Hiker Introduction
Chapter 0: “The Blacks”
—Prologue— I’ve written 3 posts since hitting Kennedy Meadows South in late April 2022 and never truly introduced myself or my wife. We’ve simply been caught up in surviving...
All That Doesn’t Need to be Carried: Why I Decided to Thru-Hike the Appalachian Trail
This personal essay offers a glimpse into the quiet moments, thoughts, and reflections leading up to my 2022 Appalachian Trail thru-hike attempt. Every day, I wake up to a different...
Hiker Intro: How I Became a Metalhead Hiker and Why I’m Hiking The Colorado Trail/CDT
How I became a hiker and used this hobby to turn my life around. Why hard rock and heavy metal music had an influence on my life and mentality towards...
A Lifetime of Wanderlust
Everyone has that one moment that started them on the path to being who they are...
From Kate Spade to Katabatic
Hello, The Trek! My name is Melissa. If you had told me a five years ago that I'd be planning to go live in the woods, I would have looked...
Fight Your Demons, Chase Your Dreams
Hi, I'm Fernando. How does one introduce themselves to a world of strangers without it being 90 percent crap? You know, the version of themselves they want the rest of the...