In4adventure.com is happy to announce a new contributor and expert to our web portal, Stella Blashock. Stella Blashock, the new host of BackpackingTV and the Epic Trails TV series, is a long-distance hiker, educator, vlogger, yogi, and poet, who is passionate about connecting with the wilderness through backpacking and hiking. Once a high school math teacher, Stella’s mission is to create beautiful hiking and backpacking content in hopes of empowering and encouraging others to embrace the beauty and wonder of nature. She has hiked over 6,000 miles in the last five years alone, documenting and sharing her journey along the way.
We sent Stella a quick series of questions to help us get to know her better. Here's what she had to say:
Q: You were a teacher before this phase of your life, how did this lead you to hiking?
I love education but my love for hiking began before my teaching career. I pursued teaching with the hopes of being able to spend summers hiking and backpacking and now I love the idea of continuing to teach in the outdoor recreational space through my partnership with Heliconia.
Q: What is it about hiking and backpacking that you appreciate the most?
The beauty. I love how it feels to work hard or hike long to find the beauty of quiet trees, long winding trails, granite peaks and alpine lakes.
Q: What are your top goals as you step into the Epic Trails project?
My top goals are to experience wonder found on trail and then to inspire, educate, and encourage others to do the same. I would love to lead others to approach experiencing nature with curiosity and confidence and to build a connection to it that feels meaningful to them.
Q: Do you have favorite hiking locations? What makes them so special to you?
The Trinity Alps Wilderness Area in Northern California is one of my favorite hiking locations because I did a season of backcountry trail work there in my early 20s. Spending 6 months working on trails in the Trinity Alps connected me deeply to the lakes and rivers, not to mention all the memories I have doing logouts and rock work to maintain the trails.
Q: Do you have any bucket list destinations you’d love to experience?
I would absolutely love to go almost anywhere and everywhere. I especially would love to hike in Norway, Spain, France, Peru, India, South Korea.
Q: You have a great level of experience with gear, where did you learn so much about the tools of the trade?
I can nerd out on gear! I love learning about the outdoor tech that makes hiking and backpacking possible. I learned everything from online research and YouTube!
Q: What one piece of gear could you not live without? Why?
I could not live without my backpack. It would be impossible to get out there without the ability to carry everything and carry it comfortably. I have loved the Zpacks Arc Scout and the Hyperlight Mountain Gear Unbound 40, but I am excited to try new and different packs.
Q: If you could only eat one thing on the trail for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
Soy Sauce Ramen! It’s easy to find and can be enjoyed as a nice warm soup or dry and crunchy like chips!
Q: What advice would you give someone just starting to hike/backpack and looking to get out more?
Figure out what will help you feel most comfortable outside and then include that in your first few adventures. If you feel scared to hike alone, go with a friend or find a trail that is well trafficked and you will be able to feel safe and meet other hikers. If you hate bugs, bring proper bug protection. If you get a little hangry without certain foods, bring those! There are lots of ways to ensure you have a good time outside when you’re just getting started. It just takes a little intentionality.
Stay Tuned for More Stella!
Be sure to follow Stella as she takes to the trails and continues the storytelling on our YouTube Channel, BackpackingTV as well as on our @epictrails365 Facebook page and/or our @epictrails365 Instagram page. As always, you can subscribe to our in4adventure.com newsletter and get articles sent to your inbox every month!
Don’t forget to add hiking in Africa to your bucket list. It’s a most beautiful place with lovely people and if you are lucky enough, you’ll find your own elephant family to be a part of ~ Turtle 🐢