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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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