Academic turned hiker…. Hopefully – The Trek

Hello everyone! My name is Lakelyn Taylor (she/her/hers). I’m excited to blog about my experiences as I prepare for and (attempt to) hike the Appalachian Trail (AT). I am also honored that you, dear reader, take the time to read my posts. This post is intended to give you a preview of who I am and what this blog will be about. My goal is for each of my blog posts to give you the raw, real experience of hiking. May the words you find here inspire you, uplift you, and uplift you as we move forward on this journey together.

Thanks for joining us!

My personal trailhead

(origin story)

My origin story begins in Clingman’s Dome, North Carolina, 2014. My family and I were on vacation at the time. We had finished ascending toward the base of Clingman’s Dome when we ran into a group of AT hikers. Among them was a young woman who had just graduated from high school, something I had done the year before. He told us he was trying to complete his hike before October 15, when the summit of Mount Katahdin would close. As I listened to his fascinating story, I thought:

“I could do that.”

Thus the spark of ambition was born.

But that spark went untended for almost a decade. Instead, I embarked on another adventure, one of a more academic nature. I finished my bachelor’s degree (2017), then pursued a master’s degree (2019), and finally completed my PhD (2023). Throughout my academic career, all of my health behaviors (e.g., sleeping, eating well, exercising, etc.) were poor. Nothing to indicate I could or would be hiking any time soon.

It wasn’t until I moved to Vermont for two years of postdoctoral work that things started to change. I still sat behind a desk 80% of the time, but I exercised more. Additionally, there were many opportunities for hiking. I took advantage of those opportunities as much as I could, but I never did anything that was more than a day hike.

Needless to say, when the spark of hiking the AT came up once again, I wasn’t as prepared as I might think.

Taking the first steps

(Why did I decide to do the AT via hike?)

My brother once told me that having a pet was not something that could be done logically. You just had to want one and do it. Deciding to go on a hike is similar to getting a new pet. You can’t necessarily make the decision logically.

There are many reasons why I shouldn’t make this try. I had never traveled with a backpack before. I haven’t taken any survival courses nor do I know much about first aid. My endurance training is limited to long distance running a few times a week, at least. Logically, it doesn’t make much sense for me to hike.

The good thing is that I have had enough people on my side who have supported me and encouraged me to think beyond the logical. What I have realized is that no matter how many reasons there are No To take a hike, there is a really compelling reason to do it:

I am passionate about trying it.

It doesn’t hurt that the moment couldn’t be better. It is definitely a privilege to have the means to begin a months-long adventure like hiking the AT. My recent contract ended, I am not starting a new job, I am not on a career path, and I do not have the same responsibilities as other people my age (e.g., a partner, children, a pet). I want to take advantage of this opportunity while I have the chance to do so. And I hope to use my time walking to benefit and enrich the lives of others as well.

Hiker Registration

(What will my blog be about?)

So what can you expect from my blog posts? Good question. The following are some topic areas I plan to write about:

• My holistic journey (the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual journey)
• My food menu (what I eat as a vegan)
• Things I have learned as an amateur hiker
• Hope, encouragement and inspiration as you are on the path.

My hope is that as you read my blog, you will be inspired to take the next step in your own adventure, whatever adventure that may look like for you. Whether it’s starting a new job (or leaving one without a backup plan), moving to a new place (or returning home), building new networks (or moving away from old ones), or breaking out of life’s inertia. Each new step can be a personal adventure. Know that you are never alone. I am with you just like you are here with me.

And so we continue the adventure….

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