My name is Melanie, and I welcome you to the ramblings of my colorful mind. As I will be thru-hiking the PCT in 2017, you can expect trail stories, breathtaking (due to either natural beauty or a laughter-inducing snapshot) photos, and much more. Although capturing the essence of an human being with words alone proves difficult, here are some relevant ones to help paint a picture of me: vegan, college-student, STEM researcher, bookworm, klutz, nature addict, minimalist, coffee-obsessed, lover of mountains, happy. Above all, I believe tacos are good for the soul, laughter keeps the world in orbit, and empathy is always the correct emotion.