Courtney has had an on-again/off-again relationship with mountains, hiking, and primitive camping, starting in Alaska in her early life. She also often hiked and “car camped” in the high desert and Sierra Nevadas in California growing up. After living almost 20 years at Sea Level, the mountains were calling again. After “accidentally” stepping onto the Appalachian Trail in Georgia in 2020, the affair was back on! Now Courtney, aka “Unfiltered,” has created a podcast to indulge in research on her...
Feb 01, 2022•14 min
After completing the AT in 2018, Julie Wilson-Freeman, aka Stripper, decided she wasn't quite done.... she shares her stories of the last 150 miles of her complete section hike of the AT, complete with rock scrambles and rebar climbing, and dancing on top of Katahdin. Bio: I have been married to Jon Freeman for 7 years, but have only been home twice to celebrate our anniversary! Usually I’m out hiking. I am 57 years old (birthday in a few weeks!). I have 2 children, Andrew and Kaytlyn and 2 step...
Jan 25, 2022•50 min
I have been married to Jon Freeman for 7 years, but have only been home twice to celebrate our anniversary! Usually I’m out hiking. I am 57 years old (birthday in a few weeks!). I have 2 children, Andrew and Kaytlyn and 2 step-sons, Jonathan and Eric. My kids are married; my son has 3 children (2 girls and a boy) while my daughter has one son (4 grandbabies total--2 girls and 2 boys). I lived in Indiana for 55 years and have been in Cosby, TN for just a couple of years now. I taught freshman com...
Jan 18, 2022•8 min
Anna is the host of the Trail Dames Podcast and when not interviewing amazing women for the podcast, can be found running her family violins shop, Huthmaker Violins, in Atlanta, GA, as well as running Trail Dames, Inc, and the Trail Dames Charitable Foundation. Special thanks to Dame Gayle Snyder for her shoe pics! Guest Links: Wright Socks- https://www.wrightsock.com/ Smart Wool- https://www.smartwool.com/ Obozs- https://obozfootwear.com/en-us Chacos- https://www.chacos.com/ Compression socks f...
Jan 11, 2022•15 min
Anna is the host of the Trail Dames Podcast and when not interviewing amazing women for the podcast, can be found running her family violins shop, Huthmaker Violins, in Atlanta, GA, as well as running Trail Dames, Inc, and the Trail Dames Charitable Foundation. Guest Links: Unicoi State Park - https://www.unicoilodge.com/ Helen, Georgia - https://www.helenga.org/ Unicoi State Park Trail Map - https://www.unicoilodge.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Unicoi_TrailMap_2018.pdf Connect with Anna, aka M...
Jan 04, 2022•17 min
Ada In 2000, I retired from the telephone company in Chicago, Illinois where I worked as a computer programmer and business systems analyst. In the ensuing years, I’ve developed a passion for painting and drawing (who knew!); herb and flower gardening and, of course, hiking. I find spending time in the mountains with the Trail Dames or on my own in nature to be rejuvenating and creatively inspiring. The best part, the very best part is time spent in our gorgeous Georgia /North Carolina mountains...
Dec 28, 2021•46 min
My name is Jessica Mills, but in the hiking world, people call me “Dixie.” Although I was born in Florida, I ‘grew up’ in Opelika, AL. I spent the majority of my summers with my grandparents, who were backyard gardeners that grew up on farms. At a young age, I developed a love for the outdoors. Watching TV is never a desire of mine, unless it is football season–War Eagle! I graduated from Auburn University in 2012 with a degree in Biosystems Engineering and a minor in Agronomy and Soils. For a y...
Dec 21, 2021•10 min
K. Jamila Minnifield, MA, LAPC, NCC, Primary Therapist Jamila earned her undergraduate degree at Georgia Southern University and her master’s degree in counseling at Argosy University. She has extensive experience working with complex mental health diagnoses, family reunification and adoption. She entered the field of wilderness therapy out of a desire to increase impact and family engagement. Jamila loves working with younger students, Autism Spectrum diagnoses, learning disabilities, transraci...
Dec 14, 2021•54 min
Ada- In 2000, I retired from the telephone company in Chicago, Illinois, where I worked as a computer programmer and business systems analyst. In the ensuing years, I’ve developed a passion for painting and drawing (who knew!); herb and flower gardening and, of course, hiking. I find spending time in the mountains with the Trail Dames or on my own in nature to be rejuvenating and creatively inspiring. The best part, the very best part, is time spent in our gorgeous Georgia /North Carolina mounta...
Dec 07, 2021•12 min
Jessica Mills, better known in the hiking world, as “Dixie,” was born in Florida. She ‘grew up’ in Opelika, AL, spending the majority of her summers with my grandparents, who were backyard gardeners that grew up on farms. At a young age, she developed a love for the outdoors. She's not a big TV fan, unless it is football season–Go War Eagles! She graduated from Auburn University in 2012 with a degree in Biosystems Engineering and a minor in Agronomy and Soils. For a year and a half, she was a re...
Nov 30, 2021•1 hr 6 min
As a young kid, Paula Martin enjoyed exploring the outdoors, especially at her grandparents' cabin in the deep woods of Tioga State Forest. Much to her grandparents dismay, she would find injured animals and bring them back to help them. This included a fox and baby skunks. This didn’t change as an adult. She still loves animals and trained dogs for a few decades, all the while still wandering through the woods. At one point, Paula lived full time with her partner in her grandparents' cabin for ...
Nov 23, 2021•41 min
Anna is the host of the Trail Dames Podcast and when not interviewing amazing women for the podcast, can be found running her family violins shop, Huthmaker Violins, in Atlanta, GA, as well as running Trail Dames, Inc, and the Trail Dames Charitable Foundation. Guest Links: https://www.elachee.org/ Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at info@traildames.com You can find the Trail Dames at: Our website: https://www.traildames.com The Summit: https://www.traildamessummit.com The Trail Dames Foundation...
Nov 16, 2021•14 min
2021 has been full of adventures for Shannon Fisher! In February, she purchased "Beaulah", a 2006 retired ambulance that she is converting into a campulance. On her 45th birthday in May, she celebrated with her sister by hiking and backpacking 45 miles on the Georgia section of the Appalachian Trail. July included a week-long family trip to South Dakota. Shannon loved introducing her nieces and nephew to the hiking trails in Badlands National Park, Spearfish Canyon, and Custer State Park. In Sep...
Nov 09, 2021•33 min
Mary's story is about a chance bear encounter in the Alaskan wilderness, involving some adrenaline, a barking dog, and a whole lot of appreciation for the beauty that can be found in a mother grizzly and her cubs. Mary Emerick is an author and a wilderness planner with the Forest Service, but her real love is long distance hiking. She began her backpacking career at age 5, carrying a pack with a sweatshirt and a stuffed animal. Working as a seasonal wilderness ranger in Idaho and a wilderness ka...
Nov 02, 2021•10 min
Mary Emerick is an author and a wilderness planner with the Forest Service, but her real love is long distance hiking. She began her backpacking career at age 5, carrying a pack with a sweatshirt and a stuffed animal. Working as a seasonal wilderness ranger in Idaho and a wilderness kayak ranger in Alaska were highlights of her life. She has section hiked the entire Pacific Crest Trail and a few sections of the Arizona Trail. She enjoys meeting other women on the trail and would prefer never to ...
Oct 26, 2021•54 min
Michelle Pettitt has been a teacher for almost 15 years. For the past 9 years, she has taught at Berkmar High School in Lilburn, Georgia, currently teaching American Government. She grew up in Florida, so the beach has always been her happy place, where she returns to relax and regroup. In January of 2020, Michelle's mom passed away, then Covid sent everybody into quarantine in March. She started walking through historic Buford to release anxiety, sadness, and simply to feel better. This year, i...
Oct 19, 2021•17 min
Crystal Willett is a 55 years old, single mom of 2 wonderful boys (men) 32 and 17 years old. She works in medical records for a mental health facility. Crystal is currently building a van into a house to travel across America as soon as her youngest heads to college. In the meantime, she is knocking out all the trails around NC that she can before traveling. Crystal also volunteers at Troop 900 scouts, was a Cub-scout master for the younger boys and girl scout leader for about 5 years. She also ...
Oct 12, 2021•27 min
Kim Weiler is, in her own words, a 'motor-city, Detroit girl'. She has a wide range of passions from music to travel, but it was a move to Georgia several years ago that woke up her love for the outdoors. She jumped into hiking and camping, and within a few months of joining Trail Dames, she became a Hike Leader, and then soon a Head Dame for the Georgia Chapter. It wasn't much later that she became a member of the Trail Dames Board of Directors, where she uses her background in corporate, globa...
Oct 05, 2021•13 min
Ann Leahy was born and raised in the seacoast area of NH. She spent her childhood summers on Lake Winnipesaukee and learned how to water ski and fish (thanks dad!!) She played sports all through high school (field hockey, basketball and softball) and then went on to college at UNH to study Occupational Therapy. Ann is married to Mike, who has hiked with her, even though he isn’t a fan of hiking. They have two children (Hannah 25 and Haley 22). Ann has always loved the outdoors and had done some ...
Sep 28, 2021•49 min
As a young kid, Paula Martin enjoyed exploring the outdoors, especially at her grandparents' cabin in the deep woods of Tioga State Forest. Much to her grandparents dismay, she would find injured animals and bring them back to help them. This included a fox and baby skunks. This didn’t change as an adult. She still loves animals and trained dogs for a few decades, all the while still wandering through the woods. At one point, Paula lived full time with her partner in her grandparents' cabin for ...
Sep 21, 2021•25 min
Audrey Scanlan serves as the Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Central Pennsylvania - an elected position that gives her oversight of 60 churches and 11,000 folks who belong to the Episcopal Church in the region. Conveniently, the AT runs right through the middle of the area that she oversees! She lives just 4 miles from a trailhead in the middle of the Cumberland Valley (PA) which is one of the most gentle (read: flat) sections of the entire AT! Audrey tries to get out on the trail at least onc...
Sep 14, 2021•32 min
Growing up in the northwest in a family that camped every summer, Colleen Drake, also known as Teacup, has been hiking since she was old enough to walk, well over sixty years. Her hiking accomplishments include the Wonderland Trail around Mt. Rainier, the Washington section of the PCT, most of the Washington section of the PNT, the southern Oregon section of the PCT, the Wind River Mountains and Bighorns of Wyoming, many of the National Parks of the southwest, and all the trails of Olympic Natio...
Sep 07, 2021•15 min
Lauralee Bliss–trail name "Blissful"–is a two-time Appalachian Trail long distance hiker, both north and south, including a thru-hike with her teen son. She is currently section hiking the trail for a third time. She has completed other long distance trails in multiple states, including the Florida Trail, the Colorado Trail, the Foothills Trail, the Long Trail, and the Allegheny Trail. She also served six years as the ridgerunner in Maryland and Shenandoah National Park. Lauralee is a published ...
Aug 31, 2021•49 min
Ashley Manning, whose trail name is Yardsale, has become a well-known advocate for plus-size adventuring. She has made it to around mile 950 on the Appalachian Trail and plans on finishing it within the next year and a half. She attended another expedition down the Grand Canyon in November 2019, and has plans to hike the John Muir trail in the next couple of years. Currently, she is raft guiding on the Chattooga River. Ashley grew up hiking around the North Georgia mountains with her Father and ...
Aug 24, 2021•59 min
Ronelle lives in Oklahoma and is 59 years old. She retired 2 years ago from a 30-year federal government career working for our service members, veterans, and their families. She has always loved the outdoors. She and her husband spent a lot of time outdoors while raising their two boys that included camping and hiking around their acreage. As Ronelle approached her 50th birthday, she decided she needed to get more active. She started running, riding bicycles, going kayaking and hiking. Through ...
Aug 17, 2021•22 min
Amanda Aguillard was only 16 years old when she realized she wanted to become a CPA, and she’s used that passion ever since to encourage innovation in the industry she loves. That commitment lives on through her work as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Padgett Business Services, one of North America’s largest accounting service and business consulting providers. Amanda, who was named one of the Top 50 Women in Accounting in 2018 and 2019, is the author of Xero: A Comprehensive Guide for Acco...
Aug 10, 2021•32 min
Anna is the host of the Trail Dames Podcast and when not interviewing amazing women for the podcast, can be found running her family violins shop, Huthmaker Violins, in Atlanta, GA, as well as running Trail Dames, Inc, and the Trail Dames Charitable Foundation. Here she shares her story of visiting Lula Lake Land Trust with its spectacular waterfall. She was able to join her fellow Trail Dame Pam, or Purple Haze, on a memorable July 4 morning earlier this year. Links: https://www.lulalake.org/lu...
Aug 03, 2021•28 min
Christine discovered long-distance backpacking while surfing the internet at work. She decided that day to attempt to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. One adventure led to another, and a few years later she set out on the Wonderland Trail in Mt Rainier National Park. Her Rugged Outdoors Woman persona started as a joke, a nod to the outdoor adventurer that she wished to be. But in the years since, she has come into her own as a backpacker, rock climber, and trail runner. Her debut memoir, Alone i...
Jul 27, 2021•57 min
Lauralee Bliss, trail name "Blissful," is a two-time Appalachian Trail long-distance hiker north and south including a thru hike with her teen son, and is currently section hiking the trail for a third time. She has completed other long distance trails in multiple states including the Florida Trail, the Colorado Trail, the Foothills Trail, the Long Trail, and the Allegheny Trail. She also served six years as the ridgerunner in Maryland and Shenandoah National Park. Lauralee is a published author...
Jul 20, 2021•14 min
Tanya Bowers-Dean is an enthusiastic if extremely slow hiker and backpacker whose trail name is Caboose. She started hiking and backpacking about 6 years ago and is taking on small sections of the Appalachian Trail in hopes of completing it before she turns 100. She loves gear and talking about gear, but tries not to annoy others by going on and on about it. In her life off the trail, Tanya is an Executive Assistant in the Marketing department of an Atlanta-based technology company. She also lov...
Jul 13, 2021•39 min
