Taking the Trip Alone: Maddie on a Breakup, 63 National Parks & Choosing Herself
Taking the Trip Alone: Maddie on a Breakup, 63 National Parks & Choosing Herself  
Podcast: Hikes and Mics Podcast
Published On: Mon Aug 04 2025
Description: Send us Fan Mail🎙️Bears, Breakups & Big Views with Maddie of @nomaddiie🐻⛰️🎙️ Maddie joins us this episode — solo traveler, outdoor content creator, and aspiring wildlife biologist working toward visiting all 63 U.S. National Parks in her 2016 Toyota Corolla. Her page started almost by accident, made just so she'd stop flooding her friends' feeds with trip photos, and then the algorithm found her.Maddie talks through the breakup that became the unexpected start of her solo travel journey — taking the road trip she'd planned with someone else, alone, and rediscovering the "little gremlin forest girl" she'd lost track of. She shares finally summiting Angel's Landing exactly one year to the day after winning a permit she couldn't use, beating an incoming monsoon down by about 60 seconds, and the intense solo bear encounter at Tokopah Falls in Sequoia, where a bear charged her twice and she stood her ground with trekking poles overhead. We also get into her coordinates tattoo and why Sequoia feeds her soul, catching the Yosemite Firefall in February, why elk calves are hidden (not abandoned) in early summer, building her own first-aid kits, nature's role in her mental health, an unapologetic case for raspberry Uncrustables as essential trail gear, and a full round of season "this or that" questions — narrow ledges or creek crossings, sun on your back or wind in your face.A vulnerable, funny, and real conversation about choosing yourself, chasing big views, and protecting the places we love.Episode Links:Maddie on InstagramMaddie on FacebookMaddie's Beacons PageMaddie on TikTokThis episode was Produced by Jordyn Smith, follow her on Instagram @jordyn.journeysFollow us on Instagram, @HikesandmicsThis episode's music was created by Ketsa, follow him on Instagram @Ketsamusic AllTrails+I'm excited to share that I’m now a Trailheads Ambassador for AllTrails+! If you love exploring the outdoors, AllTrails+ is your ultimate adventure companion. Get offline maps, real-time wrong-turn alerts, and trail previews to help you hike smarter and safer. Plus, with 3D maps and deeper trail insights, planning your next trek has never been easier.Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership!Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app)Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order.