ABOUT MELANIE – OUTDOOR ADVENTURE
WRITER, BLOGGER, SPEAKER
I was born in Chicago and lived there until fourth grade, when my family moved to Sheboygan, Wisconsin, a medium-sized city on the shores of Lake Michigan. Ever since I was in elementary school, I wanted to be a writer, crafting fake newspapers as young as 7 or 8 years old. And I’d always longed to travel.
After high school, I went to St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin, where I graduated summa cum laude with degrees in communication arts and political science. A few years later, I obtained a Master’s Degree in religious studies. (Nothing like combining religion, politics and journalism!) After stints as a radio news reporter and press secretary in the Wisconsin State Legislature, I found my true calling as a freelance bachelorarbeit schreiben lassen writer.
Melanie Is A Highly Experienced Creative Writer
Over the years, I’ve written hundreds of articles on a wide variety of topics, with travel as my specialty. And hiking as my passion. My work (and feet!) have taken me on some of the world’s most incredible paths: Spain’s Camino de Santiago, Israel’s Snake Path up Masada, the Tongariro Crossing in New Zealand and China’s Tiger Leaping Gorge.
After thru-hiking the 1,150-mile (1,851 km) Ice Age National Scenic Trail in 2013, and setting the women’s fastpacking record in the process, I wrote Thousand-Miler: Adventures Hiking the Ice Age Trail (Wisconsin Historical Society Press, 2017). That experience was so amazing, I decided to hike America’s 10 other National Scenic Trails. (Spoiler alert: I’m saving the most famous National Scenic Trail, the Appalachian Trail, for last.)
Please come along for the ride. It’s going to be a fun one!
MELANIE
P.S. You can check out some of my other work at sites like HowStuffWorks and CNN, where I’m a frequent contributor.
WRITING
Read about all of the places I’ve traveled (and hiked!), from the U.S., Spain and Italy to Israel, China, New Zealand and beyond.
SPEAKING
Need an engaging, enthusiastic speaker? I’m your person for talks about hiking, women in the outdoors, solo travel and more.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Check out my photos from popular and remote locales. They’re for sale, too.
TRAIL JOURNALS
Planning a hike on trails I’ve conquered? Read my daily diaries to help you prepare.
