Savannah’s love for the outdoors led her from a climbing background to backpacking the Teton Crest Trail, an experience that profoundly influenced her. Motivated to transition from teaching music to outdoor education, she completed a 35-day NOLS Outdoor Educator course. She has led high school and college students on expeditions along the Appalachian and Vermont Long Trails and taught the REI Outdoor School in Ohio.
Over fourteen years, Savannah has been committed to education, spending ten of those years teaching in the classroom. Long-distance hiking has deeply informed her understanding of growth and success, teaching her the importance of relationships, viewing challenges as opportunities, and redefining success as self-improvement.
Savannah earned her undergraduate degree in music from Texas A&M – Commerce. She further advanced her education with two master’s degrees from Ohio University—one in Recreation Science & Sport Pedagogy and another in Environmental Studies. During her two years at OU, Savannah served as the graduate Trips & Logistics Coordinator, organizing and managing outdoor educational programs.
Savannah has thru-hiked the Long Trail, Lone Star Hiking Trail, Centennial Trail, Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Ouachita Trail, Pacific Northwest Trail, Tahoe Rim Trail, and Continental Divide Trail.
During her extended thru-hikes, Savannah conducted in-depth research into the dynamics of motivation, overcoming adversity, and human connection by interviewing fellow thru-hikers. This research culminated in her original graduate thesis can be accessed here. Additionally, Savannah shares insights on her research blog where she weaves together interviews, data, and personal stories from thru-hiking.
Savannah is a sought-after speaker who presents across the country, sharing the valuable lessons and confidence she gained from thru-hiking. In her Thru-Hike Planning workshop, her goal is to simplify the planning and logistic challenges of long-distance hiking and foster a sense of community. In her presentations, she encourages audiences to approach life’s challenges with the spirit of a thru-hiker, viewing adversities as opportunities for learning, personal growth, and deepening connections.
Details about her presentations and workshops are available here. In addition to group sessions, Savannah offers personalized coaching to hikers, both virtually and in person.
Following her completion of the Continental Divide Trail (CDT), Savannah is currently finalizing her first book, anticipated for release in late 2024.