Girl Gotta Hike the Blog

Over 178 days, from March 12th to September 5th, 2011, I hiked a total of 2,181 miles, across 14 states on The Appalachian Trail with my dad. It was an unbelievable experience and one that continues to inspire. This is the first in what I hope to be a series of posts commemorating our 10-year Trailversary!

I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to be someone who introduces people to spending time in the outdoors, especially for hikers whose acceptance into the outdoors community hasn’t been as easily handed down to them like mine. Heading off into the unknown is fraught not just with the with potential danger of misstep, but for Black Americans, a history of violence as well.

2020 was a bit of a bust… but for the fact that so many more people started hitting their local trails and found out about the healing powers of nature! Wahoo for hiking!

Brrrr! Fall and winter are fast upon us. Layer up to keep hiking in all seasons!

The ending of Daylight Savings time means less time enjoying the outdoors and more time inside (with more time to think). So how does one strike the right balance?

A photo essay and a few thoughts about time spent in the 100 Mile Wilderness in Maine.

After a long hiatus, Girl Gotta Hike is heading back to trail. Yaaaayyyy!!!! Hiking events now feature smaller group sizes, visits to less travelled trails and weekday hikes to thin the crowds and keep us all safe!

With no sense of urgency, I'm able to take the time to take in all the little details of the meandering paths, the perfectly placed stone walls, the statues of long-dead composers and the commemorative trees …There's a certain sense of solidarity with my fellow outdoor space seeking New Yorkers…

All of our best laid plans have gone amuck in this strange moment that we’re living in. In our best moments, we can seize this as an opportunity and in our worst, we feel utterly defeated. Melissa share a lesson she’s reminded of from the Appalachian Trail…

We’re all cooped up inside, doing our best to stop the spread & flatten the curve. But what does that mean for hiking? Is it safe to get out and go? Generally yes, but it depends …

Part road map, part memoir, part inspirational guide, “Wildpreneurs: A Practical Guide to Pursuing Your Passion as a Business” by Tamara Jacobi tells the tale of building her Mexican Jungle Lodge and Adventure Business and helps you follow your dreams too!

The Girl Gotta Hike year in review, wahoo! That, goal-setting for 2020, and why it’s so hard to realize what we’ve already accomplished.

With a busy city life, it’s seems so essential to make the most out of your vacation — but it’s often hard to turn off the noise inside your head once you get there…

Every year in May, thousands of hikers and Appalachian Trail enthusiasts descend upon Damascus, Virginia, (pop. 790), the “Friendliest Town on the Trail.” It’s part pilgrimage, part pop-up shop and and a whole lot of party!

Are you a city dweller who pines for some open skies and fresh air? Your cosmopolitan culture may have you more prepared for the trails than you think.