Anna Smith

Anna McKinney Smith, known by her trail name "Magic," is an outdoor adventurer, author, and blogger specializing in long-distance hiking. Her deep connection to the Appalachian mountains, stemming from her home in western North Carolina, developed her passion for thru-hiking. In 2021, she completed her first major trek, the Appalachian Trail, a demanding journey where she earned her trail name. Following this, Smith and her husband worked as backpacking guides in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, sharing their firsthand knowledge and passion for the outdoors with aspiring hikers. Her extensive hiking experience includes the Arizona Trail, completed in 2023, and the West Highland Way, hiked in 2024, with plans to thru-hike the Pacific Crest Trail in 2025. As an author for "The Trek," an online resource for thru-hikers, and through her personal blog, "magicinthemountains.blog," she shares her insights and detailed adventures. Her writing offers a grounded perspective on outdoor pursuits, documenting the physical and mental challenges, as well as the triumphs, of life on the trail. Beyond her dedication to hiking and writing, she also pursues disc golf and teaches yoga, maintaining an active lifestyle that complements her time on the trails.