Into the Collegiate West we go (on the Colorado Trail)

This post first appeared on The Trek on August 22, 2022. If you’re hiking southbound on the Colorado Trail, as most people do, just past Twin Lakes Village, you reach the revered Collegiate Peaks Wilderness. Here, you have two choices. March on into the wilderness via the official CT route – the Collegiate East –

A swimming bear, shooting stars, and a 10 by 10: Colorado Trail thru-hike days one through three

This post first appeared on The Trek on August 10, 2022. The beginning of my Colorado Trail thru-hike didn’t exactly go off without a hitch. As I mentioned in my preparation posts, my friends Ibex and Dori, both of whom were a part of my Appalachian Trail tramily, are joining me for this adventure. I

Six Reasons I’m Thru-Hiking the Colorado Trail This Summer

This post was first published on TheTrek.co on July 20, 2022. After dreaming about and planning for my upcoming Colorado Trail thru-hike for the last six months, the countdown is on. I’m a mere two weeks away from my start date, and I am so ready! I’ve spent the last few weeks training, researching town

Appalachian Trail memories surface as Colorado Trail thru-hike draws near

This post first appeared on TheTrek.co on July 17, 2022. As my Colorado Trail (CT) thru-hike start date approaches, I find myself looking in the rearview mirror at how profoundly my 2018 Appalachian Trail (AT) thru-hike changed my life. Whenever I think of my trek, the Lord Huron song, “Meet Me in the Woods” comes

How to backpack Colorado’s Cross Creek to Fall Creek Loop in the Holy Cross Wilderness

Ever since hiking the Missouri and Fancy Lakes loop earlier this summer (which was incredible!), I’ve been wanting to get back to the Holy Cross Wilderness to explore more. Well, last month, my friends got kicked off the Pacific Crest Trail due to wildfires and took a last-minute flight out to Colorado to visit, so

Holiday Gift Guide: What to Buy for the Hiker and Backpacker in Your Life

Wondering what to gift the hiker or backpacker in your life this holiday season? This gift guide can help! It contains several ideas for stocking stuffers, hiking and backpacking gear, outdoor apparel, and more.

How to Plan a Backpacking Trip on New York’s Finger Lakes Trail

Interested in planning a backpacking trip in Upstate New York? Look no further than the Finger Lakes Trail, a 584-mile trek spanning from Allegany State Park in Southwestern New York to the Catskills in Eastern New York.

How to Prepare for a Thru-Hike of the Appalachian Trail

Interested in thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail but are unsure where to begin? I thru-hiked the AT in 2018, and learned so many things along the way that could help you. In this post, I outline several things that you can do in order to prepare for a thru-hike of the AT.

How to Hike Aspen, Colorado’s Four Pass Loop

I’ve had my eye on the Four Pass Loop near Aspen since I moved to Colorado. It’s frequently on “best of” hiking trails lists for the state, and I’ve even seen mention of it being one of the best hiking trails in the world. With all this hype and all the hiking I’ve done, you might think I’d end up disappointed. Not so! I was, in fact, totally blown away by this 28-mile(ish) trail. It was nothing short of amazing. Here is how you can plan your own backpacking trip out to the Maroon Bells Wilderness.

Four of THE BEST hiking trails in Colorado

The beauty of the Colorado wilderness never ceases to amaze me. I am so ridiculously in love with this state. From alpine lakes to dramatic mountain views to vibrant wildflowers, Colorado has it all. Having now spent two summers hiking every single weekend (and many weekday evenings, too) here, I get a lot of questions