. . In 2017 I set out to create a serious of portraits along the Appalachian Trail. I decided to make a stop in Asheville NC And that’s where I ran into Nathan Robinson He was playing along the sidewalk. He has a great booming voice. There’s was just something there and I knew I had to take his portrait. @nathanrobinsonmusic . . #makeportraits #monochrome #naterobinson #asheville #northcarolina #portraiture #craigwilliamjohnston #bostonphotographer #thruhiker #appalachiantrail #musicianportrait #streetphotography #streetportrait #throwback #AT2017 #triplecrownhiker #photographer (at Asheville, North Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzwZDGklgAW/?igshid=1sza3jlgw9gdw

Happy 50th birthday to our beloved Appalachian Trail! 🎉 It’s the anniversary of the National Trails System Act, and it is one of the best things to ever happen to this wild and wonderful country! It is a complete honor and a true gift to have been able to hike from Georgia to Maine on some of this country’s most beautiful and protected lands! 📍🏕✨ 💚 #findyourtrail #appalachiantrail #AT2017 #thruhikers #optoutside #traillifeisthebestlife #trailwithdrawalsforlife #whiteblazes (at Appalachian Mountains) https://www.instagram.com/p/BodBRXAlWdc/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=99nt2cvtzwm

Time Travel from the Diary of J Wiggles:

April 19, 2017

Day 15 11.6 Miles Cold Spring Shelter Mile 125.6 Weather, chilly and damp all day Difficulty 6/10 - lots of nagging ups today, but nothing too hard Emotions: pretty good

Tomorrow: the Nantahala Outdoor Center. Pretty excited for a hot meal, a beer, and to get my package. And to send forward another package to Fontana Dam cause I have WAY too much food. Ha. Can't wait to lighten my load a bit. Feeling a bit less lonely today, hiking with Bluebird and the South Africans. They've been fun and funny and kind. In the shelter tonight - maybe more rain tonight. It's my second night in a shelter, first without Jake. So we'll see how it goes. I am missing J a lot lately. More than I thought I would, honestly. Feeling that pull toward comfort, wanting warmth and cozy cuddle comfort, kittens and blankets and snuggles and hot showers ... but can't think of that too much now. Keeping my eyes on the prize ... one landmark at a time. NOC, Fontana, Smokies, maybe Gatlinburg, Standing Bear Hostel, Hot Springs. Miles 137 to 273 - about 136 miles. Including tomorrow that's only 12 days at 12 miles/day. Dang. It goes fast. Though so slow. Today is my 2 week trail-versary. I've been out here for that long (with 5 nights in beds) ... (and 2 zero days, and 3 nero days) ... but I"m feeling good. Like I can just keep going. And that's what I need to keep doing. Moving forward.

September 7, 2017 -- Acadia National Park.

I’m no longer hiking to camp every day. I finished the trail -- the goal I was working toward all year. My legs hurt, I’m exhausted. But I’m in Maine and I don’t know when I’ll be here again. So we traveled to Acadia National Park, on the coast of Maine near Bar Harbor. It’s my third national park this year, but this time I’m not hiking through it. In fact, I really don’t want to hike. I pick the shortest and easiest trail because that’s all I can do mentally and physically. But I’m not ashamed of taking the pleasure of sitting in a car resting while others are out hiking more. I need a break -- it just happens to be in one of our country’s most beautiful places.

Going though pics of the AT, realizing New Jersey was actually pretty cool trail-wise. A nice little relief from all the rocks in the surrounding states 😊. #rocksandroots #atsectionhike #at2017 #whiteblaze #ulbackpacking #trekkking #exploreonfoot #rei1440project #newhorizons #womenwhohike #travel #outdoors

Persist in the good

After 6 months, 2189.8 miles, and 14 states I can proudly say I've thru hiked the AT #thruhike #at2017 #hikertrash

NEWS NEWS NEWS!

Rachael and I initially planned to get up to Harper's Ferry (mile 1020), where she would leave and I would go on. We got pretty close and instead decided to go into Charlottesville, which is about 863 miles into the trail. AAAAND I decided that I'm also going to end my hike there.

The 800+ miles we've done have been a ton of fun. When I hiked the PCT I had a lot of moments where I wanted to leave the trail, but I always felt compelled to the do the whole thing. When you have to hike 20+ miles a day, that's really not possible unless you are absolutely determined. And honestly, I'm happy to get back to work and sleep in a bed and so on. 

I was worried that I would regret the decision, especially given that we are in such good shape now, but I really don’t. So that’s that! And of course, it’s worth noting that I wouldn’t have made it fifty miles without Rachael. She’s one of the toughest people I know (and generally great). Anyway I have a ton of photos to post, so stay tuned. 

View from the Appalachian Trail winding through Max Patch in western North Carolina. #appalachiantrail #at2017 #maxpatch #pisgahnationalforest #blueridgemountains #visitnc #nc #northcarolina #themountainsarecalling #appalachia #ashevillephotography #camiphoto (at Max Patch)

The AT in Maryland crosses directly over I-70 by a pedestrian bridge. . #REIAdventures #REI1440project #OptOutside #AppalachianTrail #AppalachianTrials #whiteblaze #greatsmokymountains #GSMNP #Smokies #hiking #backpacking #hikingguidelife #maryland #hikeMD #marylandstatelands #annapolisrocks #greenbrierstatepark #at2017 #thruhike #sectionhike #rain #nopainrorainnomaine

05.30.17 • Day 9 👣🌲 Just some super easy hiking in PA's green tunnel! #timelapse #manymoretocome #lifeat2mph #AT2017 #traillifeisthebestlife #AppalachianTrail (at Mount Holly Springs, Pennsylvania)

TT from the D of JW:

April 21, 2017

Day 17 6.7 miles Sassafras Gap Shelter Mile 144.0

Staying in the shelter. Only 6.7 miles today but ALL uphill out of the NOC. Got a late start cause I started my period and then got wheat-ed at the diner. But it really wasn't that bad, not as bad as it used to be. Feeling surprisingly strong considering the difficulties of the day. Starting to feel more and more like a real thru-hiker, like I'm just trucking along putting miles in. This week has been slower, but 2 days to Fontana Dam and the Smokies. And feeling more comfortable in shelters and tents ... getting more okay with the brand of discomfort both of those things offer. A little less fear and a little more sleep.

To continue my weird dream stuff ... I had this dream maybe 2 nights ago at Cold Spring that I volunteered for an elective surgery - WITHOUT anesthesia - as part of a performance art piece!! WTF! Like I was literally selling my body for art. Putting myself up for excruciating pain for entertainment. And all of these rich artsy people were there guffawing like they were so cultured for attending this event. And I backed out at the last minute ... like, freaked out and decided I wasn't willing to sell myself, to put myself through that for other people's entertainment. What a crazy dream. My brain is still sorting through all of its pain, trauma, issues. Artist brain trauma. This hike has been SO GOOD for that.

The rain just started! So glad I'm in the shelter! Anyhow ... only 20 miles to the Smokies!

Oh yeah! Women are still women even in the woods! Bet you were wondering how ladies take care of their lady business while on a thru hike. The simple answer: It’s not much different, except you have to pack out what you pack in. It wasn’t my favorite 6.7 mile uphill hike, but you know what? I lived to tell the tale.

August 15, 2017 — Summited my last mountain in New Hampshire - Mount Success - and crossed into Maine, the final state! Maine welcomed me with more no-joke mountains. Luckily some had rebar and ladders.

The temperature hit 12 degrees overnight, freezing my water and toes without discrimination.

FIND ALL THE WILD BERRIES!!! #thruhike #at2017