By Stewart Noland, OS Archive Chair
The fourth Sassafras Hiking Award recipient is Katherine (Katie) Ellsworth of Bentonville. Katie moved from Alaska to Bentonville in October 2022, and hiked all four Sassafras Hiking Award trails since then – an impressive feat.
Katie began hiking as a teenager, and has maintained an interest in hiking since then. She has hiked the Pacific Crest Trail, the Appalachian Trail, and a portion of the Continental Divide Trail. Katy likes to hike with new hikers, and discuss with them what gear and pace works for them. She is open to different ways of doing things on the trail, sharing what she knows, and learning from others. Her experiences on the trail have led her to believe if you need something, the trail will provide.
Katie’s most scary trail experiences have involved river crossings, having once lost all of her gear on an Eagle River Trail river crossing in Alaska. Katie’s trail advice is to know your boundaries, but do not give up too soon.
Katie’s best trail is the Pacific Crest Trail, with its incredible scenery. Her favorite Sassafras Hiking Award trail is the Ozark Trail, where she saw numerous wildlife and enjoyed the solitude of the trail. Her next major adventure is to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.
Congratulations Katie. We hope to see you on the trail.