Photos of Author

@homemadewanderlust posts a photo of herself hiking along a ridge line in Colorado with a caption advising others to pursue their dreams no matter what naysayers think.

This artifact captures the silhouetted author standing on a ledge with a caption challenging others to convince her that backpacking is not amazing.

Mills sits upon a pile of rocks atop Grays Peak, which is the highest point on the Continental Divide Trail, and includes a caption updating her Instagram followers about her peak ascent.

The following Instagram posts come from Jessica "Dixie" Mills Instagram account at @homemadewanderlust, and they are also from a string of posts documenting her experience through-hiking the Continental Divide Trail. She posts a variety of images on her account, and many of them are photos of herself on the trail. Whether they are during moments of accomplishment or candids of Mills in action, she finds beautiful spots on the Continental Divide Trail to use as places to share her day-to-day life.

Many of the candid pictures feature inspirational captions that encourage her fellow backpacking enthusiasts to pursue their dreams and get outside. Additionally, photos that feature her accomplishing a major part of the trail will detail her achievements in the post caption. These photos enhance her writing overall by creating motivating scenes that urge the audience to undertake their own adventures. It is one thing to have someone tell readers what to do, and it is even more effective to show them the things they can do; seeing Mills climb a mountain or stand amid a beautiful sunset grounds her followers in what life outside is like. Using these stunning visuals creates a sense of authenticity since they come straight from Mills's hike, and it brings her experience to life. Pristine, untouched wilderness fills her Instagram, and showing herself in these wild places shows her followers how accessible these expeditions can be.