Audrey Payne

After bouncing back from a debilitating spinal injury, Audrey Payne quit her dream job working for World Wildlife Fund in Washington, D.C. to hike the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. She loved (almost) every second of it. From there, she moved to beautiful Boulder, Colorado, where she works in public relations for a scientific research organization and spends her free time hiking, backpacking, skiing, paddleboarding, and learning to play the guitar. She has gone on to hike the Colorado Trail, Foothills Trail, Wonderland Trail, John Muir Trail, Trans-Catalina Trail, and more, and she hopes to thru-hike another long trail in the not-too-distant future. Check out her AT memoir, “Where the Rhododendrons Bloom,” on Amazon and Kindle.

Posts

Magic in the Daily Routine of a Thru-Hiker

Magic in the Daily Routine of a Thru-Hiker

A few people have asked me to post about what a typical day on the Appalachian Trail is like. And so, your wish is my command. A typical day on

Apr 8, 2018 : Audrey Payne
Thanks for the Lessons, Georgia

Thanks for the Lessons, Georgia

As I crossed the Georgia border into North Carolina, I smiled and let out a little whoop of excitement. I'd done it - made it through my first state

Apr 1, 2018 : Audrey Payne
The Joy and Rhythms of the Trail Get into Your Blood

The Joy and Rhythms of the Trail Get into Your Blood

The other night, I dreamed of a space heater. Yes, a space heater. That was the one thing, in all the world, that I wanted more than anything. I was

Mar 23, 2018 : Audrey Payne
Compiling the Soundtrack to My Journey

Compiling the Soundtrack to My Journey

Sitting on the plane, about to embark on what I hope will be the greatest adventure of my life so far, my feet won't stop tapping. Tap, tap, tap. I'm

Mar 19, 2018 : Audrey Payne
Ready, Set, (Almost Time to) Go!

Ready, Set, (Almost Time to) Go!

Whatever happened to the calm before the storm? You would be surprised just how much preparation goes into a thru-hike. It seems simple, right?

Mar 13, 2018 : Audrey Payne
The Long and Winding Road to the Appalachian Trail

The Long and Winding Road to the Appalachian Trail

Why? That is, of course, the first word that tends to pop out of a person’s mouth the moment you tell them you’re planning a thru-hike of the

Feb 28, 2018 : Audrey Payne