About Me

I'm Jessica Strand, the storyteller and hiker behind My Stranded Adventures. My journey is one of healing—emotionally, physically, and intellectually—through the transformative power of nature, self-discovery, and learning to see the world beyond the lens I was raised with.

 

At the beginning of 2022, I lost my dad, and my world shifted forever. To cope, I went on autopilot—throwing myself into work, paying my rent and half of my mom’s, doing anything to avoid facing the tidal wave of emotions. For nearly two years, I pushed everything aside, too busy surviving to acknowledge the pain. But by the end of 2023, I knew I couldn’t keep running.

 

That’s when I committed to the hard work of healing—not just from losing my dad, but from a lifetime of unresolved trauma. I started therapy, began rebuilding my body after years of pain and neglect, and set my sights on a deeply personal goal: climbing Mount Rainier. My dad summited Rainier in 1978, and training for my own climb is my way of honoring him while reclaiming my own story.

 

But my healing journey hasn’t been just personal—it’s also been about unlearning.

 

I was raised in a deeply conservative household, shaped by a religious upbringing and parents who worked in conservative media. For much of my life, I saw the world through that framework. It wasn’t until I experienced events that shattered my understanding—moments of injustice, personal trauma, and deep loss—that I began questioning everything I had been taught. Seeking truth beyond indoctrination became as much a part of my healing as anything else.

 

I went to school for journalism and political science, determined to understand not just what I had believed, but why. I learned how fear is used to control narratives, how systems shape our lives in ways we don’t always see, and how personal healing is deeply connected to the structures we live within. The more I explored, the more I realized that my own transformation—emotionally, intellectually, and politically—was part of something much bigger.

 

Hiking has become my sanctuary, but so has learning. With every step on the trail and every step in my education, I’ve uncovered strength I didn’t know I had, resilience I never thought possible, and clarity in seeing the world through a wider lens.

 

Through storytelling, hiking, and reflection, My Stranded Adventures is where I share these lessons with you. Here, you’ll find the stories behind the trails—the moments that broke me, the ones that healed me, and the ones that made me see the world differently. I believe nature has a way of teaching us what we’re ready to learn, and I invite you to join me as I continue to challenge myself—physically, emotionally, and intellectually.

 

Whether you’re here for hiking tips, Mount Rainier training, reflections on trauma and healing, or a deeper look at the forces shaping our lives, I’m so glad you’re here. Together, we can navigate this journey—one step, one story, one conversation at a time.