Hiking Thru

Up & At Em, Pesky and Lost & Found, The Wander Women, are known off trail as Kristy, Annette & Lynn. They have been hiking together for years and this year decided to tackle the AT. Successfully I might add. In this episode we talk about the food they will never eat again, their notoriety in the Mom set and how staying in the moment, being joyful, makes the trail a never ending adventure. Be advised, you'll probably leave this episode thoroughly entertained and inspired to tackle a trail of your own.

Larry, known off trail as Lani Advokat, packed up her life and hit the PCT in 2017. The year of fire and ice. In this episode we talk about the simple act of deciding to get on the trail, struggles on trail which caused her to flip north and hike southbound in order to finish and how crucial it is to focus on the good... or get a little help from a friend to remind you.

Twerk, known off trail as Tommy Corey, having left the PCT in 2017 came back in 2018 to finish what he started. Around Wrightwood, he began posting this little thing called #HikerTrashVogue. In this episode, we talk how the photographs helped him finish the trail, mountain lions in camp and how completing the trail changed him.

The Prodigy, known off trail as Tyler Lau, caught the thru hiking bug in 2016 when he hiked the PCT. Or maybe it was earlier when he became part of the crews that do trail maintenance. I’ve talked to individuals who have done each of the trails & even some who’ve done all three. However, on December 29, 2018 he became the 10th person and first person of color to do all 3 in a single calendar year. I think his words sum it up best...“ in the end I tell people I just went for a really long walk.”

The Machine, known off trail as Joey Leen, was so excited to start the AT that he hiked 31 miles that first day. And so began the start of the adventure life. In this episode we talk food... and more food; Pizza buffets, and Hiker Pad Thai and other things you can mix peanut butter with. And let's not forget the story of how Maine kicked his ass!

Tough, known off trail as Sarah Williams, set out in 2017 to hike the Appalachian Trail in 100 days. Vlogging daily, she recorded honestly the entire journey - the glorious, the difficult and everything in-between. In this episode we talk about the many challenges - overcoming hiker hunger, staying on track when the miles don't seem to add up, remaining grateful... Just the little things!

Bolt, known off trail as Connor Pierce, hiked the AT to figure out what comes next after graduating with a philosophy degree. Little did he know, the meandering trail would be a perfect place to ponder....particularly when you start in early February. The suffering either breaks you or you find the funny and in this episode he relates where he found the funny.

Puff Puff, known off trail as Alex Mason, has been on a 4 year adventure. By the time Jukebox crossed her path on the AT in 2018, she had NOBO hiked the PCT then went back the next year in 2016 to SOBO the PCT. Jumped directly into a thru hike of the Te Araroa followed by cycling 81 days across Australia with a hop to Indonesia for another couple months of cycling. Her next adventure will be rowing across the Atlantic then Indian Oceans in 2020 supporting research into Parkinson’s Disease and PTSD. Get comfortable there’s a lot to talk about.

Balls, known off trail as Marek Bowers, started Rawlogy to find a super light weight, environmentally friendly source for recovery balls in order to relieve pain while in the wilderness. In this episode, we talk about ways rolling can help to keep you out on trail, what size ball works best for different things and hugging a tree. And if you #shareyourballs, Marek has a special treat for you.

Mr Fabulous, known off trail as Derick Lugo, went from never having hiked before to AT thru hiker in a matter of weeks. In this episode, he regales me with stories of the adventures and misadventures of walking from Georgia to Maine. And how these stories became his new book "The Unlikely Thru Hiker".