This week I'm  excited to bring you a conversation with my friend hiker, mountain biker, rock climber and skier Ben Allen.

Ben Allan is a hiker, mountain biker, rock climber and skier who currently lives in the Bay Area, working as a Ranger Aide for Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. Ben was born in England and grew up in the Bay Area, and was exposed to a lot of classic hikes in both California and England by his family. In 2017 Ben moved to Ashland, Oregon to attend Southern Oregon University. Through SOU's Outdoor Program, Ben was introduced to more outdoor activities, and started working for the program as trip staff. Through working in the outdoors in an institutional setting, Ben has become passionate about making outdoor experiences more accessible for others and ensuring that others can have the same transformative experiences he has had in the outdoors. This has also led him to a complete career change from studying Communications/Digital Cinema in college, to hopefully working in public lands as a ranger. Ben is currently in the selection process for the CA State Parks Ranger Academy and hopes to become a full-time generalist ranger. His Instagram is @Ben_Allan_

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Music licensed through musicbed.com.

Intro Song: NEVER STOP by Tyler Brown William-  https://open.spotify.com/track/4fGgmcD5Ke4I4ZfJ1hZeiW?si=cc831237612840c6 

Closing Song: STILL WANDERING by Bronze Radio Return- https://open.spotify.com/track/7wJyGhYZ6OjFmxaD62tlbZ?si=565bd9892e944732 

Each week new hiker Andy Neal, takes you along on the trail talking with voices in the outdoor and hiking community finding stories of how hiking has inspired them to grow, create, and better the world and environment around them. A show for those first starting out on the trail and for experienced thru-hikers!