I LOVE the trail—but I learned the hard way that it doesn’t take a “crazy adventure” for things to go sideways. MANY years ago, a one day hike ended with a helicopter rescue, and it rewired my definition of preparedness. I walked around in shame wearing the L on my forehead until I realized that the L didn’t stand for loser, it stood for learning.

Trailbuds & Co. is my way of sharing what I’ve learned—what actually helps hikers and trail dogs stay out of trouble, and what helps you get found faster.

Hey, I’m Julie.

I’m the kind of hiker who loves the quiet parts of the trail—the little moments that remind you why you got outside in the first place. I also happen to be the kind of hiker who pushes the limits, my own in particular. Hiking safety must be intentional and being prepared is a good start.

Trailbuds & Co. exists for one reason: to make everyday hikers and trail dogs safer without making hiking feel scary.

Why Trailbuds exists

I didn’t start Trailbuds because I wanted to sell “stuff.” I started it because there’s a gap between:

• what people think keeps them safe, and

• what actually works when plans change.

I’m building Trailbuds around practical education + simple gear that supports two goals:

1. Stay out of trouble when you can

2. Get found faster when you can’t

Some of what you’ll find here

Some of my blog articles are based on my experiences and those of others. Some will be based on statistics and research and some by professionals in their field. I will share where I get the information in each article. You will see some laughable articles (love it), hiker and dog safety, and eventually gear and real life experiences of our readers.

A quick note on my background

Most of my career was spent teaching people how to assess situations, make smart decisions, stay calm, and follow through when plans change. That training mindset is what I bring to the trail—along with a whole lot of miles and plenty of real-life learning.

My mission

To lead a hiking safety movement for everyday hikers and their trailbuds—built on education, preparedness, and the 3 C’s: calm, capable, and confident.

Because hiking should be about adventure, not worry.

I hope Trailbuds & Co can enhance your journey and keep you safe along your way…