Meet Your Trail Guide
Hi, I’m Lindsay. If you’re dreaming about spending more time outside but don’t know where to start, you’re in the right place.
Being joyfully lost isn’t about being unprepared or reckless. It’s about choosing presence over perfection. Stepping outside even when the path isn’t clear, and trusting that the experience itself is worth it.
That mindset didn’t come naturally to me. I learned it the hard way.
I was a cake shop owner chasing perfection. The pressure, the burnout, the constant feeling of never doing enough. Maybe you’ve felt that too. My happiest moments, though, were always outside: hiking with my kids, camping with my family, breathing in air that wasn’t laced with sugar.
Eventually, I traded piping bags for backpacks and leaned into the outdoors one muddy, joyful step at a time.
I’ve made the beginner mistakes, figured out what actually matters, and learned just how fun it can be to explore nature… even when things don’t go as planned.
I’ve lived it:
An Appalachian Trail thru-hike attempt with a 7 and 10 year old
Months exploring the western U.S. dispersed camping in a 26-foot travel trailer (with 4 humans, 2 cats, and a 150-pound dog!)
A summer as a Yellowstone campground host
A summer as a Yellowstone ranger
Time as an REI Green Vest helping beginners find their footing
This space is built for beginners, families, and anyone who chooses fun over perfection.
Think of me as your trail buddy. The one who’s already made the mistakes and is happy to help you avoid a few of them.
If you’d like to read the full story of how I went from buttercream burn out to backcountry bliss click here.
This is me very early in our hiking journey. Why am I wearing that shirt?? Because it’s what I had.
Guiding Beginners to Confident, Joyful Hiking
That’s exactly who Joyfully Lost is for.
It’s a soft place to land for people who love nature but aren’t trying to break any records. If you’re looking to build confidence while enjoying the journey, you’re in the right place.
Whether you’re planning your first hike, unsure what to pack, curious about camping with kids, or simply craving more time outside, you don’t have to figure it all out alone.
Do you want to learn, explore, and make memories, even if you overpack, forget something obvious, or end up taking a nap on a boulder instead of reaching the summit?
What You’ll Find Here
Simple, Practical, Beginner Tips - How to layer, what to pack, and how to feel prepared without overthinking everything.
Gear Guides - Clear beginner friendly guidance to help you find what fits your adventure.
Trail Stories - The funny, chaotic, heart-warming moments that happen when you trade routine for dirt paths.
Permission to be Imperfect - Because you don’t need to conquer the outdoors to enjoy it.
Around here, we learn together, share stories, and find joy in getting a little lost.
Whether you’re running toward something new or away from something heavy (I sure was), you’re in good company.
Let’s get Joyfully Lost together.
