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Where To Next? Another Trail Blogger Says Hello
Ladies, gentlemen, and those outside the gender binary, I have the greatest pleasure of introducing… uhhhhhhh… myself. *shuffles papers and then clears throat* Hi! My name is Addison, but you can call me Addie or Popcorn, my provisional trail name (stemming from my love of making popcorn in the backcountry!) *waves* I live in Saint Paul, Minnesota and will be hiking my home state’s Superior Hiking Trail in September 2023.
Me at the summit of Little Devil’s Tower in South Dakota’s Black Hills.
Where From?
Like a lot of thru-hikers, I never expected my life would take this direction. I grew up a quiet, nerdy kid with few friends. My free time was spent playing video games and watching anime (disclaimer: I still do these things!) Family outdoor activities were dreaded rather than loved. Adventure was part of someone else’s life, not mine. Somewhere along the way, though, I changed.
Your humble blogger engaged in non-hiking, nerdy activities, namely cosplay while volunteering for a local sci-fi convention. I still volunteer here each year!
I guess it started at 10:50 PM CST on December 11, 2017. At this exact time, I realized that I’m transgender (that’s a whole separate story in itself!) Transitioning is… well, it’s kind of a lot. Anyone who goes through it will change (that’s kind of the point) and those changes can go far beyond appearance. Speaking personally, I quit my job, moved to a different state, completely switched my social circle, became far more outgoing, and (you’ve probably guessed this already!) developed a love for the outdoors.
Where First?
It look a few years for me to hike anything more than a couple of miles in a local park. In November 2021, however, I rented a campervan and took a trip to Kentucky and Tennessee. I didn’t know what to expect, but I found myself loving travel and the Appalachians. Things just took off from there. June 2022 saw me tent camping for the first time in 20 years. By September, I was backpacking (just a couple miles in state parks, but we have to start somewhere!)
Me at Tri-State Peak in Cumberland Gap National Historic Park, part of my first big trip into the great outdoors!
Where to Now?
In late September and early October of 2022, I took a trip to several parks in South Dakota and Wyoming. On the side, I took short backpacking trips in lots of cool places. I had a blast, but found myself wanting more. Spending a night or two in the backcountry was nice, but I wanted to go deeper. Enter thru-hiking…
Thru-hiking was just a distant dream when I first started backpacking, but I quickly learned it’s more approachable than I thought. My dream is to hike the Pacific Crest Trail (hopefully in 2024!), but despite what it might look like, I’m naturally a cautious person. I decided to start with a trail that’s closer, shorter, and easier. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still 300 miles through the most rugged terrain in Minnesota! This hike will be one of the most difficult things I’ve ever attempted, but I think I can pull it off. Oh, and the Superior Hiking Trail is gorgeous!!!
Bean Lake Overlook on the SHT in October. On my thru-hike, this view will be much greener!
Why Not?
Normally I wouldn’t talk about myself so publicly, but a big part of why I’m blogging for The Trek is to make backpacking more accessible. When I was younger, I thought of the backcountry as a place beyond me, somewhere I could never go. Beautiful places were beyond my reach, only seen through documentaries. Many people, both people online I’ve never met and friends I’ve made through the outdoors, changed my thinking and I’m hoping to pay it forward. So if you’re considering a trip into the wilderness, I say go for it! (Be sure to adequately plan and prepare, of course.) It made my life way more fun. It also improved both my mental and physical health. Maybe it’ll be good for you too!
I’m not starting my thru-hike until September (when Minnesota gets cooler and the bugs die down), but I’m planning on making a few posts before then about how I’m preparing for an adventure I never imagined I’d undertake. You can follow me on Instagram at @madebycrossing where I post pictures of all my trips, not just thru-hikes! Thanks for reading and hope to see you on the trail!
It’s a beautiful world out there.
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