From Addiction Recovery to a 100-Mile Solo Hike: How Jenni Found Confidence on the Trail

Send us Fan MailWhat happens when the safety net you've relied on your entire life suddenly disappears?In this inspiring episode of Roam Alone, Jenni shares her remarkable journey from addiction recovery, financial hardship, and self-doubt to becoming a confident solo backpacker and hiker.Although she has been sober for more than 20 years, Jenni admits that she spent much of her adult life depending on her mother for support, especially financially. After her mother's death, Jenni inherited money but soon found herself facing bankruptcy and a difficult reality: she had never learned how to fully trust herself.Then she discovered hiking.What began with a single night sleeping in a tent in a friend's backyard slowly evolved into solo camping trips, overnight backpacking adventures, and eventually multi-day wilderness treks. Along the way, Jenni faced fear, made mistakes, learned hard lessons, and developed a level of confidence she never imagined possible.Most recently, she completed a solo 100-mile hike across Georgia over two weeks—a challenge that would have seemed impossible just a few years ago.In this episode, we discuss:• Jenni's journey through addiction and long-term recovery • Losing her mother and navigating life without a safety net • Bankruptcy and rebuilding her life • Why she chose solo hiking instead of group adventures • Her first overnight camping experiences • Mistakes she made as a beginner backpacker • How solo travel and hiking build confidence • Lessons learned from spending days alone on the trail • Completing a 100-mile solo trek in Georgia • The connection between outdoor adventure and personal growth • Advice for women interested in solo hiking and backpackingThis episode is a powerful reminder that confidence isn't something you're born with—it's something you build, one courageous step at a time.Roam Alone is hosted by Theresa Stephens.Instagram: @theresaannstephensFacebook: /theresastephensFacebook: /RoamAlone