Ash Czarnota

Ash Czarnota is a freelance content writer with 5 years of experience working with brands and publications in the outdoor and tech industry. From a young age, Czarnota showed an affinity for literary devices and linguistic nuance. Her passion for writing and sharing stories didn’t go unnoticed. Recognizing early potential, Czarnota’s parents enrolled her in the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts in Hartford, Connecticut, where she majored in Creative Writing and Theater Arts. She went on to attend Emerson College and graduated with a BA in Writing, Literature, and Publishing. While at Emerson, Czarnota served as her sorority’s Philanthropy, Social, and Marketing Chair as well as Editor/Managing Editor for multiple on-campus magazines.

Outside of family beach days, exploring the woods behind her home, and occasional camping trips to the Adirondacks, Czarnota had little exposure to the outdoors until she moved to Southern California in her early twenties. She spent her weekends exploring nearby Angeles, Los Padres, Cleveland, and San Bernardino National Forests, laying the groundwork for her first solo backpacking trip on the 40-mile Trans Catalina Trail.

In the years following, Czarnota set her sights on higher peaks and longer trails, completing a solo traverse of the High Sierra Trail, Rim-to-Rim Trail, Lost Coast Trail, California Riding and Hiking Trail, and others before hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in 2022. When she’s not galavanting off the grid, she’s spoiling her black cat Iago with treats and cuddles, people-watching at coffee shops, hunting for the best deli sandwich in LA, or hanging out at her local gym or crag.

Background
● Topics of expertise: Hiking/thru-hiking, backpacking, gear reviews, trip
reports/guides, trends in the outdoor industry
● Years of experience in these topics: 3+ years
● Favorite topic to write about: Deep dives on essential to advanced backpacking
techniques/skills for beginners and gear roundups
● Favorite piece of gear you’ve ever tested: Does food count as gear? If so, any
backpacking meals/dehydrated food! They’re such a mixed bag, you never know
what you’re in for!
● Favorite travel destinations: Eastern Sierra Nevada and Joshua Tree National Park

Education and Experience
● Education: Emerson College, BA in Writing, Literature and Publishing
● Other place you write for: REI, Backcountry, GOES Wilderness Health,
Hiking & Fishing, and Trails Magazine

About You
● Location (city/state): Burbank, CA
● Places You’ve Lived or Extensively Traveled: Northeast, SoCal
● Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hers
● Learn more about Ash on her website