Nine Years of Hiking Thousands of Miles- The secrets of a hard-core Taiwanese female hiker’s climb to the top
Meet Chen Youxun, a passionate long-distance hiker from Taiwan now residing in New York. Over the past decade, she has embarked on extraordinary adventures, completing some of America’s most iconic trails, including the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail.
Chen began her journey of long-distance hiking in 2017, following a transformative experience on the Camino de Santiago. With the encouragement of her husband, she set out to tackle the Appalachian Trail, a challenging 2,200-mile path stretching from Georgia to Maine. Chen vividly recalls the numerous challenges she faced along the way, particularly the steep terrain and unpredictable weather. One memorable incident occurred while climbing Mount Lafayette in New Hampshire when a sudden gust of wind knocked her off balance, causing her to roll down the slope. “I felt like a turtle upside down with my backpack stuck between the rocks,” she reminisced. Fortunately, she managed to get back on her feet with only a minor knee injury, but the next day, she felt as if she had been ‘beaten from head to toe.’
The physical difficulties of the Appalachian Trail were compounded by the incessant rain in certain areas, particularly within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Chen described a week-long downpour that soaked her gear, forcing her to wear damp clothes day after day. “It was frustrating,” she admitted. “It felt like there was a downpour outside, and I was also sweating inside.”
Yet, the discomfort proved to be a spiritual journey as well. Despite suffering from blisters, sprains, falls, and even gastrointestinal issues, Chen embraced the pain as a part of her adventure. “I’m not one to give up easily,” she stated. “This path is one I chose to walk, so there’s no room for complaints.”
After 173 days on the Appalachian Trail, Chen moved on to the Pacific Crest Trail in 2018, which spans approximately 2,650 miles from the Mexican border in California to the Canadian border in Washington. Although this trail is longer, she completed it in 147 days, thanks to the relatively manageable terrain and a variety of seasonal transformations. Chen encountered everything from the desert climate of Northern California to the snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains, and even wildfires in Washington.
Along the way, she grappled with feelings of isolation and loneliness. On her birthday that year, while replenishing supplies in a small Northern California town, she suddenly felt unmotivated and unusually restless. After spending an entire day at a McDonald’s, she had a profound realization: her anxiety stemmed from her solitude on the trail. Accepting that loneliness was part of the experience allowed her to move past it. “I usually do everything on my own and don’t think twice about it, but this time I acknowledged my loneliness and embraced it,” she reflected. This acceptance led her to rediscover her motivation.
“Everything I do is solo, which has never felt strange to me. But I realized that I, too, can feel lonely. Accepting that has alleviated any discomfort it brought me.”
For Chen, the simple joys of hiking became a source of happiness. As someone who prides herself on cleanliness, the relief of finally being able to wash after days on the trail or capturing a photo of a bear in the wild brought her great joy. Each meal, travel companion, and little detail of nature became cherished memories in her hiking journey.
When asked about her biggest takeaway from nearly a decade of hiking, Chen revealed it was a newfound compassion for herself and others. “The trail truly reflects our inner selves,” she said. She often found herself puzzled by the behavior of some hikers who, despite appearing to be experienced, took shortcuts or hitchhiked, claiming to be ‘through hikers.’ “But I’ve come to understand their choices. While I may not support their decisions, I respect their journey, and that’s enough for me,” she noted.
Looking ahead, Chen is contemplating tackling the Continental Divide Trail, an ambitious 3,100-mile trek from New Mexico to Montana. “I think I’ll pursue it in the future,” she responded with enthusiasm. The allure of long-distance hiking for her lies in the ongoing discoveries, both of the breathtaking landscapes and of her own inner thoughts. “It’s like peeling an onion, layer by layer, revealing deeper insights with each step.”
As she reflects on her remarkable experiences, Chen invites others to embrace their own journeys, recognizing that both challenges and joys come together to shape our paths.
