Hiking Thru

Jukebox, known off trail as Devin Everett, started her thru hiking adventures on the Appalachian Trail in 2018.  In this episode, she reminisces about hiking with lyme disease, crazy food cravings which inadvertently started a black market in Honey Stingers and stokes a bit of gear anxiety as she prepares for the PCT, which she literally started this first week of May.  Say "HI" if you stumble upon her.

Chardonnay, known off trail as Elsye Walker, completed her Triple Crown in 2018 becoming the first African American Woman to do so.  In this episode we talk about how her time on the trail became the entry to adventures of many shapes and sizes.  We also delve into the dangers of getting locked into your pre-trail plans to the detriment of the overall experience.

In part two of my conversation with Spur, known off trail as Jake Carr, we dig into a little psychology. The amazing gift when you give yourself permission to try, the importance of diversity and representation on the trail... and the difficulty of transitioning back to real life after being a superhero for five months.

Spur, known off trail as Jake Carr, came to the AT with literally no previous thru hiking experience.  Taking it one day at a time, he summited Katahdin five and a half months later.  In this episode, we talk about the amazing adventure of it all, trail diversity and never forgetting the importance of practicing self love.

Songbird, known off trail as Caroline Kellough, took to the PCT with her boyfriend in 2018. This episode she digs into what she gave up to carry coffee, pondering the question “is it cold soaking or solar heating”...the age old trail question “Do dinosaurs have pancreases?” And how the trail broke her open.

LL Cool Juniper or LL for short, known off trail as Caitlin Olson, jumped on the Pacific Crest Trail in 2017 with her friend Indigo. Setting off with limited experience, they quickly got into the thru hiking routine... with daily coffee breaks. Almost getting renamed "too far away to help", she shares the story of how quickly things can change out there.

Semper Fi, known off trail as Andrew Blubaugh, completed his Triple Crown in 2001. In this episode, he takes a walk down memory lane with me. Even though it was almost 20 years ago, I bet it’s going to sound strangely familiar... except for the walkman.

Mama Lion, known off trail as Olivia Miller Bakke, tackled the Pacific Crest Trail in 2016 with her 9 year old son, Boone.  When we first met, her indulging of my many questions about food and packs and clothes and all of the things that are the crazy incredible experience of thru hiking inspired this podcast.  If you see them on the AT this summer, definitely say "Hi".

Beans, known off trail as Meg Davis, started her golden thru hiking adventures on the Pacific Crest Trail. Moving to the Continental Divide Trail, the bloom fell off the adventure. Others have mentioned her exploits... 89 miles without stopping, leaving the trail in Colorado... here she tells the story behind the story.

In part 2 of my conversation with Puma Salad, known off trail as Alfred Smith, we dig into the origins of his trail name and the all joys of cowboy camping.  In a little reality check, he talks about what it means to take months off to hike and the scariness when the journey comes to an end... and you have to answer the question "what comes next".