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Lauren's Page

Lauren 'Neon' Reed spent much of her youth exploring around her home in Pennsylvania, often with one or more of her three siblings. As she aged, she continued expanding her interests in the outdoors. While attending college, she delved deeper into outdoor pursuits and led climbing, canoeing, and hiking trips with the University's Outing Club while working toward her degrees.

After graduation, Lauren hiked the length of the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. During her hike, she became officially “hooked” on the wilderness experience. Since then, she continues to explore outdoors, including:

Thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail
Thru-hiking the Colorado Trail
Thru-hiking the Continental Divide Trail
Bikepacking the Western Wildlands Route

After Lauren's trek along the PCT, she decided to search out a job where she could help others discover the connection and empowerment outdoor experiences could bring to their lives. Through a few friends, she discovered the field of wilderness therapy, and has worked for a couple of programs in Utah since. She learned so much, and especially enjoys seeing the clients find independence and help others through wilderness activities.

Working in an environment as intense as wilderness therapy became exhausting over the years, and still Lauren shifted her gaze to something potentially more challenging: connecting with another thru-hiker to traverse the entirety of the Americas via non-motorized means. In 2015, they began their endeavor on Tierra Del Fuego, outside of Ushuaia, Argentina. The duo traveled via foot, whitewater raft, sea kayak, bicycle, and canoe to the Arctic hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk, NWT, Canada, arriving in 2022. A huge swath of land and so many cultures were traversed, with many friends made along the way. This journey was a huge, and sometimes steep, learning curve for Lauren, and she's currently processing and sifting through the lessons and memories.

Based in the canyon-ous state of Utah, Lauren continues to prioritize travel and adventure (often with friends and/or their dogs) when she's not busy getting creative in the kitchen or getting creative in the ceramics studio.

Instagram: @mystuffliveshere

TOAKS Gears Used/in-Use:

CUP-450-L-C (TOAKS LIGHT Titanium 450ml Cup with Lid (ultralight version)
SLV-11 (TOAKS Titanium Long Handle Spoon with Polished Bowl)
FLASK-150 (TOAKS Titanium Wine Flask)