Emily Grundy

I'm an Australian hiker who likes laying in the dirt, smelling like an animal, and walking across countries. On trail, people sometimes call me Glitterbug. When I'm not hiking about, I like to run places, paint things, eat oats, and purchase obscene amounts of cinnamon.

Posts

HexaTrek Tales Part 9: The Western Pyrenees, Stage Six, and Saying Wow

HexaTrek Tales Part 9: The Western Pyrenees, Stage Six, and Saying Wow

At the summit of Le Petit Vignemale, 3032 meters high, I looked around. The sky shone a brilliant blue. The mountains were sprinkled with snow.

Nov 5, 2024 : Emily Grundy
HexaTrek Tales Part 8: The Eastern Pyrenees, Stage Five, and Beginning Again

HexaTrek Tales Part 8: The Eastern Pyrenees, Stage Five, and Beginning Again

I stared at the patchwork of everything before me. Crimson autumn blueberry bushes, egg yolk blades of grass, pastel moss blanketing the mountains.

Oct 9, 2024 : Emily Grundy
HexaTrek Tales Part 7: The Northern Alps, Stage Two, and A Completed Flip

HexaTrek Tales Part 7: The Northern Alps, Stage Two, and A Completed Flip

I stood on the spine of a mountain, looking down toward Lac Léman. The lake that sits between France and Switzerland. The lake that separates Stage

Sep 10, 2024 : Emily Grundy
HexaTrek Tales Part 6: Falling in Love with The Alps and Stage Three

HexaTrek Tales Part 6: Falling in Love with The Alps and Stage Three

The mountains tower above me, a wall of rock looming so large it looks like there’s no way in. But I know there must be, for that is where I am

Aug 25, 2024 : Emily Grundy
HexaTrek Tales Part 5: A Typical Day on Trail

HexaTrek Tales Part 5: A Typical Day on Trail

I finish my lunch, stuff everything into my backpack, and start walking again. After ten minutes, I remember what time of day it is. “Free time!”, I

Aug 17, 2024 : Emily Grundy
HexaTrek Tales Part 4: Solitude, Stage Four, and Becoming Uncivilized

HexaTrek Tales Part 4: Solitude, Stage Four, and Becoming Uncivilized

It’s midnight in Italy, 36 hours before heading back to trail, and my mind is swimming. I’d decided to continue into the Alps — Stage Two of the

Jul 20, 2024 : Emily Grundy
HexaTrek Tales Part 3: The End of Stage One and The Start of Who Knows

HexaTrek Tales Part 3: The End of Stage One and The Start of Who Knows

The cows stared at me and I stared back. Not at them but beyond. Beyond the piles of rocks and the fields of green. Beyond the sea of pines and the

Jul 6, 2024 : Emily Grundy
HexaTrek Tales Part 2: The Allure of Rushing and Pas de Routine

HexaTrek Tales Part 2: The Allure of Rushing and Pas de Routine

Summer warmth had arrived, bringing a day perfect for banking kilometers on my hike across France. Instead, I was wandering through a small town, two

Jun 27, 2024 : Emily Grundy
HexaTrek Tales Part 1: Rain, Uncertainty, and A Thousand Shades of Green

HexaTrek Tales Part 1: Rain, Uncertainty, and A Thousand Shades of Green

The thunder rumbles in my chest. The sky is putting on a magnificent light show tonight - so bright I can watch through the roof of my

Jun 9, 2024 : Emily Grundy
Travel Insurance for International Thru-Hikers: 8 Essential Considerations

Travel Insurance for International Thru-Hikers: 8 Essential Considerations

Choosing travel insurance: arguably one of the worst logistical headaches you’ll face when planning an international thru-hike. The process is laden

Mar 19, 2024 : Emily Grundy