About Me

My name is Kris Grenier, but you can call me Rainbow Dash. Hundreds of people already do.

“Rainbow Dash” was my trail name when I IMG_20141108_130557_456walked from Georgia to Maine on the Appalachian Trail in 2012, as well as on every long hike I’ve enjoyed since then. My first thru-hike was a coming-of-age sort of experience; it empowered me, educated me, and inspired me. My time in the woods has instilled in me a passion for life and a deep yearning to “earn my years,” as a trail friend of mine once said.

That wellspring of joy was what I drew on when I spent a significant portion of my early adult life in bed with relapsing Lyme disease and dysautonomia. It helped me to make peace with the moment while also pushing myself to do the research and the work needed to get well.

When chronic illness forced me to move back to my family’s rural Kentucky home, I found myself with surpluses of free time, of photos and journal entries from past hikes, and of wool from our little flock of pet sheep. Eventually, I started to experiment with fiber art, and I happened to needle-felt a landscape just for fun one day. I was hooked:  Here was an interactive, kinetic way to revisit the places that I loved so dearly. Wanderstruck Studio was born.

Today, I’m a full-time artist creating felted landscapes for outdoor enthusiasts and art collectors alike. While I’m currently sheltering in place, I’m looking forward to the day I’ll again be able to run ultramarathons, backpack long trails, and participate in art shows. Post-pandemic, I have my heart set on spending some more time in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado.

I hope you enjoy looking around the virtual studio and reading some of my stories from the trail. If you’d like to get in touch with me about my artwork, a commission request, my blog, or the trail, please feel free to contact me.

e: kris@wanderstruckstudio.com

p: +1 (859) 954-2383

a: P.O. Box 7054, Cynthiana, KY 41031

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21 Replies to “About Me”

  1. The Smiths says:
    October 29, 2014 at 1:54 pm

    Hey, thanks for checking out our 2014 Thru Hike adventures. I’ve enjoyed your writing and photography and that you keep writing about the outdoors and hiking after your thru hike came to completion.

    Cheers!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Kristin Alexandra says:
      October 29, 2014 at 4:01 pm

      Thanks! Being out in the woods provides a lot of fodder for adventure writing. :^) And, once you’ve been out there, it’s pretty difficult not to go back time and time again.

      I’ve been enjoying reading your tales of the AT. Congrats on your thru-hike!

      Like

  2. Grace says:
    November 1, 2014 at 9:59 am

    Kristen, I will have to share your blog with my husband. He has been section hiking the Appalachian Trail for years with his brother. He loves nothing more than being in the woods, soaking in nature. I really admire you hiking it alone!

    Liked by 2 people

    • Kristin Alexandra says:
      November 1, 2014 at 2:37 pm

      Grace, thank you for your kind words! Section hiking the trail is so unlike thru-hiking, but I really enjoy it. By hiking the trail in sections, I find that I can appreciate each section more by choosing to hike it during its best season, researching the area ahead of time, and having no real deadline to persuade me to miss side trails to views. While I was in the Hundred-Mile Wilderness this year, I met a Utah couple who were completing the trail after 39 years of hiking it in sections! Please wish your husband “happy trails” for me!

      Liked by 1 person

  3. brickthomas says:
    November 16, 2014 at 2:46 am

    Thanks for blogging some of your thoughts and I look forward to reading more of your posts. Anyone that hikes the AT and makes references to John Denver songs is bound to have a blog I will enjoy. Best wishes.

    Liked by 3 people

  4. mwaldr0n says:
    November 26, 2014 at 1:53 pm

    Lovely intro to your site, Rainbow Dash. I don’t think blogging is such a big thing anymore, certainly not “overblown”, more perhaps a kind of journal that you don’t mind sharing.

    What beautiful scenery you explore! An unknown part of the world to me, but I’ll certainly read more here and learn. Your quotes, your intention as you articulate it on this page, remind me of that wise, old Thoreau quote, which I’m sure you know:

    “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.”

    Happy trails!

    Liked by 2 people

    • Kristin Alexandra says:
      November 26, 2014 at 9:32 pm

      I so appreciate your sweet words. I think I’m coming to understand how the blogging community works, and I’m becoming not just comfortable with but quite enthusiastic about this medium. And, as for the Thoreau quote, that is, hands down, one of this quote junkie’s all-time favorites. Being told that something I wrote brought to mind something Thoreau wrote feels like a honor!

      Like

  5. Turquoise Compass says:
    December 15, 2014 at 5:26 pm

    Thanks for visiting Turquoise Compass! I love your followed your blog and I am looking forward to learning more about your journey and connecting you. Hope to see you soon on Turquoise Compass.
    Jessica

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Uncle Spike says:
    December 17, 2014 at 2:09 am

    Hello…

    Here’s a little message from Türkiye to say “thank you”. I appreciate your recent ‘follow’, knowing how many interesting and entertaining blogs there are out there.

    Blogging since June 2013, my little corner of the world tries to offer an eclectic smattering of posts, from basic amateur photography, to sharing my travel adventures over the decades, as well as day to day happenings here on our fruit farm in southern Turkey. I also throw in a few of my observations on life and lighter-hearted stuff for good measure.

    You are more than welcome to have a look around, stay a while and have a trawl through my small collection. There are plenty of drop-down categories within the menu bar to help in said digging process. Of course, if you have any comments, suggestions or concerns, feel free to let me know – I’m not easily offended 🙂

    Thanks again and hope you have a great day…

    UNCLE SPIKE
    uncle.spikes.adventures1@gmail.com

    Like

  7. Meal Idea: Chili | Living High On Life says:
    December 20, 2014 at 7:41 pm

    […] About Me […]

    Like

  8. Anna B. says:
    February 3, 2015 at 10:21 am

    I have truly enjoyed reading your blog and learning about your experiences on the AT. I always look forward to your posts. I nominated you for the Liebster Award, which has been going around WordPress recently. You don’t have to participate, but if you would like to you can find more information on the award here:

    https://themountainsaremyhome.wordpress.com/2015/02/03/liebster-award-nominees/

    Liked by 2 people

  9. Stephanie Brown says:
    February 20, 2015 at 1:04 pm

    Well, I see someone’s already nominated you for a Liebster Award…but consider this your second nomination! I’ve really enjoyed reading your blog, and I love your Wordless Wednesdays pictures 🙂

    http://tostandalone.org/2015/02/20/liebster-award-nominees/

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Mountainstroh (Tony) says:
    March 4, 2015 at 11:13 pm

    This is how I started, my wife told me I was always telling stories, why not share with more people!

    Liked by 1 person

  11. sarahlherbert says:
    March 13, 2015 at 10:19 am

    My boyfriend hiked the AT the same year as you. I wonder if you guys passed each other on the trail. His trail name is “Walkabout.” Excited to see your blog.

    Like

    • Kristin Alexandra says:
      March 13, 2015 at 2:41 pm

      I definitely know a Walkabout who hiked in 2012; does Rainbow Dash sound familiar to him?

      Thanks again for your support on hikefor.com. I hadn’t remembered your name from your blog (I suppose I was too busy loving the blog title!), but now I understand who the email I received this morning was from. :^) Looking forward to following your journey, too.

      Like

  12. Mountainstroh (Tony) says:
    August 31, 2015 at 1:13 pm

    Kristin, I can’t find a way to email you, this Month’s Scientific American has an article on lingering Lyme disease I think you’d find interesting! Thought of you right off!

    Like

    • Kristin Alexandra says:
      September 29, 2015 at 10:09 am

      Hey, Tony! Thanks for the message, and sorry for going AWOL. It’s been a time of lots of doctor appointments and health craziness, but I’m feeling back among the world of the living. It’s a wonderful, wonderful feeling.

      I just looked up the article and enjoyed it. Thanks for letting me know! I have certainly brushed up against some serious Lyme denial in the healthcare industry lately. Six weeks ago, I saw a rheumatologist who told me that I just needed some more fresh air and exercise.

      Anyway, I hope you’re doing well!

      Like

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