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Acorn on the PCT

Embracing the Wild: Rayana Adra

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.

December 20, 2014    Sandra Friend

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Acorn on the PCT
Acorn on the PCT

Rayana “Acorn” Adra is one of a handful of women to complete a thru-hike of the Florida Trail, Florida’s own National Scenic Trail, this season. She spent the past year and a half hiking three of America’s National Scenic Trails. She lives in Denver, Colorado.

Before my thru-hikes, I was living a normal life in downtown Chicago. I had a successful job as a Microbiologist at a Children’s Hospital, and lived on the 47th floor of a high-rise.

I was happy, but not fulfilled. Was this success?

Something was missing.

In the Fall of 2012, I bought a lottery ticket. As I walked home, I asked myself a scary question: “What would you do if you won the lottery?”

The answer scared me: I would hike the Appalachian Trail.

Of course, I didn’t win the lottery. But this moment planted that seed in my mind. The more I thought about it, the more logic it made. I decided to go for it!

I quit my job, and on March 30th, 2013, I started hiking the Appalachian Trail as a solo female hiker. It was crazy, but I needed to find myself. It’s an understatement to say that it was the most incredible experience of my life.

Acorn on the AT
Acorn at the iconic McAfee Knob on the AT

I was persistent, and on Oct 6th, 2013, I summited Katahdin. But it wasn’t enough. As I stood on the mountain, I found myself craving more.

More sights, more mountains, more hiking!

On Jan 8th, 2014, I started the Florida Trail. Along the way, I met my boyfriend, Estero. We completed the Florida Trail, together, on March 8th.

Estero and Acorn complete the Florida Trail
Estero and Acorn complete the Florida Trail

We hiked the PCT as a couple from April 9th to Sept 23rd.

I’ve been incredibly lucky. Thru-hiking is difficult. It will hurt, the weather will be too hot, too cold, your body will hurt, but there’s honestly nowhere else I would rather be. I haven’t had any major challenges, because I always understood that pain, and bad weather was only temporary.

It will pass, and someday, there’s a reward waiting for me…on a beach in Florida, a mountain in Maine, or a clear patch of woods near the Canadian/US border.

Since March 2013, I have spent nearly 6,000 miles hiking. And, now, I’m not only happy, but also feeling so fulfilled.

I hope to see more women in the outdoors. I’ve blogged on AcornHikes.com during my adventures, and I hope my adventures positively influence women to get out and hike! I was in good shape, but I was never an athlete — If I can do it, anyone can do it.

Category: Articles, Backpacking, Hiking, InterviewsTag: Hiker Profiles

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