Three pals, 104 miles, and a custom of opting for the scenic route

At 4:30 a.m., armed with headlamps and packed backpacks, Amelia Heymach, Eden Fisher, and Addie Kelsey exited Currier House and commenced their trek — heading southwest through Watertown and Newton, aiming for the Connecticut border. With just two weeks remaining until Commencement, the trio had one final aspiration to fulfill on their College bucket list: a 47-mile journey to celebrate their undergraduate experience.

For Heymach, Fisher, and Kelsey, who forged their friendship on the inaugural day of freshman year, extended walks have evolved into a yearly ritual to signify the conclusion of each academic term: As sophomores, they trekked to New Hampshire; as juniors to Rhode Island. While these ultra-walks may appear extreme, this group states they serve as a method to bond while challenging their stamina, trust, and dedication.

“Individuals undertake substantial walks during transitional phases in their lives, and it’s not coincidental,” Heymach stated. “It’s an excellent chance to contemplate and ground yourself, to consider your future aspirations and reflect on your past. There’s something about these walks that greatly facilitates that kind of reflection—setting aside your devices, being outdoors, and connecting with the nature surrounding you.”

They are all familiar with hiking. Heymach, concentrating in statistics and minoring in global health and health policy, walked the Camino de Santiago in Spain with her mother during a gap year. Fisher, a dual concentrator in integrative biology and mathematics with a minor in studies of women, gender, and sexuality, has been a dedicated runner, completing four marathons and an ultramarathon. Kelsey, majoring in psychology with a minor in integrative biology, enjoyed many nature walks with her family in her youth.

The idea for their 25-mile atmosphere to New Hampshire emerged spontaneously after a late-night study session in the final exam week of their sophomore year. They had heard anecdotes about some peers who had walked to the state line and were eager to test their own abilities.

“We went home to rest, and then the following morning, we rose early and set off,” Kelsey remarked. “There was no planning involved.”

Their path, recommended by Google Maps, led them through Lexington, Burlington, and Billerica, at times cutting through suburban neighborhoods and at others traversing industrial regions, often devoid of sidewalks. The December sun dipped below the horizon as they ventured through Lowell, ultimately crossing into Pelham, New Hampshire, in just under 10 hours.

“We arrived, and it was dark. We had our headlamps,” Heymach reminisced. “Vehicles were zipping by. We found ourselves on the side of the road, rushing toward our goal.”

For the return leg, they summoned an Uber.

“It’s amusing to be driven back a mere 40 minutes after spending the full day walking from dawn to dusk,” Kelsey observed. “You see everything you passed fly by.”

In their junior year, they covered 32 miles to Rhode Island, trekking south through towns in Massachusetts including Dedham, Norwood, Walpole, and Wrentham. They crossed the state line into Cumberland, Rhode Island, after 12 hours of walking.

To fill the time during their journey, the trio would sing songs and share readings from books they discovered in Little Free Libraries. They brought along snacks and would typically stop for pastries and sandwiches during their expedition.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity to contemplate and ground yourself, to think about your ambitions for the future, and reflect on your past.”

Amelia Heymach

All three unanimously agreed that at the conclusion of a semester filled with demanding academics and extracurricular commitments, something as straightforward as a long walk serves as a refreshing change.

“I appreciate the pace of a walk,” Heymach commented. “Things can feel overwhelmingly fast-paced for prolonged periods here. It’s a statement, ‘No, we’ll maintain our 2.5 miles-per-hour rhythm for as long as we desire.’”

Fisher concurred. “It enables you to decelerate and experience things differently. I’ve been learning to savor a varied tempo.”

Last month, with Commencement approaching, the friends resolved it was time to tackle Connecticut. On May 16, they set off southwest through Wellesley, Holliston, Milford, Mendon, and Douglas. To maintain their focus, they devised mental games to keep their minds engaged. One stipulation? They weren’t allowed to inquire about the remaining distance.

“With walking, there’s a physical component — you may feel like your legs are about to give out towards the end — but a lot is mental,” Heymach stated. “You must convince yourself you’re not walking toward a specific destination; you’re walking indefinitely.”

The final miles led them along the Southern New England Trunkline Trail through Douglas State Forest after dark, where they heard chirping frogs and spotted a beaver. They crossed into Thompson, Connecticut, around 10 p.m.

Next year, they will each be in three distinct countries, with Heymach engaged in community health efforts in Ecuador, Kelsey pursuing psychology at the University of Cambridge in England, and Fisher attending Harvard’s Graduate School of Education.

“I trust in the friendships I maintain and have faith that we’ll support each other no matter where we are,” Heymach expressed. “I’m enthusiastic about future hikes with them.”

They already have some in their sights: Kelsey is drawn to the Camino de Santiago, Heymach is interested in the Lone Star Hiking Trail in Texas, and Fisher has her eyes set on the North-South Trail in Rhode Island. Both Heymach and Fisher are also intrigued by the Long Trail in Vermont.

Additionally, there are a few nearby states they have yet to visit on foot.

“We haven’t ventured to New York yet. Or Maine,” Kelsey added. “But New York is quite a distance, so we’ll need to break it into a couple of days next go-round.”