In this episode of Walking Distance presented by The Trek and hosted by Blissful Hiker (Alison Young), we are joined by Tamra Neblett-Hemmila, a 28-year-old long distance backpacker from Saint Paul, Minnesota. Tamra also happens to be black, Latina and Muslim; she was quite visible on the CDT this past season, practicing her faith by wearing a sport hijab on trail. If she seemed “uncommon” on the trail, her story is universal to hikers. Blissful Hiker covers how Tamra practiced her faith on...

In this episode of Walking Distance presented by The Trek and hosted by Blissful Hiker (Alison Young), we are joined by Tom Smith, a professor of wildlife sciences at Brigham Young University in Utah. Initially Smith’s research specialities included bighorn sheep and caribou, but when he began working at Katmai National Park in Southwest Alaska, he shifted to studying the most common animal there: bears. In the last 20 years, Smith has conducted research in Alaska, India, and in bear country...

In this episode of Walking Distance presented by The Trek and hosted by Blissful Hiker (Alison Young), we are joined by Cindy Ross, a Triple-Crowner, writer, artist and speaker, and Travis Johnston, a Triple-Crowner and veteran. Cindy Ross has authored books about her own adventures on the trail, but her newest, Walking Toward Peace, highlights 25 veterans and their stories of the trail. Cindy and her husband run a nonprofit called River House PA that helps veterans suffering from trauma....

In this episode of Walking Distance presented by The Trek and hosted by Blissful Hiker (Alison Young), we are joined by Dan Purdy, a professional backpacking guide for Wildland Trekking in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and Ali Carr, an outdoor adventure writer and founder and CEO of Basecamp, an outdoor job organization.. Dan traded in his engineering desk job for a career in guiding backpacking trips in 2018, starting by volunteering in Norway through a Workaway position. Ali started...

We are joined by Rebecca Olson, a team leader volunteer with King County Search and Rescue in Washington State, and Steve McClure, a board member of The Mountaineers, an alpine club and nonprofit in Seattle. The Mountaineers, founded in 1906, has trademarked the 10 Essentials and offers a book that’s called the bible of mountaineering. Blissful Hiker covers how to use search and rescue services if needed, the 10 essentials & how to plan a hike, plus in depth gear recommendations that...

In this episode of Walking Distance presented by The Trek and hosted by Blissful Hiker (Alison Young), we are joined by Shaw-lin Desai, a Triple Crowner and Vice President of Advancement at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC), and Aer Parris, a 2015 PCT thru-hiker who identifies as queer and gender neutral. Desai is also the first person of South Asian descent to become a Triple Crowner, and he also identifies as queer. After their 2015 thru-hike, Parris began blogging for REI, often...

In this episode of Walking Distance presented by The Trek and hosted by Blissful Hiker (Alison Young), we are joined by Sophia Garber, a 24-year-old Appalachian Trail thru-hiker and vlogger, and Second Chance Hiker, aka Cory. Every morning Sophia writes “be the sunshine” with sharpie on her arm, a phrase that comes from her friend Cristal; she met Cristal working at the Ulman House, a nonprofit for young adults with cancer. Her mantra reminds her to find meaning and joy in things that can be...

In this episode of Walking Distance presented by The Trek and hosted by Blissful Hiker (Alison Young), we are joined by Gabe Joyes, an ultramarathoner and sponsored athlete, and Ryan Ghelfi, an ultramarathoner and endurance athlete coach. Joyes lives in Lander, Wyoming, near the Wind River Range, and nabbed the FKT (Fastest Known Time) for the Wind River High Route last September, completing it in 47 hours. Ghelfi has several FKTs under his belt and owns the company Wilderness Fastpacking in...

In this episode of Walking Distance presented by The Trek and hosted by Blissful Hiker (Alison Young), we are joined by Andrew Skurka, one of the best traveled and fastest hikers on the planet, and a National Geographic and Outside Magazine Adventurer of the Year. Skurka has hiked enormous distances, including 4700 miles on the Alaska-Yukon expedition, 6900 miles on the Great Western Loop. and 7700 miles on the Sea-to-Sea route. As a result of his travels, Skurka has developed a system for...

Janet Hensley aka Miss Janet is an Appalachian Trail "trail angel". Miss Janet’s relationship to the AT started when she lived in Erwin, Tennessee close to the trail; she hosted over 10,000 hikers at her hostel before she was eventually drawn to the road.” Rob Firmin and George Mills, a couple living in Whanganui, New Zealand, are trail angels along the Te Aroroa. Blissful Hiker covers the emotional bonds of friendship between hikers and trail angels, how experiencing trail magic can change...

In this episode of Walking Distance presented by The Trek and hosted by Blissful Hiker (Alison Young), we are joined by Miranda Webster, the star of REI’s Youtube series, “Miranda in the Wild.” Beginning her career as a cashier at REI, Miranda now educates new backpackers about everything from meal planning, how to wash Goretex, and how to poop in the woods. Blissful Hiker covers the Youtube filming process, how Miranda relates to her audience, and advice to others hoping to break into the...

Tie Sing served as Yosemite's backcountry chef during the early 1900s. Known as the “gourmet chef of the Sierra” and “the philosopher of the Sierras,” Sing Peak in Yosemite National Park is named after Tie Sing. Blissful Hiker is joined by Yenyen Chan, a Yosemite Ranger, and Jack Shu, former Superintendent of California Parks and Recreation.covers the history of Asian-Americans in America’s National Parks, efforts against Asian-American hate, and how we all can pay homage to Tie Sing today.

Today we are joined by Jason Gayheart, Heather Balogh Rochfort, and Kayla and Fynleigh Percy. Jason Gayheart will be hiking the CDT this summer with his wife Jackie and their three children, ages 16, 12 and 8. Heather Balogh Rochfort recently co-founded WildKind Closet, a non-profit that offers low cost outdoor gear rental to families. Kayla Percy and her 7 year old daughter Fynleigh are currently NOBOs hiking the AT. Each shares their unique perspectives on hiking with kids.

Emily Ford is the first woman and person of color to thru-hike Wisconsin’s 1,200 mile Ice Age Trail in winter. Emily is from Duluth, and the head gardener at the historic Glensheen Mansion. She completed her Ice Age thru-hike with a dog she cherished, an Alaskan husky named Diggins. Blissful Hiker covers the unique loneliness of solo backpacking, humanity’s relationship with wilderness, and Emily’s perspective on what her hike means for people of color. 

Dan Durston is a biologist, gear designer, & owner of Durston Gear. Durston hiked the Great Divide Trail in the Canadian Rockies as well as the PCT and also holds FKTs of the Stein Traverse in British Columbia & the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana. Dan uses his backpacking expertise to design simple and light outdoor equipment. Blissful Hiker covers Dan’s evolution from gear reviews to gear designs, the inevitable compromises made when designing &selecting gear, & how gear...

We are joined by Andrew Downs, the Senior Regional Director of the ATC - South, and Gina Knox, a 2021 Granite Gear Groundskeeper. Downs thru hiked the AT in 2002 and has a volunteer-first approach to protecting and maintaining the AT. Gina Knox has postponed her AT 2021 thru-hike, and is instead cleaning up 300 miles of public lands. We covers how hikers can become trail volunteers, how COVID has impacted the cleanliness of outdoor spaces, and the logistics of packing out pounds of trash from...

Today's subject focuses on eating well in the backcountry. Aaron Owens Mayhew, a registered dietician and thru hiker, left her career to thru hike the PCT. She’s also the founder of Backcountry Foodie, a site that includes meal plans, shopping lists, community forums, masterclasses and other resources for hiking food. The show covers why the 2 lb per day backpacking food principle may be a myth, how to pack more calories into less space, & how to stay high energy on the trail with carbs,...

Today's episode is all about safety in the backcountry. The interviews feature Dr. Elizabeth Andre is an Associate Professor of Nature and Culture at Northland College, and Molly Herber is a project manager for NOLS. Topics covered include the basics of human psychology and how it pertains to safety in the backcountry the theories of risk homeostasis and heuristics, and how to practice “negative thinking” to be more safe on the trail.

In this episode of Walking Distance presented by The Trek and hosted by Blissful Hiker (Alison Young), we are joined by Nicholas Kristof, an award winning columnist at the New York Times and dedicated section hiker. Now, he’s working on section hiking the Pacific Northwest Trail, hiking with his wife, their daughter, and her boyfriend. Blissful Hiker covers the benefits and drawbacks of section hiking versus thru-hiking, how to plan hikes and stay in shape while working a job, and hiking...

In this episode of Walking Distance presented by The Trek and hosted by Blissful Hiker (Alison Young), we are joined by Alan Dixon, an outdoor guide and competitive athlete, and Kelly Floro, lead writer and content editor for The Trek. Blissful Hiker covers how to straddle the line between ultralight and luxurious hiking, how to feel you have “permission” to take whatever you need, and gives the 411 about testing gear before going on a long hike with it.

In the first episode of Walking Distance presented by The Trek and hosted by Blissful Hiker (Alison Young), we are joined by Dr. Alan Carpenter and Heather Balogh Rochfort. Blissful Hiker covers how to transition from day hiker to backpacker, from preparing mentally and physically, learning about gear and building camaraderie, and how to get over beginners’ perfectionism.