Julia Geisler

When I was in my 20s, I was on the Travel the World plan, and I wanted to do some backpacking, and I had a friend, Devin McClive, who wanted to join me.

When I was in my 20s, I was on the Travel the World plan, and I wanted to do some backpacking, and I had a friend, Devin McClive, who wanted to join me.

No roots to have to cut or no ties and free and had the time.

No roots to have to cut or no ties and free and had the time.

We were also, I think, single at the time, both of us, and just like, oh, we're going to go into the woods and we'll probably meet some hot young dudes and get to hike with them. And we met Eric and Alan, who are, I think, in their mid-60s at the time, which was just as good, but not what we were expecting.

We were also, I think, single at the time, both of us, and just like, oh, we're going to go into the woods and we'll probably meet some hot young dudes and get to hike with them. And we met Eric and Alan, who are, I think, in their mid-60s at the time, which was just as good, but not what we were expecting.

He had so much energy and was just like, the sparkle in his eye, he was smiling, just, you know, stoked on life.

He had so much energy and was just like, the sparkle in his eye, he was smiling, just, you know, stoked on life.

Him and Alan were definitely world travelers for hiking. Alan was a pretty established mountaineer and rock climber, and I had just gotten interested in rock climbing. I hadn't become one yet, I wouldn't say, but I feel like every rock face, I was like, can you climb that? And Alan would kind of talk about it or other places he climbed.

Him and Alan were definitely world travelers for hiking. Alan was a pretty established mountaineer and rock climber, and I had just gotten interested in rock climbing. I hadn't become one yet, I wouldn't say, but I feel like every rock face, I was like, can you climb that? And Alan would kind of talk about it or other places he climbed.

And Eric's the same, you know, just these long distance trails that they had done. There's an important distinction here.

And Eric's the same, you know, just these long distance trails that they had done. There's an important distinction here.

I definitely thought a lot about the Appalachian Trail when I was out there and just the amount of rain and walking in wet shoes and monotonous long miles of green tunnel. Like, I was just psyched to have views every day and be out there in nature and it was gorgeous.

I definitely thought a lot about the Appalachian Trail when I was out there and just the amount of rain and walking in wet shoes and monotonous long miles of green tunnel. Like, I was just psyched to have views every day and be out there in nature and it was gorgeous.

I think that they had both had a lot of experience in the mountains and seen, you know, bad weather and were very knowledgeable on how to be prepared in high alpine terrain.

I think that they had both had a lot of experience in the mountains and seen, you know, bad weather and were very knowledgeable on how to be prepared in high alpine terrain.

They were both pretty concerned with Devin and I's camping shelter setup because I had hiked the Appalachian Trail with a tarp, not knowing that, you know, high alpine terrain with rocks and not a lot of soil or trees is way different.

They were both pretty concerned with Devin and I's camping shelter setup because I had hiked the Appalachian Trail with a tarp, not knowing that, you know, high alpine terrain with rocks and not a lot of soil or trees is way different.

A tarp maybe doesn't cut it in a storm or high winds or just a shelter in general. So they were pretty concerned that we had a tarp.

A tarp maybe doesn't cut it in a storm or high winds or just a shelter in general. So they were pretty concerned that we had a tarp.