Kate StillwellProfile Photo

Kate Stillwell

Mom/Artist/Volunteer

PHOENIX here. I Started as a SOBO thru hiker in Katahdin Maine on June 8, 2017 with my daughter Alexa (AKA Tinkerbell AKA Tink). She finished on October 31, 2017 but my hike was plagued by mishaps and injury. So that hike ended after 100+ miles (Katahdin and đź’Ż mile wilderness. I tried to meet up with Tink later in Vermud but THAT idea was ixnayed when I broke my arm going down a rock scramble after Killington. Yeah so 2017 was NOT my year.

Fast forward to 2020 I was to thru hike SOBO FLIP FLOP from HF to Springer then bounce to Monson to HF BUT w COVID I decided to hike NOBO FLIP FLOP so I could be closer to home (Annapolis MD) as I hiked MD, PA and points north. I started that hike May 8, 2020 after delaying it for a month bc of COVID. I suffered a severe sprain 150 miles in (in PA) but continued for another 350 miles completing MD, PA, NJ, NY, and CT for 500 miles before the ankle became dangerously compromised.

Moving on I decided to return to the trail in early Spring 2021 as a LASHER as I cld not imagine rehiking the 600+ miles already hiked. My hope was to complete HF to Springer. I set out April 8, 2021 and had a cold but fabulous hike until May 1, 2021 when I injured (turns out I dislocated) the same previously injured ankle. So I returned home after completing 280 miles. So at this point I’m about 900 miles done.

I am taking a train back to Roanoke on May 1, 2022 and returning to my 2021 exit point (Mills Gap) on May 2 which just happens to be my younger son’s 30th birthday. Wish me a “lack of bad luck”!!!

May 21, 2022

Episode #125 - Kate Stillwell (Phoenix)

Jester chats with a familiar voice to the Hiking Radio Network, Kate Stillwell or Phoenix. Kate joins Jester's Class of 2022 Section Hikers with the hopes of LASHing her way on the AT South to Springer Mountain.