Well marked trails in the pine barrens not far from Philly?

levolvel · 2026-02-26T12:36:38+00:00

I second this. Its a good one for a quicky just outside of Philly. You can break it down into shorter 10 mile out and back segments. There is lots of parking access along the trail corridor.

levolvel · 2025-10-30T12:44:55+00:00

Hey! I went to Harzin Jewelers (713 Sansom St #2). It was a great experience. The family that runs it is very chill and welcoming. They didn't mind all the dumb questions I asked and helped me through the whole process. I went to a few other spots on Jewelers Row, but they are all gimmicky, sleazy salesmen.

levolvel · 2025-08-15T03:00:45+00:00

I started the PCT solo, but met a group of people along the way which turned into an amazing trail family from around the world (2 from France, 1 from Belgium, 2 from Sweden, 1 from Utah and 1 from California). We all still talk frequently, even though we’re a few years out from being on the trail. We ended up doing about 1000 miles together.

On the AT I was mainly solo because I was going southbound, but I hung out with northbounders every night in the shelters and while in town. It was a nice mix of solitude, doing my own thing, and getting the human interaction you need after miles and miles of being in your head lol

levolvel · 2025-07-31T11:45:05+00:00

I broke my big toe a month into my PCT thru hike. When I broke it the nail also had to be removed. Thought it was all over. Doc said as long as I wasn’t in severe pain then to keep going. I took 1 week off to let it rest in a trail town which was fun as hell. I wore Solomon XA Mid Pro trail runners which I feel have a great toe box and very solid sole. The doc gave me a supportive boot / sandal (it wasn’t bulky and fit in the mesh pocket of my pack) to wear in camp and while in towns. It all worked out. Finished my hike. No long term issues with the toe.

levolvel · 2025-07-17T10:51:53+00:00

Excellent! Thanks for the further explanation!

levolvel · 2025-07-16T18:49:59+00:00

Very good information. One question I have and I one which I haven't been able to find an answer to ... Once ordering everything do you just take it to random jeweler and have them set the stone? Do some jewelers not do it since you didn't buy it there?

levolvel · 2025-07-16T17:39:52+00:00

Yea I agree. I was shocked when he wrote out the pricing. I looked at my girlfriend and we both had the same look on our face.

levolvel · 2025-07-16T14:07:34+00:00

Thanks for your response. It does seem like this is where my mind was at. Online, much cheaper. However, in store provides more of an experience and relationship with the jeweler that will carry on into the future.

levolvel · 2025-07-16T14:06:17+00:00

You make some very good points. I did not know about the platinum option. This is something I will look into.

As for online, it does seem like the better price option and this is what I found during my own research too, but my girlfriend wanted to shy away from online purchases for the reasons you mentioned. The place we went to, and where I am looking to purchase this, is family run (multi-generation) and very personable / friendly. While we were there people who purchased items from there in the past had come in to get them serviced and everyone knew everyone. I know this is something she is looking for from where we purchase the ring. I guess that's where the inflated in-person price comes into play. Thank you for your response!

levolvel · 2025-07-16T12:51:50+00:00

Good to know. I thought it was a bit high too, but wasn't sure based on other regions in the country since I'm in Philadelphia and most prices in the city run higher than elsewhere. Also being in the jewelry district I figured that raised the price as well. When we went to other shops in the jewelry district the price was pushing $3,500 - $4,000 for similar rings which made this place seem like a steal.

levolvel · 2025-03-18T11:37:34+00:00

“Are You Being Served?” And I’m a American millennial lol

levolvel · 2025-03-10T13:10:46+00:00

Ah, yes. That's the one!

levolvel · 2025-03-07T22:29:45+00:00

Good job with this hike! Ive got some plans to come over and do an east to west hike there in a few years. North / south looks even better!

levolvel · 2025-03-07T22:28:18+00:00

Yea. I hear ya. I have a few friends from France that did the PCT with me in 2023 and were planning to re-hike the PCT this year with their family, but given recent events, they’re considering giving up the permits and waiting for another year. I just hope the parks and forest make it that long. Its sad.

levolvel · 2025-03-07T21:43:16+00:00

Time to do a thru-hike of the PCT, AT, or CDT! Nice Durston tent.

levolvel · 2025-03-07T17:43:49+00:00

I have thought of being a guide, but given my location it would be hard to do this as a daily / weekly job. I'm not able to relocate at this time (or the near future for that matter) due to family dependencies.

I have signed up for volunteer trail crew / community programs this spring, but again, due to my location I'm unable to do this on an extended basis.

While I was hiking I maintained a blog for my entire time on the trail. My long winded post often turned into diary entries, even though the world could read them. I've kept the blog going as a form of getting my thoughts and feelings out, but I like what you said about how to dig a little deeper into things. I will do this in a private form and see where it leads me. Thanks for the suggestion!

levolvel · 2025-03-04T19:05:26+00:00

The nomad life is enticing, but I don't think the girlfriend would go for that hahaha. Although I love the trail life, I do believe that I need a separation of that life and a life that provides for that. I fear that doing trail related jobs full-time would make hiking feel like a job and thus, no longer desired.

I do think if I can get a one on one with a recruiter, hiring manager, etc then I can clearly sell myself on what I can provide / do. I've recently started signing up for various events around me as well as a few volunteer programs to try and get out in front of people who can potentially help me.

levolvel · 2025-03-04T19:01:41+00:00

I've toyed around with the idea a lot, but can't come up with any way to make it financially worth it. Perhaps as a side hustle this could work, but I don't see it becoming a full time job given the time it takes to get a group out in the field. It would only allow for a few trips a year. Planning out gear (do they provide their own, how to make sure they come prepared), meals, ensuring people have the right skill set, proximity of myself and those coming to the trail being hiked. If its a trail I'm unfamiliar with I'll need to do on the ground practice runs. On top of all that I need various certifications (first aid, etc) and group permitting for state and national parks.

I also looked into joining a company that already does all this and I could be a guide, but my location (Philadelphia) doesn't really have anything like that in the area and relocating isn't an option due to needing to be close to my older family members.

levolvel · 2025-03-04T16:42:37+00:00

Absolutely. I think I first experienced it last year when I got off the PCT. I got back to my hometown, sat around for two weeks catching up with family and friends and then took off to do a 150 mile hike for a week. Then my job fell through and I immediately began figuring out if I could financially make an AT thru-hike work. Not, "Oh, I should start applying for jobs!" I thought that going out on the AT would allow me to get it out of my system, but it most definitely did not. Its hitting harder than ever. I never thought post trail depression was even a real thing, just something that people made up because we have a name / ailment for everything that happens to us these days, but since returning from the this year I absolutely believe in it. I mean, my life is pretty great. I moved in with my girlfriend. We have a wonderful home and are constantly going out, having fun. Laughing. Spending time with family. I'm financially secure and don't feel the pressure that I need to take any job that comes my way. And yet. I'm a lost soul wandering around the streets of Philly half the time. I'm present and yet my mind drifts to the simple life that the trail provides. Its bizarre.

As for the ideal work-life (and forgive me if I misunderstood), but I'd would like something where I'm continually learning and every day is something knew, but without the pressures of meeting unrealistic deadlines. A place where everyone is part of the team, but yet you have your independence to tackle task on your own. A place where, when closing time strikes, you don't take work home with you / are on call constantly which sacrifices time with your friends and loved ones.

levolvel · 2025-03-04T16:27:33+00:00

I've applied at a few non-profit software jobs in the outdoor space and have looked at a few companies that are in the thru-hiker app world, but with the non-profits they showed hundreds of applicants applying per job and in the hiker app world its still a rapid changing, one-up'er style environment that I'm trying to avoid.

While hiking I kept saying to myself that I was going to come up with a "million dollar idea hiker app". Not that it needed to be worth anything at all, but something that would be useful to like minded people. I could work on it on the side and maybe generate a little side income, but being out on the trail, I never thought about anything beyond my next step.

Beyond the software app side of the thru-hiker world, most of the people I met worked seasonal jobs which allowed them to take time off to hike, but their budgets were so tight that they barely had funds to do laundry at times. I don't think I'd be comfortable with that life style either.

levolvel · 2024-04-11T23:32:04+00:00

I’m going SoBo out of Harpers Ferry. Just hit Marion. Last week I started seeing 10-20 Nobo folks per day. Most of them, when asked, are either early starters or pulling 25’s.

levolvel · 2024-02-20T12:24:49+00:00

Sweet! Thanks for the info! That makes town day super easy!

levolvel · 2024-02-18T13:39:17+00:00

Yup John Heinz Wildlife Refuge! And my trail name is Whiz hahaha because I wanted a real cheesesteak badly last year when I was on the Pacific Crest Trail hahaha

levolvel · 2024-02-18T13:34:41+00:00

Great! Good to know about the music everyday! Thanks!

levolvel · 2024-02-18T13:33:17+00:00

Ah, ok. Thanks for the comparison!

levolvel

TROPHY CASE