Christine Reed – Long-Distance Backpacker & Author of Blood Sweat Tears | Stories of Healing, Womanhood & the Trail

In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we’re joined by Christine Reed—an American long-distance backpacker and award-winning author—whose life changed when she took her first steps on the Appalachian Trail in 2015. With no prior backpacking experience, Christine dove headfirst into the unknown, seeking healing, purpose, and a sense of identity.

Since then, Christine has hiked thousands of miles, lived out of a van, and carved a creative path through storytelling. Her debut memoir, Alone in Wonderland, captured her raw and powerful journey of self-discovery, while her latest anthology Blood Sweat Tears amplifies the voices of women+ on trail—sharing unfiltered stories about periods, pain, perseverance, and everything in between.

We talk about grief, growth, writing through discomfort, and the courage it takes to follow your passions even when they feel far outside your comfort zone. Christine’s story reminds us that you don’t have to be outdoorsy, athletic, or fearless to start—you just have to begin.

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Show notes

• Who is Christine
• Thru-hike and trail runners
• Being based in New Mexico, America
• Her early years and not growing up outdoorsy 
• Reading blogs about the Appalachian Trail in the fall of 2013
• Graduating from college and working in health insurance 
• Being pretty unhappy and not knowing what to do with her life
• Why the Appalachian Trail (AT) was so appealing 
• Taking the first step and commitment to the hike
• Everyone on the trail being in a phase of transition 
• Being possible for her to leave her life
• Taking a year to plan and research the trail 
• Planning to hike the AT in 2015 
• The importance of finding something that you are excited about 
• Never backpacking before and just going on a few day hikes
• Not being a fit or athletic person
• Doing her research - whiteblaze.net - an old school pin board forum 
• Doing zero physical preparation 
• The feelings at the start of the Appalachian Trail
• Riding greyhound buses to the start (16+ hours)
• The steps up to Amicalola Falls
• First night camping at a shelter
• Personal goals - find herself?
• 24 and turning 25 on the trail
• Doing hard things
• HIking pre social media
• Lessons and l