Zoë Symon

Hi! I'm Zoë. By trade, I'm a User Experience Designer living in La Grande, Oregon. By passion, I'm a full-time adventurer who enjoys hiking, skiing, globetrotting, reading, and baking. In 2016 I completed a NOBO thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, and have been trying my best to get back to trails as much as possible ever since. Why the AT? Growing up in North Carolina instilled in me a love for the Appalachians that I haven't been able to shake (not that I'd want to), so it seemed like a perfect first thru-hike. My current backyard is the Eagle Cap Wilderness in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, and I've loved exploring all that it has to offer.

Posts

One Piece of Gear You Never Knew You Needed

One Piece of Gear You Never Knew You Needed

Dental care in the backcountry seems relatively self-explanatory, right? If you said yes, you would be right. However, like any part of your gear

Feb 7, 2018 : Zoë Symon
Bringing Leave-No-Trace to Life Off Trail

Bringing Leave-No-Trace to Life Off Trail

On trail, we follow Leave No Trace practices every day. Since Katahdin, I've thought more about how these principles can apply to my off-trail life as well.

Sep 17, 2017 : Zoë Symon
Why I stopped writing

Why I stopped writing

It's been about a year since my last post for The Trek and about 10 months since I climbed Katahdin. Why did I stop writing during my hike?

Jun 19, 2017 : Zoë Symon
‘Tis the Sneezon

‘Tis the Sneezon

Although I obsessively planned most of my hike, there's one thing I didn't plan for, but I vowed that it wouldn't stop me. That thing is allergies.

Jun 1, 2016 : Zoë Symon
The Quarter-Trail Update (Part 3: The Highlands)

The Quarter-Trail Update (Part 3: The Highlands)

I've been terrible about updating this blog, so here's one massive update (This is part 3) to let you know what I've been hiking the past 550 miles.

May 4, 2016 : Zoë Symon
The Quarter-Trail Update (Part 2: Let It Snow)

The Quarter-Trail Update (Part 2: Let It Snow)

I've been terrible about updating this blog, so here's one massive update (This is part 2) to let you know what I've been hiking the past 550 miles.

Apr 22, 2016 : Zoë Symon
The Quarter-Trail Update (Part 1: So It Begins)

The Quarter-Trail Update (Part 1: So It Begins)

I've been terrible about updating this blog, so here's one massive update (This is part 1) to let you know what I've been hiking the past 550 miles.

Apr 22, 2016 : Zoë Symon
What’s in a Name? (Or, Why I’m Not Taking a Trail Name)

What’s in a Name? (Or, Why I’m Not Taking a Trail Name)

Everyone experiences the trail in a different way, and for my thru-hike, I've decided not to take a trail name. Here's why.

Apr 1, 2016 : Zoë Symon
On Being Lucky

On Being Lucky

If luck is defined as having good things happen to you without you asking for them or making them happen, then I have been the luckiest person so far.

Mar 23, 2016 : Zoë Symon
5 Lessons from the First 5 Days

5 Lessons from the First 5 Days

It's now the end of day five. I'm comfortably camped after leaving Neel Gap this morning. Here are a few things I've learned since being on the trail.

Mar 9, 2016 : Zoë Symon