Sochi, known off trail as Megan Harmon, had a dream. To be the first above knee amputee to thru hike the Pacific Crest Trail. And for 600 miles in 2019 she was on target, until the desert heat and her "last nerve" made it impossible...This time! In this episode, we talk about the ways her prosthetic adjusts the nature of the hike, what she will do for pizza, rattlesnakes on trail and the Uinta 2020 redemption hike.
Read MoreEagle Eye, known off trail as Katelin Reeser, would shoulda been on the PCT with me this year. Instead, she stayed closer to home…adding the Long Trail to her completion list. It joins the John Muir Trail which she hiked last year with her boyfriend. In this episode, we talk about the differences between the two trails, how our PCT plans went awry, altitude sickness and the things she’s learned for the next one.
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 MoreConstantine, known off trail as Ryan Bunting, has done quite the trail tour in the last 5 years. From the Big 3 he fell in love then went on a search for more trail time… casting his pack onto the Oregon Coast Trail, Pinhoti Trail, Ice Age Trail, Pacific Northwest Trail, Arizona Trail, Natchez Trace Scenic Trail, Great Divide Trail, Vancouver Island Trail and the Sea to Summit Trail. In this episode, we take the grand tour, touching each of the trails. And we talk about ground truthing, following grizzly tracks and the vegamatic.
Gingersnap, known off trail as Sam Lee, prepped for this conversation by pulling out the old journals from her 2012 AT thru hike. Which brought the memories flooding back. Memories of bear javelin throwing technique and reconnecting to her feminine side by hiking in a dress and the never to be forgotten Lyme Disease. In this episode, she grants us a little window into the trials and tribulations of a thru hike…and the absolute pure joy of it all. Reminding me how the things that terrify us are exactly the things we need to do the most.
Read MoreDarrah Did It, known off trail as Darrah Blackwater, really did do it. This summer she got herself onto the Colorado Trail, fears and all, with a little help from Hiking Prodigy and the lifesaving application of Leukotape. In this episode we talk about those fears and pushing through them, balancing your alone time with people time, learning trail culture,
and how she might have broken her parents.
The 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 MoreStark Naked, known off trail as Wallace Washington, had completed 1182.1 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail when they decided to leave trail due to three broken toes. Not yet ready to leave however they finish the hiking season in epic trail magic fashion. In this episode we talk about racism on and off trail and story of those three broken toes, finding their nonbinary trans identity while on trail, the not so much fun of ice cold stream crossings… and why sometimes you just need your Mom.
Read MorePoppins, known off trail as Marie-Pier Tremblay, went from thinking she wasn’t the type of person who could thru hike the Pacific Crest Trail to “I can”. She reached into the thru hiking community with her illustrations and found mentors and cheerleaders. And courage to face her fears and do it anyway. In this episode, we talk about the journey before the journey, tramily group decisions, hiking even when you hate it… and the shrimpcicle.
Read MorePeanut, known off trail as Melanie Harsha, was introduced to the Appalachian Trail by her mother who has section hiked it for years. So in 2016 she felt ready to take on a full thru hike… and there began the education of Peanut. From hiking with a dog to stress fractures and 20+ pound base weight… it has been an evolution from that first hike to the PCT in 2018 and attempting the Wind River High Route. In this episode we talk about that evolution, what a pre-trail night at Scout and Frodo’s is like, seeing her first rattlesnake outside of a church… and her trail inspired tattoo.
Read MoreFiddlehead, known off trail as Paige Pasquini, earned her thru hiking cred on the Appalachian Trail, Colorado Trail, and Long Trail before hitting the Pacific Crest Trail in 2019. In this episode, we have fun talking about a jolly man with a beer belly, the Ultimate Girl Gang, how ambling up the AT turned into a go-go, get it done PCT, and the gear she always brings without compromise.
Read MorePurple Rain, known off trail as Mandy Bland, began her thru hiking career on the AT. Then moved to the Grand Enchantment Trail and section hikes of the PCT. Along the way she found her passion, in the process creating Purple Rain Adventure Skirts. In this episode we talk about the evolution of her rain skirts and how putting a pocket on it makes life so much better, navigation challenges on the Grand Enchantment Trail and staying a solo hiker.
Read MorePCP, known off trail as Chelsea Fisher, knocked out the Appalachian Trail in 2017, the Long Trail in 2018 and the Pacifc Crest Trail in 2019. So in this episode we compare and contrast each of the trails. We then dig into frost nip, jade necklaces, and the night a bear came to visit… and what the heck PCP stands for.
Read MoreGriz, known off trail as Grizel Williams, is a strong, fierce LatinX woman one trail away from completing her Triple Crown. She found in hiking a space to find herself. And in this episode, we talk about hiking with a dog, building a safe place for people to share their stories, creating a bridge between mental health and hiking and the trekking pole ninja.
Read MoreCheer, known off trail as Carol Coyne, has 267 miles left to complete her thru hike of the Pacific Crest Trail. Many things factored into her decision to leave trail and in this episode we talk about the “Whys”. How asking yourself the tough questions and being clear about what’s most important to you helps when you are facing the moment your hike could be over.
Read MoreArielle, known off trail as Arielle Shipe, was supposed to start the Pacific Crest Trail on April 30th. I spoke with her a few days before she was to have started. The reality of not being on the PCT was sinking in so this episode took a philosophical turn. We discuss the difficulty and challenges of the dream deferred, what the plans are now and sprinkled in a little gear talk for good measure.
Read MoreSling, known off trail as Aaron Owens Mayhew, decided to solve her mid-life crisis via the Pacific Crest Trail in 2017. Injury had other ideas and 300 miles in she stepped off the trail. Successful recovery invited her to jump to the Appalachian Trail… however jumping into the middle turned out to be a very bad idea. In this episode, we talk about her challenges on trail, how she applied her nutritionist background to the subject of trail food, van life and the creation of Backcountry Foodie.
Read MoreTaco Salad, known off trail as Mari Johnson, came halfway around the world to take on the Pacific Crest Trail in 2019. She’s built her brand and youtube channel around travel and travel videos, so documenting her thru hike is a natural extension. In this episode, she talks trail names, overnight oats, a Sierra birthday party and the joys of Washington- the mice, the rain and the snow.
Read More
