Embracing Wobanaki

On September 14th, I’ll set out on a 650-mile journey through New Hampshire and Vermont, connecting three of the most iconic long-distance trails in the Northeast: the White Mountain Direttissima, the Cohos Trail, and Vermont’s Long Trail. I’m calling it the Wôbanaki Lakann Trail, “a journey through the Dawn Land, ”to honor the Abenaki people who have called these mountains home for thousands of years.

Over 21 days, I’ll cover about 31 miles a day with over 135,000 feet of elevation gain and loss. It’s going to be a huge test of endurance, but more than that, it’s a way to celebrate the history, culture, and community that make these trails so special.

This trek is also deeply personal. It’s inspired by my friend Chris “Rafiki” Roma, who taught me what it meant to move through these mountains with humility and strength. Since his passing, I’ve tried to carry his spirit forward, most recently through The Lincoln 100, which raised enough money to bring clean water to over 3,500 people in Uganda.

This time, my goal is to raise $10,000 for MissionCleanWater so they can keep expanding projects that change lives in lasting ways. I’m grateful to be supported by my team at Burgeon Outdoor, who’ve given me space to heal, grow, and give back to the community that raised me. Just like the pack I’ll carry on my back, handmade and built for the miles ahead, every piece of this journey is intentional. With your help, every step I take will help bring clean water, opportunity, and dignity to communities that need it most.

Named in honor of the Abenaki people, Wôbanakiak, or “People of the Dawn Land” who’ve called this region home for over 10,000 years. The route begins at the Glencliff Trailhead at the base of Mt. Moosilauke heading north on the White Mountain Direttissima, a continuous connection of the 48 four thousand foot mountains in NH's White Mountains. This path was conceived by Henry T. Folsom in 1970, with dozens of endurance athletes in the White Mountains following in his footsteps since. With iconic sections like Franconia Ridge, Bondcliff, and Agiocochook (Mt Washington), you will find amazing views carved out over 12,000 years ago by the last Ice Age. The Wôbanaki Lakann Trail is more than a beautiful trail of rugged terrain; it is a celebration of the history, culture, and a thriving endurance community in the White Mountains. This portion of the hike concludes on Mt Cabot, NH’s northernmost four thousand foot peak. The tailend to an epic 240 mile trek that keeps me heading north towards the Cohos Trail.

The Cohos Trail stretches nearly 170 miles from Crawford Notch north to the Canadian border, taking hikers deep into seldom seen stretches of NH’s north country. Kim R. Nilsen first proposed the creation of the Cohos Trail in 1978 in an editorial in the Coos Country Democrat newspaper. After countless volunteer hours, the Cohos Trail was completed in 2011. One is more likely to see a moose than a person while hiking this trail, as it stretches north through some of the most untapped natural beauty. The completion of this route at the Canadian border sets up an unusual 93 mile roadwalk connection to the third and final leg of the Wôbanaki Lakann Trail, Vermont’s 272 mile Long Trail.

The Long Trail is the grandaddy of all long distance hiking. Conceived in 1909 by James P. Taylor and by the Green Mountain Club in 1910. The Green Mountain Club was instrumental in establishing a footpath that runs the spine of Vermont’s Green Mountains from the Canadian down to the Massachusetts, creating the first established long distance hiking trail in the country. Once I have completed the 93 mile roadwalk from the northern terminus of the Cohos Trail to the northern terminus of the Long Trail, the journey will continue south as I make my way through Jay State Forest and the northern Green Mountains. Nearly 150 miles later the Long Trail intersects with the Appalachian Trail where I will continue back to Glencliff Trailhead, the start and end of this journey.

I moved to Lincoln NH in the fall of 2021. At a young age, I fell in love with the White Mountains and soon found myself driving up here at 16 with a desire to explore where I now call home. Chris ‘Rafiki’ Roma was one of the first friends. When I learned Chris was a ‘Triple Crown’ hiker, someone who completes the AT, PCT, and CDT, I was a bit uneasy to get out in the woods with him. ‘Would I be able to hang at his pace up and down these rugged trail networks?’ I invited Chris to a remote alpine pond, utilizing a series of trails and old logging roads. We enjoyed each other's company and kept a similar pace for the twenty mile trek. Many miles and adventures followed until ultimately Chris’s passing in January 2024 while attempting a solo single-day Pemi Loop, a 30 mile adventure for many during the summer but rarely sees single-day attempts during the winter.

In the grief and months following this incident, I struggled to make peace with the situation. Someone as experienced as Chris was not immune to mistakes in the mountains we call home. ‘I surely would’ve made better decisions, right?’ I asked many times. We are all capable of making wrong decisions when we venture into these potentially harsh alpine environments. In May of 2025, I started a new role at Burgeon Outdoor in Lincoln. I was excited about the growth potential here at the company and community that has given me so much. Burgeon’s mission to create sustainable high quality alpine apparel suited for the world’s most extreme conditions, while benefiting the communities we work and live in was in line with where I wanted to be. They have given me a space to heal and help inspire future generations to tackle the same mission. I truly love where I work for too many reasons to list. Being a part of Burgeon’s community impact in has been nothing short of an honor. Growing our relationships with local nonprofits like the Appalachian Mountain Club, New England Disabled Sports, and Hiking Buddies 501c3 has been a privilege to see firsthand the impact these community cornerstones leave in the White Mountains. Burgeon has also supported my own efforts with major donations to The Lincoln 100 and the 2025 Snowsafe Summit, a White Mountain safety event hosted by Hiking Buddies at Barndoor Hostel. Burgeon has left a positive impact on mine and countless others lives, and I am proud to help that legacy.

The gear I will carry with me on trail has been carefully selected over much trial and error. Every ounce counts towards a goal of keeping the weight on my shoulders as low as possible while remaining safe in New England. Thank you for all these companies being open to letting me test their gear and actually utilizing feedback provided.

The primary piece of gear during any adventure is your backpack. What is more important than the piece of gear that allows you to carry everything else! I will carry a Custom Dandee 40L frameless pack with me to stow all my gear. This is my second pack from Dan, who makes every pack he sells by hand at his home in Massachusetts. The ability to have the custom layout I desire while out on trail keeps everything I want easily accessible on the move. My favorite feature on this pack is a trash pocket on the bottom of the pack I can easily shove wrappers and trash into while on the move.

The first piece of gear to go into this pack will be my Six Moon Designs Deschutes Plus Tarp. The Six Moon Designs Deschutes Plus Tarp is lightweight, packs down small, and gives me the coverage I need without weighing me down. It’s quick to set up, has great ventilation, and provides just enough protection for the unpredictable conditions I’ll face in New England.

Primary List of Gear

• Six Moon Designs Deschutes Plus Tarp

• Custom Dandee 40L frameless pack

• Nemo Equipment Pulse Ultralight Quilt

• Gossamer Gear ⅛ inch Thinlight foam pad 

• Six Moon Designs Polycro Footprint