On the trail, I go by the trail name Solar. The story of getting that trail name is quite simple. I was hiking along the Colorado Trail in 2021 with two panels of the silver and yellow Thermarest Zlite strapped to the top of my pack. A group of thru hikers came up behind me so I stepped aside to let them by. Upon passing, one of the hikers looked back and said “your trail name is solar panel”. After a few moments of contemplation, I awkwardly replied, “but it’s not a solar panel”. “It looks like one” he said. I ended up seeing that group at camp later that evening and the name stuck, although I shortened it to Solar.
For the last ten years, I have been obsessed with backpacking, travel, and learning about ultralight gear. I have thru hiked the Colorado Trail twice, hiked 900 miles of the Te Areroa in New Zealand and 250 miles of the Appalachian Trail, as well as done countless hikes, overnights, and multidays. I motorbiked 2000 miles across Vietnam. I have lived in France and visited 17 countries. My new passion is to share everything I’ve learned from my mistakes, failures, as well as my successes.