Jessica “Dixie” Mills - Thru hiking the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT)&the Continental Trail Divide (CDT) thereby completing the “triple crown” of hiking! - a podcast by Sarah Williams

We first spoke with Jessica after she had successfully completed her thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2015. Since then Jessica has continued to share her backpacking and hiking advice though her website and hugely popular Youtube channel  - Homemade Wanderlust (well worth checking out - over 150,000 subscribers!)

Jessica talks very openly about her dreams, doing what she loves, the challenges out on the trail as well as how she is funding her life. I am inspired by Dixie and what she has achieved and I know you will be as well. Enjoy this episode!

Show notes

• What does she prefer to be called?
• How Dixie would introduce herself
• Completing the recipe to be successful.. but not being happy
• Doing what she loves
• Listen to Jessica when she shares more about hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2015
• Getting back home after the Appalachian Trail
• Wanting to get hiking again
• Doing a wide variety of different jobs while growing her youtube channel
• 2017 and doing the Pacific Crest Trail - the why and the how
• Learning about the CDT
• The pressure she felt at the start of the PCT and feeling so nervous about the desert and the snow
• Gear changes and wanting to go lighter with her gear
• Getting use to dry camping
• Not being able to train before the PCT
• Dealing with the desert and the first 700 miles
• Filming on the PCT and trying to capture more of nature 
• The moment that stands out on the trail and why the bad days make the best stories
• Loss of life on the trail
• Crossing rivers
• Navigation on the trail and using the Gut Hook App
• Appreciating the trail but also taking time out for a family graduation
• Getting to the end of the trail and what it felt like
• Patreon and how patrons have helped to change her life
• Wanting to get out on the CDT in 2018
• Heading north bound - 3,050 miles!
• Create your own adventure trail!
• The challenges of the CDT 
• Food and nutrition on the trails
• Lessons learned on the CDT
• Taking risks doing thru hikes
• When things don’t go to plan
• Completing the triple crown and why it was surreal
• Life after a thru hike
• Future hikes and plans 
• 2019 plans with her mum on the PCT
• Top tips for having a successful thru-hike

 

Social Media

Youtube @homemadewanderlust

Website - www.homemadewanderlust.com

Further episodes of Tough Girl Podcast

Further podcasts by Sarah Williams

Website of Sarah Williams