hi loves!

so sad that i don't have time right now to read all of your posts! waited in a long line to get just thirty minutes of internet time at the library in damascus, va.

but i do have time to give you a little update!

returned to the trail three weeks ago. ran through the smokies. beautiful. wildflowers everywhere, pine-spruce forests, sharp peaks and crazy ridgelines. ended up in hot springs, nc, at a hostel / organic farm where i met dylan bianchi. we hiked north from hot springs this past week. on wednesday we got a ride from a famous "trail angel" named miss janet up to TRAIL DAYS which is a huge hiker/hippie festival held annually here in damascus.

i haven't slept the past two nights. just loads of drinking smoking eating and general revelry / dishevelment . calling all single ladies to damascus. the ratio of attractive fit bearded mountain men to attractive wilderness women is unbelievable. almost 10:1. dangerous. but i've kept it together so far.

i was reunited w my dear trail friend kumquat last night! dylan and i will be following her up to middle virginia on sunday - hike with her for two or three weeks. then my parents are going to pick us up (hopefully by then we'll be near the border w pa) and drive us up to ct so that dylan can go to a buddhist retreat and i can start hiking in new england!

i hope you all will come out and walk with me / feed me when i get up there!!!

so much love, rach

ps hiking w dylan is wonderful! he's such a sweetheart. oy