What is Trail Magic?
The Story Behind Our Business
Stumbling through the woods in the heat of the summer, my feet screaming in their too-tight shoes, I had one thing on my mind- one thing propelling me forward. I was only a few weeks into my thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, and as I navigated the rocky terrain of Pennsylvania I couldn’t help but occasionally wonder if I had made the right decision being out here. Why was I willingly subjecting myself to this pain? To this insatiable hunger? To these buggy days and restless nights? How could I possibly walk another mile with the weight of this pack and my swollen toes? Today, this one thing was getting me through- the rumor trickling down the trail of the possibility of trail magic ahead.
When I had first made the decision to thru-hike the AT, I was not met with resounding support like I had hoped. This was something that I wanted more than I could begin to verbalize, something I knew in my gut that I needed. For a few years I had been struggling to find my direction, and the trail was telling me, go North. The lack of support, and more realistically, the intense opposition I faced led me to question my plans, pushing them off until the voice in my head telling me I needed to go became too strong to ignore. By this point, I had to shift my plans from the traditional northbound (Georgia to Maine) thru-hike, to a flip-flop thru-hike, where I would begin in West Virginia and hike to Maine, then return back to West Virginia and hike south to Georgia. This style of thru-hike put me in the northbound “bubble,” where I would find myself hiking around the group of hikers who had made it to the north from Georgia. I was immediately surrounded by knowledge, community, and an abundance of trail magic.
There is no exact definition for trail magic, and it can mean many different things to different people. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy describes it as the following:
“Finding what you need most when you least expect it.”
“Encountering unexpected acts of generosity that restore one’s faith in humanity.”
And my personal favorite:
“Experiencing something rare, extraordinary, or inspiring in nature.”
I would soon come to learn just how broad the umbrella of trail magic spanned.
Trail-famous trail angel “Fresh Grounds”, preparing pasta meals for us after a brutally cold night in the Grayson Highlands in Virginia.
As I prepared for my thru-hike, I had one consistent support system: my best friend, Hannah. Hannah had been with me for many of my AT firsts- from my first day-hike on the trail, to my first backpacking trip on the trail (and ever), and eventually to the first few days of my thru-hike. She was also there for my first two trail magic encounters, both of which gave me a little glimpse into the community I would come to love and made me eager for the miles ahead. When Hannah and I parted ways as I approached the Pennsylvania border, I was immensely grateful knowing full well that I would not be there if it weren’t for her.
In my five and a half months living along the narrow corridor of the Appalachian Trail, I experienced trail magic in many forms. I stumbled upon coolers of cold water and Gatorade on days where the heat nearly broke me. I encountered enthusiastic trail angels cooking up burgers and hot dogs in trailhead parking lots, providing camp chairs and the space to share stories and laughs. As I began my southbound journey halfway through my hike, the cookouts became infrequent and the coolers were few and far between, but the kindness did not dissipate. I was offered rides into town, places to stay, money to cover my resupply at the grocery store, and endless words of encouragement from strangers of all kinds. The support I received from this community of strangers was the fuel that helped me push through hurricanes, frigid temperatures, and compounding aches and pains. I flourished, and as I inched closer to the southern terminus in Georgia, I had no doubt that I would make it all the way. Even as I spent more and more days alone, I had never felt more seen, heard, accepted, and encouraged. And on the 167th day, I summited Springer Mountain, completing my life-changing trek.
Me, on the summit of Springer Mountain where I completed my thru-hike.
You may be wondering how any of this translates into our business, or any business in general. Realistically, the connections are deeper than just our name and my experiences as a thru-hiker. Our business was built from the innate desire within Hannah and myself to grow and support a community of people who want to explore the path less traveled. When I returned back to the “real world” in November of 2022, my eyes were opened to just how many people in our culture do not necessarily fit into the molds imposed upon us. I felt the energy of curiosity, of questioning, of intentionality, and a desire for simplicity over grandeur. I wanted to figure out how to forge a career path for myself that opened up the space for people to explore their curiosities, but could not pinpoint just what that meant.
Since we met as dance majors our freshman year of college, Hannah has always been a creative and inspiring light in my life. A woman of many talents, her artistic eye and intellectual mindset challenged me to continuously grow and explore my horizons. When her partner, Michael, proposed to her and they began to evaluate their options for their wedding, it became clear to them that an intimate and intentional micro-wedding was the direction they wanted to go. As a photographer, one of her main priorities for the wedding was how it would be captured, so she set out on her research journey that would eventually lead to the birth of the idea that would become our business.
Hannah and I on our first backpacking trip, along the Appalachian Trail in the Roan Highlands (TN/NC).
Wedding planning is a booming industry, and rightfully so. The work that comes with planning and seeing-through the details of such a significant day are innumerable. As Hannah began to plan her own wedding, she noticed a gap and clear lack of resources and assistance for intimate weddings. Although her wedding would be small, there were still vendors to book, venues to choose from, decor to select, and details to consider. Why should they have to handle that all on their own, when the field of wedding planning itself is so vast? We wanted to change that.
In the early stages of building our business, we knew two things for absolute certain-
We wanted to bridge the gap, and offer planning and photography services hand in hand for couples who are choosing elopements or micro-weddings.
We wanted couples to feel secure and supported in their decision to take the non-traditional route and do what feels right to them.
With time, our business began to take shape, and we tossed around a variety of options for our name. Nothing felt quite right, and as a duo who is very invested in the gut feeling, settling was not an option.
Funny enough, with all of my trail magic experiences, it was Hannah who the idea dawned on to name our business after it. But the second she said it, I knew there was nothing else we could dream up that would come anywhere close to competing with it. For me, it all came back down to “Thing we are absolutely certain of #2” (listed above); I wanted all of our couples to feel supported in their non-traditional choice in the way that the incredible community of the AT supported me. And as our business has continued to evolve, that desire has only grown. I want every single person we work with to feel validated in the decisions that they know are right for them. I want them to feel like they have people backing them, encouraging them, asking them helpful questions that inspire them rather than knock them down. Ultimately, I want every couple we interact with to pursue their dreams for their wedding day with the knowledge that they are not alone, and that their vision matters.
To me, trail magic extends far beyond the offerings of food, beer, or the ride into town. When what I needed most was community, trail magic reminded me that someone was there for me, every step of the way, for the entirety of my trek. I know firsthand the importance of feeling seen, loved, and supported on EVERY path taken in life. Trail magic is love- a love for the trail, for the Earth, and for each other. Trail magic was born from the desire to show up for the community; Trail Magic Elopements was born from this same desire.
