How to Hike The Hexatrek & Solo Adventure Advocate

LAUREN ROERICK PODCAST COVER

How far are you willing to walk to figure yourself out? For Lauren Roerick, the answer was 3,034 kilometers — across the mountains, villages, and valleys of France on a pioneering hike known as the Hexatrek.

Raised in Alberta and now based in Vancouver, Lauren didn’t come from an outdoorsy family. Yet through a patchwork of life experiences — from studying music in California to teaching English in Taiwan, working in Berlin, and decorating film sets in Canada — she found herself drawn to something quieter, tougher, and more elemental: long-distance hiking alone.

What started as an interrupted Pacific Crest Trail attempt during the early days of COVID became a baptism into thru-hiking culture.

Fast forward a few years, and Lauren became the first North American woman to complete the full Hexatrek — a newly mapped, stage-based trek across France’s Vosges, Alps, and Pyrenees, stretching from the German to the Spanish border.

With moments of rain-soaked hardship, wild camping beside castles, and unexpected feasts with Basque hunters, Lauren’s story isn’t just about a walk — it’s about presence, persistence, and human connection. Her adventure has sparked a community of inspired hikers and a detailed guidebook for those ready to follow in her footsteps — or forge their own path.

What an episode to get you inspired!

Watch The Episode With Lauren Roerick

Listen To The Episode With Lauren Roerick

Key Episode Takeaways

  • Thru-hiking fosters resilience – Lauren’s story shows that even solo first-timers can take on world-class hikes with enough grit and openness.
  • Adventure isn’t always inherited – You don’t need an outdoorsy background to become an adventurer. Curiosity is enough.
  • The Hexatrek is gaining traction – With low crowds and a strong app, it’s an ideal route for hikers seeking something new.

Memorable Quotes

  • “Once you’ve lived in another language and culture, everything else becomes a little simpler.” – On building confidence abroad.
  • “The soundtrack of the Alps is cows with bells.” – On the unexpected joys of hiking in France.
  • “The more I dug into thru-hiking, the more I realized how much I wanted to belong to that community.”

Facts

  • Hexatrek Distance – 3,034 km across France in six stages from the Vosges to the Pyrenees.
  • Completion Time – Lauren hiked the full route in 121 days during summer 2023.
  • Navigation – The Hexatrek has a dedicated app showing stages, resupply points, and camping laws.

Ideas

  • Start local, go global – Test your limits close to home before scaling them across continents.
  • Be open to kindness – Spontaneous hospitality often defines the most meaningful moments.
  • Tell the story – Lauren’s YouTube vlogs and guidebook pass on knowledge and inspiration to others.

Call to Adventure

Bring someone with you — especially someone new to backpacking. Pass on what you’ve learned. Whether it’s a short local hike or a multi-day trail, share the experience. And if you’re tempted by Europe’s wild edges, Lauren’s Hexatrek guide might be your perfect map.

Follow Lauren’s Adventures

Pay It Forward

Lauren supports women’s health and menstrual equity through organizations like the BC Women’s Health Foundation and Canadian Women’s Foundation. She’s also raised awareness for period poverty, a major barrier to education, work, and adventure for many girls and women worldwide.

References & Recommendations

Before You Go

Inspired by Lauren’s journey? Let it be the spark for your own. Whether you’re mapping your next hike, starting a video diary, or just dreaming of something bigger — this episode reminds us that freedom often lies just outside our comfort zone.

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