Conversations with the Inspiring Jess Wolfe, Dreaming Sunflower

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jess Wolfe, Dreaming Sunflower.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
The path that led me to this opportunity is as wild as the roughly 1,600 miles of the Appalachian Trail that I have traveled upon. Nearly eleven years ago, I got married to a boy from high school. Honestly, I’m not sure why I got married at age 20. I had influence from the church, I wanted to live on my own, and I wanted something new, big, and different– although I was unsure of what that was. At the time, I hadn’t experienced much on my own and I didn’t know my own capability. My world was smaller than it is now. Looking back, I realized I put action into the wildest thing I knew how to do at the time– I got hitched on a whim!

The marriage went south instantly. Neither of us knew how to be in a relationship, how to communicate with one another, or how to keep a home. It was a toxic relationship, and it took four long years until I felt I had validation to leave the marriage. I did not know this at the time, but if you are in a mentally damaging relationship you have the right to leave, no matter what. There is life after pain and trauma. Pain and trauma aren’t weighed. Please trust, that there is healing coming for you.

A few months before I left the marriage, I stumbled across my first introduction to The Appalachian Trail. I came across a YouTube Video by ManCub and Kitfox (link below). It was a 9 minute and 44-second video about their 2012 ThruHike on the Appalachian Trail. The Appalachian Trail is 2,190 miles from Georgia to Maine, and this footpath crosses 14 states. Discovering the trail was the start of my current world. Disclosure: I’ve never been athletic and had no prior hiking experience. But none of that mattered, I knew I HAD to hike. I had discovered treasure, my treasure. I played ManCub and Kitfox’s YouTube video on repeat. (The magical thing is – Mancub and Kitfox have no idea I exist. Yet, their decision to Thruhike led me to my hike…and the cycle flows.)

From that day on, I have thought about the trail every single day. I continue to think about the trail every single day. Ask any hiker, and they’ll tell you the same thing.

The trail is your treasure also. It’s for me, it’s for you, and it’s for them.

And so, it began.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The journey that led me to who I am today has been… let’s say “all of the emotions,” ha. At times, it’s been smooth and full of light, and at times it was long and dark. I hold a belief that I’m meant to travel upon many paths in order to relate to others.

I had many challenges between the ages of 20 and 25. I am extremely grateful for the challenges life threw at me. It took 10 years but I learned that if you lean into the struggle, you can learn from it. You can learn something about yourself, as well as the situation. Take that knowledge and move onto the next level.

During some of these struggles, I found myself daydreaming about hiking: I frequently imagined life on the trail. I started researching little by little and then, started walking local paved trails in town. I briefly read something about Trail Names and knew I had to have one! As tradition goes, a Trail Name is given to you. I couldn’t wait for that so I named myself Dreaming Sunflower. (I even had it tattooed on my shoulder two years prior to my hike. Manifestation Y’all!)

About six months prior to my hike, things got real serious. I realized I could not accomplish what I needed while living in an apartment in the city. I got rid of almost everything I owned and moved into a 5′ by 10′ room in a friend’s home. BEST decision ever!

Soon after, I took two separate Appalachian Trail Institute Courses. The first was held by the famous Warren Doyle, who has hiked the Appalachian Trail 18 times! His five-day retreat course is held at his folk school located in the northeastern Tennessee mountains. You can find his information at Warrendoyle.com.

I, then, completed an additional five-day retreat with Jennifer Pharr Davis. Davis is a long-distance hiker, speaker, and the National Geographic adventurer of the year. She has hiked over 14,000 miles of long-distance hikes on six continents. In 2011, she completed the Appalachian Trail in 46 days earning the title of FKT (fastest known time) and the first woman to set the mark. You can find her information at Blue Ridge Hiking Company or JenniferPharrDavis.com.

I started the trail with a 19-year-old girl named Jenny. We worked together at a local diner called “The Diamond” in Plaza Midwood, Charlotte, NC. (Shout out to the homies in Plaza! Those days were full of light.) She joined last minute so we pushed the start date back ten days, so she could take her final college exam. Her exam was on a Monday and we were in route the very next day.

The trail taught me never to quit on a bad day. For every good day, there are at least two great days to follow.

What should we know about Wolf Sunflower? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
You can call me a Cicerone! Atlanta is two hours from the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. People from all over the world fly into ATL to begin their journey on the AT. Wolf Sunflower specializes in transportation to and from the trail for day hikers, section hikers, and thru-hikers. Wolf Sunflower also offers Guided Hikes, Silent-Guided Tours, Pack Shakedowns, and Personal Courses one-on-one that will provide you with the self-trust that you’ll be relaxed outdoors.

Wolf Sunflower is open to all needs and interest. Wolf Sunflower is available for any and all inquiries, I’m a safe place for all questions trail related,

Tour A-arrow is a silent or semi-silent guided hike. Your guide will stay close by but never in the way. This is great for hikers who want to experience solo hiking. Your guide can be seen as much or as little as possible. Your guide is just that, a guide. You decide if you want to lead or caboose. Options available to camp with your guide or your guide can camp .5 from you. This hike is also great for those wanting to experience a “Silent Retreat” vibe.

Tour B-bow is a guided tour that offers more interaction according to your trail goal.

In addition to guided tours, Wolf Sunflower offers shuttles from ATL to Springer Mountain.

While writing my mission statement for Wolf Sunflower, I realized I really wanted my business to be personal. The trail has healed me and re-birthed me. I have an image of me pulling you thru an arch, I want to show you there is another way to live. You can live life in a state where you trust on the land to provide you with water and shelter.

Do you have any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general? What has worked well for you?
I haven’t figured this out yet. There is so much hate among one another. Can we all wave at one another? Can we befriend each other? I’m telling you that it is okay to speak to the (wo)man on the street, I encourage you to befriend your grocery store clerk. We all need a smile. A man once told me that I smiled too much, he told me I was too sweet to strangers. I believed him and little by little I stopped waving and smiling. Until I met someone who always greeted me with the biggest grin (IG: Clarejule). I needed someone to smile at me consistently, reminding me that smiles don’t need to be earned.

Without knowing it clarejule was my mentor.

I want Wolf Sunflower to focus on healing. This can mean healing dreams, beliefs or goals. In reality, the three are linked. Your goals are connected to your dreams. By leaning into a goal/dream you are growing and creating a new version of yourself. I say that because once you step onto the trail YOU change.

“The trail will ruin your life in the best way possible.” – Unknown hiker on top of the mountain

I’m not sure if I hold the skills yet to be a “mentor” but I want to show you the best mentor I know… the trail.

Contact Info:

• Phone: 336-404-9730
• Email: WolfSunflowerAT@gmail.com
• Instagram: Womenruninpacks
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Redeming
• Other: Wolfsunflowershuttleservice

Image Credit:
Ferris Wheel: Tempest Charles, Roan Mountain: Julian Casola, Mount Layfayette: Terry 2.0, Mancub & Kitfox: https://youtu.be/5Tpvzsq2VAg

Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.