I, Montana, grew up in flatland Florida, a place far away from the state in which I was named after. I am an American of mixed Lebanese and European heritage who currently resides in Washington state.

I used to live near sandy beaches, cypress swamps, and a curious array of reptiles, but then I fell in love with rock climbing, and mountainous terrain, and decided to hike the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. Soon after receiving my degree in Creative Writing, I moved across the country to pursue place-based education within the Salish Sea.

In 2019, I graduated with a master’s in Environmental Education from Western Washington University. Now I work as a park ranger and get to share my love of nature with others daily. 

This blog was originally created to chronicle my Appalachian Trail adventure, as well as provide future thru-hikers a detailed resource. After grad school, I thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail with my partner (Tuna Butter) and tried my best to document our journey. Little did I know, blogs were becoming irrelevant (vlogs on the other hand…).

And of course, you can find me on the ole’ gram: @peakedcuriosity

Why I hike:

• Backpacking simplifies my life in a healthy way
• I love love love the community
• I feel very passionately about the National Trails System and increasing accessibility to the outdoors
• I’m a bonafide nature nerd
• I like learning about a place from the slow, intimate pace of walking – the people, the culture, the community, the plants & wildlife
• It’s a relatively affordable way to travel and has served me well as a transition through major life events
• I am happiest on Trail, with dirt between my toes and everything

I started this blog as a way to share stories. My goal is to inspire others to become acquainted with nature in whatever way makes sense to them.