What I'm Leaving and What I'm Taking
2024 was full of overcoming the challenges that come with positive change. In a personal scope, I battered myself with over scheduling as I tried to fit everything I like to do into each week (foolishly). At school, I tried and was mostly successful at living in "loud campus," while getting up early to go to the gym, skin the notch road, or hike. Come summer, I was working double shifts at my internship and bartending Monday-Thursday, serving breakfast on Fridays, and then still planning to go on road trips every weekend. While I more than met my goals of traveling while bringing in an income, the burnout that came with it somehow excited me to work a normal 9-5 in the coming weeks.
It has been strange to have a whole month of "winter break," the last 4-week vacation I will have for at least a few years. Yet, even with most days available, I have been reluctant to get outside on days I don't feel like it. While I recognize most folks would see this as entirely normal, it highlights one of the pitfall impacts of outdoor social media. Though I love that this side of social media builds community, provides terrain information, and inspires me to reach further- it can be hard to see when I can't get out. I'm also frustrated that I partake in the shared bias that "so and so doesn't work, because they do XYZ so much" until someone said that to me for the first time this summer when that was far from the truth.
Getting outside, having the transportation to do so, and getting an entire day off of responsibilities is a massive privilege. This privilege is something I benefit from coming from a warm home, having the scholarship opportunities to receive outdoor education, jobs that have allowed shift trades for sunny days, and looking like someone society believes "belongs" outside. This year I learned my most important lesson about the backcountry- we are all doing enough for ourselves but lacking in what we're doing for each other. I do not need to be doing something "epic" just because folks I follow on Instagram are, it is more important to do something with a shared impact; whether that be taking a first timer out, teaching, or working on my trail.
So far, I think I've done fairly well for a brand-new graduate. At the current time stamp, I have a valid Wilderness First Responder certification, am the proud mother of the Forest Discovery Trail, and dedicated over 30 of my weekend days to instructing people of all backgrounds and abilities through the Mountain Leader Course & Backcountry Ski Program at Saint Mike's. Graduating and therefore leaving this program has already felt like a massive hole in my heart and I hope to begin filling it with community contribution in 2025.
2024 Wrapped
In the context of what I write about here, 2024 was sneakily remarkable. I tested my limits on backcountry skis, co-led a 4-night trip in the Grand Canyon, backpacked the Southern Long Trail, hiked through Olympic National Park, developed an interest in summiting Rainier, hiked my first solo T25 trail, and led a lush season of hiking in Vermont.
Despite ALL THAT, I found more proof that I still need to slow my roll a little bit when I had convinced myself I "didn't hike enough," at the end of December. So being an ex-Data Science major, I crunched some Gaia numbers and swiftly proved myself wrong.
In 2024, I got outside after class or for the day 64 times, hiked/ski toured 414.14 miles, and ascended 104,356 feet! Not too shabby.
Among the 67 individual hikes I logged on Gaia, there were many ups and downs (ba dum tss)...Â
I hiked in 7 states and for once New Hampshire did not see the most miles from me!
I thought I was going to die 2 times - once when I lost the trail on upper Pine Link on Mt. Madison and another ascending a cliffside single track to Horseshoe Mesa in the Grand Canyon.
I desperately ran out of water 2 times- once on the Walden trail and then again the next week in the Glastenbury Wilderness on the Long Trail.
I added over 10% to my trace, and am now 1 hike away from closing out my first tab!
I wondered why the hell I was tracing 3 times- ascending the Trescott spur for no reason in February, breaking trail on the Greenleaf side hill in April, and climbing Lookout Ledge in a dry leaf gully at dusk in October.
I had one episode of near-blindless in July after sleeping in my contacts post-Madison and then not taking them out until after hiking Mount Wolf the next day... I developed an eye ulcer!
I showed 13 Saint Mike's first years why the Green Mountains rock and learned my favorite mountain in Vermont is Mt. Belvidere!
I went on 5 backpacking trips, totaling 14 days!
I saw 1 bear with Liz on Dryad Falls Trail and sang YMCA for 20 minutes for safety.
2025
By now, I have already made countless forms of vision boards. For the context of Where's Izzy, it won't hurt to echo hiking-specific goals once more- and maybe you guys can hold me accountable. I hope to meet 75% of my trace this year, do at least one big Maine trip to up my NEHH, trace Castle in the Clouds, solo backpack, finish my 52WAV, trace my town forest in one day, run a 10K, participate in more trail work, and keep up writing blog posts no matter how much engagement they get! It'll be a breeze, right?
In Conclusion
I am so thankful for everything I've experienced in the last year! With a rich collection of adventures behind me at a mere 21 years old, I feel certain that I'll figure out a balance between corporate America and what makes me, me! Cheers everyone, thank you for reading along.
Sounds like a very successful year to me! I can't believe how busy you were though. I let other things get in the way of my hiking too much this year. I vow to get back to my Castle in the Clouds trace and 52WAV this year. And now I'll have to check out the Forest Discovery Trail.
Sounds like you had a very successful 2024! Can't wait to read about your hikes this year.
And I'll have to check out the Forest Discovery Trail next time I'm going across the Kanc! I haven't been there for at least a few years - I'm sure the trail is in much better condition now ;)