Front Page News!

Alton Trail Chaser is back in the papers!  

I was surprised when Hummingbird texted me one morning, saying “nice job making the front page!” I had just sent out the press release a couple days earlier, so didn’t expect a publication to pick it up so quickly, never mind slap it on the front page. Guess I timed it right! (And wrote it well. 😉) 

Of course, I believe a local hiking challenge and conservation fundraising is a totally newsworthy public interest story!  

This was a nice boost of publicity for the new year. 😊 

Front page article in The Baysider.

Also published in the Laconia Daily Sun.

Original article below.

p.s. Two new finishers in 2026 so far! 🥾

2025 Recap

• 89 trail hikes
• 369 total miles recorded
• Over 43.5 thousand feet of elevation gain
• 13 sunrise/sunset hikes
• 5 hiking patch challenges completed — 
• Winter 100
• Ultimate Adventurer
• Belknap Grid
• Forest Reservation Challenge
• 5 Hikes Challenge
• 1 new hiking patch program launched — 
• “Alton Trail Chaser” 
• 1 Associate Degree, 4 certificates, and several academic awards earned
• 1 vacation in Ireland with Hawk, Hummingbird, and MomZ
• 1 year of progress on my land, now owned for 10 years 

2025 was a difficult year in many ways. But it also had its bright spots. I am grateful for what I managed to accomplish, and the support and connections I had along the way. I'm very glad to be done with school, excited to have finally launched my first hiking patch program, and happiest to have made some progress on my land. 

I really have no idea what 2026 has in store. All I can do is try to navigate the changes as they come, while focusing on new goals.

Recap video/slideshow on Instagram & Facebook @trailchaserofficial