About

Wild Stories is a project by Annie Nelson, a former journalist turned outdoor junkie. I’ll document my outdoor adventures here, along with all the Wild Stories I can find about long-distance backpacking, environmental science, survival stories and more.

I graduated from the University of Missouri at Columbia with degrees in Journalism and Spanish. I worked as a reporter for the Columbia Daily Tribune, an editor and instructor for ThreeSixty Journalism, and most recently spent more than six years working for Neighbors, Inc. providing direct support to families experiencing basic needs crises.

During the past decade, I’ve found myself spending more and more time in the woods. In 2017, I completed my first long-distance hike, my “Arrowhead Amble,” during which I hiked more than 500 miles on three trail systems in the Arrowhead region of Minnesota: the Border Route Trail, the Superior Hiking Trail and Isle Royale National Park.

In May 2019, I attempted to hike half of America’s longest National Scenic Trail, the North Country Trail. My goal was to hike about 2,400 miles in 5-6 months. I made it 1,506 miles before giardia forced me off the trail. I had the adventure of a lifetime, which I documented on my Halfway Thru Blog and Wild Stories YouTube channel.

Following my 2019 NCT Halfway Hike, I will be pursuing outdoor writing opportunities. If you have any Wild Stories you’d like to share, please contact me.