FRANKLIN JOURNAL • July 31, 2020
21 year old Farmington native Brooklynn Winters, also known as “Bear Bait,” has been hiking the Appalachian Trail since May 12. After planning for a year, Winters almost canceled her hike entirely due to the pandemic and pressure from friends and family members. After hiking the AT for two months, she was able to get her daily average up to 20 miles. Winters has completed just under 600 miles so far, but starting late and taking time off for a family emergency will prevent her from completing the trail this year. After studying industrial design at the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence this fall and winter, Winters plans on picking up where she left off on the AT.