Liz Thomas facts for kids

Elizabeth Thomas (born 1987) is a famous long-distance hiker. She is known for completing some of the longest trails in the world. She once held the record for the fastest solo hike of the Appalachian Trail by a woman. Elizabeth has achieved the "Triple Crown" of hiking. This means she has hiked the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail. She also helped create new trails, like the Chinook Trail in Washington. Elizabeth is a leader in the hiking community. She works with the American Long Distance Hiking Association-West. She also writes about outdoor adventures for Wirecutter and is the editor of Treeline Review. By 2018, she had finished 20 long wilderness hikes.

Early Life and Love for Nature

Elizabeth Thomas was born in Sacramento, California. She grew up in a typical suburban area. As a child, she felt a strong connection to nature. However, she was not very active at first. A trip to a short nature trail in first grade changed everything. She loved it so much that she kept asking her parents to take her back.

Elizabeth's mother grew up in Japan. In her mother's time, women were not often encouraged to be physically active. Elizabeth's love for hiking and adventure became a way for her to express herself. One of her first big hikes was in Los Angeles. She walked 180 miles, connecting 300 staircases across the city.

Education and Environmental Studies

Elizabeth went to Claremont McKenna College. There, she joined outdoor clubs and met professors who also loved hiking. After college, she earned a Master's degree in Environmental Science. She studied at the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies.

During her studies, Elizabeth received a special award. It was the Doris Duke Conservation Fellowship. This award supported her research on long-distance hiking trails. She also studied how these trails connect with nearby towns.

Amazing Hiking Adventures

Elizabeth Thomas had never been backpacking before 2007. Just one year later, she completed her first long hike. She hiked the Tahoe Rim Trail by herself in six days. She had done many day hikes and short trips before. But this was her first time camping overnight in the wilderness.

Her first major long-distance hike was the Appalachian Trail. This trail is about 2,181 miles long. In 2010, she completed the even longer Continental Divide Trail. This trail stretches for about 3,100 miles.

Working for Trails

Since 2010, Elizabeth has worked with the American Hiking Society. She attended an event called Hike the Hill in Washington D.C.. This event brings together hiking groups, government agencies, and politicians. They work together to improve hiking trails across America.

In 2011, Elizabeth hiked the 2,181-mile Appalachian Trail again. She walked from Georgia to Maine. She finished in 80 days and 13 hours. This set a new record for the fastest female hike of the Appalachian Trail. Later, in 2015, Heather “Anish” Anderson broke this record. In 2018, Karel Sabbe set a new overall record.

Pioneering New Routes

In 2014, Elizabeth Thomas helped create a new trail. She worked with Whitney La Ruffa and Brian Boshart. They pioneered the Chinook Trail in Washington. This trail is about 290 miles long. In 2015, Elizabeth also trekked the challenging Sierra High Route.

Elizabeth is also an author. In 2017, she published her book, Long Trails: Mastering the Art of the Thru-hike. In August 2019, she was featured in a story by Condé Nast Traveller. The story highlighted 14 travelers who are changing how we explore the world.

Leading Urban Hikes

Elizabeth Thomas leads groups on special urban hikes. These hikes explore 11 different American cities. One of her tours is an eight-day "Urban ... Thru" in Denver, Colorado. On this trip, she guides people through 88 miles of the city. They visit many different places and landmarks.

She also teaches an online course called "Thru-Hiking 101." This course is for Backpacker Magazine. Elizabeth also gives talks at colleges, outdoor clubs, and women's groups. She shares her knowledge about hiking and outdoor adventures.

Awards and Recognition

• Doris Duke Conservation Fellowship

Podcasts Featuring Elizabeth Thomas

Elizabeth Thomas has been a guest on several podcasts. She shares her hiking stories and advice.