Photo courtesy of Emily Wang
In 2026, I will attempt to complete what I call the “Great Freedom Loop”—a 4,700-mile journey focused on joy, freedom, and a sense of belonging in the outdoors. This adventure involves hiking the 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail (AT) and cycling the 2,000-mile Underground Railroad Bike Route (UGRR), America’s legendary route to freedom. From the southern end of the UGRR, I plan to bike an additional 500 miles back to the southern terminus of the AT to make a full circle.
The Great Freedom Loop is the third part of my journey that explores and connects with the three major national scenic trails and bike routes. When I complete it, I will be the first person on record to create and complete what I have named the “Triple Crown of Full Circle.”
I enjoy a full circle journey, returning to where I began, with a sense of growth, wholeness, and a deeper connection to myself and the world, knowing that things in life and our learning don’t just end; they continue eternally, just like many phenomena in nature. Because the circle is symmetric in any direction, I view it as a symbol of equality, inclusiveness, harmony, and oneness with the Earth. These are the values that I uphold and practice on and off the trail.
The Triple Crown of Full Circle journey offers numerous opportunities to transcend both personal and external challenges. I plan to share stories, particularly at platforms and venues that support Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, especially women and other communities that may face systemic barriers to accessing outdoor spaces and opportunities.
We are all on our own personal journeys through life. I hope that my adventure inspires each of us to live fully and connect deeply with ourselves and our beautiful planet. For me, this journey is about experiencing joy and freedom by becoming the best version of myself and building resilience. I believe that by embracing these qualities, we can feel more grounded and centered. This enables us to support one another as we work toward healing from the societal traumas of colonization that impact our spirits, minds, bodies, communities, and our relationship with the Earth.
2026: Great Freedom Loop (4,700 miles)
From April to October 2026, I will attempt to complete the “Great Freedom Loop”—a 4,700-mile journey that involves hiking northbound along the 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail (AT) and cycling southbound on the 2,000-mile Underground Railroad Bike Route (UGRR). From the southern end of the UGRR, I plan to bike an additional 500 miles, following the Southern Tier Bike Route and the Eastern Continental Trail, back to the southern terminus of the AT. The loop travels through over 48 homelands of indigenous peoples across Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Ontario (Canada), Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. Throughout my journey, I committed to practicing their teachings about caring for the land, which have been passed down through generations.
2024 & 2025: Great Divide Loop (5,600 miles)
From April to May 2024, and from May to October 2025, I completed what I named the Great Divide Loop — the 5,600-mile journey that I hiked northbound on the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) from the US-Mexico border to the US-Canada border, and biked southbound on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route from the US-Canada border back to the southern terminus of the CDT at the US-Mexico border. The loop covers over 14 homelands of indigenous peoples across New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana.
2023: Great Pacific Loop (4,550 miles)
From May to November 2023, I embarked on what I call the Great Pacific Loop — a 4,550-mile journey that involved hiking northbound along the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) from the US-Mexico border to the US-Canada border, and biking southbound along the Pacific Coast Bicycle Route from Vancouver, Canada, back to the southern terminus of the PCT at the US-Mexico border. The loop encompasses more than 67 homelands of indigenous peoples in California, Oregon, and Washington.
You can read my blog posts from these adventures to learn more.