Aimee Russillo

Living in: Berea, Kentucky Read more Berea, Kentucky

Traveler AT WVa north
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- Apr 28, 2024, 7:37pm
- ☀️ 25 °C
- Altitude: 116 m
- United States Pennsylvania Duncannon Little Juniata Creek 40.390263, -77.03022840°23’25” N 77°1’49” W
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Day 18
Farewell AT and Chrissy
April 28 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Parting is such sweet sorrow. After a hot day kicking around Duncannon, our trails diverged. Chrissy took the high road out of town taking advantage of the morning cooler temperatures and I jumped into my ride to the airport for home ☹️

Goodbyes are tough, but I'm grateful for the memories we've created together.

What a treat to share a part of Chrissy’s AT journey and in awe of her strength, resilience and big smile.
I miss her fiercely already.

Hope to rejoin her on her SOBO!

Grateful for Chrissy, ice cream and the trail community.Read more
Traveler I am in awe of your story-telling in words and pictures…the beauty, the hijinks, and the quotidian details. Thank you for taking us along, Aimee! ❤️
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Traveler ❤️
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Traveler Trail girl for sure!!
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Traveler AT WVa north
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- Apr 28, 2024, 7:07am
- ☁️ 10 °C
- Altitude: 375 m
- United States Pennsylvania Penn Township Kinkora Heights 40.36425, -77.06734540°21’51” N 77°4’2” W
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Day 18–19
Two weeks and still ticking
April 28 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C
Woke up in Cove Mountain shelter brisk morning in the middle of the clouds. Hard to believe that I slept 10 hours in the tent waiting out the cold and rain. Chrissy invited me into her tent for some “working out the kinks” yoga and breakfast out of the misty fog.
The shelter was down a steep incline making for a good warm up first thing.

It all feels bittersweet as my last day accompanying Chrissy’s journey. I surprised myself with getting used to the rhythm of camping- finding a site, stretching, setting up the tent, getting water and warm dinners before heading to bed with the sunset. And the next morning everything in reverse 😝

Grateful for Chrissy for sharing her time, patience, experience and love ❤️.Read more
Traveler So much fun!
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Traveler How pretty
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Traveler Hi beauties!
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Traveler AT WVa north
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- Apr 27, 2024
- ☁️ 10 °C
- Altitude: 117 m
- United States Pennsylvania Duncannon Little Juniata Creek 40.388978, -77.03082740°23’20” N 77°1’51” W
Day 17–18
Riding the Ridge
April 27 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C
Whippoorwills woke us up early (again) for a long up warm up and then ridge tops across the rocky landscape of Pennsylvania. Back down, then across farmland and across the valley to climb the next mountain.
Cool weather in in the 50s made for great hiking and then the rain creeped in mid day

We broke earlier at Cove Mountain shelter and turned in before sunset.

Grateful for honey , red winged blackbirds and shelters built by tireless volunteersRead more
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- Apr 26, 2024, 9:54am
- ☀️ 11 °C
- Altitude: 145 m
- United States Pennsylvania Cumberland County Middlesex Spring Run 40.230645, -77.1477240°13’50” N 77°8’52” W
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Day 16–17
Back to nature
April 26 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C
What a treat to sleep in and enjoy the hotel buffet breakfast. The staff at the front desk even gave me some toothpaste and deodorant. Wonder if I looked like I needed it 😝

We enjoyed several more miles in the Cumberland valley farmland before heading for the hills again. The miles up and up reminded us that what goes down must go back up.. .

Gorgeous lookout and then a short half mile to the ridge top Darlington Shelter

Grateful for David’s gift, great weather and Chrissy’s cookingRead more
Traveler Sweet!
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Traveler What a trail!!
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Traveler Just fantastic spring shots!
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Traveler AT WVa north
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- Apr 25, 2024
- ☀️ 14 °C
- Altitude: 145 m
- United States Pennsylvania Cumberland County Middlesex Spring Run 40.230694, -77.14791140°13’50” N 77°8’52” W
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Day 15–16
We came down from the mountains
April 25 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C
The whipperwills woke us up for an early morning start in the frigid temperatures at the Alex Kennedy shelter. Enjoyed the last of my Diet Coke from the deli (yes I hauled it up 4 miles over boulders 😂). Life’s little pleasures. We had day old peanut butter bagels and hot coffee before setting up and over the mountain and towards the picturesque town of Boiling Springs- another former iron town.
Some intense planning for the next week we opted to push on to start the “ flat fourteen”. An incredible path through the Cumberland valley which meanders along active farms and encroaching cities. Quite a green corridor oasis.
Our trail angel David gave us a welcome boujee break. Did you know they have 4 different types of pillows on the bed to choose from!!??
Another double digit mileage day with incredible variety of scenery and trails.Read more
Traveler 😍
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Traveler Just incredible!
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Traveler if I lived there I would be a trail angel for sure.
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Traveler AT WVa north
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- Apr 24, 2024
- ☀️ 17 °C
- Altitude: 145 m
- United States Pennsylvania Cumberland County Middlesex Spring Run 40.230682, -77.14768240°13’50” N 77°8’52” W
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Day 14–15
Sweet 16
April 24 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
After a breakfast of pancakes from 20/20 at 5:30 am (yes) - we left the comforts of the mansion for a goal of 15.8 miles today to the Alex Kennedy shelter. With the option to reassess, of course.😏
We begin with a steady one and a half mile up, including forest art along the journey. Soon after we begin to understand the Rocksylvania nickname for the state.
A great stop at the deli before heading up and over boulder Legoland.
We made it over 16 miles today. Tired but still kicking.

Grateful for piney flat spaces to recover, cool springs and my ponchoRead more
Traveler My goodness-incredible
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Traveler Not too crowded.
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Traveler Got you down the trail!
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Traveler AT WVa north
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- Apr 22, 2024
- ☀️ 15 °C
- Altitude: 280 m
- United States Pennsylvania Township of Cooke Pine Grove Furnace Fuller Lake 40.032043, -77.30793840°1’55” N 77°18’29” W
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Day 12–13
We did how many miles??!
April 22 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
“Warmed” up to 40 degrees last night and enjoyed a breakfast of “whatever is left before restocking day” gruel of granola, micro greens espresso beans and bits of other stuff left in the bottom of the bag. We slept in for a near zero day of just 4 miles to Pine Grove park through greening forest. Some NOBO through hikers are beginning to pass us! They’ve done 1050+ miles already having started in Georgia in February 🤪. They’re gnarly and focused as they move quickly by. some stop and share a story, smile and good wishes as they move on quickly to beat their 25 miles day averages. We’re older and wiser and stop at The Mansion hostel. “Interesting “ place. Our trail family opted for the nearby campground. 😉
Was cool to sleep in a real bed without setting up tents , wash clothes and take a shower 😅. Chrissy ordered Mexican from El Mariachi!

Grateful for warmer weather, budding trees and indoor plumbingRead more
Traveler That looks great!!
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Traveler Great smile Chrissy!!
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Traveler ❤️
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Traveler AT WVa north
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- Apr 22, 2024
- ☀️ 16 °C
- Altitude: 466 m
- United States Pennsylvania Franklin County Caledonia Park Quarry Hill 39.931831, -77.48638939°55’55” N 77°29’11” W
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Day 12–13
Quarry Gap to …?
April 22 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
Another brisk frosty morning of 33 degrees F and we wore EVERYTHING we brought to sleep in. Sleeping on platforms in a holler meant lots of updrafts and breezy weather. 🥶. The whippoorwills and barred owls eased us into slumber and woke us up before sunrise.

It’s one step in front of the other and you decide when to stop. The steep first mile up was compensated with several miles of ride top rolling walking on tree mulched paths. Regular stops and the sunshine encouraged feet in the stream breaks. Less wildflowers on these rocky acidic trails but tons of mountain laurel wild and blueberries just beginning to bud out. The lack of leaves on the trees makes for long peeking at the opposite rolling ridge tops. In a few weeks this will be a dense green tunnel but we get to experience the beauty in front of us and see what’s ahead.

Our longest day yet at 13.8 miles with full packs and 3 liters of water since we gave ourselves the option of dry camping. Glad we kept going to the little opening of Tom Run shelter arriving at 5:30. Bedtime!

Grateful for bird song alarm clock, Chrissy cooking and feet soaksRead more
Traveler Holy crap— long day and you are taking it all in. Love your descriptions, Aimee. Mountain laurel, owls & whippoorwills — I feel like I’m right there. ❤️
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Traveler Time to break out those moves!
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Traveler Aww so sweet!
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Traveler AT WVa north
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- Apr 21, 2024, 7:05am
- ☁️ 3 °C
- Altitude: 353 m
- United States Pennsylvania Quincy Township Old Forge Tumbling Run 39.804825, -77.47837839°48’17” N 77°28’42” W
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Day 11–12
Snap- Baby it’s cold outside 🎵
April 21 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 3 °C
Tucked in early before the cold snap hit at Tumbling Run and woke up not afraid of bears but leaving the tent at 2am for the privy 😝. Hydrating well has its downside 😉
Kept warm and toasty in the tent despite temps in the 30s. Nice slow morning start and steady up for a mile 😥 and then up and down all day for a record 12.2 miles. Beautiful rhododendron and mountain laurel alleys and plenty of boulders. Made it to Quarry Gap shelter to hang out with new trail friends the McCauls and the shelter host Jim.

PS grateful for Chrissy (Sisters), volunteers who maintain the trails and sheltersRead more
Traveler Wow big day. Sleep well 😍
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Traveler 😄
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Traveler Nice one
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Traveler AT WVa north
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- Apr 20, 2024, 7:25am
- ☁️ 10 °C
- Altitude: 433 m
- United States Maryland Washington County Pen Mar Park 39.715076, -77.50633239°42’54” N 77°30’23” W
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Day 10–11
Pennsylvania rambling
April 20 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C
Woke up refreshed at the hostel in Maryland and skipped across the Mason Dixon line for 8.6 miles with fully loaded backpacks- heavy with Walmart fresh supplies and goodies. Ups and downs on ridge tops and more mountain streams to cool the feet. 👣 hard to believe in the warm sunshine that it’s supposed to freeze tonight 🥶

Grateful for another warm shower, coffee in bed and Hoody for coming up with a pair of glovesRead more
Traveler That will fire you down the trail!
4/20/24Reply
Traveler every once in a while outhouses can be stinky ha ha!
4/20/24Reply
Traveler Fun to see the tent sites.
4/20/24Reply
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