{"id":3728,"date":"2026-03-23T01:24:05","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T06:24:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/empowerdriftless.com\/unicdn\/?p=3728"},"modified":"2026-06-12T11:34:18","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T16:34:18","slug":"hike-toward-belonging","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/empowerdriftless.com\/unicdn\/hike-toward-belonging\/","title":{"rendered":"Hike Toward Belonging"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis: 33.33%;\"><div class=\"g g-3\"><div class=\"g-single a-24\"><a class=\"gofollow\" data-track=\"MjQsMywxLDYw\" href=\"https:\/\/discoverdriftless.com\/unicdn\/fulgura-descenderat-animal-tanto-stagna-discordia\/\/\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/empowerdriftless.com\/unicdn\/wp-content\/banners\/2markets_supad_050626v2.jpg\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis: 66.66%;\">\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 18pt; color: #4614b6;\">I<\/span><\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-size: 14pt;\">n winter, the Driftless slows down. Snow quiets the ridgelines, footsteps soften along frozen ground, and the land reveals itself without distraction. Along the backwaters, ice fishermen stand scattered across the river, bundled against the cold. This is the season when Alexa\u2014director of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/HikeMNDriftless\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Minnesota Driftless Area Hiking Trail<\/a>\u2014often reconnects with the work, not through meetings or maps, but by walking.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-size: 14pt;\">Carrying everything she needs on her back, mile after mile, strength builds in a way that feels honest. Hiking has always offered her something rare: safety, clarity, and belonging. Out here, confidence isn\u2019t performative\u2014it\u2019s earned. The trail becomes a place where self-reliance turns into empowerment, and the world makes sense again.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-4242 size-full alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/empowerdriftless.com\/unicdn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/maps.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/empowerdriftless.com\/unicdn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/maps.jpg 400w, https:\/\/empowerdriftless.com\/unicdn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/maps-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/empowerdriftless.com\/unicdn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/maps-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-size: 14pt;\">That relationship with the land now shapes the Minnesota Driftless Area Hiking Trail\u2014a long-distance system growing steadily through southeastern Minnesota, designed to connect people not just to place, but to themselves and one another.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-size: 14pt;\">For Alexa, the path into trail work didn\u2019t begin with a single decision. The opportunity kept appearing. Four different people shared the same job description, each encouraging her to connect with the trail community. Eventually, the message was clear: this was work worth doing.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-size: 14pt;\">After more than a decade strengthening outdoor accessibility through nonprofit leadership, supporting people who simply want to get outside felt deeply aligned, she tells me. Minnesota is known for its outdoor culture, yet the Driftless lacked a connected long-distance hiking trail\u2014one that could bring people into both the landscape and the small towns that define it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-size: 14pt;\">In October 2024, that alignment became official. Stepping into her role as trail director marked a shift from building programs to building pathways\u2014corridors meant to welcome people into outdoor spaces with intention and care.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-size: 14pt;\">Many people imagine trail-building as physical labor: cutting brush, placing signage, carving routes through wooded hillsides. In reality, much of the work happens far from the trail corridor. Alexa often begins her days at home, coordinating with partners, responding to emails, and following up on conversations that unfold slowly. One landowner took eight months to connect. Alexa doesn\u2019t see that as an obstacle; she calls it part of the process. Building a trail through the Driftless depends on trust and persistence.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-size: 14pt;\">When time allows for hands-on work, walking the corridor becomes a way to learn the land intimately\u2014its topography, boundaries, and possibilities. Winter remains a favorite. \u201cEach cold-season hike feels like falling in love with the Driftless all over again,\u201d she says.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-size: 14pt;\">Nearly half of the Minnesota Driftless Area Hiking Trail runs across private land, making relationships with landowners central to the project\u2019s success. Since 2019, that has meant cold calls, site visits, mapping sessions, and more than 135 conversations. Early warnings suggested resistance would be inevitable. Instead, she tells me most landowners share strong conservation values and deep respect for the land. Even when participation isn\u2019t possible, support for the larger vision often remains.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-4245 size-full\" style=\"font-size: 14pt;\" src=\"https:\/\/empowerdriftless.com\/unicdn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/coffee.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/empowerdriftless.com\/unicdn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/coffee.jpg 400w, https:\/\/empowerdriftless.com\/unicdn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/coffee-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/empowerdriftless.com\/unicdn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/coffee-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-size: 14pt;\">Clear communication has been essential. Misinformation\u2014especially fears around eminent domain\u2014sometimes surfaces, but the approach remains firm: if a landowner doesn\u2019t want the trail on their property, it won\u2019t go there. When routes don\u2019t align, alternatives are found, including road sections. \u201cTrail-building becomes a puzzle to solve creatively,\u201d she says, not a problem to force through.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-size: 14pt;\">With nearly 4,000 miles of hiking experience and certification as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nols.edu\/wilderness-medicine\/courses\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Wilderness First Responder<\/a>, Alexa approaches the outdoors with preparation rather than fear. Safety comes from awareness, experience, and practical tools\u2014knowledge and attention also go a long way. Long stretches of solitude\u2014hundreds of miles\u2014are familiar territory. And despite common assumptions, she says the trail often feels safer than everyday life.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-size: 14pt;\">The trail is also where community forms quickly. On one thru-hike, she met a small group of strangers. Years later, those connections still hold\u2014friendships that have crossed the country, grown alongside families, and rooted far beyond the trail. That experience\u2014community built through shared effort\u2014continues to inform how she envisions the Minnesota Driftless Area Hiking Trail today.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-size: 14pt;\">At its core, Alexa says, the trail is about access and inclusion. Years in outdoor work have made one thing clear: many people want to be outside, but not all spaces feel welcoming. When asked about wheelchair access, Alexa is matter-of-fact: not every section can be accessible due to the Driftless\u2019 varied terrain, but intentional effort is made to include ADA-compliant segments wherever possible. The goal isn\u2019t perfection\u2014it\u2019s meaningful access, creating entry points so more people can feel like they belong outdoors.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-size: 14pt;\">For those who haven\u2019t yet explored southeastern Minnesota, the Driftless often comes as a surprise. Deep river bluffs rise abruptly from valley floors. Prairies stretch wide. Pride and reverence settle in once the region is experienced on foot. The smell of river mud in spring, the whisper of wind across oak ridges, or the simple bustle of a small-town caf\u00e9 can make the land feel alive in unexpected ways.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-4244 size-full alignright\" style=\"font-size: 14pt;\" src=\"https:\/\/empowerdriftless.com\/unicdn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/RenoCenter.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/empowerdriftless.com\/unicdn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/RenoCenter.jpg 400w, https:\/\/empowerdriftless.com\/unicdn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/RenoCenter-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/empowerdriftless.com\/unicdn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/RenoCenter-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>While biking has surged across the area, hiking offers a different relationship with the land. Moving slowly creates space to notice details, build connection, and see why the Driftless inspires loyalty. That belief shapes the trail\u2019s route. Rather than bypassing towns, it intentionally moves through them. Communities like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cityofchatfieldmn.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Chatfield, MN<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/cityofwhalan.weebly.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Whalan, MN<\/a> along the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dnr.state.mn.us\/watertrails\/rootriver\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Root River<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.caledoniamn.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Caledonia, MN<\/a> near <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dnr.state.mn.us\/state_parks\/park.html?id=spk00112#homepage\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Beaver Creek Valley State Park<\/a>, become part of the journey. Hikers won\u2019t just pass through; they\u2019ll walk downtowns, stop for meals, and spend time in the places that give the Driftless its character. Stopping at a local bakery in Chatfield or watching riverboats drift past Whalan\u2019s bluff can be as memorable as the miles themselves.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cHikers, after all, are very good at walking\u2014and very good at eating,\u201d Alexa jokes. Supporting local caf\u00e9s, restaurants, and small businesses becomes part of the experience, strengthening the connection between trail and town.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-size: 14pt;\">By spring, an 8.5-mile section of the Minnesota Driftless Area Hiking Trail is expected to be complete. Other segments, though not yet connected, are already open and mapped. The long-term vision stretches toward a continuous corridor from Chatfield to the Mississippi River within the next decade.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-size: 14pt;\">The invitation is simple: walk slowly, pay attention, and allow connection to form. In the Driftless, empowerment doesn\u2019t arrive all at once. It builds quietly, one step at a time, guided by people like Alexa\u2014whose love for the land and the trail shows how belonging can grow from each careful stride.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">By Stephanie Campell<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mndriftlesshikingtrail.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/empowerdriftless.com\/unicdn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/EMPOWER-VISIT-WEBSITE-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"201\" height=\"54\" \/><\/a><\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In winter, the Driftless slows down. Snow quiets the ridgelines, footsteps soften along frozen ground, and the land reveals itself without distraction. Along the backwaters, ice fishermen stand scattered across the river, bundled against the cold. This is the season when Alexa\u2014director of the Minnesota Driftless Area Hiking Trail\u2014often reconnects<span class=\"more-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/empowerdriftless.com\/unicdn\/hike-toward-belonging\/\">Continue Reading<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":4241,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[],"class_list":["entry","author-empstephadm","post-3728","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-current-issue"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Hike Toward Belonging - Empower Driftless<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/empowerdriftless.com\/unicdn\/hike-toward-belonging\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Hike Toward Belonging - Empower Driftless\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In winter, the Driftless slows down. Snow quiets the ridgelines, footsteps soften along frozen ground, and the land reveals itself without distraction. Along the backwaters, ice fishermen stand scattered across the river, bundled against the cold. 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Snow quiets the ridgelines, footsteps soften along frozen ground, and the land reveals itself without distraction. Along the backwaters, ice fishermen stand scattered across the river, bundled against the cold. 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