Emily Ford

On March 6, 2021, Emily Ford became the second person to ever complete the 1,200 miles of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail during the winter and the first person of color and first woman to boot! She hiked the trail along with Diggins, an Alaskan Husky she initially "borrowed" for the hike, but has since adopted. 

Emily and Diggins

Emily leans over with her backpacking backpack visible and takes a selfie of her dog Diggins and herself.

Locals and backpacking enthusiasts alike followed Emily's journey through local news pieces and social media, including Emily's Instagram @emilyontrail. These outlets allowed folks a glimpse into the bitter cold and deep snow that Emily faced in the Wisconsin-winter hiking conditions.

Daily Dig Dig from @emilyontrail

A screenshot from Emily Ford's Instagram (@emilyontrail) Stories shows Emily mountain biking with her canine hiking companion, Diggins, running in front of her. It is captioned "Your daily Dig Dig."

Established in 1980, the Ice Age National Scenic Trail is an approximately 1,200 mile trek along the furthest extent of the glaciers during the most recent Ice Age, some 15,000 years ago. The trail winds through Wisconsin and allows hikers to glimpse the glorious hills, valleys, lake, kettles, moraines, and other geological features left behind by the huge sheets and rivers of ice. If you plan a trip in this area, the author recommends checking out Gibraltar Rock State Natural Area and Devil's Lake State Park which are along the Ice Age Trail. 

Banff Centre Mountain Film

Promotional image for the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour Magazine 2021/22. Image shows three tents illuminated at night in front of a mountainous landscape.

Breaking Trail

The poster for the documentary film about Emily Ford's completion of the Ice Age Trail, Breaking Trail by Jesse Roesler, pictures Emily and Diggins overlooking a snowy river.

In the fall of 2021, Emily and Diggins hit the big screen as Breaking Trail, a 30-minute documentary directed by Jesse Roesler,  premiered at the BANFF Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival in Banff, Alberta, Canada. The documentary includes themes of people of color participating in outdoor recreation, Ford's popularity on social media, and, of course, the relationship between a woman and her dog. 

Emily at Ice Age Trail Sign

Emily Ford poses with Diggins the dog in front of a metal wooly mammoth, the symbol of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail.