Rue, known off trail as Rue McKenrick, set out in July 2019 on the first scout for a new long trail. The American Perimeter Trail. He plans to finish back in Oregon in November 2020. In mid-February, I caught him in east Texas. In this episode we talk about the isolation and loneliness of being the first, the logistics of creating a trail, public land vs private land navigation and what he hopes this trail will become.
Read MoreArchive, known off trail as Tiffany Chou, did a thru hikers version of social distancing when she SOBO hiked the Pacific Crest Trail last year. And the speed and noise and people after trail took some getting used to. In this episode, we talk night hiking in the Sierras, fun with porcupines and rattlesnakes, carrying fears and regrets, and picking up lost miles.
Read MoreRussell, known off trail as Russell Corfman, hiked the Pacific Crest Trail in 2018 at the age of 58. So I was very, very interested to hear how it went. In this episode, we talk about surviving on bars… all different types of bars, recovery on trail, feeling paralyzed after the trail between wanting the next trail and looking for a job and those beautiful random acts of kindness that go hand in hand with the trail community.
Read MoreCatwoman, known off trail as Kim Morse, hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2018 with her significant other, Turtle. In this episode we visit the pain of the mountains, dig into how they exited their city life for the trail, staying healthy on trail, and the 46ers.
Read MoreAirborne, known off trail as Jon Schwarze, started his thru hiking career with a yo-yo of the Pacific Crest Trail. For 2020 he’s set his sights on the Greatest Western Loop. Yep, you heard that correctly. He’s adding a few extra miles to the Great Western Loop in order to complete 4 out of the 5 trails in the same year. In this episode we talk about severe calorie deficits, being the first through the Sierras, pushing your limits and resilience.
Read MoreBrazilnut, known off trail as Elaine Bissonho, is starting her Triple Triple in 2020. Add to that the TA, Arizona Trail, Oregon Coast Trail as well as a yo-yo and FKT on the Great Divide Trail…to say she’s got some stories is an extreme understatement. In this episode we talk about resupply problems, umbrellas, the PCT in 66 days and the fear and doubt that kept her off the GDT for 5 years.
Read MoreSurvivor, known off trail as John Floyd, kicked off his thru hiking career in 2019 by selling his possessions to finance hiking the AT. He then jumped almost immediately to the TA. And has now come back to the states to start the PCT in April. He's fully embraced the thru hiking life. In this episode, we talk about building your own quilt, dig into the Te Araroa and discuss stove versus cold soaking.
Read MoreGilmore, though you might also have known her as Back Seat Driver, on the Appalachian Trail, is known off trail as Leisel Bailey. She had completed the Appalachian Trail, John Muir Trail and Colorado Trail prior to starting the Pacific Crest Trail this past year. However that doesn’t mean she was totally prepared for what the trail threw at her. But a little luck, creative thinking and staying present in the moment went a long way toward making it a successful hike. In this episode we talk about flip flopping, pastries, poodle dog bush and how Oregon marked her.
Read MoreSketch, known off trail as Tricia Case, SOBO’d the Long Trail in 2019 to test whether the thru hiking life was for her.
Apparently it was a success as she’s now planning to start the Appalachian Trail in February. In this episode we talk about lessons learned. Food preferences, sleeping around people, gear, being wet… and a little hiker lore.
Nomad & 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 MoreNurse Betty, known off trail as Jaime Siebold, was part of the Pacific Crest Trail class of 2013. To stay connected she
section hikes, revisiting the Campo to Tehachapi section this past summer. In this episode we talk keeping your feet clean, how Northern Washington should never be underestimated in fall, why splitting up on the trail to hike your own
hike is important and the business she started making reusable wipes to help give back to the trail.
IB Tat, known off trail as Jeff Oliver, found his sobriety in the mountains. His instagram handle SavedByMtns is quite literal and thru hiking has become his new drug of choice. This episode was recorded shortly after he came off the PCT in late October. So we of course talk about the conditions in the north Cascades that late in the year. And coffee is a must... if you've watched his vlog you'll understand.
Read MorePeanut, known off trail as Andrew Glenn, was fresh off the trail when we spoke and still processing his experience from this summer. He went big, connecting the Continental Divide Trail and Canada’s Great Divide Trail. A total of over 3,700 miles with the final 10 days hiked without seeing another person. So sit right back and you’ll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful hike. That started as a project and ended up capturing his heart.
Read MoreKarma, known off trail as Nichole Young, thru hike of the AT in 2016 and attempt at the Mini Triple Crown in 2017 had to be coordinated around A LOT of life events. A very relatable problem. In this episode, we talk about being flexible & realistic about how those things inter-relate, how being a planned solo hiker mixes with finding a tramily on the first day, expectations vs reality and how she hopes her adventures will inspire her new daughter as she grows up.
Read MoreDarth Jader, known off trail as Jade Cabrera, was one of the adventurers who took on the PCT in 2019. With her tramily, she walked, ran, glissaded and hitchhiked up the West Coast. In this episode we talk luxury items & mascara, post trail, leave no trace, The Sierras and stepping foot on the trail in the first place.
Read MoreAndy, known off trail as Andy Kermode, hiked the Superior Hiking Trail this summer. 310 miles in 21 days. He didn’t quite get a trail name, but he’s all of us newbie thru hikers who wonder “Can I do this? Should I do a thru hike?” In this episode, he shares the lesson he learned about overall preventive care, the importance of the feet, things he would do differently and conversations with his wife so they were both on board this thru hike
Read MoreHawaii, known off trail as Sarah Dramis, had never experienced mountains cause you know Florida and Hawaii aren’t known for them, before entering the Sierras on her Pacific Crest Trail thru hike in 2015. As with most addictions, trail goals transformed from one into three and this year she completed her Triple Crown. In this episode, we talk about where the best star gazing on trail is, how some of her social media followers became trail angels and even fellow thru hikers and how social media can be a force for good in uniting thru hikers from around the globe.
Read MoreLegend, known off trail as Jeff Garmire, took a break from college in 2011 to hike the PCT and figure out his life with gear that his family would bring on weekend hikes. A 50 pound pack and quite impressive list of just in case gear redundancies on his back, he was off to great places. Fast forward, he has since completed the Calendar Year Triple Crown and the Great Western Loop, as well as Fastest Known Times on a number of trails. In this episode, he shares the lessons he’s learned as well as a few of the misadventures.
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