Unhinged Hiker

10/16/2026

Long form blog about hitting the halfway point of Project Perseverance! Thank you Atom Packs for walking this walk with me. 🫶🏼

https://atompacks.co.uk/blogs/tales-from-the-trail/5-000-miles?fbclid=PAdGRleAU_PglleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mAmZkaWQWUQZKgGCAxNgDkt3N8hEHVMEksmSJM3NydGMGYXBwX2lkDzEyNDAyNDU3NDI4NzQxNAABp5WU4IG9uz5i6pfQVGugxSrEusFiTumHL4D6c8pk5lzJiMy47qCS9BE69ZTf_aem_UROt9QyfDvCmowDDdp4ojg

Recent words by Jocelyn (Unhinged Hiker) Five thousand miles, just over 8,000 kilometers, is a difficult distance to comprehend. I understand a mile. I understand twenty miles, and after the last seven months, I have a pretty intimate understanding of what thirty miles feels like. I know the particu...

10/07/2026

Project Perseverance • Day 139
3,203 / 10,000 miles

🌹 Rose: Thankfully the Mojave was not as hot as I’ve felt it before. It made it easy to decide not to do any crazy night hiking messing up our natural schedule!

🌱 Bud: I get to see a section of the PCT I’ve only seen night hiking. It’ll be awesome to see it in the day.

⛈️ Thorn: Navigating around the Poodle Dog Bush and the disappointing resupply in the hiker town market.

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If you’re new here, welcome!

I’m Jocelyn, better known as Unhinged Hiker. I’m hiking 10,000 miles across America to raise awareness for Complex PTSD (CPTSD) and advocate for its recognition.

Project Perseverance is about more than the miles. It’s about showing that healing is possible, starting conversations that matter, and helping create a future where survivors are seen, understood, and supported.

🧠 Project Perseverance proudly partners with The THE HEALING AND CPTSD FOUNDATION | TRAUMA NONPROFIT .

Please take a minute to sign the petition to help advance recognition and support for Complex PTSD.

🔗 Support the mission: Sign the petition • Donate • Learn more (link in bio)

See you out there,
Unhinged Hiker 🤍
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10/06/2026

Project Perseverance • Day 137-138
3,174 / 10,000 miles

🌹 Rose: Leaving the oasis with a clean backpack and a new hiking buddy was a good feeling. I am excited to smash some miles with another CYTC hiker!

🌱 Bud: Hoping for a chafe free future!

⛈️ Thorn: The oasis got overwhelming right before we hiked out. There was an alleged “noro” bubble who rolled in and tension was high because of it!

—

If you’re new here, welcome!

I’m Jocelyn, better known as Unhinged Hiker. I’m hiking 10,000 miles across America to raise awareness for Complex PTSD (CPTSD) and advocate for its recognition.

Project Perseverance is about more than the miles. It’s about showing that healing is possible, starting conversations that matter, and helping create a future where survivors are seen, understood, and supported.

🧠 Project Perseverance proudly partners with The THE HEALING AND CPTSD FOUNDATION | TRAUMA NONPROFIT .

Please take a minute to sign the petition to help advance recognition and support for Complex PTSD.

🔗 Support the mission: Sign the petition • Donate • Learn more (link in bio)

See you out there,
Unhinged Hiker 🤍
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10/05/2026

5,000 MILES. 🎉

I hit this milestone back in early August, but somewhere between walking the miles and continuing to live this project every day, I never stopped long enough to celebrate it.

So I’m stopping now.

Because 5,000 miles deserves a moment.

That’s over 8,000 kilometers. Roughly 190 marathons.

I left Key West with what felt like an impossible goal: walk 10,000 miles for Complex PTSD.

And somehow, I made it halfway.

5,000 miles of mountains, deserts, forests, highways, heat, cold, trail magic, gas stations, wrong turns, changed plans, incredible people, breakdowns, belly laughs, and waking up to do it all over again.

There were days I didn’t want to walk another marathon.

Not because I couldn’t.

Because I knew I could.

And I knew that after I did, there would be another day waiting for me.

When I began, I thought walking 10,000 miles would be a story about endurance.

Halfway through, I think it’s becoming a story about adaptation.

Perseverance isn’t just how much you can endure. It’s changing, adjusting, accepting help, starting over, finding joy where you can, and learning how to keep moving forward without losing yourself in the process.

Five thousand miles has cost me something.

But look at what it has given me.

Places I once only saw on maps. Strangers who became part of my story. A body that has carried me farther than I knew it could. And versions of myself I never would have met if I stayed home.

Every mile has carried the same message:

Complex PTSD deserves recognition.
Survivors deserve to be seen.

And I couldn’t have made it here alone.

To the sponsors who believed in Project Perseverance and the people who have followed, shared, donated, offered rides, opened their homes, left trail magic, or reminded me why I started: thank you.

Atom Packs Zpacks S A M B O B Sawyer Products Glacial Gear THE HEALING AND CPTSD FOUNDATION | TRAUMA NONPROFIT Hiking Skirts, Dresses & Kilts SOLE | Sustainable Footwear Bowl & Kettle

This project may be walked on my two feet, but I have never carried it entirely alone.

Today, I’m not thinking about how far I still have to go.

I’m celebrating how far I’ve already come.

5,000 miles down.

I’M HALFWAY THERE. ❤️
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10/04/2026

Project Perseverance • Day 136
3,137 / 10,000 miles

🌹 Rose: I made it to the restaurant just in time to smash a giant meal. I earned it!

🌱 Bud: I am going to wash my backpack tomorrow and I cannot wait.

⛈️ Thorn: My back chafe was bleeding when I got to Serenity Oasis. It was too late to shower so I setup and cleaned the chafe and put hand sanitizer on it to disinfect. It burned like hell!

—

If you’re new here, welcome!

I’m Jocelyn, better known as Unhinged Hiker. I’m hiking 10,000 miles across America to raise awareness for Complex PTSD (CPTSD) and advocate for its recognition.

Project Perseverance is about more than the miles. It’s about showing that healing is possible, starting conversations that matter, and helping create a future where survivors are seen, understood, and supported.

🧠 Project Perseverance proudly partners with The THE HEALING AND CPTSD FOUNDATION | TRAUMA NONPROFIT .

Please take a minute to sign the petition to help advance recognition and support for Complex PTSD.

🔗 Support the mission: Sign the petition • Donate • Learn more (link in bio)

See you out there,
Unhinged Hiker 🤍
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10/02/2026

Project Perseverance • Day 134-135
3,100 / 10,000 miles

🌹 Rose: Trail Magic at the road was a surprise!

🌱 Bud: Busting 36 miles to Agua Dolce tomorrow 😎

⛈️ Thorn: The fire station is closed for hikers which means hikers between 2022-2025 ruined it for everyone else in the future! It only takes one a-hole to ruin it. Don’t be that guy!

—

If you’re new here, welcome!

I’m Jocelyn, better known as Unhinged Hiker. I’m hiking 10,000 miles across America to raise awareness for Complex PTSD (CPTSD) and advocate for its recognition.

Project Perseverance is about more than the miles. It’s about showing that healing is possible, starting conversations that matter, and helping create a future where survivors are seen, understood, and supported.

🧠 Project Perseverance proudly partners with The THE HEALING AND CPTSD FOUNDATION | TRAUMA NONPROFIT .

Please take a minute to sign the petition to help advance recognition and support for Complex PTSD.

🔗 Support the mission: Sign the petition • Donate • Learn more (link in bio)

See you out there,
Unhinged Hiker 🤍
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10/01/2026

Project Perseverance • Day 133
3,058/ 10,000 miles

🌹 Rose: Hiking out of cajon was beautiful and I basically had the climb to myself!

🌱 Bud: Tomorrow I climb Baden Powell!!

⛈️ Thorn: the water cache actually turned out to be the source of NORO in the desert and was 100% replaced later that day. However, I never had any issues or got sick from it 💅

—

If you’re new here, welcome!

I’m Jocelyn, better known as Unhinged Hiker. I’m hiking 10,000 miles across America to raise awareness for Complex PTSD (CPTSD) and advocate for its recognition.

Project Perseverance is about more than the miles. It’s about showing that healing is possible, starting conversations that matter, and helping create a future where survivors are seen, understood, and supported.

🧠 Project Perseverance proudly partners with The THE HEALING AND CPTSD FOUNDATION | TRAUMA NONPROFIT .

Please take a minute to sign the petition to help advance recognition and support for Complex PTSD.

🔗 Support the mission: Sign the petition • Donate • Learn more (link in bio)

See you out there,
Unhinged Hiker 🤍
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09/27/2026

Project Perseverance • Day 131-132
3,037 / 10,000 miles

🌹 Rose: Getting to take a soak in the hot springs was something I was looking forward to from day 1 of the PCT. The cold river flows right next to it so you can warm up and cool off. Magic!

🌱 Bud: The reward here was getting to McDonald. It’s a famous part of the PCT. Often prompting the “McDonald Challenge”. Only eating Mcdonalds for the 27 miles to Wrightwood. Did it once… never again.

⛈️ Thorn: Hot and menstruating are not a fun combo in the desert.

—

If you’re new here, welcome!

I’m Jocelyn, better known as Unhinged Hiker. I’m hiking 10,000 miles across America to raise awareness for Complex PTSD (CPTSD) and advocate for its recognition.

Project Perseverance is about more than the miles. It’s about showing that healing is possible, starting conversations that matter, and helping create a future where survivors are seen, understood, and supported.

🧠 Project Perseverance proudly partners with The THE HEALING AND CPTSD FOUNDATION | TRAUMA NONPROFIT .

Please take a minute to sign the petition to help advance recognition and support for Complex PTSD.

🔗 Support the mission: Sign the petition • Donate • Learn more (link in bio)

See you out there,
Unhinged Hiker 🤍
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09/24/2026

10,000 miles is a ridiculous distance to walk. But I wanted people to pay attention.

This year, every mile has had a purpose beyond just hiking. I’m walking to get people talking about Complex PTSD, to help more people understand complex trauma, and to push for CPTSD recognition.

September is CPTSD Awareness Month, and I’m really excited to share this alongside The THE HEALING AND CPTSD FOUNDATION | TRAUMA NONPROFIT .

If this is the first time you’re hearing about CPTSD, that’s kind of the point. Learn about it. Talk about it. Share this with someone who might need it.

And most importantly, sign the petition for CPTSD recognition through the link in my bio.

10,000 miles. One very tired hiker. A whole lot of purpose behind every step.
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09/21/2026

Project Perseverance • Day 129-130
2,978 / 10,000 miles

🌹 Rose: Hanging out with Erica “Ted Talk” was the highlight of these few days. They really boosted my spirits and surprised me with a 3k celebration moment. Even though I messed up the miles and it was the day after it was so nice to share that moment with someone!

🌱 Bud: Mile 300 of the PCT tomorrow!

⛈️ Thorn: honestly no thorns today.

—

If you’re new here, welcome!

I’m Jocelyn, better known as Unhinged Hiker. I’m hiking 10,000 miles across America to raise awareness for Complex PTSD (CPTSD) and advocate for its recognition.

Project Perseverance is about more than the miles. It’s about showing that healing is possible, starting conversations that matter, and helping create a future where survivors are seen, understood, and supported.

🧠 Project Perseverance proudly partners with The THE HEALING AND CPTSD FOUNDATION | TRAUMA NONPROFIT .

Please take a minute to sign the petition to help advance recognition and support for Complex PTSD.

🔗 Support the mission: Sign the petition • Donate • Learn more (link in bio)

See you out there,
Unhinged Hiker 🤍
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