Beyond the AT
What I Learned After My Hike Changed Everything – Colorado Trail Epilogue
If you followed my Colorado Trail thru-hike, you know it was fraught with challenges. From a suspected UTI that wasn’t to a fall down a snowbank that almost ended my...
Saving the Best for Last – Colorado Trail Thru-HIke, Part 9
Moving further south along the Colorado Trail, our path during the last weeks took us higher by the day. The mountains we traversed were now well above 12,000 feet and...
So Long to Hiking Solo – Colorado Trail Thru-Hike, Part 8
I spent a week hiking solo after my return to the trail. I came back from my fall with a fresh attitude, determined to complete the trail. By the time...
Fear Won’t End My Hike | Colorado Trail Thru-Hike, Part 7
After my fall down the mountain, I headed home from the tiny town of St. Elmo in defeat, rattled by fear and adrenaline. For 3 ½ hours in the car,...
I Fell Down a Mountain! Colorado Trail Thru-Hike, Part 6
Dusk was gathering as I wedged my tent between willow bushes next to a creek. It wasn’t the ideal spot to camp, right next to the trail, but it would...
She Believed She Could So She Did: Finishing the Colorado Trail
Most probably, I could have finished the Colorado Trail on my own, as I had done nearly all the rest of the trail. But would it have been as meaningful,...
What a Crazy Day! Colorado Trail Thru-Hike, Part 5
Crystal-clear bluebird skies heralded the start of another beautiful day on the Colorado Trail, perfect for crossing Cottonwood Pass. Monsoon season was here and the afternoon might very well
Is Hiking Alone a Mistake? Colorado Trail Thru-Hike, Part 4
As I approach the 200-mile mark, my Colorado Trail thru-hike has become a more solitary adventure than I expected. While I always planned on hiking alone, I assumed I'd get...
This Trail Could Kill Me – Colorado Trail Thru-Hike, Part 3
Feeling invincible is a luxury for the young. I rarely feared for my life as a crazy teenager doing stupid things. When I married at 21 and settled down to...
What’s Wrong with Me? Colorado Trail Thru-Hike, Part 2
Oh no, not again! I just started the Colorado Trail (for the second time). How is it possible to have health issues so soon? Starting Strong My thru-hike attempt started...