AT Section Hike 2026 “No 🌧️ , No pain 😫, No Maine”

This is a common phrase quoted by thru- hikers. It is to be an encouragement to press on, despite the difficulties, to reach the ultimate goal.

No Rain…No Pain….No Maine.

🩷💜🌺🌸🌹💐Mother’s Day! Yay!

🦋Butterfly and I celebrated with a beautiful hike in these Virginia Mountains. 🏔️ We had no signal at the shelter, so we start trying to find it as we climb up in elevation. After an hour or so, we were high enough. My first text that came through was my son Kris, my weatherman, that we may be in for thunderstorms ⛈️ this evening, with dropping temperatures, more rain on Monday, then a low of 40 degrees Monday night. 🥶

Yowza. Not the best weather to hike. It’s one thing to hike in rain. ☔️ It’s another thing to get soaking wet and have low temperatures. Kris suggested getting off trail somewhere that night. Butterfly and I discussed it. We were originally planning to have a short day to a nice camping area, about 5.5 miles. However, we did so well yesterday, we were ready to do more. We thought we might head to the next shelter, which was 13.5 miles. Kris’ idea of maybe making it to Bland and staying overnight Monday too, to avoid the rain and cold, sounded better.

We started looking on our phones. 📱 Not a lot of choices around Bland. I texted my daughter-in-law, Carla, to see if she remembered the name of the cabin she rented for Kris and Kenneth when they hiked the AT through here in 2012. She found it and inquired about it. Oh the prices 💰 had jumped up. And, we’d need a shuttle to make that work.🤷🏻‍♀️

🦋Butterfly had a good idea- Weary Feet Hostel, the next one we planned to go to for resupply, might be close enough to shuttle us and let us stay there Sunday-Monday. Carla volunteered to call. She didn’t want to leave us out in the rain and cold and knew our cell reception was tentative. I’d already lost connection once and we were now very focused on hiking over twice the distance we’d originally planned.

Carla was able to reach Weary Feet and reserve the room as well as secure the shuttling! Fantastic! Thank you again, trail 👼 Carla! And Purple Haze, our hostess at Weary Feet- fabulous!

Answered prayer, absolutely. Butterfly and I prayed for extra strength and grace to get us there. Just as we approached our jump off point, 11 + miles, at Brushy Mountain Outpost, it started to 🌧️ . There was a nice carport there and a picnic table to wait for our ride. Praise the Lord!

Purple Haze came and drove us the 18 miles to their old Victorian style home in the country complete with 🐕 and 🐓 . It was very nice. She obviously likes purple 💜too. She has quite a story about hiking the Appalachian Trail. We heard about it and how they decided to buy the hostel 2 years ago. 🐻 Great place! Really good food too!

Another Mother’s Day blessing for me was being able to watch our church’s Sunday service on line. ⛪️ During the night, as I was praying about our days ahead and wide awake, I decided to watch the service. Usually I don’t do that at 2 am, but I miss my church family and love to hear what the Lord is saying. I get to watch my hubby play the piano and lead the worship too. ❤️❤️❤️👏

There was a word just after the worship, about God enabling us to “ ford rivers, cross valleys and climb 🏔️ . “He has enabled you to do this.” I believe He was speaking directly to me. I know He was to others too, but I could take this personally and literally! It is so good how God cares for us, comforts us, as Pastor preached, encourages us, and helps us. Thank you Jesus!

🙏If you don’t know Jesus, He wants you to know Him. He will come live inside you, if you ask. He will forgive you of all your sin, when you make Him Lord and Savior. He will make you brand new inside- a new creation in Him. Then, you can experience real life- a brand new life full of peace and joy on the inside. He will teach you how to hear Him. John 10:5 says that “My sheep know My voice. A stranger’s voice they will not follow.” He will guide you and give your life purpose. What a wonderful adventure life is, when you trust Him and follow His plan for your life!

For more information on making Jesus your Lord and Savior, you can go to other posts on this blog, such as Call on the Name of the Lord, The Sunday Evening Post- Who Can You Trust? And others.

Talk to your Pastor, or if you don’t have a church home, look for one in your area that teaches the Word of God. You will grow in Him and establish relationships with other Christians that will help you in your new life in Christ. Also, I’ll be happy to pray with you. Ginger.trine@ gmail.com.

💜👏 🥾 🏕️ 🏔️ 💐🌺🌸🦋 Life in God is a great adventure! Go out and enjoy it!