Laura Finch

Attorney/Wilderness Steward

Laura grew up walking in the woods but didn’t really call it hiking until she bought her first pack after moving to Lewisburg, West Virginia in 2012. In 2016 she moved 30 miles north to Pocahontas County, the Birthplace of Rivers and the Heart of the Monongahela National Forest. In 2019, Laura attempted to thru-hike the 300 mile Allegheny Trail through eastern West Virginia and instead spent the next two years section hiking and volunteering with the West Virginia Scenic Trails Association, stewards of the Allegheny Trail. She’s here today to talk about her section hikes, past and future, the Allegheny Trail, what you can do to help the trail you love, and preventing burnout in recreation volunteerism.