Why I Changed My Mind - Continental Divide Trail 2026

Well, hello guys! If you're new to this channel, hello! How you doing? My name is Julianne, also known as RoadRider, and I am a long distance thru-hiker. I've done the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail, and next year I'll be hiking the Continental Dubai Trail, also known as the CDT. And there are some of you that followed me for a very long time, so this video is mainly for you guys. But if you're new, if you want to listen, keep on listening. I wanted to talk about why I decided to hike the CDT. If you had followed me for a long time, especially on the PCT, I've been talking about that I will not be doing the CDT anytime soon. And I really believed that. When I was on the PCT, I was like, yeah, this is not gonna happen. And then, you know, I did that one half of the AT this year. I was like, yeah, I am just not ready yet. I kind of want to have, like, a real life. And so I changed my mind. Originally, I wanted to hike the Arizona Trail next year, which is just like 800 miles. It's easier to do something a little smaller, you know. But I changed my mind. And why did I change my mind? There's a bunch of reasons. Okay, reason number one is I feel like, personally, that I am in the best, best shape of my life. Like, I am so physically fit. I am in such a great condition. And you never know if that's gonna continue. And I am getting older. And so because I do feel like I'm in such a good shape, it would be a great thing to accomplish the CDT. The other thing is, I have some plans in the future. So I do want to, you know, create a little bit more of a life. And I have, which is wonderful. I've actually created a beautiful life so far in Vermont. But I do have some plans when it comes to employment. I'm a little bit in between what I want to do with my life. And so I knew that no matter what I would start, I'd always feel like this urge or this knowledge that I know I'm going to hike the CDT. And what are the chances that I'll be able to take six months off my life in the near future once I have, you know, started the things that I want to do that are not necessarily hiking related, right? And so because I am in between the things that I want to do, I was like, okay, the CDT, let me get it out of the way, meaning I'm excited to hike it. But also, it's going to be nice to know that I've done it. And then I can go and continue with the things that I want to do. Also, and lastly, the most important thing is, at this point in my life, I've never been this supported as I am being supported right now. I have wonderful friends that I gained over the last year. I have a beautiful partner. And all of these individuals have supported me, pushed me, motivated me. None of them feel intimidated, jealous. You know, it's stuff that I had encountered in the previous years, you know, with previous relationships, where I just didn't feel supported at all. And so because I do feel this immense support, it just is like so motivating to know that they are on my side. And so that's really why I changed my mind. Being able to do the Continental Divide Trail, you know, I am somebody who likes accolades. So being able to call myself a triple crowner would be amazing. But I'm not doing it just for that. I really, really have missed the long distance trails the last few months. And it just, you know, I talked it over with my partner. And it was an easy yes. It was no, nothing else. It was just pretty much, yeah, I completely support you. And I mean, that's amazing. So I'm excited. I'm excited to take you guys with me and get this party started.