Written by: Katherine ‘Ringleader’ Imp I have mastered the art of zen. I’m sure people have used other words and phrases to describe the meditative state I find myself in — but for now, I’ll call it zen. Mentally, the first half of this thru-hike was brutal. I charged through law school in 2.5 years [...]

Written by: Katherine ‘Ringleader’ Imp The Appalachian Trail attracts all walks of life. Why? Because you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to walk it. In fact, most people that attempt a thru-hike have no experience in backpacking, hiking, or camping. The trail is covered with signs directing you where to sleep, where to [...]

Written by Katherine “Ringleader” Imp 6:30 am :  Beep, Beep, Beep.  Ugh, don’t want to get up yet.  But I have to pee.  Omg, unzip tent!  Must pee.  Must pee.  Got it… 8:00 am : It is way too early to be going uphill.  I wonder what kind of view there is on Annapolis Rock.  [...]

Written by: Katherine ‘Ringleader’ Imp Last week, the Traveling Circus took their one and only break from the Appalachian Trail. Lightning went to Trail Days, and Monkey and I went to my law school graduation. People asked Monkey and I a whole variety of questions, but my favorite question to answer is always this: What [...]

Written by: Katherine “Ringleader” Imp In 2002 I met a woman that changed my life. She wasn’t particularly attractive. Her teeth were crooked, her hair was a mess, and for the 2 weeks I knew her, she never once changed her clothes. She didn’t have much of an academic education, nor did she plan to [...]

Written by: Katherine “Ringleader” Imp “You know there have already been documentaries made about the Appalachian Trail.” “You carry that camera in your pack? It looks really heavy.” “You didn’t go to film school and you’re making a film?” No matter where you are — on the Appalachian Trail, in a big city, or in [...]

Written by: Katherine ‘Ringleader’ Imp I lost my ‘why’ in Hampton, TN. I was sitting in Kinkora hostel, watching Brandon play Jenga with Prophet, Cowgirl, and Moonpie. I was full from a pizza buffet and had a bag of jelly beans in my hand. I was showered. My clothes were in the laundry. Hell, I’d [...]

Written by: Katherine “Ringleader” Imp Today I got an email from the Illinois bar examiners. It said that I had passed the Illinois bar exam. I read the email in a small library in Hot Springs, NC. This is the best day of my life.

Written by: Katherine “Ringleader” Imp The day we hiked to Gatlinburg I hitchhiked 5 times. We woke up in a shelter in the Smokies, about 12 miles from the road that brings you to Gatlinburg. I got out of my warm sleeping bag to find everything covered in snow and frost. We began the walk [...]

Written by: Katherine “Ringleader” Imp I didn’t know much about the Appalachian Trail before coming out here. I didn’t do a “test run”, nor did I read any books. I just knew that there was something about the trail that attracts millions of people every year and I wanted to be in on that secret. [...]