Step by Step: Building Confidence on the Trail

Linnea Andersson with a few of her fellow hikers on the AT.

Linnea Andersson is a sophomore at Wiscasset High School and the 2021 recipient of Sara’s Scholarship — a Teens to Trails program that offers high school students an opportunity to select an outdoor experience from Maine’s leading adventure camps. Linnea selected a summer leadership expedition with Chewonki, a three week backpacking trip along the Appalachian Trail, including the Hundred-Mile Wilderness.

According to Linnea, she chose the backpacking trip because she’s always loved hiking, but with a full schedule that included school, swim team and volunteering at a local farm, she didn’t have the time to get outside as much as she liked or do overnights. Sara’s Scholarship would change all that. 

When asked if she was nervous about meeting new people at Chewonki, Linnea said her group leaders made getting to know her fellow hikers easier with ice breakers and a few relaxed days to get into the groove of hiking. That said, this was Linnea’s first foray into overnight backpacking. One of her biggest challenges was carrying a heavy pack, which held propane for the camp stove, two full food bags of pasta, rice and fresh produce, more daily supplies and layers of clothing. “I packed so many unnecessary things,” she said. “mostly because I didn’t know what the weather would be like.”

Her second day on the trail was the most grueling. While the hike was only 4 miles, Linnea said the steep trail was all the more challenging on a hot and humid day. “None of us were in shape for backpacking yet, and no one realized we had to ration our water,” she said. “I learned so much in those early days on the trail.” Due to the heat, Linnea said she quickly unloaded her base layers, and used her winter coat as a cozy pillow in the evenings. 

By week three, Linnea and her fellow backpackers had gone from hiking just a few miles to 10 miles per day. And while this may seem like a lot of growth in a short period, Linnea said hiking just became easier as time went on and she admitted, a lighter pack made a huge difference. 

Her trip ended with a memorable climb up Katahdin. Due to a rainy forecast, Linnea and her fellow backpackers woke up before dawn and began their hike wearing headlamps. While hiking in the dark, and so early in the morning, Linnea felt like she was fighting a cold and wondered if she’d be able to complete the hike. But she said, something incredible happened at the treeline — the sun rose and everything looked so beautiful. With her spirits buoyed, she continued the climb and made it to the summit before the rain. 

After her 3-week backpacking excursion, Linnea learned what to pack, how hiking each day makes increasing mileage easier to tackle, but most importantly, she learned something about herself. “In the beginning, I worried if I could do this, but by the end of the trip, I realized how much I underestimated what I could and could not do,” she said.  

With that kind of self-empowerment, Linnea hopes to return to the Hundred-Mile Wilderness with her father this summer. She’s planning a 10-day backpacking excursion and hopes she can impart what she’s learned from her unforgettable summer adventure. 

Interested in having a life-changing experience outdoors like Linnea? Learn more about Sara’s Scholarship here.