In 2014 I discovered hiking.  I'd been on hikes before then, enjoying every one.  Something changed and  I know exactly what.  I was actively a part of a softball team and at after-game gatherings conversation often drifted to my teammates other interests - hiking was a common one.  Some even spoke of "backpacking" and I would shudder, thinking "Not me!".  Time after time I would listen to their stories and slowly, my mindset shifted.  I thought I do like being out in the woods.  I do like the hikes, few though they may be, that I've been on.  Perhaps I need to try this out.

Being a methodical planner, I set about a plan to prepare for my first ever backpacking adventure.  It started with doing one day hike a month to see if I even liked that.  Then, if I did, I would prepare and plan for a backpacking trip the following August.  This started in September, so I had lots of time.

I quickly discovered I loved hiking.  I also found I preferred the more remote trails with fewer people on them.  I wanted to give backpacking a try.  Suffice to say, I now hike and backpack regularly.  I enjoy my time in the wilderness and promote and advocate for our trails and wild spaces.   This site and all things FootSpeedAhead are centered around hiking and living life one step at a time!