"Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt." - John Muir 🌿 // I grew up in Western Maryland (which is more rural than the rest of the state), and my house happened to be just a minute away from the closest AT trailhead. Talk about spoiled! Growing up, my parents had taught me that it's okay to get your hands dirty and to run around barefoot. In high school, @sahhbrahhn and I made it a summer goal to hike each section of the AT through Maryland, and we did. // Flash forward to today, I'm miles away from my childhood home, miles away from my closest friends and living in the beautiful state of Tennessee. The trail isn't near as close as it used to be, but it's still there. The same trail that will take me back to my roots, just a few hundred miles North. // The mountains aren't just a pretty landscape to explore for me, but a connection to home, family and memories. ⛰🌿❤ // 📸 by: @photoflotsam (at Appalachian Trail Roan Mountain)