My name is Emily and I am a long-distance backpacker. I don’t consider myself a thru-hiker since I only do a few hundred miles at a time; so far anyway. In 2026 I will be hiking the entirety of the John Muir Trail from Happy Isles, Yosemite to Mount Whitney (and maybe a few other things). My big hikes so far have included the Superior Hiking Trail in my home state of Minnesota, hiking it in a set of LASHes over 2 years (plus countless other shorter trips); and Everest Basecamp via the Three Passes Trek. I am passionate about Leave No Trace, and recently completed my Level 1 Instructor Certification. I also dedicate plenty of time each year volunteering on the Superior Hiking Trail and leading hikes with the 52 Hike Challenge-Minnesota. I am also a Wilderness First Responder so I can offer even more support to the hiking community.