After graduating high school, I walked out of the back door of my family home with the goal of walking from Kansas to Denver. Instead, I hitchhiked across the U.S. a few times. Eventually I landed in California for a few years where I sold flowers as a street vendor, roamed the Bay Area, and made friends with the Moonies. They wanted me to join, but I wasn't a good fit. One of them "gifted" me a jalopy car which failed the CA smog test. Making the car CA legal was expensive, so I hit the road again until the engine blew out. Eventually, I found my way to Europe and the backpacking life. After Europe, I signed a lease in the states and slowly fell into the standard American life until COVID and fate's twists and turns sent me to hike the Appalachian Trail in 2022. Since summiting Katahdin I've also hiked the Long Trail in 2023, the Camino Frances in 2024, and the AZT+CDT in 2025. I'll be releasing weekly articles on the CDT until finished. Later this year, Ice Cream and I will be on the Camino Del Norte and the Tour de Mont Blanc, which I'll write up once those hikes are complete.