Davis set out on her adventure Aug. 15 from Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and plans to finish in November at Jockey’s Ridge in the Outer Banks. Her hike is part of an effort to raise money for the trail’s maintenance and continued construction in recognition of its 40th anniversary.

Though Pharr’s 2011 A.T. record was surpassed in 2015, she is still renowned in the hiking world. She was named National Geographic Adventurer of the Year following her record-breaking hike and recently published the book Families on Foot.

Pharr will catalogue her adventures at jpdhikesthemst.org. Though not everyone is capable of embarking on an MST thru-hike, everyone can be part of a statewide effort to hike the entire trail in a single day Saturday, Sept. 9. Sign up at mstinaday.org.