From Corporate Consultant to Record-Breaking Hiker
Jessica Guo embarked on an extraordinary journey that would see her become the first woman to complete a continuous hike of both the Continental Divide Trail and Great Divide Trail within a single calendar year. The former consultant left behind her corporate career to undertake this monumental challenge, covering an astonishing 3,541 miles (5,698km) from the Mexico-US border to the remote wilderness of British Columbia.
The Epic Five-Month Journey
Beginning her adventure in April near Lordsburg, New Mexico, Guo faced immediate doubts upon seeing the flat, shadeless landscape from her bus window. Despite having only managed two-and-a-half hours of sleep, she stepped out to begin what would become a 152-day expedition spanning some of North America's most challenging terrain.
Her route took her through New Mexico's Chihuahuan Desert, Colorado's high-elevation passes, Wyoming's Yellowstone National Park, Montana's alpine scenery, and finally into Canada's Banff backcountry. Maintaining an impressive pace of approximately 30 miles (48km) per day, Guo documented her journey through daily videos that eventually attracted nearly 50,000 followers on Instagram.
What makes her achievement particularly remarkable is that she considers herself "a normal person" rather than an endurance athlete. Only three men have completed this linked trail challenge since 2007, making Guo's accomplishment even more significant for women in adventure sports.
Overcoming Challenges on the Trail
The physical demands of Guo's hike were staggering. She gained 179,450 meters (588,747 feet) in elevation – equivalent to climbing Mount Everest twenty times. Along the way, she battled swarms of mosquitoes, thick mud, snow, rocky ridgelines, and dense forests while spotting bears, caribou, and 193 species of birds.
Guo turned 30 during her journey and celebrated her birthday on the trail. She edited her videos during easier sections and would text the files to her brother when she had cell service so he could upload them on her behalf.
Finding Healing Through Hiking
Guo's relationship with long-distance hiking began years earlier when she learned about the Pacific Crest Trail during a trip to Panama after high school. However, it took her a decade to build up the confidence to attempt her first major trail. "I think a lot of women tend to underestimate what they can do," she reflected. "We're not really conditioned to think that way as women."
After completing the Pacific Crest Trail in 2023, Guo experienced severe post-trail depression upon returning to her consulting job. Her doctor actually recommended she return to the trails to rediscover herself. She took medical leave and hiked the Colorado Trail, which helped her heal and eventually conceive the ambitious plan to link the Continental Divide and Great Divide Trails.
Breaking Barriers and Inspiring Others
Despite increasing female participation in thru-hiking – recent surveys show women now comprise nearly half of all long-distance hikers on some trails – Guo still encountered what she describes as "benevolent sexism" from men underestimating her capabilities. As an Asian woman, she also stood out in a field where diversity remains limited.
"It's hard when you don't see people who look like yourself doing the things you want to be doing," Guo noted, expressing hope for increased diversity in outdoor adventures.
During her solitary journey, Guo witnessed the effects of climate change firsthand, noting dwindling glaciers and environmental changes that concerned her deeply. She also became an advocate for preserving public lands and the roadless rule that protects backcountry recreation areas.
The Emotional Finish
On September 19, after 152 days on the trail, Guo reached Kakwa Lake in British Columbia's Rocky Mountains. Overwhelmed with emotion, she posted a video sharing her final thoughts. "I thought about how I had walked along the ridgeline of North America that is the source of the water nourishing so many millions of people," she recalled.
Her message to others contemplating their own extraordinary challenges: "If there's something out there that calls to you, I hope you listen. Give yourself permission to do the thing."
Having completed her record-breaking journey, Guo has decided to leave her six-figure job permanently to help others discover the transformative power of trail hiking.
