750 Miles: Every Mile Her Own

I’m creating Every Mile Her Own: Beyond Survival, a nearly 750-mile hike on the North Country Trail planned for summer 2027. My route will begin at the Minnesota–Wisconsin border, continue through northern Wisconsin, and carry on into Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. This project grew from my experience surviving domestic violence and rebuilding my life afterward. Over time, hiking, camping, paddling, yoga, art, and time outdoors became part of how I reconnected with myself and learned to live beyond survival mode. After longer solo hikes and overnight trips, I realized endurance could become something different in my life. For years, endurance was something life demanded of me. This time, endurance will be something I choose. I’m asking for help because preparing for a hike of this size takes real time, training, and support. Donations will help cover training, backpacking gear, trail shoes and foot care, food and resupply, transportation, safety and communication equipment, navigation and charging needs, and some of the lost income from being away from work while I complete the hike. I’m also seeking sponsorships and in-kind gear support so donated funds can stretch further. This GoFundMe is for the hike itself. Any fundraising that directly supports a domestic-violence nonprofit will be handled separately through that organization. To me, this hike is about more than distance. It is about reclaiming strength, trust, and possibility, and making visible what life can look like beyond survival. If this story speaks to you, I would be deeply grateful for your support or for you to share this fundraiser.