This episode of Hiking Thru Podcast is a little different and it's because of all of you! Your excitement for the trails, your sharing of the agony and the ecstasy... your stories are infectious, and have inspired my next guest to focus his attention on creating a new National Scenic Trail. John, known off trail as John Sprankel, has set his heart on establishing the Oahu Coastline Trail, which would be a brand new trail that encircles the 227 miles of Oahu's coastline. He will be doing the...

Eagle 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.

Magpie & 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.

Abstract, 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...

Constantine, 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,...

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...

Darrah 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.

Scout, known off trail as Scout or Scout & Frodo and sometimes Barney Mann, is known within the thru hiking community for hosting PCT hikers at the southern terminus. But he’s also a Triple Crowner and the PCT is where it all started. In his new book, JOURNEY’S NORTH, he recounts his and Frodo's 2007 thru hike while also lovingly telling the amazing stories of the tramily they walked with for 2650 miles. And for those missing the trail, I asked for an after dinner talk. So get your...

­­­­­­­Sisyphus, known off trail as Will Peterson, hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2019 and was supposed to hit the Pacific Crest Trail this year… until everything got derailed. Instead he set his sights on an FKT of the New Hampshire 4000 footers. Also known as the Direttissima. It took 2 attempts, but on July 29th he set a new unsupported FKT. In this episode, we talk about his FKT and the different types of FKT’s, how his hiking partner leaving trail threw him for a loop on the AT, and why...

Stark 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.

Poppins, known off trail as Marie-Pier Tremblay, went from thinking she wasn’t the type of person who could thru hike the PCT 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.

Peanut, 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...

Tranquilo, known off trail as Daniel Nogueira, started his Te Araroa on October 31st of 2019. After a two month covid lockdown, he carried on reaching Bluff on June 14th in the middle of a New Zealand winter. In this episode, we talk about how he hiked zero waste, the miles he dedicated to plant trees, how to zombie walk… and why you shouldn’t and a cleansing rain shower.

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.

This 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 PCT 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 –...

Fiddlehead, 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.

BB, 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.

Layzer 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.

PCP, known off trail as Chelsea Fisher, knocked out the Appalachian Trail in 2017, the Long Trail in 2018 and the Pacific 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.

Tiger, known as Sam Lleva, did two life changing things in 2019.  He thru hiked the Pacific Crest Trail 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.

Snazzy, 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.

Head 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.

Griz, 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.