Nahamsha – (Taylor Tognacci)

From Mountains to Miles

Taylor, known throughout the hiking community by her trail name Nahamsha, represents one of the most relatable and authentic voices in modern thru-hiking culture. Based in Gilmanton, New Hampshire, her journey from a complete hiking novice to a twice-successful Appalachian Trail thru-hiker and beloved content creator embodies the transformative power of putting one foot in front of the other and the courage to start something completely new.

Notable Achievements: Taylor completed the 2,198.4-mile Appalachian Trail twice (2021 and 2023), finished all 48 of New Hampshire’s 4,000-foot peaks, and built a YouTube following of nearly 30,000 subscribers—all within five years of taking her very first hike.

In 2016, at age 21, Taylor embarked on her first-ever hike, just three months after moving to New Hampshire’s Lakes Region from Massachusetts. Finding herself in a new place without an established social circle, she sought activities she could enjoy independently. Her mother’s gift shop, the Gilford Country Store, sold trail maps of the Belknap Mountains, and Taylor decided to put one to work. For her first hike, she didn’t take it easy on herself, tackling Mount Tecumseh’s 4,000-foot trail in Grafton County. That challenging introduction ignited something within her.

What started as solitary exploration quickly evolved into obsession. Within a couple of years, Taylor had completed all of the Belknap Range trails and finished hiking all 48 of New Hampshire’s 4,000-foot peaks in October 2019. During this period, she discovered long-distance backpacking through YouTube videos. She didn’t even know the Appalachian Trail existed until 2018, stumbling upon it on the internet. The videos of other thru-hikers fascinated her, and she began dreaming of taking on the challenge herself.

Building a Trail Legacy

Taylor’s Appalachian Trail journey has been one of determination and resilience. She first attempted the trail in 2020, starting on March 1st. After hiking 274 miles to Hot Springs, North Carolina, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy requested all thru-hikers suspend their hikes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ever the optimist, Taylor viewed it as a dress rehearsal, an opportunity to refine her gear and strategy.

On February 22, 2021, she set off again at Springer Mountain in Georgia and completed the entire trail 121 days later on June 23rd, summiting Mount Katahdin. Along the way, she met Cody from Ohio around her fifth day, and the two maintained the same aggressive pace throughout, becoming lifelong friends. Throughout the journey, her fiancé provided unwavering support from home, even though he didn’t join her on the trail.

Her thru-hiking resume has since grown to include:

• Appalachian Trail (2021) – 2,198.4 miles, completed in 121 days, documenting daily vlogs
• New Hampshire 48 4,000 Footers (2019) – All peaks completed
• Belknap Range Redline – Every trail in the range
• Appalachian Trail (2023) – Her second complete thru-hike, fulfilling a longtime goal to experience the trail twice

The Philosophy of Nahamsha

What sets Taylor apart in the hiking community is her refreshingly authentic approach. She earned recognition for her distinctive diet of Pop Tarts, Cheese-Its, candy bars, granola bars, Gushers, and Diet Coke. This became so well-known that other hikers would leave care packages of her favorite snacks along the trail. She embraces the “hiker trash” lifestyle without apology, keeping things real rather than polished.

Taylor’s filming setup remains incredibly simple: she uses only her cell phone and a small mini tripod, editing videos either on her phone or computer in a quick process. Her videos are natural and viewer-friendly, consistently showcasing the fun and lighthearted side of hiking rather than overly produced educational content. This authenticity resonates deeply with her audience.

Her trail name “Nahamsha” came from wearing a shirt with that word—a playful mispronunciation of “New Hampshire.” The name stuck, becoming synonymous with her brand of genuine, accessible outdoor content.

For Taylor, hiking serves multiple purposes beyond physical challenge. “I get really creative when I’m out on a trail,” she explains. “I like being able to think about my business and about my goals I want to achieve in the future.” The solitude of solo hiking gives her the freedom to make her own decisions, set her own pace, and tap into that competitive drive that keeps her pushing toward new goals. “Hiking fulfills that competitive aspect in me,” she continues. “And I love that it is a big part of my life that I continuously work on, that always changes and evolves. And I keep pushing myself to finish checking off everything on my list.”

A Voice for Everyday Adventurers

Through her YouTube channel and Instagram presence, Taylor has built a substantial following. Her channel has grown to nearly 30,000 subscribers, with over 250 videos documenting her hiking adventures. She finds it surreal to be among those thru-hikers with videos on the internet, the same ones that inspired her just a few years ago.

Her content proves that you don’t need a lifetime of outdoor experience to tackle epic adventures. “I grew up being really shy and timid,” Taylor reflected after her first AT completion. “That I could go out and have this big adventure without having any worries surprised me.” This message of self-discovery through hiking inspires viewers who see themselves in her journey from complete beginner to accomplished thru-hiker.

When she’s not on trail, Taylor manages Nahamsha Gifts, a year-round gift shop in Meredith, New Hampshire, carrying on the family business while planning her next adventures. Her lab and terrier mix dog, Callie, accompanies her on local New Hampshire hikes, bringing her own fan base to Taylor’s content.

Connect with Nahamsha

Taylor continues to share her authentic hiking experiences with the community. Whether she’s tackling another long trail, showcasing New Hampshire’s 4,000-footers, or helping newcomers discover the joy of hiking, Nahamsha remains a genuine, relatable voice proving that anyone can start their outdoor journey at any point in life.

As Taylor herself discovered: the trail doesn’t care if you’re a lifelong hiker or picking up a pack for the first time. All that matters is taking that first step.