Lions, tigers and SNAKES, oh my god!!! Three states, 160 miles and a plane ticket home!

Lions, tigers and SNAKES, oh my god!!! Three states, 170 miles and a plane ticket home!

When you go to bed with the sun, you wake up with the sun!

I was on the road at 5:55 this morning.

I had only walked a few miles when my backpack started rubbing against my spine. I stopped and made a makeshift bandage. It was better… but not much.

About a mile later, I stopped dead because of a rattlesnake!

Normally, I walk so hard that my head is down, looking for roots and rocks so I don’t trip.

God knew it.

When I looked up, he was looking right at me!

Of course, there was no one else on the road. He was all alone with a wooden rattle.

We had a very scary 20 minute confrontation. He curled up, flicked his tail, and even acted like he was going to attack me on two different occasions.

It was completely disconcerting because I was alone and knew I couldn’t get help if I got bit.

Finally, he got far enough into the forest that he could quickly pass it.

A few miles later, the sore on my backpack had become incredibly painful.

I knew I had to go 17 miles to stop at a shelter.

With only 2½ miles to go, Grizzly and Sweet Tea caught up to me! They are part of the group of veteran Warrior Expeditions that travel the trail.

We still had a mile and a half to go in the 104 degree heat when the trail magic happened!

The owner of the hostel was in a nearby parking lot and took us the last kilometer.

It was glorious!

When we arrived, I immediately took a shower. By this time, the pain in my back had gotten much worse. The hostel owner’s wife, who is a nurse, looked at him and told me he was infected and needed to see a doctor.

With that…the heat…and the rattlesnake…

I think it’s time to close the chapter on this section of my Appalachian Trail hike.

I am so excited about everything God has shown me, the amazing people I have met, and the opportunity to push myself harder than I ever thought possible.

I walked 160 miles by myself and set a new personal record by walking 21.5 miles in one day.

Now I’m heading home to spend the 4th of July with my family!!

PERFECT!!!!

PS: To the AT…beautiful beast…I’ll see you on my next section hike.

Again and again,

—Alpha Selah

PPS: I surprised my 86-year-old dad when I got home. I haven’t been hugged this tight since I was little! I feel very blessed to be home, safe and loved.

Until the next walk,

-Alpha

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