By Renee Patrick My thru-hike of the Continental Divide Trail in 2015 was one of the harder long-distance trails I’ve set foot on, but since it had been 6 years since my last long-distance trail, I was determined to enjoy the 2,700 miles and treat the trail as my vacation. I fell in love with thru-hiking when I set foot on the Appalachian Trail in 2002, and have made it a priority to hike every few years. There is something elemental about carrying everything you need on your back, and it is truly astonishing that by placing one foot in front of another, you can cross a continent. The CDT is a trail of contrasts! The day before this photo was taken near Mt. Taylor in New Mexico, I was caught in a May snow storm and had trouble keeping warm. The very next day the sun melted off all the snow and it was truly an amazing day to be hiking. Author: I have always placed more emphasis on having experiences and challenging myself than keeping a steady job and padding a bank account. This sense of exploration led me to join the Peace Corps after college, and hike my first long trail soon after. Eight thru-hikes and 10,000 miles later I am still in love with discovering my surroundings on foot and now I’m able to use all those experiences in my newest endeavor as the Trail Coordinator for the 750 mile Oregon Desert Trail. I will never stop hiking, and I like to say my favorite trail is the one I haven’t hiked yet.