@unhingedhiker
I’m Jocelyn, a long-distance thru-hiker, writer, and mental health advocate. I’ve spent the last several years thru-hiking and storytelling, using long miles as part of my own trauma recovery and over time, turning that lived experience into trauma-informed advocacy within the CPTSD community.
In 2026, I’ll be attempting “Project Perseverance”, a 10,000-mile, year-long thru-hike. It’s not just a physical challenge, but a storytelling project centered on mental health, trauma recovery, and representation in the outdoors.
What has been your favourite trail so far?
The Arizona Trail. The desert has a way of stripping everything back and asking for honesty, and that’s where I found a lot of clarity. It tore me down as much as it built me back up. It taught me resilience and growth in ways I never knew were inside me.
Best trail tip?
Cutting weight starts with eliminating redundancy. You don’t need packing cubes or a million stuff sacks to “organise.” Your backpack is the organisation. Why put small bags inside a larger bag?
What is your chosen Atom Pack
I’ve been hiking with my Atom 35L for thousands of miles. It’s a pack that feels simple, durable, and comfortable day after day. It moves with my body, carries what I need without excess, and disappears on my back, which is exactly what I want on long days. This season, I’ll also be putting one of Atom’s fast-packing prototypes through real-world miles.
What is one piece of advice you would give to aspiring thru-hikers?
Train your mind as much as your legs. The gear matters, but your mindset carries you through the hardest miles. The trail doesn’t care how much your pack weighs, it cares whether you show up when things get hard.
