Hello and welcome!
I started this website in the wake of my beloved mother’s death from cancer in 2010. Shortly before she died, she gave me a card with Emily Dickinson’s poem, ‘Hope is the Thing with Feathers’ hand written in it, since I had given her hope with my extensive research into treatment options. Writing became the perfect channel for me to process my grief in a healthy way after she died. Since the poem is so intimately connected to my mom, it felt fitting to weave it into my blog’s original name, Hope and Feather Travels.
So a little bit about me, since that’s probably why you’re visiting this page. I am a mom to three amazing kids (one in college, two nearly there), a wife to the love of my life and a retired small animal veterinarian. I’m also an active member on my county’s search and rescue (SAR) team. My experience with this team changed the trajectory of my life in 2018 when my team helped search for a missing mom in the Smokies. Chasing the Smokies Moon: A 948-mile hike, fueled by love, loss, laughter and lunacy is the memoir I published following this tragic event. I wrote it after my record-setting hike in Great Smoky Mountains National Park to raise funds for a preventative search and awareness program in the park.
I have a passion for teaching others the skills and knowledge they need to stay ‘safe and found’ on a hike, but I love continuing my own educational journey, too. The most fun I’ve ever had learning is taking courses to become a certified Southern Appalachian Naturalist. I use this knowledge during my stays as an Expert in Residence at The Swag, and when I’m guiding for Cataloochee Valley Tours. I also lead outdoor education workshops and courses through Blue Ridge Hiking Company.
Finally, I’ve had the privilege of speaking at various events and for different groups such as Appalachian Trail Days, Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association, Smoky Mountain Hiking Club, Carolina Mountain Club, and the Foothills Trail Conservancy. You can find my calendar of upcoming events and book signings right here.
I’ve written about a myriad of topics close to my heart (Musings) on this website, but I’ve narrowed the focus to suit my ever-growing audience of folks who are as passionate about the natural world me. These days, I primarily write about:
- Hiking trail and trip reports in western North Carolina and far beyond.
- Endurance-based hiking, especially for the 40+ crowd. In my early 50s, I’m the most fit I’ve ever been. In 2020, when I was 48 years old, I hiked 948 miles in 29 days, earning a fastest known time (FKT) for hiking all the trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (and my 51-year-old friend achieved it with me). I love exploring the limits of my endurance, especially at an age when some might consider me “over the hill,” and especially as someone who has never excelled athletically (until now).
- Wilderness/Outdoor Education is one of my greatest passions since joining a search and rescue team. I love educating folks about staying “safe and found.”
- To discover what’s possible, fun, and educational in wilderness areas with kids. I am an avid believer in Richard Louv’s principles, outlined in his popular book, Last Child in the Woods, Curing Nature Deficit Disorder. My goal as a parent is to raise my kids as stewards of the earth and with an understanding of how vital the natural world is to their mental health and happiness.
If you have questions would like to inquire about me speaking at an event, or simply want to say hello, please reach out to me and I’ll respond as soon as possible.
Happy Trails!
Nancy, a.k.a. “Seal Mom”
Disclosure: Hope and Feather Travels is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
Also, any links I provide on this site are to the best deal I know of, for the particular product I’m referencing, and many of my links will send you directly to cottage industries who don’t sell their products on Amazon. Supporting small businesses is very important to me!