Joey Ferguson

I’m living proof you can walk through fire and find joy on the other side. After my AT thru-hike in 2018, I was forced to reinvent myself and my life. Now I travel, write, hike, and backpack, splitting time between vanlife and home in Colorado. I thru-hiked the epic Colorado Trail in 2023 and have big plans for more adventures. Follow along here and on YouTube @JoyfulRambler.

Posts

What I Learned <i>After</i> My Hike Changed Everything – Colorado Trail Epilogue

What I Learned After My Hike Changed Everything – Colorado Trail Epilogue

If you followed my Colorado Trail thru-hike, you know it was fraught with challenges. From a suspected UTI that wasn’t to a fall down a snowbank that

Oct 2, 2023 : Joey Ferguson
Saving the Best for Last – Colorado Trail Thru-HIke, Part 9

Saving the Best for Last – Colorado Trail Thru-HIke, Part 9

Moving further south along the Colorado Trail, our path during the last weeks took us higher by the day. The mountains we traversed were now well

Sep 29, 2023 : Joey Ferguson
So Long to Hiking Solo – Colorado Trail Thru-Hike, Part 8

So Long to Hiking Solo – Colorado Trail Thru-Hike, Part 8

I spent a week hiking solo after my return to the trail. I came back from my fall with a fresh attitude, determined to complete the trail. By the

Sep 27, 2023 : Joey Ferguson
Fear Won’t End My Hike | Colorado Trail Thru-Hike, Part 7

Fear Won’t End My Hike | Colorado Trail Thru-Hike, Part 7

After my fall down the mountain, I headed home from the tiny town of St. Elmo in defeat, rattled by fear and adrenaline. For 3 ½ hours in the car, I

Sep 25, 2023 : Joey Ferguson
I Fell Down a Mountain! Colorado Trail Thru-Hike, Part 6

I Fell Down a Mountain! Colorado Trail Thru-Hike, Part 6

Dusk was gathering as I wedged my tent between willow bushes next to a creek. It wasn’t the ideal spot to camp, right next to the trail, but it would

Sep 19, 2023 : Joey Ferguson
What a Crazy Day! Colorado Trail Thru-Hike, Part 5

What a Crazy Day! Colorado Trail Thru-Hike, Part 5

Crystal-clear bluebird skies heralded the start of another beautiful day on the Colorado Trail, perfect for crossing Cottonwood Pass. Monsoon

Sep 15, 2023 : Joey Ferguson
Is Hiking Alone a Mistake? Colorado Trail Thru-Hike, Part 4

Is Hiking Alone a Mistake? Colorado Trail Thru-Hike, Part 4

As I approach the 200-mile mark, my Colorado Trail thru-hike has become a more solitary adventure than I expected. While I always planned on hiking

Sep 12, 2023 : Joey Ferguson
This Trail Could Kill Me – Colorado Trail Thru-Hike, Part 3

This Trail Could Kill Me – Colorado Trail Thru-Hike, Part 3

Feeling invincible is a luxury for the young. I rarely feared for my life as a crazy teenager doing stupid things. When I married at 21 and settled

Sep 8, 2023 : Joey Ferguson
What’s Wrong with Me? Colorado Trail Thru-Hike, Part 2

What’s Wrong with Me? Colorado Trail Thru-Hike, Part 2

Oh no, not again! I just started the Colorado Trail (for the second time). How is it possible to have health issues so soon? Starting Strong My

Sep 5, 2023 : Joey Ferguson
I’ve Been Here Before! Colorado Trail Thru-Hike, Part 1

I’ve Been Here Before! Colorado Trail Thru-Hike, Part 1

Last year, I tried to thru-hike the Colorado Trail and had to end my hike early due to illness. As I prepared for my second CT thru-hike attempt, I

Sep 1, 2023 : Joey Ferguson