DENVER—Sophia Tanghas become the first woman on record to complete the 485-mile Colorado Trail solo, without resupplying herself with food or other provisions. The 25-year-old from Aurora, Colorado, spent 21 days on the trail, hiking and backpacking 89,354 vertical feet of elevation in the process. She started out with a 9-day supply of food, which resulted in a significant calorie deficit toward the end of her trip. Overall, she found the experience to be one of transformative self-discovery.

“I knew it was what my soul was looking for,” said Tang. “The physical exertion involved brought out a layer of my consciousness that I had not known existed. When you're absolutely exhausted and can't take another step, you discovered your limits, but then I was able to push past them.” Tang embarked on the hike in response to feeling burnt out and longing for. The Colorado Trail reawakened her spirit.“It’s not about what I did. It’s about who I became,” she added.

The ColoradoTrail passes through six national forests, six wilderness areas, five major river systems, and eight mountain ranges. Tang started from Denver on August 2, planning to hike 54 miles a day and reach Durango before running out of supplies. However, as she realized she wasn’t going to make it and her food supply rapidly dwindled, Tang had to cut down her food intake. She still managed totrek an average of 20 plus miles a day over mountainous terrain with as much as a 5000-calorie deficit each day.

“Ultimately, beyond finishing the trail, I was able to come face-to-face with myself in my entirety,” Tang explained. “I firmly believe things happened exactly the way they were meant to. I wouldn’t have changed a thing.”

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