blissful hiker ❤︎ inspiring you to hike your own hike

Art of the State (Parks): Spring at Lake Itasca

18 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a text“In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.” —Margaret AtwoodPart one in the series highlights a night of n...

Aliveness

03 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a text“The goal of life … is not happiness, peace, or fulfillment, but aliveness.” —Hubert Dreyfuss1. Sometimes curiosity about what’...

Mindset in Motion

26 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a text"You can think your way into a new way of acting, or act your way into a new way of thinking."Sometimes we can’t wait for th...

Embrace the Suck

19 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textThe trail—like life—may not always be what we want it to be, but it offers us the opportunity to choose how we respond to whatever i...

Open to Awe

12 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHoping for the best, prepared for the worst, and unsurprised by anything in between is a great mindset when planning a major thru-hike –...

Freak Show

05 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textI didn’t expect much when someone asked to closely examine my deformed fingers—but the moment ended up teaching me about what truly ...

Let the Day Unfold

22 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textLet the Day Unfold! Let its gentle voice guide you toward unexpected surprises and open your heart to the lessons it holds.The lowly New...

Life is Wide

15 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful's Great-grandma Emma used to say, "Life may be short, but it’s also wide."It’s a shift in perspective – fr...

Never Quit on a Bad Day

08 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWhen everything goes sideways and you’re having a bad day, repeat the mantra to not quit today but instead give yourself the self-love...

Be Where Your Feet Are

01 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWalking through woodland ephemerals in early spring reminds us to embrace impermanence and stay present in the here and now. We have a ...

The Trail Will Provide

24 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHiking has a way of making us more resilient, not so much manifested as strength and persistence, but in developing trust and embracing ...

TEDx excerpts: “How do you find your bliss? Take the long trail!”

26 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textOn October 10, Blissful gave her first TEDx talk, “How do you find your bliss? Take the long trail!”Blissful shares the loss of her ...

blissful TEDx speaker

03 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWATCH TEDx On October 10, Blissful gave her first TEDx talk about Resilience as part of TEDX AmoskeagMillyard in Manchester, New Hampshi...

The Grace of a Good Teacher

26 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textTaking a class this weekend, Blissful learns about the key skills of a good teacher.  This was especially important when she needed to...

Life is Too Short to Waste on Speed

19 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textOn the Teton Crest Trail in Wyoming, Blissful decides to go for an "SKT" (Slowest Known Time) and surprises abound. 1. John Mu...

Hiking While Old

12 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textOn the Pyrenean Haute Route, an oafish American hiker questioned Blissful's ability to manage a route of this difficulty. “Even ...

Don't Dream. Do.

05 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHave you been wanting to do something a little wild and out-of-your-comfort-zone but were afraid to take the first step? When it comes ...

The Fear Factor

27 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful  feels plenty of fear and anxiety before a thru-hike, but she manages her fears by asking, “If the worst happens, then what?...

Breast Cancer Trail: You're done!

07 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful is given the "all clear" by her surgeon and gets ready to step into the rest of her life.  Surgery for breast cancer...

cancer thriver

29 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a text Blissful takes her first hike on a trail after surgery for breast cancer and decides she prefers to be described as a "thriver&quo...

Inhabiting the Vulnerable Space

22 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textAs Blissful heals from a bilateral mastectomy due to breast cancer, she reflects on the person she wants to be going forward. Blissful ...

Good Luck, Bad Luck

15 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWhen Blissful is diagnosed with breast cancer, she undergoes a bilateral mastectomy to save her life and secure her future.A friend tell...

Breast Cancer Trail: Bye, Bye Boobs

08 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful begins her cancer journey looking back at her life as a woman. Blissful spends the days before a bilateral mastectomy gatherin...

Appalachian Trail: going home

01 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful wraps up her hike of the Appalachian Trail in Maine to head home for cancer treatment. The two days between Monson and Caratun...

Appalachian Trail: Magic at Moxie Bald Pond

25 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful makes it out of the 100 Mile Wilderness and receives a call from her doctor calling her home to have a bilateral mastectomy.It&...

Appalachian Trail: gratitude for hiker and creature alike

18 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textThe trail is hard in rain, mud and cold, but Blissful gets the boost she needs from hiker and creature.  It's mountainous now in t...

Appalachian Trail: White Cap Mountain

11 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful crosses a high, exposed peak in fog and rain then discovers she needs to go further than she thought.   Hiking south on the A...

Artist-in-Residence | Porcupine Mountains Wilderness

04 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful creates an audio narrative as an Artist-in-Residence at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in Upper Peninsula, Michigan....

Appalachian Trail: A River Runs Through It

28 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful makes her first dangerous  ford over a swollen and dangerous river in flood from the non-stop rain.   For a SOBO  – or so...

Appalachian Trail: you're only passing through

21 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWhen seeing two Pileated Woodpecker parents up close, Blissful learns that she is only passing through and to savor the moment while it ...

Appalachian Trail: do the next right thing

14 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn constant rain and cold, Blissful learns the power in facing her negative feelings and using them to spur her to action rather than re...

Appalachian Trail: one fine day

07 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful is ill-prepared for the constant damp, but discovering an inner fierceness to solve her problems and keep moving ahead. The su...

Appalachian Trail: nature could care less

30 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful leaves Baxter State Park to enter the 100-mile Wilderness, learning that "everything changes" including the weather.B...

Appalachian Trail: Mount Katahdin

23 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful decides to put her feet on the Appalachian Trail, beginning from the north on Mount Katahdin in Maine. Those in the know will ...

Set Your Sights Low

04 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful shares insights about setting flexible goals."Summit Fever" is one of the consequences of setting one single big goal...

Porcupine Mountains Wilderness Part 2

06 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful Hiker is honored to have been named an "Artist in Residence" by the Friends of the Porkies and will live in a remote ...

Porcupine Mountains Wilderness Part 1

30 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful Hiker is honored to have been named an "Artist in Residence" by the Friends of the Porkies and will live in a remote ...

Ten Things I Learned While Long Distance Backpacking Vol. 3

23 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textThis week, Blissful Hiker completes the list of ten lessons from the trail that are helping her now.In this episode:7) :38 Everything ch...

Ten Things I Learned While Long Distance Backpacking Vol. 2

16 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textThis week, Blissful Hiker shares some lessons from the trail that are helping her now.In this episode::38 Let the day unfold  “I thin...

Ten Things I Learned While Long Distance Backpacking Vol. 1

09 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a text This week, Blissful Hiker shares some lessons from the trail that are helping her now. In this episode:1:30 Take Risks “The most ho...

injury stops forward motion but not joy

02 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textOne year ago Blissful Hiker set her feet on the Arizona Trail and planned to return to walk the final 100 miles, but an injury interrupt...

yes, regrets!

23 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textRegret can actually act as the motivating fuel to push us towards our goals.Phrases like "no regrets!" are helpful in keeping ...

why do I hike alone?

16 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful Hiker shares the reasons she hikes alone, to get grounded, to engage more deeply with the world around me and to do so at my ow...

Ask Me Anything! Volume 1

09 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful answers burning backpacking questions in the first round of "Ask Me Anything." In this episode:1:26 – How do you s...

Arizona Trail: The Finish Line

17 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful meets the Southern Terminus of the AZT just as a windstorm picks up on the Utah/Arizona border.In this episode:After a night in...

Arizona Trail: The Grand Canyon

10 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful has one of the most extraordinary experiences of her hiking life – walking into and out of the Grand Canyon.In this episode:W...

Arizona Trail: glimpses of the Grand

03 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIt's a long, undulating and dusty trail through more ponderosa pine where Blissful finally gets her first glimpse of the Grand Cany...

Arizona Trail: back on trail

27 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textThe son of a friend of an acquaintance helps ground Blissful and on her way continuing north towards the Grand Canyon, putting the bed b...

Arizona Trail: bedbug infestation

20 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful is covered in itchy, oozing, painful bites and realizes her gear is infested by bedbugs picked up on her last zero at the motel...

Arizona Trail: fairytale mountain, fairytale day

13 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textUnbeknownst to him, a camper becomes trail angel and helps Blissful find a perfect campsite after a long day of relentless forest and a ...

Arizona Trail: Mormon Lake

06 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful wakes to a soaking wet tent, gets lost and walks through deep snow and mud, but trail-angel beer and a lovely hiking partner ma...

Arizona Trail: Game Player

29 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful becomes so frustrated trying to walk through the deep, sticky mud, she creates a game to keep moving forward – and is rewarde...

Arizona Trail: The Mogollon Rim

22 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful climbs up the Mogollon Rim and it’s filled with pines, snow, and melting snow.In this episode:Blissful is reminded that if yo...

Arizona Trail: mud, mud, mud

15 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textAfter Blissful takes a forced break due to snowy weather, it's a sparkly day of gorgeous skies and sticky mud. In this episode:Bli...

Arizona Trail: rocks, rocks, rocks

08 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful discovers more rocks than she thought possible on the Arizona Trail.In this episode:It's a beautiful morning with an orang...

Arizona Trail: what is happiness?

01 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful works here way through the Mazatzals, overwhelmed by the enormous, staggering and disorienting size and remoteness. In this ep...

Arizona Trail: The Great Unconformity

25 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful hikes mostly alone in the Mazatzals with huge distances between water sources and is treated to a glorious sunset from my tent....

Arizona Trail: The Mazatzals

18 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful heads up to the beautiful Mazatzal Mountains filled with flowers, birds, streams and amazing views. In this episode:Margaret o...

Arizona Trail: trail magic Arizona-style

11 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textAfter Blissful punctures her sleeping pad, she meets a trail angel who manifests her own magic and gets her replacementIn this episode:I...

Arizona Trail: Four Peaks Wilderness

04 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful climbs steeply up into the Four Peaks Wilderness, where she camps right on the edge of a cliff.  In this episode:After sleepin...

Arizona Trail: Rocky Road to Roosevelt Lake

28 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIt's rough trail for Blissful as she works her way towards Roosevelt Lake mostly on rocky road, far harder going down than up. In ...

Arizona Trail: Superstition Mountains

21 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful sees her first cactus bloom and has a magical day of steep climbs and a little bit of thunder and rain. In this episode:After ...

Arizona Trail: Picket Post

14 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful meets a trail angel (who never knew he was a trail angel) and he advances her past the low desert to big mountains.In this epis...

Arizona Trail: Mount Lemmon

07 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful bumps into Holly "Hobbit" who steps right into the trail behind her for the steepest of all sky islands.  In this ep...

Arizona Trail: Hutch's Pools

30 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful heads into stunning Sycamore Canyon, where the mountains seems to part and reveal the final sky island. In this episode:Blissf...

Arizona Trail: Mica Mountain

23 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful climbs up and over the glorious sky island Mica Mountain, finding the descent far more difficult than the ascent. In this epis...

Arizona Trail: Saguaro National Park

16 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful is fueled by trail angels to climb steeply up into Saguaro National Park. In this episode:In only a few miles in the early mor...

Arizona Trail: angels of the desert

09 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textAs Blissful crosses the desert between mountain ranges, she's cared for by five trail angels. In this episode:After her amazing co...

Arizona Trail: a whippoorwill in the gloaming

02 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textFueled by trail angel goodies, Blissful hikes to a spectacular cowgirl site looking towards her next climb in high mountains above the d...

Arizona Trail: changing the rules

26 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textAn exhausted and sore Blissful Hiker takes a "nero" in Patagonia, then changes her rules on accepting rides on the trail.  I...

Arizona Trail: Canelo Hills

19 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful Hiker hikes from cowgirl camp to cowgirl camp in the Canelo Hills on the Arizona Trail. In this episode:Blissful awakes to mou...

Arizona Trail: camping like a (cow)girl

12 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful Hiker encounters icy snow on the Huachuca Mountains of the Arizona Trail, then sleeps out under the stars in the high desert. ...

Arizona Trail: touching the wall

05 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful begins the Arizona Trail which starts backwards, heading south for three very steep miles to the Mexican Border.  In this epis...

Arizona Trail: Forty Days in the Desert

28 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful Hiker prepares to hike the Arizona Trail and realizes the solo walk aligns with the season of Lent.  In this episode:Blissful...

Cape Wrath Trail: a determined bog trot to the Cape

30 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textEven though Blissful Hiker has to modify her thru-hike of the Cape Wrath Trail in Scotland due to wild weather, she makes it to the lone...

Cape Wrath Trail: seals, mussels, otters and herons

23 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful Hiker lingers for an entire day at one of the most glorious bothies at Glencoul on the Cape Wrath Trail in Scotland. In this e...

Cape Wrath Trail: rainy autumn brilliance

16 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful Hiker takes two out-and-backs from Oykel Bridge on the Cape Wrath Trail and learns that hiking in rain can still be soulful in ...

Cape Wrath Trail: sampler platter

09 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful Hiker hikes the Cape Wrath Trail and learns to accept everything that's thrown at her including rain and bog, but also sel...

Cape Wrath Trail: most remote bothy in Scotland

02 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful Hiker hikes the Cape Wrath Trail in a kind "sampler, platter" managing to fit in a hike to stunning Maol Bhuide.In th...

Cape Wrath Trail: Ben Nevis as consolation prize

25 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful Hiker is forced by torrential rain to quit the Cape Wrath Trail but makes the most of it by bagging the highest mountain in the...

Cape Wrath Trail: Knoydart

18 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful Hiker continues on the Cape Wrath Trail having the adventure of her life in Scotland's last wilderness, Knoydart. In this...

Cape Wrath Trail: bog trotting to Sourlies

11 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful Hiker continues on Scotland's difficult Cape Wrath Trail realizing mileage means nothing when the vague trail is filled wi...

Cape Wrath Trail: rainbows & bothies

04 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful Hiker begins the Cape Wrath Trail in the Western Highlands of Scotland and learns that it's less hiking and more "bog...

Teton Crest Trail: Spearhead Peak

23 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful Hiker finishes the Teton Crest Trail mostly all alone overcoming any lingering doubt that she loves backpacking and will keep d...

Teton Crest Trail: Avalanche Divide

16 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful Hiker takes a side-trip off the Teton Crest Trail to a remote lake that requires scrambling, and learns making the time to expl...

Teton Crest Trail: Paintbrush Divide

09 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful Hiker goes on her first high-altitude hike since her rescue and shoots for an SKT* on the Teton Crest Trail. *Slowest Known Ti...

NCT: hiker as optimist

26 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful Hiker learns on the North Country Trail in Northern Wisconsin, that the very act of moving one foot in front of the other is au...

SHT: healing the heart

19 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful Hiker walks like a thru-hiker again for just a few days on the Superior Hiking Trail, moving fast, smooth and far and connectin...

SHT: finding my footing

12 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful Hiker dips a toe back into backpacking for a few days on the Superior Hiking Trail in Northern Minnesota and discovers her blis...

PCT: the start

05 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful Hiker spends time off-trail looking back at one of her favorite thru-hikes, the Pacific Crest Trail and learning about the mean...

waiting

29 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful Hiker is moved by Simone Biles' decision to exit the Olympics and feels like it gives her permission to forgive herself fo...

off trail

22 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful Hiker wonders if the the trail itself ejected her this time. In this episode:Blissful is "trail angeled" in Montana a...

CDT: Hiker Purgatory

15 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful Hiker is plucked off the Continental Divide Hike when her body goes into critical distress.In this episode:Blissful begins The ...

CDT: Glacier National Park

01 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful Hiker begins the  Continental Divide Trail at Chief Mountain in Glacier National Park and gets a taste of everything – good ...

CDT: the set up

24 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful Hiker receives a blessing before driving across three states to start the Continental Divide Trail. In this episode:The drive ...

CDT prep: maps ‘n food

17 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful Hiker makes maps and food for the Continental Divide Hike.In this episode:Blissful takes a GPS class with The Mountaineers and...

CDT prep: gear

10 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful Hiker organizes her gear for the  Continental Divide Hike. In this episode:Blissful is taking a new Gossamer Gear ultralight &...

CDT prep: logistics

03 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful Hiker discovers that planning only goes so far for her Continental Divide Hike but maybe that's a good thing.  In this e...

CDT prep: getting in shape

27 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful Hiker shares her array of workouts to get fit for the Continental Divide Trail and much of it is not just walking.  In this ep...

Te Araroa: the end of the Te Araroa

20 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBlissful Hiker brings the story of the Te Araroa to a close so she can podcast from trail on the Continental Divide Trail, a 3,000-mile ...