This website is for cataloging my hiking experiences, starting with my solo hike of the John Muir Trail in 2018 following the completion of my PhD.
My partner first got me into backpacking during graduate school, at which point he had about 6 years of experience and some extra gear to share. We went on short trips exploring portions of the Appalachian Trail in NC and VA and Pisgah National Forest. At first, being in the wilderness made me very anxious. In particular, I couldn't sleep at night because I kept hearing noises that I thought were animals trying to break into the tent. I had extreme bearanoia! However, with the successful defense of my PhD, I was instilled with confidence I hadn't had before and decided to embark on a journey on one of the most popular trails in the US. Seeing photos and video of the Sierras had totally captivated me, and I am very grateful that I took that leap into the wild.
Since then, I have been looking for any opportunity to get outside, whether it be day hikes, car camping, or multi-day backpacking trips. I plan on using this site to record the more significant experiences for my own memories. If my experiences can help others, then all the better!