I am so happy you’re here!

My name is Cate and I’m the voice behind Cate’s Compass (surprising, I know). I grew up in the small town of Hudson, Wisconsin, until I headed off to college in 2012. I got my BA degree in accounting from the University of Minnesota in 2016, and worked as a consultant for 6 years.

My husband went to medical school in 2018, so we moved to North Dakota. This forced me to explore new hobbies to stave off the boredom, so I picked up my first professional camera in early 2019. Little did I know that this would become a massive part of my journey!

In 2021, we moved to South Carolina for my husband’s residency, and I started exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Appalachian Trail. I already loved hiking and backpacking, and was so excited to explore a new area of the United States.

Four years later and countless miles under my belt, I’ve explored most of Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. We’ve been on numerous international bucket list hikes/treks, and we have a massive list of hikes we want to complete before we die. I write about all of these epic adventures on Cates Compass and love sharing my insight with readers!

Traveling is practically a love language for me at this point in my life, and I’ve been all over the United States and abroad.

Some of my top trips included Glacier National Park, Norway, and hiking the Alta Via 1 in the Italian Dolomites.

I’ve also been lucky enough to live within driving distance of some incredible hiking and camping in the Southeast. Over the past 4 years, I’ve visited places like Bryson City, Brevard, Cashiers, Highlands, and Hendersonville, NC.

The mountain towns, swimming holes, and waterfalls in North Carolina are endless, and you could spend years exploring here without getting bored (trust me, I have!).

Additionally, I’ve had the pleasure of exploring waterfalls in South Carolina and hiking throughout the Upstate!

After years and years of camping, hiking, and backpacking, I’ve tried my fair share of gear. I know what works, and unfortunately, what doesn’t.

I’ve tested this gear hiking to Coluchuck Lake in Washington, traversing hot springs in Idaho, camping at Hunting Island in South Carolina, and exploring the numerous trails that Many Glacier has to offer.

It has genuinely been everywhere with me, and I can confidently recommend the gear that I know will withstand the test of time.