I am glad you're trying again, I really enjoyed following along.
Thank you so much. We appreciate your support. 🙏🏼
I can't wait !!!!!!
Same!! We’re so ready! Thank you for joining us. It’s going to be great! 💙☀️🙏🏼
Yay! I’m so excited!
Thank you! We are, too! Can’t wait for February! 💙☀️🙏🏼
I'm interested in hearing about any ideas/plans that you have to avoid the home sickness that ended your thru hike last year
Hi there! Thank you for your interest. 😊
So, no matter what, we will miss our family and it will be a challenge.
But, this time, we have a different mindset….not better or worse, just different. On our first go round, we were hiking just for fun. Smiles over miles. So, when we missed our family more than we were having fun, it was an easy choice to come home. The fun wasn’t worth missing our family anymore.
This time, we are hiking for a cause that we’re passionate about, a cause that’s much bigger than hiking just for fun. It’s something to fight for and worth being away from our family. We can achieve smiles and miles and further the worthy cause of continuing to raise awareness and funds to help our beloved Appalachia heal, recover, and eventually rebuild.
Mindset and purpose: those are the biggest game changers.
Additionally, my family will hopefully be able to visit more this coming year, but if not, it’s something we will work through together. And we will lean on God more than we did last time. We will lean on Him for strength instead of trying to muscle through it on our own.
I'm very pleased you're going to attempt the AT again. Will gladly follow. I was there in 24, doing a flip-flop. Had to stop after 350 miles due to injury.
Oh no, I’m so sorry you were injured. I hope you are healed completely.
Thank you for joining us again and sharing our journey! 💙☀️🙏🏼
See y’all out there bc I hope to be Amicalola mid February as a legally blind hiker
Wow, what an awesome feat you are attempting. Congratulations! I’m sure we’ll see you out there. Happy trails!
This is a wonderful plan! We too helped in Burnsville NC near Mountain Harbor and the only description is that it’s a war zone. A secondary fundraiser will be the simple fact you are hiking and using the businesses along the trail. ❤
Thank you! Although unexpected, I think it’s a great plan. And thank you for helping, too. You’re right. A war zone is a great description. Genuinely heartbreaking.
And that’s a great point! The trail towns also need revenue. That’s a secondary, but equally important issue affecting Appalachia that I think some don’t realize. Their businesses are their livelihood and the way they feed their families. This is why we did a small section in Georgia in the way home from Erwin. They suffered a loss of business when people were told the GA trail was impassable, too.
Can’t wait to see you back on the trail In February. Will your journey start where you left off or starting at Springer Mountain again ? Take care & God Bless Hike on!! 🥾🏕️
Thank you! We’re excited and ready. We will start over at Springer. Can’t wait!! God bless! 💙☀️🙏🏼
ADVENTURE TRAILS!!! WILD LIFE- GOD'S CREATION!!! THANK YOU FOR SHARING NICE!!!😊
It was a fun little walk! Thanks for watching! 😊
Maybe you should take the word “attempt” out of your word list. You and God have this! My vote? Samaritans Purse. They have been so faithful being immediately on the front lines around the world when needed. Soooo excited to follow you. (Little Bear! You’ve grown a few inches haven’t you?!)
Good idea! I love the way you’re thinking!
I am currently talking to Samaritan’s Purse as I feel the same as you. They are the real deal and doing such good work!
Little Bear isn’t so little anymore, right? Sigh! My baby is growing up! 💙☀️🙏🏼
!!! 👏👏👏
💙💙💙
❤ &🕯️
Awww, I love that!
Hope to see you on the trail !! I will be leaving Florida also and starting the trail in February . I feel for the people there in Appalachia and know first hand about devastation. Oct 10, 2018 Category 5 Hurricane Michael came across Bay County and it looked like an atomic bomb had been dropped on our town. It took years, but it is coming back. People will come together to help them build back , as they did here. It just takes time. I will support them any way I can while I am there🙂
Flatlanders unite! 😂 We’ll see you out there!
You guys rock. Just an fyi, Samaritans purse is a good organization to donate to. We can’t wait till February.
Thank you! I agree. I’m currently talking to Samaritan’s Purse and hope to firm up the details soon! Thank you for your support! February will be here before we know it. 💙☀️🙏🏼
The small white flowers covering the ground could be Florida pusley, also known as Florida snow or Mexican clover.
Yes!! I love when our yard gets covered in Florida snow! All the bees love it. 💙
looking forward to this
Thank you! 🙏🏼
I’m so excited for you both! I wish I had the chance again next year as well. You guys will rock it in 2025, I’m sure of it! Tell little bear I said hello! - Princess
Hey Princess! I wish you could go with us! That would be so much fun.
LB said hello!!
And thank you! We’re ready! 💙☀️🙏🏼
Via Con Dios and be blessed as you bless others.
Amen. Thank you so much. God bless you! 💙☀️🙏🏼
Oh I’m from western north carolina
Hi there. I hope you are one of the ones who fared ok during the storm.
Wow, I didn’t see this coming! I think that’s what I said when you decided to quit last time! lol Good for you two! That’s a great idea to make it a fundraiser! I’ll definitely support your fundraiser! There are some great organizations that are out there! Obviously you want to make sure it stays in the Appalachia area that was hurt by Helene! I followed you two last year so I will gladly follow you again next year! Wish you two the best of luck on your 2025 AT adventure! ❤️
That makes three of us! 😂 We didn’t see this coming either, but we’re so grateful for this opportunity. Thank you for your kindness and support. Let’s do this together! 💙☀️🙏🏼
Trips home, and trail visits from family often should be part of your plans. I know it's complicated, and challenging but I believe it's possible to do with airports and shuttles, possibly some trail angels can offer airport shuttles for your family. It will be awesome to keep up the awareness of all the affected communities, it really is overwhelming how much devastation there is.
Thank you 🙏🏼
Those are good ideas and we will make that more of a priority this time around.
Our mindset is completely different than the first time around…not better or worse, just different. Hiking for a cause, to me, is much more powerful than just hiking for fun.
I’m praying that we can help to keep Appalachia and their needs on the forefront so people can continue to help in any way that they can. It’s going to be a long road for them, but together, we can all make a significant difference! 💙☀️🙏🏼
@wildflowersadventures The mission will absolutely keep you motivated, more than just miles and smiles. ✌️♥️💪✝️🙏
@vibelife5133 so true! It’s so much bigger than we are or any suffering we may endure.
Yay! That is the best news! I can't wait to follow your 2025 journey.
Thank you! We appreciate your kindness and support! 💙☀️🙏🏼
Have you tuned in to YT to see Hiking the Appalachian Trail for Parkinson's Disease when a mom (66) and her daughter (27) hiked the trail a couple of years ago? I love how they did periodic updates along the journey on the status of the fundraiser and I loved their attitudes all along the way! They (trail names became Lilo and Stitch) ROCKED it and I KNOW you both will as well, and this time with assistance for Appalachia being your motivation!
Hey there!
No, I haven’t heard of them, but they sound pretty awesome! Maybe I’ll check them out! Thank you for the suggestion!
We appreciate your kind words. We are honored to hike for such a worthy cause. 💙☀️🙏🏼
It's in the 60s here and may snow this weekend
That seems lovely! We’re still in the high 80’s and sweating bullets! 🥵
The blue herons are so beautiful!!
I am so happy with your news!!! 🙏🏼. You will finish this time, i know it- you have a purpose!
You will need winter gear correct? Starting in Feb?
So looking forward to this for you!! For helping people!
Thank you! Yes, we have a different mindset this time…not better or worse, just different. We’re hiking for a purpose and a cause so much bigger than ourselves.
I believe our current winter gear is sufficient. We have an 8.5 r value pad (Nemo Tensor Extreme) and 10 degree quilts. Our sleep clothes are 260 merino wool base layers that are very warm. Our first night on the AT last year was 15 degrees and we were warm.
Thank you for joining us again. It’s going to be amazing! 💙☀️🙏🏼
@ it was great what you did before on the trail and even not knowing then it was preparing you for this upcoming journey! God knows!!! 🙏🏼
Amen! He knows! I agree with you. Can’t wait til February!
Hi Mama Bear and Litfle Bear! You saw a lot of awesome birds and wildlife on the wetlands walk! My husband loves photography so we often go on nature walks and hikes. There is a free app called Merlin that will pick up on the types of birds that are around you when they make a noise. Lol I would have been nervous if a gator decided to make a youtube debut. Oh wow! I am so happy to hear your announcement about thru-hiking in 2025! I definitely will be following along on your journey. I believe with your previous thru-hike attempt that God was preparing you for a mission. I think that it is amazing that you will be hiking to raise money for Appalachia. I would love to donate something for sure. I believe it's all in God's timing that he wants both of you to use your hiking talents for His mission. God bless you both as you prepare to embark on this journey! 😊❤️
We did see a lot of cool birds, and are kinda glad a gator or two decided against making their UA-cam debut! 😂 We might download that app. We’ve heard it was a good one. I bet the walks with your husband are very special.
I think you’re spot on about this attempt at a thru hike. God always has a plan and it’s far better than any one we can imagine. I think that’s why we were so at peace when we decided to come home prematurely this year. Although we didn’t complete our goal to Katahdin as we had originally set out to, us coming home wasn’t premature at all, in God’s plan. It’s exciting and humbling to watch the plan unfold, step by step.
Thank you for joining us again and for your continued support and encouragement.
As soon as I get the details for the fundraiser ironed out, I’ll share it with everyone. Together, we can truly make a difference in the healing, recovery, and eventually rebuilding of Appalachia. 💙☀️🙏🏼
Almost forgot, have LB listen to a catbird mew. They're migratory birds that are here in the northeast from April to August. Then they head back your way. They so sound like 🐈 😂
Hahaha, ok will do! Just glad it wasn’t a kitten. We were committed to saving it!
Great news! I hate to be so assertive to say it, but I knew you would be back, because once that trail gets in your blood it's hard, to impossible to stay away from it for very long. The calling from an old love is strong. And maybe, your first 700 miles was God's way of preparing you for the Big hike and helping Appalachia recover. I'm proud for you and will help support your hike. Kanati, AT class 08
Hahaha, I think you are absolutely right! It called us back and I do believe that first 700 miles was a warm up because God had a better plan. Thank you so much for your kindness, generosity and support. Can’t wait for February! 💙☀️🙏🏼
🚶♀️👟👟🐻🚶♂️👟👟🐻⛺🌞 that isn't very great news I'm so happy for you both I will continue to root you on from North Carolina I'm so excited 💯🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
Thank you so much! We appreciate your continued support! 💙☀️🙏🏼
This is amazing!! I am so excited to hear about this and I cannot wait to find out how to support you both in addition to standing with you in prayer as you live out Ephesians 2:10 We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do; and Matthew 5:16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. You are both salt and light!!!
Amen!!! Thank you for sharing this! We are humbled and honored to follow God’s plan.
We appreciate your support and are excited to share this journey with you. 💙☀️🙏🏼
God bless!
Wow this is a wonderful idea ..I hiked 52 miles in two days and raised 1, 600 dollars for stop suicide for veterans..this is something I definitely would love to be a part of since I'm attempting my thru hike in 2025..I wasn't sure if those sections will even be open..however please let us no if other hikers can help with this is know many who would support this ..I even know friends who deliverd supplies down there ..please keep us in the loop ..I'm thinking starting in march ..
Hi there! Thank you.
After completing 758 miles this year, we left a big part of our hearts in Appalachia. Once we came back from our volunteer work in Erwin a few weeks ago, the strong pull to help in whatever way that we can is leading this effort. I’m currently talking to a few people and getting guidance on the best way to go about it. I should have a link to a page where people can donate soon. Once I post it, one of the biggest ways you can help is to share it so it reaches as many people as possible. We’ll need help getting the word out and that will take all hands on deck.
Thank you for your offer to help. We appreciate you so much. 💙☀️🙏🏼
We hope to see you out there next year!
I wonder if you’d be better off starting later in the season, starting where you left off, and hiking north to Katahdin. Then, if you still feel like hiking, go back to your 25 start and hike south to Springer.
If you get homesick again, you might still finish the trail in two big LASHes. If you can do the whole thing, you’ll have given the trail more time to recover from Helene and have no risk of trail closures in the south.
Thanks for your thoughts. We have considered many things in making our decision and have decided to start from Springer and head NOBO. We’re prepared to shuttle around areas that may still be impassable. Luckily, with the significant amount of work that has already been accomplished by so many amazing volunteers and trail maintainers, I think it will be doable. We appreciate you and understand some will have different opinions. 💙☀️🙏🏼
Happy for you both and can’t wait to see you on the trails. PS. I will be attempting my blue belt in BJJ in a few weeks. It’s been a beautiful experience but my body is starting to fall apart 😂🥋⛰️🥾🐻🧸❤️👍
@jamesquinlivan7876 thanks so much! And good luck! Go get it! You’ve got this! 💪🏼 Keep us updated. 😊
@@wildflowersadventures Thank so much. I will definitely let you know when I succeed. They call me ‘ The OG’. The Original Gangster 🤣. I’m currently the oldest student. I just turned 67 in October! Never give up. Life is short, don’t sit still 👍🙏😊
@jamesquinlivan7876 yes!!! Inspiration right there! Go get it!! We’re cheering for you friend!
Hi mama bear and little bear unknown soldier here glad to here your back on trial in February I'm still looking to get out on trial in 2026-27i will be following you as you do the second round and I've seen pictures of the devastation looks like an atomic bomb hit the area without everything being set on fire from it my prayers go out to you love life and God bless the Unknown Soldier
Hey Unknown Soldier!
I was hoping you’d see this video and announcement. We appreciated your kindness, encouragement, and support during our first attempt. You make a difference. 😊
Yeah, the pictures and videos barely scratch the surface in conveying the complete devastation. It’s our hope we can continue to help Appalachia heal.
Love and light to you, friend. God bless!
Your hike will be here before you know it!
I hope you get mild temperatures and safe trails. February can be cold and slippery in Georgia.
Thank you! We do, too. Although we can tolerate the cold much better than the heat. I think our gear is pretty solid. Our first night on the AT this year was 15 degrees and we were toasty.
@ You have my prayers for a safe and successful journey.
Some of the trail is in really bad shape. Why not do a flip flop starting in Roanoke going north, then come back and redo the affected area after the maintainers have had time to rebuild. Ramdino has a pretty good review of the current status. That would also open up unlimited options on time constraints. Just a thought. Looking forward to following ya'll!
Thank you! We’re glad you’ll be a part of our journey. The trail is coming together quite quickly, despite the initial devastation. I’ve been following along and have spoken to quite a few people on the progress. I think it’ll mostly be passable by the time we get to the damaged areas. I think we will for sure have to do a short road walk in Erwin around Uncle Johnny’s, and there will be other reroutes, but I think it’ll be ok. If we have to skip a few small sections, we’ll complete them on the way back home with my husband. 😊
I agree with that plan. You would be completing a two year through hike while retaining the option to complete a calendar year through hike. Thus becoming two time AT through hikers.
Love your photography. What kind of camera are you using? Can’t wait to hear the surprise.
Thank you! I’m using my iPhone 15 ProMax. 😊
Hope you stay at many of hostels to support them. So many platform to support. Many do two fund raise one to help hikes community to rebuild other Samantha( sp?)purse.
Absolutely! We will do our very best to stay at as many hostels and shop in the towns that were affected, as budget allows, of course. It can get very expensive, very quickly, especially with 2 of us, but it’s our goal to support the trail towns as much as possible. 💙☀️🙏🏼
Love the news. Will be watching. Isn’t February a little too early? It going to get colder as you head North.
Thank you! I think mid February will be perfect for us. We have very warm winter gear, plus, it’ll hopefully spare us from the difficult heat of the height of summer. Some people are leaving January 1. I think that might be a little too cold for a little too long for us. We’ll see you on trail! 💙☀️🙏🏼
So sweet that you wanted to save a possible kitten. I would caution you though that unless you can see it, if you don’t know where it is you may be setting yourself up for failure and possible danger since you can’t see animals around you in that brush.
Hey friend!!! Thank you! One thing people know about us is our love for animals. I’d fight a gator and a moccasin to save a kitten! 😂 Glad we didn’t have to and nearly positive it was that dang frog! Thanks for your word of caution. I kept praying, Lord protect us if we have to go in there!
@ well, with Gods protection you can do anything. As long as you aren’t putting His protection to the test.
Yall wil be walking a very different trail thru Georgia, North Carolina, Etc, from the Hurricain damage. Probably a few total new work arounds, at least for a bit. Please document those parts of the trail well. Many will want to know.
The trail will look quite a bit different than the last time we walked it. Georgia is completely unaffected, but parts of Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia will consist of less tree, reroutes, and some structural changes. Many volunteers, sawyers, and trail maintainers are working so hard on restoring our beautiful trail. The progress they have already made is nothing short of impressive. We’re so thankful for them and look forward to documenting our journey. We hope you’ll join us!
@@wildflowersadventures But of course. I was a little shocked when yall got off trail this year. I wasnt ready for that lol.
@BOSmith1958 I totally understand. We surprised ourselves! 😂 Thank you for joining us again. 💙🙏🏼
What,what,what ? LOL 😄 wow that's great 👍 and to start over from the very beginning too ! I thought you'd start from where you left off ? congradulations on your big news ! I think that's wonderful!
Are you going to takeyour same gear as before? Or will you change it out ? The reason why I'm asking is because I'm on the verge / cusp of buying a hyperlite backpack either the junction or the unbound 40 L but not even sure if i should . ( psss,,, God is telling me I don't need to spend the money ) soo there's that . But we're you happy with your hyperlite? I've seen countless videos of people on the AT that swap them out after a while saying there hips or shoulders hurt after a while. I should listen to God right ? Lol 😊 anyway thanks for the video ! That place looks very nice !
Hey there! Thank you! We’re stoked!!
Yeah, we’re starting from Springer. Originally we had planned to just section hike it next year, picking up from 758.8. God had different plans! 😊
Yes!! Shouting from the rooftops, yes! I love my HMG Junction so much. I wouldn’t change a single thing. Taking it this go round, too.
On the contrary for me…all the videos I’ve watched with HMG bags have been super positive. It sounds like if their shoulders or hips hurt, it wasn’t fitted right.
But anyway, yeah, listen to God. Maybe He’s just saying not yet. lol!
If you were at peace when you left the trail then you did the right thing. God was speaking to you. May have been a good reason not to complete the trail then.
I agree. I’m telling you….it was strange. We were never miserable or unhappy. It went from, we’re happy and things are great (still missing family, of course, but completely manageable) to we’re ready to go home….almost overnight. Then, when we took a few days off in Roanoke to continue to pray and process, the peace was the driving force and ultimate decision maker. As we continue to process this whole thing, we’re confident God’s plan is better than any plan we could imagine. We’re excited for all that’s to come!