
#4 Long distance hiker Emily Ford on wintering well & how long hikes are a mental cleanse
On March 6th, 2021 Emily Ford made history as the first woman and person of color to thru hike the 1200 mile Ice Age Trail in Wisconsin in the dead of winter, sleeping out in temps as low as -35 for 69 days as she made her way across the state. Emily set out on this journey with a borrowed sled dog named Diggins to challenge herself but also to offer representation to inspire more people of color to spend time in wild places to which they may not have easy access or in which they’ve historically been made to feel unwelcome. In episode 4, a discussion about what happens in your mind during a very long hike, why winter is the most under-appreciated season (including the benefits of cold plunging) and how you can help Emily introduce more young people to the wilderness for the very first time.