Courtney Rosiak-Quinto set out on her first solo thru-hike, following the 174-mile Tahoe Rim Trail around Lake Tahoe through high-elevation terrain, long water carries, unexpected challenges and the Sierra landscape that has helped make South Lake Tahoe feel like home.

The Tahoe Rim Trail—or TRT—travels through California and Nevada, connecting sections near Echo Lake, Big Meadow, Kingsbury Grade, Spooner Summit, the Carson Range and Desolation Wilderness. Because the trail offers frequent access points and occasional cell service, Courtney believed it could be a practical place to attempt her first long-distance thru-hike. But accessible does not mean easy.

The journey came during a major transition in her life. After leaving the corporate world, Courtney saw the trail as more than another backpacking goal. It became an opportunity to trust her preparation, test her independence and discover whether she could solve problems when the original plan stopped working.

Courtney joins Sierra Rec host Charlie Pankey to discuss the difference between solo backpacking and solo thru-hiking, preparing physically and mentally for a long-distance trail, and the strength required to keep moving when the body is exhausted. She recounts an unexpected 25-mile day when she became so focused on reaching camp that the final four miles seemed to disappear.

She also explains why she chose not to cross Dick’s Pass near the end of the trip. After traveling from Barker Pass toward Desolation Wilderness through dry conditions, deadfall and accumulating fatigue, Courtney no longer felt safe continuing. Rather than allowing the desire to claim a completed loop to overrule her judgment, she listened to her instincts and left approximately six or seven miles for another trip.

The conversation explores:

• Planning and training for a first Tahoe Rim Trail thru-hike
• Solo backpacking and backpacking safety for women
• Water availability and dry conditions along the TRT
• The mental challenge of consecutive long-distance hiking days
• Echo Lake, Big Meadow, Barker Pass and Desolation Wilderness
• Knowing when to change a backpacking plan
• Paper maps, FarOut and backcountry navigation
• Moving from corporate life into adventure travel coaching
• Building confidence through outdoor experiences
• Giving yourself permission to pursue something difficult

Courtney Rosiak-Quinto is the founder of Wildly Becoming Collective, where she helps women plan meaningful adventures, reconnect with themselves and develop the confidence to step beyond familiar limits.

This conversation is part of What Brings You Back, a Sierra Rec series exploring the places, experiences and personal transformations that continue calling people outside.

Hosted by Charlie Pankey of Sierra Rec Magazine.