Inspiration
Fear and thru-hiking: From flight-or-fight to wisdom, transformation and compassion
I’ve been pondering on the subject of fear lately, as my husband and I are now just 8 weeks away from starting the Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike, a 4260km continuous...
Thru hiking with fibromyalgia and what its taught me about mind over body
What is fibromyalgia? When I tell someone I have fibromyalgia their face often draws a blank, including medical professionals. There is still little known about the condition. The medical definition
Two Pilgrimages, One Journey: Discovering the Kumano Kodō after our Camino
Day 0 >> February 15, 2025 Nestled in the rugged mountains of Japan's Kii Peninsula lies the Kumano Kodō, an ancient and spiritual pilgrimage route, a UNESCO World Heritage Site...
PCT Countdown: A Deep Dive into Permits, Visa Challenges, and Physical Conditioning
I received a lot of questions about how I prepare for the Pacific Crest Trail. What my training in detail looks like, and what is necessary to hike across the...
Reflections of the PCT as I gear up for the AT
I remember my first hike as a young nipper. I would have been about 10. Dad took my sister, friend, and I on a two-night three-day hike called the Rakiura...
How hot can you handle? Conditioning for the heat on a PCT thru-hike
From January 2022 to December 2024, my partner Chris and I were based in Norway. As South African immigrants to Norway, the frigid, long winters were a baptism of ice....
A slow-paced wilderness immersion for PCT preparation in Southern Africa
To welcome in 2025 Chris and I spent time immersed in wilderness, well out of mobile connectivity. We joined a group of friends on a 5 night hike in Pondoland,...
What Made Me Decide To Hike 2,650 Miles
Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail has been a dream of mine for so many years. I can’t believe I'm making that dream come true this year. 2025 is my...
8 Inspiring and Informative Books To Read Before Your Thru-Hike
It's January. For some, this means layering up, braving the cold, and chasing adventure in the mountains we all love. Honestly, hats off to you. You’re tougher than I am....
Some Neurological Benefits of Hiking, As Told by Someone Who’s Thru-Hiked Before and After Brain Surgery
After undergoing brain surgery last winter, I figured I could use my recovery time to start training for another thru-hike (or two). Thru-hiking has always been something I turn to...