750 Miles Beyond Survival: Every Mile Her Own
Hello, my name is Katrina.
In summer 2027, I’m setting out to backpack nearly 750 miles of the North Country Trail, from Wisconsin through Michigan toward St. Ignace — in honor of and in support of domestic violence survivors and overcomers. The route is still taking shape, but the reason for the hike is clear: to keep living this life through love, passion, possibility, and room to be free.
For years, I lived in survival mode — planning, staying alert, trying just to make it through each day. Even after leaving, healing came slowly. I had to learn how to feel safe in my own mind and body again.
I found my way back through art classes and yoga at the shelter, through women’s circles, and eventually through solo backpacking trips. Little by little, I remembered what it felt like to trust my strength and my inner wisdom. When I finally made my last exit, I was met with clarity — the sky opened above me again. I could see the beauty in sunsets, and I remembered what it felt like to meet the world with awe.
I was moving from a mindset of feeling overwhelmed and numb, to wanting to feel everything — to be fully present for it all. That shift is what led me here.
Wisconsin is where this hike begins — hiking away from where I survived and started rebuilding, into the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The UP is the uncharted territory where I’ll continue this journey toward reclaiming my identity, and reclaiming the mind, body, and soul that belong to me.
I’m preparing one ordinary day at a time — hiking longer distances, testing gear, mapping the route, building a plan to keep me going safely. I’ll share that preparation here, along with the lessons and moments that make this journey my own.
Sometimes we endure because we have no other choice. Other times, we choose endurance — and wind up living the most incredible adventure of our lives.
