Sharkboy & 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 MoreThis episode is going to be a little different. Today’s guest is Doug Laher. He is sharing this story for his son Trevor “Microsoft” Laher who lost his life while thru hiking the Pacific Crest Trail at Apache Peak just outside of Idyllwild on March 27, 2020. Trevor was just 11 days into his hike. Doug’s mission now is to make sure no other family gets that same call through advocacy and encouraging hikers to embrace three key mindsets that might have saved his son’s life.
1 - #EmbraceTheAlternate
2 – Don’t short change your safety at the expense of grams and ounces.
3 – Develop sound risk management strategies before you hit the trail.
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 MoreBB, known off trail as Nathan Hankes, came back from Iraq heart set on thru hiking.
Convincing his brother to join him, they SOBO’d the AT in 2009 from which sprang his book “Waking Up On The Appalachian Trail.” In this episode, we talk about how the trail helped him process his experiences in Iraq, the dichotomy of being a slave to the mileage versus taking breaks to be present, and the importance of finding your nutritional sweet spot.
Purple 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 MoreLayzer GOAT, known off trail as Anthony Earl, has completed the distance of the Appalachian and Colorado Trails. On the AT, he started out with a 55 pound pack which included a different hat for each day of the week. Suffice it to say, things have changed since then and in this episode we talk about the other side of the dilemma with whether to cut your toothbrush or not, thunderstorms in Colorado, peanut butter trail magic, and Purple Rain Skirts.
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 MoreTiger, known as Sam Lleva, did two life changing things in 2019. He thru hiked the PCT and left trail for awhile to get married. In this episode, of course we have to talk about how he convinced his fiancé that being on the trail before and after the wedding was a great idea, the difficulty of visiting home while thru hiking and the Sierra curve balls.
Read MoreSnazzy, known off trail as Mike Stone, was also part of IB TAT’s late October PCT push to the border last year. So, of course, we have to talk about it. Along the way, we also get to reminisce about being a tent dweller, the Bend beer tour, the kindness of strangers and the Snazzy straw.
Read MoreHead Trauma, known off trail as Caesar Sangalang, fell into thru hiking quite by accident. In New Zealand on a work visa, he was lured onto the Te Araroa. Okay maybe it was more of a “That sounds cool! Let’s do it!” kinda thing. Either way, in this episode we deep dive into the TA. With a few detours for pontoon party boats, 5 hour road walks and tea bag toilet paper.
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 MoreTip Tap, known off trail as Elina Osborne, arrived at the Mexican Border a year ago almost to the day, faced north and started walking. 137 days later she tagged the Canadian border. She then made this little video… you might have seen it… ”It Is The People” that so perfectly captured the experience, it went a little viral. In this episode, we jump into the making of the video, finding your people, embracing the discomfort and the power of peanut butter.
Read MoreSocks, known off trail as Sara Kruglinski, started 2018 with a plan to just hike a section of the Pacific Crest Trail during her vacation. Fast forward to feet on trail and everything changed. With both a NOBO and SOBO thru hike now under her belt, in this episode we talk about being clear on the goal of completing vs continuous footsteps, the joys of being a height challenged hiker, trail games to make the miles go by and safety islands.
Read MoreChris Smead co-directed a documentary called HIGHLINE, which follows the 10 day hike of five friends on the Highline Trail in the northern Utah mountains. Along with the hike, the film also reflects on each man’s personal journey as well as the history of the trail itself. In this episode, we discuss how the film came to be and the challenges of filming in such a remote location with crazy weather patterns and continuous high altitude. If you need a little solace from the off trail blues, the streaming release was yesterday, April 7th.
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