Briana DeSanctis, 40, etched her name in the annals of hiking history as she concluded her epic 6,800-mile trek at Limantour Beach in Marin County on a radiant Saturday morning, February 10, 2024. With resolute determination, she became the pioneering solo female hiker to conquer the American Discovery Trail, marking a momentous milestone in the realm of outdoor exploration.
Cloaked in a radiant purple sequined dress, DeSanctis joyously reached the shores of the Pacific Ocean, surrounded by the embrace of loved ones, amid the sun’s warming rays. Emotions surged within her as she waded into the cool waters, reflecting on the profound significance of her accomplishment.
“I shed tears walking down that beach,” DeSanctis confessed. “It hasn’t fully sunk in yet. It’s surreal to realize that it’s all come to an end.”
Driven by a dual passion to inspire young women to pursue their aspirations and fueled by her dream of tackling the most extensive through-hike across the United States, DeSanctis embarked on her odyssey from Delaware on January 1, 2022. Originally hailing from Maine, she had diligently saved funds while tending bar in her hometown, eagerly anticipating the moment her journey would commence.
Yet, DeSanctis’ expedition was anything but a straightforward trajectory; it was a meandering saga rather than a mere race against time. While her longest day spanned 34 miles, there were also countless zero-mile days interspersed throughout her adventure.
DeSanctis diverged from the trail on multiple occasions, attending to familial obligations or reconnecting with friends. Along her route, she engaged in public speaking engagements at schools and contributed regular columns to her local newspaper, chronicling the tapestry of her adventures. Upon traversing the breadth of the nation to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, she embarked on a westward journey from Cincinnati along an alternate path.
The American Discovery Trail, akin to its more renowned counterparts, the Appalachian and Pacific Crest trails, meanders through the heartland of America, traversing roads, wilderness expanses, and communities, spanning deserts, plains, and mountains.
According to John Fazel, co-founder of the American Discovery Trail Society, the trail, conceived in 1992, was designed to foster connections among people rather than merely guide them through the most remote corners of the country.
“For Briana DeSanctis, like many who undertake such monumental distances, it is the bonds forged with the individuals she encountered along her journey that resonate most profoundly. The kindness of strangers who provided shelter for the night, extended friendship, or shared companionship left an indelible imprint on her soul,” DeSanctis asserted. “These life-affirming encounters serve as a testament to the transformative power of human connection, an ethos I endeavor to instill in others.”
“Don’t allow fear to dictate your path,” DeSanctis imparted. “Refuse to accept limitations imposed by others upon your dreams. Embrace the boundless possibilities that await.”
While reveling in the jubilation of her triumph, DeSanctis remains cognizant of the inevitable post-trail melancholy, recognizing that her journey is far from reaching its conclusion. Her immediate plans involve indulging in food, libations, and celebration. However, she has spent months preparing for the emotional transition and envisages a return journey across the nation to Maine, where she intends to impart wisdom through speaking engagements and potentially embark on a literary endeavor.
Although the trail may have concluded, DeSanctis’ expedition endures, embodying the spirit of perpetual exploration.
“As I stand here on this beach, I refuse to confine myself within the confines of four walls and a ceiling,” DeSanctis declared. “The notion of ‘going back’ holds no appeal for me. My journey continues, unabated by the constraints of convention.”