PROFESSIONAL SPEAKER + OUTDOOR ENTHUSIAST
Melanie Radzicki McManus has hiked more than 6,800 miles over the last decade in locales around the globe. She is currently in the midst of hiking all 11 of America’s National Scenic Trails. To date she has completed the Arizona Trail (800 miles), Florida Trail (1,200 miles), Ice Age Trail (1,100 miles – twice!) and the New England Trail (215 miles). She has also completed some 600 miles of the North Country Trail.
Melanie is eager to share her expertise on hiking, our National Scenic Trail System and women in the outdoors. She is also passionate about helping local communities realize the myriad ways in which they can benefit from hiking’s surging popularity. In addition to giving engaging presentations to organizations, universities and private groups, she has been featured in a variety of television and radio shows, plus in print and online media.
In 2017, the Wisconsin Historical Society Press published Melanie’s hiking memoir Thousand-Miler: Adventures Hiking the Ice Age Trail. She is also available for audio or video chats with book clubs that have read her memoir.
To inquire about a speaking engagement, contact Melanie.
Interviews + Media Mentions
103.5 The Sun / Rex Owens: “My World and Welcome to It”
Almanac, Twin Cities Public Television: “Star Tribune Series on the Superior Hiking Trail”
Associated Press: “Following the Ice Age Trail in a new book, ‘Thousand-Miler'”
Hike Logistics: “Trailheads 001: Melanie Radzicki McManus talks about the Ice Age Trail”
Isthmus (Madison, Wis.): “Wisconsin’s wild woman”
KARE 11 (Minneapolis): “Star Tribune showcases beauty of Minnesota’s Superior Hiking Trail”
Outdoorsy.com: “Hike, Write, Repeat”
MPR News: “More women are blazing a trail outdoors”
Pink Pangea: “Hiking and Life-Writing: In Conversation with Melanie McManus”
The Denver Post: The Know Outdoors, “6 things you need in your pack for Colorado hiking trips in the fall”
The Larry Meiller Show, Wisconsin Public Radio: “Adventures Hiking The Ice Age Trail”
The Morning Blend (WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee): “The 9th Annual Southeast Wisconsin Festival of Books”
The Wisconsin Podcast: “Hiking the ENTIRE Ice Age Trail – Melanie Radzicki McManus – #3”
Travel + Leisure: “The Best Outdoor Gear You Can Buy, According to Lifelong Hikers”
University Place, Wisconsin Public Television: “Adventures Hiking the Ice Age Trail”
WORT-FM (Madison, Wis.): “Thousand-Miler: Adventures Hiking the Ice Age Trail”
Melanie is a great speaker. During her talk, as I looked around our group, no one was even picking up their coffee cup, let alone their phone! Many of our members have since read her book, and a few were so inspired that they have already been hiking some of the Ice Age Trail.
Rose Freidel, real estate agent and Rotary Club member
Melanie connected well with our audience, relaying her life experiences on the trail as well as being engaging, informative and inspiring! Throughout the event, we heard several positive comments about her presentation.
Julie Bollmann, outreach specialist, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point at Wausau
Melanie entertained us with the history, geology and wonderful stories about Wisconsin’s Ice Age Trail. All of us learned something new from her delightful presentation.
Ed Abell, president, Maywood Environmental Park
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