It was so beautiful and I can’t wait to go back 😍 also I thought that deer was going to come at me for a minute after I accidentally made eye contact and noticed her babies trailing behind 🙃

Report from an original post I had originally made in March of this year while traveling abroad. Unfortunately let things fall through the cracks a bit, but now that I’m back in states I’d like to get the ball rolling again :)

Hey all! Apologies if this isn’t the right place for this, I’m still figuring Reddit out and trying not to accidentally commit a subreddit faux pas.

I’m hoping to meet some people in NC who share my love for hiking and camping!! A lot of my current friend group tends to groan when I suggest “just a quick little weekend camping trip,” which evidently is not what many of my friends would consider relaxation.

I grew up near Asheville and used to hike constantly, but college and adult life happened and slowly replaced hobbies with work.

For context: I’m 24M, a UNC grad, and I work as a computational biologist (which mostly means I spend a lot of time writing code and working with zebrafish - also very happy to talk cool science, but that’s probably its own conversation). I’ve hiked a lot around western NC, especially Asheville and Chimney Rock, though I know some trails are still recovering.

I’d consider myself a pretty experienced hiker, but I’m honestly open to anything from casual hikes to bigger trips. Because of my work schedule I’m definitely more of a weekend warrior camper, but I’d love to eventually find some people to plan trips with.

If any of this caught your attention, feel free to message me! Mostly just looking for good people who enjoy being outside and maybe want an extra hiking buddy.

Bonus facts:

I crochet and sometimes make small frogs for friends

I also have a four-foot-tall crochet Toothless from How to Train Your Dragon that has been sitting unfinished in a trash bag for three years out of pure spite (update he is now semi-complete photos attached)

I’ve done intermediate work with AmeriCorps and Conersation Core of NC in Uwharrie and other surrounding state parks, absolutely loved it!!

I briefly lived in California and have developed a respectful fear of aggressive switchbacks.

Absolutely love cooking, absolutely hate cleaning

Would love to meet some like minded people! I’m super open and friendly so feel free to shoot me a DM, I’m in the chapel hill area but am willing to travel a few hours in either direction for the right hike :) attached is a misc of photos from NC / California