Hey, glad you found me. Pull up a chair — or a camp stool, whatever you’ve got.
If you’re new here, here’s the short version: I’m Barbara, a Virginia-based data analyst who spent fifteen years hunting in the woods and somehow convinced herself that backpacking the John Muir Trail was a logical next step. I had hiked exactly four times when I signed up. I regret nothing.
This blog is for you if:
- You came to hiking later in life and feel like everyone else already knows what they’re doing
- You’re in that season of life where the kids are grown and you’re staring at your schedule thinking …now what?
- You care about what you eat on the trail and love the idea of real, homemade trail food
- You want to see real gear decisions made by a real person with a real budget
- You just like watching someone figure things out in real time
This isn’t a blog written in hindsight by someone who already has it all together. I’m documenting the journey as it happens — mistakes, wins, and everything in between.
Ready to start? Head over to the [About page] to get the full story, then check out the [Blog] when you’re ready to dive in. The adventure is just getting started — and honestly, so am I.