I get lots of questions about my travels, life on the road, and what exactly it is that I do to support this habit. Hopefully, this page of FAQs and their answers fills that void. If you still have questions or want to know more about traveling full-time, feel free to drop me line at sisu@outdoorpilgrim.com.
Does your blog contain affiliate links?
NO! I didn’t start this blog to make money or endorse the sale of any items. I am not sponsored, nor do I belong to any affiliate programs. I simply write about my hiking and nomadic experiences, and I try to share information that I think others might find helpful when planning similar outdoor adventures. Any links I provide within my blog posts are purely informational.
What gear do you carry when backpacking?
Each hike is a little different, so my gear list varies depending on the time of year, weather, or location. I try to keep my base weight around 12-13 pounds, which means minimizing the extra items I carry. If you’re curious about the specific gear items I’ve taken on my hikes, click HERE to view my various packing lists.
Don’t you ever feel scared, uncomfortable, or apprehensive hiking a solo woman?
First off, I don’t always hike on my own. Many of my trips are done with hiking partners, family members, and I even developed a trail family during my Appalachian Trail thru-hike. But, I also really enjoy reveling in the solitude and self-reliance of a solo adventure.
I’m also always mindful of the risks of this hobby, and so I choose to take certain safety precautions. Some of these include leaving a detailed itinerary back home, checking in with people at regular intervals, and carrying a GPS device for communication, backcountry navigation, and emergency help.
What do you eat when you’re hiking?
I’m a pescatarian, so most of my protein on trail comes from dehydrated beans, nut butters, tuna, cheese, and various bars. I don’t regularly buy freeze-dried meals because those meals usually contain meat, are pretty expensive ($7-15 each), and they tend to be heavy.
What long distance hikes are on your bucket list?
There are just so many! Every time I learn about a new trail, I seem to fall in love. However, if I could only hike one final trail… I’d probably try doing something a bit non-traditional like the 2,170-mile Oregon National Historic Trail. When I read Rinker Buck’s book, The Oregon Trail: A New American Journey, describing his travels by mule-drawn wagon along the Oregon Trail, it really clicked with me. I’d love to try to re-create that journey on foot.
Do you plan to hike the Triple Crown?
I thru-hiked the AT in 2019, and there’s a good chance I’ll hike the PCT and CDT someday. But I’m not keen to follow the trend doing three epically long trails in back-to-back years. Thru-hiking 2,000-3,000 miles consumes an entire hiking season, which means sacrificing the opportunity to hike some shorter trails that might be more appealing to me at that moment. I’d rather hike whatever trail I’m most excited about over meeting someone else’s expectations that I tick off a list of specific trails.
What is you favorite hiking gear?
I modify my gear setup a little bit each time I go out. But some staples that seem to make the packing list on EVERY hike are my Dirty Girl Gaiters (I really, really hate having to stop to dump rocks or dirt out of my shoes) and the hot pink beanie I found in a clearance bin in Wyoming. I’m also a huge fan of Patagonia Baggies 5″ shorts, which I finally broke down and bought on the second week of my Appalachian Trail thru-hike after a several days of torrential rain. These shorts dry out super fast. It was a true game-changer for me.
Do you ever hike outside the U.S.?
Yes. As an adult, I’ve lived in so many places – from North America to Central America, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. I’ve also visited South America and Africa. And so, I’ve over the past 25 years, I’ve hiked on every continent except Antarctica. You can explore some of my more recent hiking destinations by clicking HERE.
Where is your favorite place to hike?
I grew up on the West Coast of the U.S., so I probably have a bias for Sierra Nevada mountains. But, I also love the desert – especially in northern Arizona and New Mexico.
What makes you different than other hikers out there?
I guess I fit into a slightly different demographic than what you might expect to see out on trail. For starters, I’m not a young 20-something, single dude with a beard. Instead, I’m a wife and mother who didn’t begin thru-hiking until well into my 40s. Many people who are in the same season of life as me are more focused on building their career, paying for the nice house or car, and planning for retirement. Meanwhile, I’m interested in finding the next adventure.
How did you get into long distance backpacking?
I’ve always been athletic and into endurance sports. Over the years, I’ve been a distance swimmer, triathlete, marathon runner, trail runner, and – of course – soldier. I’ve also loved camping and grew up spending my summers with my family camping in state and national parks throughout the West Coast. Then one day, a friend gave me a hiking book about the PCT, and I was hooked.
What is Outdoor Pilgrim?
I’ve always loved reading other people’s trail journals and travel blogs for inspiration. It was a form of escape to get me through the drudgery. Then, in June 2018, I finally left the workplace grind and began living the lifestyle I always dreamed about. I also wanted to give back to the community that kept me so motivated over the years. This decision led me to chronicle some of my own adventures and try to show others the ups and downs on the non-traditional lifestyle.
So how do you afford to travel full-time? Are you independently wealthy?
Hardly! My spouse and I both served on active duty in the military for over 20 years. Thus, we both have two (small) pensions to help with our living expenses. We were also pretty frugal during our military careers, and saved a good deal of our income and invested it smartly for the future.