Hello and welcome to my new website! Thank you for joining me on this journey!

Let me start by introducing myself. My name is Valerie. My interest in the outdoors started at a young age, exploring the prairies and woods of Wisconsin where I grew up. This interest blossomed into a love of backpacking and hiking as a teenager, which inspired me to embark on what I saw as the ultimate outdoor adventure – a thru-hike of the 2,180-mile Appalachian Trail (2014). I later completed the 500-mile Colorado Trail, which was the perfect way to get to know the state I now call home.

My time in nature during my thru-hikes inspired me to study environmental science. I completed degrees in Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology and Geosciences. During and between earning my degrees, I worked as a field technician for various environmental science research projects – trekking to remote locations in the Rocky Mountains to collect samples of soils, stream water, insects, and more.

Today, I run a small online business selling educational resources for environmental sciences (Wild Earth Lab). When I’m not busy with the day-to-day responsibilities of owning a small business, I spend my free time camping, running, and traveling.

Trails and wild places have always called to me, and I have done my best to listen. My connection to nature looks different in different seasons of my life. Sometimes, it takes the form of a quick morning trail run with my dog before work. At other times, an exciting multi-day backpacking trip with an ambitious itinerary to challenge myself. And when my life has permitted it, I’ve been lucky enough to spend longer periods on trails in the form of thru-hikes.

On this site, I plan to share stories and lessons learned from my various adventures on trails and in the backcountry. I hope my reflections bring you entertainment, inspiration, or helpful know-how for getting the most out of your time in nature!

Happy trails!