Thru-Hiking Gear List Autopsy: What Worked & What Failed

A post-hike review of every item in my pack, including the gear I used, ignored, replaced, and would carry again.

Aug 12

9

Managing Fatigue & Recovery Is How You Finish

How to stay functional when you’re tired, under load, in weather, and still have to make good decisions.

Aug 11

10

2

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June 2026

Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die

A solo female travel essay about fear, friendship, reinvention, and the strange rituals that carry us into the unknown.

Jun 7

8

1

Pack Weight and Ruck Training: Why Most Hikers Break at Mile 12

Load tolerance is not as simple as strength training + cardio. Train your tissues, dial your pack fit, and stop getting humbled the first time the carry…

Jun 1

23

6

3

February 2026

Elevation Training for Hiking: How to Get Trail-Ready Without Living in the Mountains

Elevation training for hiking involves two things: your aerobic engine and your acclimation plan. Learn how to train climbs without mountains, avoid…

Feb 15

17

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Balance and Reaction Time on Uneven Terrain

Train fitness for hiking where it counts: balance, reaction time, and stability on uneven terrain. Learn the failure mode and self-audit your blind…

Feb 1

10

2

January 2026

The Downhill Tax: Why Descents Destroy Strong Hikers and How to Train for It

Downhills are where strong hikers get humbled. This post breaks down the downhill tax, eccentric loading, & how to protect your knees and quads before…

Jan 24

24

6

The 5 Physical Demands of Hiking That Most Workout Plans Ignore

Training for hiking requires more than gym fitness. Learn the real physical demands hiking places on your body and why most workout plans fail on trail.

Jan 12

98

27

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December 2025

The Track My Mind Runs

Post-trail depression, misalignment, and the hard truth: surviving somewhere doesn’t mean you should stay. A record from the middle.

Dec 17, 2025

6

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October 2025

Segment 2: The Night My Tent Collapsed

2025 SoBo Colorado Trail Report ft. the Buffalo Creek Burn area, South Platte River Trailhead, a night of chaos and a 10-mile dry segment.

Oct 13, 2025

9

Segment 1.5: CT Mentors, Big Ramhorns, & A Literal Meltdown

2025 SoBo Colorado Trail Report ft. the ram standoff, Lenny’s Rest, meeting M&M, camp-spot etiquette, first pitch, cooking fiasco, Ursack mini-guide…

Oct 5, 2025

9

Segment 1: A Clean Break & The CT's Canyon On-Ramp

2025 SoBo Colorado Trail Report ft. Hostel Fish (Denver, CO), Waterton Canyon Trailhead, & the rocky singletrack into Bear Creek country.

Oct 1, 2025

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1

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