Title: Contributor
Email: jrs082507@gmail.com
Location: Manchester, New Hampshire
Pronouns: She/Her
Social Media:
Instagram: @sockedinhikes
YouTube: @sockedinhikes
Website: thenewenglandhiker.com
Expertise: Camping, Hiking, Trail Running, Backpacking
Years in This Expertise: 9+
Number of Products & Hours Tested: 50+ Products, 10,000+ Hours Tested (gear that I’ve used unpaid or sponsored on hikes included in this total)
I am an avid outdoors enthusiast who grew up in south-central New Hampshire. I have over 6,000 miles of experience hiking exclusively in New England, have completed every trail in the Appalachian Mountain Club’s White Mountain Guidebook over 1 ½ times, and have thousands of hours hiking solo under my belt. I have maintained a trail in the White Mountain National Forest as a trail adopter since 2021 and completed level one trail maintenance training. In 2019, I started freelance writing in the outdoor industry and have worked with brands as a blogger, gear tester, social media manager, and writer. I run an outdoor website dedicated to hiking in New England.
Professionally, I have worked in public education since 2011 as a Paraprofessional, Substitute Teacher, and Case Manager/Special Educator. In 2020, I left my full-time job to pursue a Masters in Fine Arts in Creative Writing. One week before starting graduate school, I was diagnosed with stage 2 Breast Cancer. I underwent nineteen months of cancer treatment and hiked every week of treatment, over 700 miles of hiking. Hiking helped me process some of what I was going through and gave me a sense of control.
Career Highlights
Education: Masters of Education, Special Education Certification, University of New Hampshire, 2013; Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, University of New Hampshire, 2025
Years of Writing: 6+
Previous Publications: The Trek, Backpacking Routes, Hyperlite Mountain Gear, CS Instant Coffee, App Gear Co, CNOC Outdoors, FarOut Guides
