Prometheus & Not A Minor, known off trail as Andrew & Lora McIvor, arrived at Campo looking like two British tourists and walked into Manning State Park as pure Hiker Trash. The Pacific Crest Trail 2019 was quite a trip...quite THE trip. Missed miles due to circumstance led to a finish personifying the adage "Smiles over miles." In this episode, we relive the five days of trail magic, walking toward home, fathoming the scale of it & finishing those miles.
Read MoreMagpie & Constantine, known off trail as Dana Pica & Ryan Bunting, joined me for a two perspective take on their thru hike of the Great Divide Trail this year. They had quite the wet and cold adventure. And in this episode, we talk about hypothermia and the art of layering, getting lost and found, midnight munchies and why you should always listen to Magpie.
Read MoreAbstract, known off trail as Alina Drufovka, had been dreaming about hiking the AT since she was 13. Finally in 2015, she loaded up her pack and set out, getting half way before injury forced her off. Not to be denied, she went back to the beginning in 2017 and hiked the full trail Launching herself into the thru hiking life. Two hundreds miles on the Israel National Trail and 1800 miles on the PCT brought her to an existential crisis over who she was outside of thru hiking. In this episode, we talk about identity in and out of hiking, fear, letting go of the purist ideology, and the evolution of her art
Read MoreThe Boss and Pretzel, known off trail as Max Crooks and Jaye Groves, are simultaneously section hiking both the Tahoe Rim Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail. With 3 weeks off a year, they carve out 200 – 300 miles at a time on the PCT and use long weekends for the Tahoe Rim. In this episode, we talk the section hiking life and why it’s almost perfect, their experience on the trail from a non-binary and transgender perspective, working through the challenges of altitude sickness and earthquakes.
Read MoreSharkboy & Lavagirl, known off trail as Danny Eyerman & Molly McDonald, are hiking the Appalachian Trail in the time of Covid. Having started the trail pre-corona, they got off for 5 weeks then circled back and continued north. In this episode we visit the four state challenge, the lucky and unlucky weather…can you say tropical storms, drive thru windows and how things never quite go as planned.
Read MoreNomad & Rattles, known off trail as Tyler & Becca Goodman, completed their Triple Crown this summer as a couple. But it was not a straight path. Injury knocked them off the Appalachian Trail in 2018 and snow changed their NOBO into a SOBO on the Continental Divide Trail this summer... But also gave them the opportunity to finish their Appalachian Trail miles and take a Southwest road-trip. In this episode we talk about being flexible with your plans, hiking as a couple, how small the hiking community truly is and why its all about the people.
Read MoreIn a change from the usual, Oats & Legs spoke with me on a recent zero day on the AT. Known off trail as Katie Houston & Nick Pavlot, they teamed up at Harper's Ferry after Legs' original tramily all left the trail. In this episode, we talk about their experience of the trail and how things have changed since they teamed up. We dig into food with Oats' fascination with dry oats and Legs waxes poetic about Outdoor Pantry meals. And this rumor about bears and rain.
This episode continues my conversation with Jen & Suds, known off trail as Jen Collins & Jake Russell. We dig into adventures with North American wildlife, big and small, while also hitting on some decisions that apparently still need to be made.
Read MoreSuds & Jen, known off trail as Jake Russell & Jen Collins, are approaching their SOBO hike of the PCT this summer from completely different perspectives. He's successfully hiked the Appalachian Trail, while this will be her first thru hike. In this episode, we highlight their differing concerns and preparation styles for the hike. Bet you can guess who the planner is.
Read MorePuma Salad, known off trail as Alfred Smith, first thru hiked the Pacific Crest Trail in 2016. Returning in 2018, a planned thru hike with his girlfriend became a spiritual journey of self reflection. In this episode we talk about that journey, the routines & systems of the trail & the importance of “safety meetings”. Just listen, you’ll get it.
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