Emily Ford is @EmilyonTrail on Instagram.
Perhaps, @EmilyonTour is a better handle these days.
Ford famously — compellingly — thru-hiked the Ice Age Trail in Wisconsin last winter. She became only the second person to claim such an achievement, which also included several firsts in winter, too. Ford was the first woman and person of color to cover the 1,200 miles of the National Scenic Trail.
All of the above, including her thoughtfulness, her modest hopes to inspire others and her bond with her hiking companion (a sled dog named Diggins), has made the Duluth woman in demand since she walked off the trail last March.
Now, there is a film about her. Ford and her adventure over 69 days are at the heart of a new documentary, "Breaking Trail," which premiered Nov. 7 at the Banff Film Festival in Alberta. The 30-minute film is from director Jesse Roesler and Credo Nonfiction, a Minneapolis production company that spent time with Ford and Diggins on-trail. The documentary was among dozens screened, and Ford was in Banff. ("All I could think about was making sure I get there," she said, recalling the tight COVID protocols for border crossings.)
Ford is the focus of attention again this weekend as a presenter Saturday at the Midwest Mountaineering fall expo in Minneapolis.
Ford estimated she has done as many as 50 or more podcasts, talks and interviews since she completed the Ice Age hike. So many, she said, that the thought occurred to her that she could do it full time. Nevertheless, she likes her other job and activities too much. She is head gardener at Glensheen Mansion in Duluth. Around that, she also has other playgrounds to explore soon.
Ford will begin an internship in early December at Wintergreen, the dogsled center in Ely run by Paul Schurke. Ford said she also is preparing for a winter trip with Diggins in 2022 Up North.
