Alina “Abstract” Drufovka is a Colombian-American painter and illustrator based out of Philadelphia, PA.
Alina has hiked the Appalachian Trail (2015 & 2017), the Pacific Crest Trail (2019) and the Israel National Trail (2018). Alina is an outdoor professional and hopes to inspire more women and people of colour to get outside and explore the trails!
Her Mission:
Help people reconnect with their journeys in wilderness through art.
Commemorate life on trail and the culture of long distance backpacking.
Promote diversity in the outdoors.
“One of the most beautiful parts of creation is that an Artist has the freedom to not just recreate the world as we know it, but to craft a portal to a new world. Perhaps a better and more equitable one. And that is exactly my intention. “ — Alina “Abstract” Drufovka
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Show notes
Growing up as a city girl
Going to a summer camp in New Jersey
How her life changed
Stepping foot on the Appalachian Trail
Knowing that she wanted a life of hiking and adventure
Getting into the book and the movie of “Into the Wild”
Growing up artistic
Not wanting to put herself out there in case she failed
Heading to college in Colorado
Getting injured on her fist attempted thru hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2015
Planning for the trip and taking a semester off college
Her first trail name “Swol”
Walking 1200 mils and having to leave the trail
Dealing with knee injuries
Getting through the tough time period of recovery
Heading back to the trail in 2017 and feeling nervous
Meeting her boyfriend of day 1 of the trail
Wanting to hike solo
Self reflection on the trail
Having 6 months of freedom
Getting though the not so good days
Living the dream and feeling very fortunate to be out there
Feeling gratitude
Doing art on the trail
The end of the trail
Heading to hike The Israel National Trail in 2018
Needing another goal in the diary
Working for 6 months to save up the money
Resupply, accommodation and water on The Israel National Trail
The amazing network of trail angels
Magical moments
Hiking the PCT with her boyfriend
The differences between the AT and the PCT
Flip & flopping on the PCT and the frustrations
Taking a step away from thru-hiking to focus on her art
Blogging and sharing on social media
Wanting to be present on the trail
Nutrition on the trail
Packing only 1 snickers!
Finishing a hike and what happens next
Writing a book!
Wanting to share her experiences from trail
The judgement on social media
Becoming a full time artist
Being stuck in Costa Rica at the start of the pandemic
Building up her on-line business
Connect with Alina and order her artwork
Looking at a new stage of life
Thinking about starting a family
Motherhood and settling down
Having a different dream to others
Live your own life
Accidental Van Life!
Figuring out where home is going to be
Wanting a simple life
Final words of advice - “being one choice away from living a different life”
The sliding doors moment by listening to a podcast and how it could change your life
Social Media
Website - www.thrudesigns.com
Instagram @abstract.hikes
Facebook @abstract.hikes
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