Today we’d like to introduce you to Danny Strayer.
Hi Danny, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I studied civil engineering at university but after five years working in the field, I found it wasn’t my passion. Though I didn’t know what my passion was, I knew I wouldn’t find it by sitting in a cubicle. And so I headed north and worked hospitality jobs on Mackinac Island, Michigan, which then led me to Park City, Utah. The seasonal lifestyle was exciting and felt adventurous but I still wasn’t sure what I wanted. This desire for introspection gave me an idea. It was more of a whim but I decided to hike the Appalachian Trail without having ever really backpacked. I knew five months in the wilderness would be just the hike I needed to force me to be alone with my thoughts. This formative trek was the adventure of a lifetime and I strengthened my personal resolve and problem-solving skills along the way. I learned that whatever life throws at me, I can overcome it. The trail taught me to take each problem as it comes and just keep walking. Since completing the Appalachian Trail, my yearning for adventure continued. I headed off to live in New Zealand for a year before hiking across the entire country. Always on the lookout for more hikes, I most recently found myself tackling Minnesota’s Superior Hiking Trail. With such an unconventional lifestyle, I figured I should blog about my travels and created my own website to share my journey and help others not be afraid to choose adventure.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
While the nomadic life can appear like a permanent vacation to some, I have definitely had my share of challenges. Watching my friends hit career milestones, earn promotions, and buy homes has made me question my lifestyle decisions. Our society has taught us to measure success in material possessions, net worth, and job titles. I have struggled to remind myself to measure my success in the experiences I’ve had and the people I’ve met along the way. I’m only 35 and I’ve already traveled and had more adventures than most have in their entire lives. How many people can say they’ve visited dozens of countries and hiked across two of them? I must constantly reassure myself that this path I’ve chosen is okay and not to worry about what everyone else is doing. Trusting oneself is an important lesson as we are all on our own separate journeys.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am most proud of my blog and the videos I have created to document my adventures. What started out as a little hobby to share my hikes with family and friends has turned into something bigger. I now receive questions from people all over the world asking for advice on how they can do the same. Whether they are asking for tips on how to hike across New Zealand or what to pack for the Appalachian Trail, I am honored to be able to help. There are countless other blogs and websites about hiking and world travel that I will never be able to compete with. I decided to simply document my own experiences and if that resonates with people, that’s great. I am not chasing followers or sales. And so it always brings me joy and gratitude when I receive compliments about my work. My favorite moments are when a viewer will tell me how much I inspired them to take a risk and have an adventure. That is the point of my entire journey. I took a risk when I quit my engineering job for this unconventional lifestyle.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
There is no way I could have made it this far without the help of my family and friends. As I have traveled the world and met amazing people, I’ve created a large support network. When you are adventuring all the time, it gets lonely, so having the chance to reconnect with those I love is so important.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://astraylife.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a.stray.life/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aStrayLife/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@astraylife
