"Blood Sweat Tears" Book Release

"Blood Sweat Tears" Book Release

Over the past few months I have had the privilege of watching a book come to life--and seeing my name published in the pages of it. Late last year an essay I'd written about my experience hiking 100 hikes during 2020 was selected to be part of a collection of work about the experience of existing in a female body in the outdoors. At the time my piece was nothing but a patchwork of blog posts I had clumped together into a word document that would, I’d hoped, be at least somewhat coherent. Through multiple rounds of edits and deeply helpful advice from Christine, the brains behind this project and the Rugged Outdoorswoman community leader, my words were finessed into an essay that I am fully proud of.


"Nature had become a potent salve for the wounds of young adulthood. I had discovered the unbridled freedom of exploring, the confidence that came from navigating the challenges of the trail with only my pup, Charlie, by my side, and a sense of optimism that had long been overshadowed by grief. The mental fog began to lift—and stay lifted—once the outdoors became a consistent part of my life.

On January 1, 2020, I had water, snacks, and a list of possible places to visit. I grabbed Charlie’s leash and slid on my hiking boots. There was nothing to do but go."