(Psst -- Win trail prizes during Trailtober: a trail challenge supporting gender equity in October! Learn more here.)

Heather Anderson has hiked over 50,000 miles — including completing the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Divide Trail multiple times, and often faster than anyone before her.

Heather shares why writing a memoir could feel as vulnerable and difficult as hiking alone for months. We talk about the mindset needed to write about your life (especially when it doesn’t follow a classic narrative arc), the challenges of maintaining a public presence online, and her tips for aspiring authors.

We talk about:

• Heather's early book and outdoor experiences (personal pan pizzas anyone?)
• The challenges of writing memoirs
• Self-identity after setting trail records
• The impact of social media on authors
• Balancing media consumption and writing
• Tips for aspiring authors

Love adventure books like Heather's?

Grit Lit is our quarterly subscription box meets book club, celebrating women and adventure.

Members get a box every quarter full of woman-created goodies, including a nature-inspired book.

Interested in becoming a part of Grit Lit? Head to ⁠⁠cairnproject.org/grit-lit⁠⁠ to join and get the fall 2025 box, plus a welcome box! It’s a great gift for a friend, too.

Join the trail fun of Trailtober, our October community challenge to spend time on trail, connect with others, and win trail shoes, electrolytes, gear patches and more! https://cairnproject.org/trailtober-2025-challenge

Find Heather on Instagram or explore her website. Make sure to read Thirst: 2600 Miles to Home.

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Brought to you by the Alliance for Gender Equity in Outdoor Adventure (GEA Alliance).

Hosted by Angie Marie Lake, edited by Alyson Castonguay, research assistance by Danielle Peecher