Becky Wandell – Reinvention, Solo Travel, and Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail at 55
- Tough Girl
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
Becky Wandell is a Teacher, Writer, Tour Guide, Volunteer, and Solo Traveler. At 47, while weathering a difficult divorce and the death of four close relatives, she clawed her way up from the depths of grief and, in her words, set out to “find her way back to Becky again”.
To do this, she quit her job, sold all of her belongings and charted a plan to complete a series of adventures she had always dreamed of doing. Joining the US Peace Corps, learning to speak Spanish and gaining her confidence in solo travel and living abroad set the stage for several years of living her best life throughout South America; a life rich with opportunities to learn, grow, serve others through volunteering, integrate deeply into cultures, and make connections - especially with women.
Then, in 2024 at the age of 55, she hiked the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada.
It was there, with thousands of footsteps across the desert, over the mountains and back home to the rainforests of the Pacific Northwest, she was finally able to release the last of her regrets, coming away from the trek feeling lighter, freer, more confident and beautiful than ever before.
Turns out, living life to the fullest and fulfilling all your dreams brings joy.
Now, Becky works as a seasonal Tour Guide in Alaska which allows her to spend the rest of the year living out of her backpack, always ready for the next adventure.
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Show notes
Who is Becky
Teacher, writer, solo traveller, volunteer and tour guide
Starting her life in the Mid-West
Knowing she always wanted to live by mountains
Starting to work for the forest service in environmental programs
Having a wonderful career and life
Needing to make a pivot in her life and needing to figure out what she really wanted to do
Joining the Peace Corps at 47
Wanting to travel more, learn a new language and experience more of the world
Deciding to hike the Pacific Crest Trail at 55 from Mexico to Canada
Gaining a huge amount of confidence
Wanting to slow travel more and working as a tour guide in Alaska
Living her dream and being the best beaky she can be
The pivot at 47
The love letters….. the origin story to her relationship
Giving up her dreams and “compromising”
Typing out all the things that she wanted to do back then
Sacrificing her dreams
What the Peace Corps is
Learning so much about herself, other people and cultures
Living in Ecuador with a family and leaning the language
Her new path and dealing with lonely moments
Losing her parents
Slow travel and volunteering around South America
Spending 2 years travelling around Patagonia
Her dream of hiking the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT)
Feeling ready to take on the hike
Not having fears or concerns before the hike
Letting go of fear
Getting her trail name
Challenging sections on the PCT
Why 700 miles in the desert was the real challenge
Being supported by her friends during the tough moments
The mental game
Doing hard things
Writing a letter to herself
Can she push her body that hard to make the hike happen
Preparing for the trail really well
Needing to hike her hike her way
Learning about her last name
Sharing a little video from the end of the PCT
Finally identifying as a tough girl
How to connect with Becky
Final words of advice
Give up the fear, your going to be ok
Start planning, take the step.
Social Media
Blog: onthewingadventures.com
Instagram: @beckysonthewingadventures
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