Kelly Ann Baird

Hey ya'll! I'm Kelly Ann and my goofy pup here is Riley. We started backpacking early in 2016 and ever since have been gearing up for some pretty strenuous thru-hikes; the first of which will be our sobo AT thru-hike beginning October, 2017. Prior to backpacking, I was a two sport varsity athlete, captain, and Conference/National Champion for Ohio State. I was also a member of the USA swim team for a couple years. My competitive background has fueled my long distance backpacking adventures to be more on the irregular side. By pushing boundaries and sharing my experiences with others, I hope to inspire more individuals to get outside and explore the world around them, whether that be by taking a stroll around a neighborhood park or walking for months on end across the country. No step is too small because all great adventures begin with the courage to take that initial step.

Posts

Every Day There’s a Reason to Quit, but It Will Never be Good Enough

Every Day There’s a Reason to Quit, but It Will Never be Good Enough

Hello world! Don’t worry, Riley and I are still making our way to Springer Mountain. Since my last post the temperatures have been dropping

Jan 30, 2018 : Kelly Ann Baird
Lets Recap the Past Few Hundred Miles

Lets Recap the Past Few Hundred Miles

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of high miles, cold temperatures, increasing precipitation and relentless winds. After taking

Nov 23, 2017 : Kelly Ann Baird
The Whites Were A Bunch Of White Lies*

The Whites Were A Bunch Of White Lies*

*DISCLAIMER: My experience through the White Mountains/Presidentials has no relation to what other hikers have/are/will experience. The weather

Oct 29, 2017 : Kelly Ann Baird
It’s Riley’s World and We’re All Just Living In It

It’s Riley’s World and We’re All Just Living In It

I’ve received a lot of questions/comments about Riley’s diet and or safety on the trail. Hopefully this post answers most if not all of those

Oct 20, 2017 : Kelly Ann Baird
The Trail Provides…Opportunities for Greatness

The Trail Provides…Opportunities for Greatness

We all know the saying “the trail provides.” It’s used when extraordinary occurrences happen on the trail typically when you are at your darkest

Oct 20, 2017 : Kelly Ann Baird
Wilderness Fever

Wilderness Fever

Early the morning of October 7th, Riley and I finished the 100 mile wilderness experiencing a wide array of emotions. This was an enormous

Oct 8, 2017 : Kelly Ann Baird
Hiking South for the Winter: A Glimpse Into the Mind of a Potential Nut-Case

Hiking South for the Winter: A Glimpse Into the Mind of a Potential Nut-Case

Origin of Insanity It's only crazy until it becomes a reality One year, seven months, and one day ago I went on my first backpacking trip for my

Sep 19, 2017 : Kelly Ann Baird