Kirsten Fraude

Hey! I'm Shutterbug! I'm 30, a wedding & elopement photographer, upstate newyorker, lover of nature, and am hoping to own a hostel along the AT one day. In 2017 I hiked over 1500 miles of the Appalachian Trail. I plan on reattempting a thru hike of it someday.

Posts

Yes I’m still alive and haven’t been eaten by a bear yet… Shutterbug’s Trail Update #2

Yes I’m still alive and haven’t been eaten by a bear yet… Shutterbug’s Trail Update #2

I know, I know. I haven't exactly been keeping up with the blog posts. But I promise I haven't died! I'm still very alive!I'm trying to catch up

Apr 24, 2017 : Kirsten Fraude
Shutterbug’s Trail Update #1

Shutterbug’s Trail Update #1

Days -1 & 0: Two days before I started hiking, I spent the night in Franklin, NC. The plan was to get to Outdoor 76 before it closed at 7. That

Mar 14, 2017 : Kirsten Fraude
My Ever-changing AT Gear List

My Ever-changing AT Gear List

I've updated my gear list many times. I've done countless hours of research and my dad helped me a lot too. I've been planning this trip now for

Mar 12, 2017 : Kirsten Fraude
14 Things I Learned From A Winter Campout Shakedown

14 Things I Learned From A Winter Campout Shakedown

A few weeks ago I went on a winter campout in the NY Catskills with a bunch of my dad's friends and their kids. I'd never gone camping in the winter

Feb 27, 2017 : Kirsten Fraude
How my shakedown hikes turned into epic fails

How my shakedown hikes turned into epic fails

The stress of planning a thru hike has finally started to subside. I've revised list after list of gear I already have, gear that I needed, and

Feb 9, 2017 : Kirsten Fraude
That awkward moment when you can’t fit all your gear in your pack

That awkward moment when you can’t fit all your gear in your pack

After realizing I finally have everything that I'm going to need for the trail I decided to take the cliche gear spread photo. (Though cliche it may

Jan 31, 2017 : Kirsten Fraude
A Letter to my Father, Rainbow Express

A Letter to my Father, Rainbow Express

Dad, It's only been less than a week since you passed away but it feels like it's been years. The days have dragged on and on without you. I know

Jan 21, 2017 : Kirsten Fraude
“So, who are you going with?…”

“So, who are you going with?…”

If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me the question "so who are you going with?" after telling them I'm hiking the Appalachian Trail next

Sep 3, 2016 : Kirsten Fraude
This family has caught the AT bug!

This family has caught the AT bug!

For as long as I can remember, my dad has always talked about his time on the trail as being one of the best parts of his life. He met lifelong

Aug 17, 2016 : Kirsten Fraude
And I thought I was excited before…

And I thought I was excited before…

We've had twelve thru-hikers (including my brother) stay with us in the past month or so! It's been really really fun hanging out with so many

Aug 14, 2016 : Kirsten Fraude