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Embracing the Wild

A collection of interviews with women who’ve learned from their wilderness experiences.

Sandra Friend on the AT
Sandra Friend aka Navigator on the Appalachian Trail, 2012

Wild is a story of catharsis, of going to the woods to find yourself, of how a long walk on the Pacific Crest Trail results in lifelong change.

Society expects men to go camping and tromping in the woods. But women are drawn to long distance hiking, too.

To commemorate the release of the movie, we collected interviews with women we know who’ve gone to the wild and found themselves changed by the experience, starting with my own story.

In my two decades of being a part of the hiking community, I learned that many of the women headed out to our National Scenic Trails wanted to re-invent themselves in some way. And I was among them.

If you’re curious about backpacking and long distance hiking and want to meet up with experienced women hikers to learn more about enjoying the outdoors, I highly recommend the Trail Dames, a national organization with regional chapters for women hikers and backpackers.

Rainbow on the Florida Trail

Contents

  • 1 Embracing the Wild: Amanda Hus
  • 2 Embracing the Wild: Anna Huthmaker
  • 3 Embracing the Wild: Barbara Quinn
  • 4 Embracing the Wild: Elaine Zumsteg
  • 5 Embracing the Wild: Gail Johnson
  • 6 Embracing the Wild: Judy Gross
  • 7 Embracing the Wild: Karen Berger
  • 8 Embracing the Wild: Lori Burris
  • 9 Embracing the Wild: Luanne Anderson
  • 10 Embracing the Wild: Misti Little
  • 11 Embracing the Wild: Rayana Adra
  • 12 Embracing the Wild: Regina Reiter
  • 13 Embracing the Wild: Susan Turner
  • 14 Embracing the Wild: Sandra Friend

Embracing the Wild: Amanda Hus

December 26, 2014

Amanda “Rainbow” Hus holds the thru-hiker record for most times walking the length of Florida on the Florida Trail. She didn’t discover hiking until later in life

Anna Huthmaker

Embracing the Wild: Anna Huthmaker

December 21, 2014

The founder of Trail Dames, a national organization to empower female hikers, Anna Huthmaker took on the Appalachian Trail in 2003 despite her own self-doubts.

Nails on the AT

Embracing the Wild: Barbara Quinn

December 24, 2014

In her mid-fifties, Barbara “Nails” Quinn decided the best way to recharge her life was to find adventure on her own by taking a long walk in the woods.

Cadi on the Appalachian Trail

Embracing the Wild: Elaine Zumsteg

December 22, 2014

On March 28, 2014, Stuart resident Elaine “Cadi” Cadigan Zumsteg began her Appalachian Trail thru-hike. After meeting “Hobo Nobo,” the ladies finished together on September 30.

Gutsy & JK on the AT during our "Not Quite Thru"

Embracing the Wild: Gail Johnson

December 15, 2014

Completing the Appalachian Trail on her own in 1996 earned Gail Johnson her trail name, Gutsy. She was the first woman to share her journal and journey online.

Embracing the Wild: Judy Gross

December 27, 2014

Judy “Heartfire” Gross headed to the AT in 2006 with plans to complete a thru-hike. A business idea she made reality is a hiker’s godsend for lightweight gear.

Karen Berger ice-climbing in Alaska

Embracing the Wild: Karen Berger

December 25, 2014

A successful writer and Triple Crown hiker, Karen Berger is the woman I looked up to as a role model for carving a career out of the outdoors one step at a time.

SwampTromper on the AT

Embracing the Wild: Lori Burris

December 17, 2014

A long-time trail maintainer and hike leader, Lori “SwampTromper” Burris has encouraged many women in South Central Florida to take that first step into the wild.

Tigger climbing down from Arbel Cliffs in Israel

Embracing the Wild: Luanne Anderson

December 19, 2014

A volunteer for ALDHA and on the Board of Directors of the Florida Trail Hikers Alliance, Luanne “Tigger” Anderson has not just hiked, but helped manage an Appalachian Trail hostel.

Ridley at the Aucilla Sinks on the Florida Trail

Embracing the Wild: Misti Little

December 18, 2014

After completing the Appalachian Trail, Misti “Ridley” Little thru-hiked the Florida Trail with her husband Chris in 2011. She actively promotes the Florida Trail to the hiking community.

Acorn on the PCT

Embracing the Wild: Rayana Adra

December 20, 2014

Hiking the AT before and the PCT after, Rayana “Acorn” Adra is one of a handful of women to thru-hike the Florida Trail during the 2014 hiking season.

Regina Reiter

Embracing the Wild: Regina Reiter

December 23, 2014

After her AT thru, Regina Reiter made hiking her life. She works seasonally as a ATC Ridgerunner and teaches women how to let go of their fears and get outdoors.

Hammock Hanger on the John Muir Trail

Embracing the Wild: Susan Turner

December 16, 2014

Jacksonville resident Susan “Hammock Hanger” Turner is an amazing woman. She’s been hiking on some long distance trail somewhere on Earth for the past 13 years.

Embracing the Wild: Sandra Friend

December 14, 2014

Author Sandra Friend recounts her experiences in the wilderness that brought her to where she is today, sharing the outdoors with a broad audience through her books and online.

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