Rachel Shoemaker

Hey y'all, Rachel aka "Dobby" here! I use she/her pronouns and hail from Western NC. I called NH home for a bit as well, which is where my adventures in backpacking began. In 2018, I hiked all the 4,000-footers in the Northeast (NE67) and in 2020, I started hiking the PCT but ended up having to pause that journey for the time being. I joined a friend over on the Colorado Trail instead, which was an excellent decision (would recommend). I returned to the PCT in 2022, and was finally able to fulfill my dream (but probably won't ever stop dreaming about it). I'm in Vermont now, studying at VLGS to become an environmental attorney. When I'm not buried in books or glued to my computer screen, you can find me out on the trails with my furry best friend, Lily. Happy adventuring and thanks for following along! :)

Posts

High, Low, Buffalo – Hiking the PCT in Oregon

High, Low, Buffalo – Hiking the PCT in Oregon

If the sole reason you're reading this is because the word "buffalo" caught your attention, I respect that. Because I don't want to be too misleading

Sep 19, 2022 : Rachel Shoemaker
Allow Me to (re)Introduce Myself

Allow Me to (re)Introduce Myself

Hey, y'all! Dobby here...remember me? I do realize it's been a minute. Okay - if I'm being completely honest, it's been more like 2 months. Where

Sep 17, 2022 : Rachel Shoemaker
This Girl Is On Fire

This Girl Is On Fire

First of all, I'd like to thank Alicia Keys for singing this beautiful song into existence. Secondly, I'd like to thank her for so graciously

Jul 18, 2022 : Rachel Shoemaker
Relationship Status: It’s Complicated

Relationship Status: It’s Complicated

Oh, Sierra... where do I begin? We were together for only a few short weeks, and yet in that time, I experienced some of my highest highs and lowest

Jul 3, 2022 : Rachel Shoemaker
Rose, Bud, Thorn: A Reflection

Rose, Bud, Thorn: A Reflection

"I think we should play a game." An evening in the Mojave. I had been deep in thought when Sprout suddenly spoke up. It had been another long

May 21, 2022 : Rachel Shoemaker
Adventures in Dehydrating – Part 2!

Adventures in Dehydrating – Part 2!

Let's see - where did we last leave off? At the end of Part 1 of this story, I was optimistically awaiting a response from a company in the

May 19, 2022 : Rachel Shoemaker
Adventures in Dehydration – Errr, I Mean Dehydrating (Part 1)

Adventures in Dehydration – Errr, I Mean Dehydrating (Part 1)

It's back to hiking in the desert and I'm doing my best to stay hydrated out here. When I'm not actively chugging water or shoving my face full of

May 6, 2022 : Rachel Shoemaker
Take Chances, Make Mistakes, and Get Messy

Take Chances, Make Mistakes, and Get Messy

Greetings from Wrightwood, CA! It's somehow been nearly a month since I started the trail (25 days to be exact). Where does the time go?? I've been

Apr 29, 2022 : Rachel Shoemaker
This One’s For You, Dad

This One’s For You, Dad

"You know what, Pa? It keeps occurring to me how special this is. I'm going to be sad when we part ways - it's going to mean the start of a new

Apr 7, 2022 : Rachel Shoemaker
8 Things I’m Excited to Do to Attempt a More Sustainable Thru-Hike

8 Things I’m Excited to Do to Attempt a More Sustainable Thru-Hike

#1 Use less plastic. Ugh. It seems like it's even harder to avoid plastic packaging while on trail than it is in everyday life. I do have a few

Jan 11, 2022 : Rachel Shoemaker