My life has changed since the day I stepped into the mountains and trails in Colorado. My husband and I moved to Colorado Springs in 2019 after he retired from the Army and I was teaching kindergarten. My own kids had gone to college, and I had a lot more time on my hands.

I have always loved being outdoors and hiking short trails, but I also struggled with osteoarthritis in my knees. I decided I wanted to try hiking and grit through the pain. The hiking group I started gave me more than I could have asked for. I found like-minded women who showed me how strong we can be together, Julie being one of those ladies. We began exploring new trails throughout Colorado and I was hooked. One hike at a time, I built up my muscles around my knees and other joints and the pain began to dissipate.

I began dreaming of hiking the Colorado Trail and it became a reality in the summer of 2024. A friend and I backpacked for 6 weeks to complete the 486 miles with around 89,000 feet of elevation gain. This experience taught me more about myself than I could have imagined. I used to give up easily, while talking myself out of finishing hard things. I learned how much I can push and keep going and FINISH!

Every time you hike, you see things that other people only see in pictures. I want to share those feelings of adventure and accomplishment with other women. I love taking people on new trails and giving them experiences they have never had. I hope I can share some new adventures with you!