Heather Anderson, who goes by the trail name Anish, has thru-hiked the U.S.'s mega trails—the Appalachian, the Continental Divide, and the Pacific Crest—three times. Shown here on the Pacific Crest in 2013, she was on her way to setting the speed record, walking 2,655 miles in 60 days.

With 28,000 miles to her name, National Geographic Adventurer of the Year Heather Anderson has made history on America's most iconic trails.

Read the full article by Doug Schnitzspahn on National Geographics's website here.