Almost There Adventure Podcast

In Episode 99, we welcome Heather Klein Olson, Executive Director of the American Hiking Society, for a wide-ranging conversation about trail stewardship, outdoor access, advocacy, and how hikers of all experience levels can get involved in protecting and enjoying public lands.

Heather shares her personal journey from growing up near Indiana Dunes to leading one of the nation’s foremost hiking advocacy organizations. The discussion explores AHS programs that support trail conservation, volunteerism, and community engagement — while also addressing current challenges facing outdoor recreation and public lands.

The episode also highlights how hiking doesn’t have to start with big mountains or long trips — sometimes it simply begins with stepping outside for a few minutes and building community around being outdoors.

• Heather’s path to becoming Executive Director of American Hiking Society

• The mission and impact of American Hiking Society

• Volunteer Vacations and trail stewardship across the U.S.

• Alternative Break trips for college students

• New family-friendly volunteer programs

• National Trails Day and its nationwide impact

• Next Gen Trail Leaders program

• Advocacy efforts through Hike the Hill in Washington, D.C.

• Supporting trails during federal staffing and funding challenges

• Technology and access: hiking exoskeleton demo experiences

• How beginners can start hiking

• The importance of outdoor community and accountability partners

• The economic and social importance of public lands

• AHS coordinates 35–45 volunteer trail projects annually across the country.

• Volunteers range from teens to participants in their 80s.

• National Trails Day now includes events in all 50 states, engaging tens of thousands of people each year.

• AHS operates with a small but mighty staff, mobilizing hundreds of volunteers annually.

• Outdoor access benefits not just hikers, but also gateway communities and local economies.

Heather’s simple starting advice:

• Go outside for five minutes.

• Walk around the block or visit a local park.

• Find an accountability partner or hiking group.

• Start small and build consistency.

Hiking doesn’t have to mean mountains — it can start with simply walking outdoors.

Listeners can support or engage with American Hiking Society by:

• Donating or joining the Summit Club monthly giving program

• Participating in Volunteer Vacations

• Attending or organizing events for National Trails Day

• Following AHS on social media

• Joining advocacy efforts like Hike the Hill

• Volunteering on AHS committees

• Purchasing gear through the AHS online store

More info: AmericanHiking.org

Heather discusses testing a hiking exoskeleton device that helped hikers conserve energy and improved mobility — showing how technology is expanding access to outdoor experiences.

Episode 99 sets the stage for the podcast’s upcoming 100th episode celebration, marking a milestone for the show while spotlighting the importance of protecting and sharing outdoor spaces for future generations.

What does it take to swim across oceans, outrun exhaustion, and keep going when everything hurts?

On this episode of the Almost There Adventure Podcast, we’re joined by endurance athlete and philanthropist Darren Miller — a man who has completed the legendary Ocean Seven channel swims, run 100-mile ultramarathons, and turned personal hardship into a lifelong mission to help others.

We talk about:

• Swimming the English Channel and the Ocean Seven

• Training in freezing water and building “brown fat”

• Sharks, jellyfish, and open-water fear

• Transitioning from marathon swimming to ultrarunning

• Tackling the Moab 240 ultramarathon

• Raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity

• Why purpose matters more than comfort

This is a powerful conversation about endurance, mindset, service, and living life without regrets.

🎧 Subscribe and follow for more stories from the edge of adventure.

In Episode 97 of the Almost There Adventure Podcast, hosts Saveria Tilden, Jeff Hester, and Jason Fitzpatrick welcome filmmakers, mountain athletes, and community builders Dani Reyes-Acosta and Vanessa Chavarriaga Posada for a powerful conversation about their latest project in the Outlier film series: OUTLIER: Common.

This episode explores friendship, identity, splitboarding and ski mountaineering, big mountain visuals, and—yes—jumping in alpine lakes. Dani and Vanessa share how they found one another in the outdoor community, why representation in mountain sports matters, and how their personal stories helped shape a documentary rooted in belonging, community, and cultural reclamation.

We get into backcountry adventures, filmmaking that uplifts BIPOC creatives, the costs & ethics of outdoor storytelling, and why curiosity might be one of the most radical tools we have in turbulent times.

If you’ve ever felt like an outsider in the outdoor world, this episode is a deep breath of recognition.

On this episode: our favorite episodes of 2023, format change, dogs, and another year in the books. It’s our reflections on the year past, and a look ahead at what’s next.

Top 3 Most Downloaded episodes from 2023

• 3 – Episode 86 – Carol Coyne on Thru-Hiking and Community

Our 2023 Highlights – A few of our favorite episodes

• Episode 78: The Knoth Family on Bikepacking Year-Round

Programming Changes for 2024

What We Are Doing in 2024

Saveria with Adventurus Women has a bunch of trips, including the Tour du Mont Blanc at the end of September, and a trip to the Dolomites, AND their first “plus one” trip to Africa.

Jeff is organizing the 10th year for the Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge Series— a series of 17 regional, self-paced, self-guided hiking challenges. Plus he is leading his first big group trip… to Patagonia this March. Plus, getting together with Jason and friends to hike the Timberline Trail this summer.

One of Jason’s big film projects Free Outside is now out to rent and watch on Apple TV, Amazon and elsewhere. Check it out.

Favorite Memories from 2023

For Jason, his highlight was backpacking to Miter Basin with friends (sans Jeff), and he’s looking forward to spending more time on his photography in 2024.

Saveria’s 2023 highlight was her group trip to Africa, where she also leveled-up her camera gear. She’s looking forward to the Tour du Mont Blanc.

Jeff’s highlight? Hiking the 192-mile Coast to Coast Walk across England (with no rain over 17 days!), and he’s looking most forward to Patagonia next.

The Almost There Adventure Podcast is and will always be free. If you’d like to help us keep the lights on, we are now on Patreon, where you can support our work with a buck or two (or more) each month. Send us some green and help us keep the pod rolling! 

Like Almost There on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/almostthereadventurepodcast/

Follow Almost There on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostthere_ap/ 

Send us a voice message! https://www.speakpipe.com/AlmostThere

Our Co-hosts

• Jason Fitzpatrick – IG: @themuirproject

Theme song by Opus Orange. Courtesy of Emoto Music. 

The Almost There Adventure Podcast is a celebration of outdoor activities both local and epic. Discussing the big topics and talking to adventurers, artists, legends and activists within the outdoor community.

On this episode: sheds, map grids, busking in Spain, and 5-to-9 adventures. We are talking with Alastair Humphreys, named as National Geographic Adventurer of the Year for his work on the concept of microadventures. He’s had some big adventures, too, from cycling completely around the world in four years to canoeing 500 miles down the Yukon River. And along the way, he’s authored 14 books inspiring people to find room for adventure in their daily lives.

The funny thing about going all the way around the world is it makes you realize how little of the world you’ve actually seen.

• Full Tilt: Ireland to India with a Bicycle – Dervla Murphy

• In the US, you can download your map from the USGS for free

• Website: alastairhumphreys.com

The Almost There Adventure Podcast is and will always be free. If you’d like to help us keep the lights on, we are now on Patreon, where you can support our work with a buck or two (or more) each month. Send us some green and help us keep the pod rolling! 

Like Almost There on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/almostthereadventurepodcast/

Follow Almost There on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostthere_ap/ 

Send us a voice message! https://www.speakpipe.com/AlmostThere

Our Co-hosts

• Jason Fitzpatrick – IG: @themuirproject

Theme song by Opus Orange. Courtesy of Emoto Music. 

The Almost There Adventure Podcast is a celebration of outdoor activities both local and epic. Discussing the big topics and talking to adventurers, artists, legends and activists within the outdoor community.

On this episode: Hiking podcasts, the days, and getting a doctorate in hiker trash. We’re talking with Collyn “Doc” Nielsen of Hiker Trash Radio.

Hear how he got into hiking and backpacking, what inspired him to start his podcast, and the takeaways from recording over 300 episodes interviewing backpackers, thru-hikers and outdoor adventurers.

• Hiker Trash Radio – Doc’s podcast

• HikerTrashRadio.com – official website of Doc’s podcast

The Almost There Adventure Podcast is and will always be free. If you’d like to help us keep the lights on, we are now on Patreon, where you can support our work with a bus or two (or more) each month. Send us some green and help us keep the pod rolling! 

Like Almost There on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/almostthereadventurepodcast/

Follow Almost There on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostthere_ap/ 

Send us a voice message! https://www.speakpipe.com/AlmostThere

Our Co-hosts

• Jason Fitzpatrick – IG: @themuirproject

Theme song by Opus Orange. Courtesy of Emoto Music. 

The Almost There Adventure Podcast is a celebration of outdoor activities both local and epic. Discussing the big topics and talking to adventurers, artists, legends and activists within the outdoor community.

On this episode: small successes, women porters, and the Himalaya. We’re talking with Marinel de Jesus and Sara Frenning about the Porter Voice Collective and their project for a women-led trek on the Great Himalaya Trail.

Marinel is a digital nomad, founder of Brown Gal Trekker, Equity Global Treks and The Porter Voice Collective, where Sara is a researcher. Both joined us from Nepal, which wis the longest distance we’ve recorded a show from to date.

• KM 82: The Porter Voices of Peru’s Camino Inca – a documentary project of The Porter Voice Collective

• Brown Girl Trekker – Marinel’s website

The Almost There Adventure Podcast is and will always be free. If you’d like to help us keep the lights on, we are now on Patreon, where you can support our work with a bus or two (or more) each month. Send us some green and help us keep the pod rolling! 

Like Almost There on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/almostthereadventurepodcast/

Follow Almost There on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostthere_ap/ 

Send us a voice message! https://www.speakpipe.com/AlmostThere

Our Co-hosts

• Jason Fitzpatrick – IG: @themuirproject

Theme song by Opus Orange. Courtesy of Emoto Music. 

The Almost There Adventure Podcast is a celebration of outdoor activities both local and epic. Discussing the big topics and talking to adventurers, artists, legends and activists within the outdoor community.

On this episode: the Colorado Trail, fighter planes, learning how to thru-hike, and Inspector Gadget. We invited Adam "Dreamer" Salinger back (he was in Episode 23) to share some of his most recent adventures, his approach to finding the best gear, and his new coaching and consulting services for long-distance hikers.

• Yosemite Rim Loop

• View his trip reports at Adam's Treks (website) and updates on Instagram @dreamer2000at

The Almost There Adventure Podcast is and will always be free. If you’d like to help us keep the lights on, we are now on Patreon, where you can support our work with a bus or two (or more) each month. Send us some green and help us keep the pod rolling! 

Like Almost There on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/almostthereadventurepodcast/

Follow Almost There on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostthere_ap/ 

Send us a voice message! https://www.speakpipe.com/AlmostThere

Our Co-hosts

• Jason Fitzpatrick – IG: @themuirproject

Theme song by Opus Orange. Courtesy of Emoto Music. 

The Almost There Adventure Podcast is a celebration of outdoor activities both local and epic. Discussing the big topics and talking to adventurers, artists, legends and activists within the outdoor commu

On this episode: maps, artificial intelligence, and lutefisk. We’re talking with Elizabeth Person of Everett, Washington, an illustrator and cartographer who creates beautiful ink and watercolor maps for trails, parks and much-loved outdoor spaces.

We talk about how summer trips to North Dakota in her dad’s small plane led to her fascination with maps and geography, and how she turned her passion into a full-time business.

• Metsker Maps in Seattle

• Check out Elizabeth’s website: elizabethperson.com

The Almost There Adventure Podcast is and will always be free. If you’d like to help us keep the lights on, we are now on Patreon, where you can support our work with a bus or two (or more) each month. Send us some green and help us keep the pod rolling! 

Like Almost There on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/almostthereadventurepodcast/

Follow Almost There on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostthere_ap/ 

Send us a voice message! https://www.speakpipe.com/AlmostThere

Our Co-hosts

• Jason Fitzpatrick – IG: @themuirproject

Theme song by Opus Orange. Courtesy of Emoto Music. 

The Almost There Adventure Podcast is a celebration of outdoor activities both local and epic. Discussing the big topics and talking to adventurers, artists, legends and activists within the outdoor community.

On this episode: Yada-yada-yada, death vs thrash metal, lucha libra, and some pretty epic adventures. We sit down with Kristen and Ville Jokinen to talk about how they met scuba diving in Vietnam, went on to crew on a sailboat, thru-hike the Pacific Crest Trail, and ultimately biked from Alaska to Argentina — all with very little prior experience.

They are currently on a book tour, and you can find where and when they will be in town on their website.

• We Lost the Map – Kristen & Ville’s website.

• You can keep up with Kristen and Ville at their website, We Lost the Map.

The Almost There Adventure Podcast is and will always be free. If you’d like to help us keep the lights on, we are now on Patreon, where you can support our work with a bus or two (or more) each month. Send us some green and help us keep the pod rolling! 

Like Almost There on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/almostthereadventurepodcast/

Follow Almost There on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostthere_ap/ 

Send us a voice message! https://www.speakpipe.com/AlmostThere

Our Co-hosts

• Jason Fitzpatrick – IG: @themuirproject

Theme song by Opus Orange. Courtesy of Emoto Music. 

The Almost There Adventure Podcast is a celebration of outdoor activities both local and epic. Discussing the big topics and talking to adventurers, artists, legends and activists within the outdoor community.