Off Trail

We have the privilege of speaking with the one and only, Luke Jordan or Strider!

Today we sit down to chat with Strider. We unpack many of the feelings and thoughts that went into his 2013 North Country Trail Thru-Hike. Not only was he one of the first people to accomplish such a feat, but more amazingly it was his very first long distance hike. No acclimation for him tackling a 2,000 mile, 2,650 mile, or 3,000 mile trail. No Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, or Continental Divide Trail would act as his introduction into the backpacking world. Instead tackling the massive 4,800+ mile North Country Trail would be his first!

We chat about how he was able to wrap his head around such a massive endeavor. The support from friends and family that helped fuel his fire. The internal drive to continue ahead even through hoards of mosquitoes. The one and only time he thought of "quitting" and how a chat with a fellow hiker, a warm meal, and an internal resolve to continue to live his dream propelled him forward. 

We chat about the Great Plains Trail. 2022 will be it's 10 year anniversary. We unpack what it was like to help navigate and route a long trail. We compare and contrast it to other trails, which as you know at this point is never easy! We talk about trail magic on a "lesser known" trail. We chat about the beauty of Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota and how the great plains are anything but plain. 

We chat about his current career with the National Park Service and how he works hand in hand with NCTA, the very trail that was his first thru-hike. We chat about the emotions of missing trail while still so actively involved in the everyday of trail. We chat about community and the three sides of volunteer, hiker, and employee and how the heart of everyone is the same, is Strider. 

We wrap up the show learning about 423 National Park Sites, and ask Strider the burning question of, with all his routing skills learned over the years when is he going to create a thru-hike connecting all of them?

Truly a wonderful chat with Strider, thank you for sharing part of your story with all of us! 

FAVORTIE QUOTES:

"As long as all my positive and mediocre experiences outweigh the bad ones, I think that is a good solid life."

"I am going to do whatever I can to make this happen"

"When you reach the end point, what is your purpose?"

To learn more about the Strider and get involved check out the link below:

Facebook: StriderNCT

Book: Through and Back Again

Email: [email protected]

To learn more about who we are click the link below:

Website: https://www.elevenskys.com/

Don't forget to leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts if you are enjoying the show! All weirdness not only welcome but appreciated!

We have the privilege of speaking with Rue and Leliah from the American Perimeter Trail!

Today we begin the show be diving into the steps around creating a long distance trail as well as how to spread awareness when travelling through communities that rarely if ever see backpackers. We unpack stories of being detained, and while it may sound scary, how unfortunately it can become a necessity when trying to introduce the concept of hiking, backpacking, and long distance travel into communities where as Rue stated it, "curiosity can either lead to love or to fear." 

We dive deep, incredibly deep, into the amount of isolation that Rue had to experience while he was out routing the trail through 2020 and 2021. Due to the pandemic coupled with the route being new, this lead to extreme cases of isolation. Where his only human contact was picking up a resupply box at a Post Office every one to two weeks as well as his daily check in with Leliah when cell service allowed. We hear both sides of this experience from Rue and Leliah. We unpack how it is an amazing privilege to be the person of support, but also an incredible responsibility. Leliah says it best when she says, "The APT doesn't exist without you, we need you to take care of you."

 We dive incredibly deep on this subject, because while it is heavy material, it is extremely powerful to learn the mindset, see the growth, and experience the thought through these moments. 

We chat about Rue's progression as a hiker and after his completion of The Triple Crown (Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail) years ago, how he stood in New Mexico feeling... well feeling empty, with the thought of "what am I doing here?" We learn how the American Perimeter Trail became his art, his connection, his community, his meaning, his family.

We also talk about Texas. Yes, Texas. Where huge percentages of the land is privately owned and the struggles of routing a trail through there. As Rue described it Texas became his freestyling routing, which means, each day he did not yet know where he would sleep, instead having to navigate and define the route in the moment. Many times asking individual land owners for permissions to cross the land. 

We wrap up the show as well as these notes with a disclaimer. There is confusion within the hiking community as to what the actual APT route is, understandably so due to its massive length at 12,000+ miles. What we can say from our chat, and how we can most accurately state it is, the trail is ever growing. The current maps on their website are not "gospel." Rue went out these past few years to route, and now is in the process of compiling, creating, and puzzle piecing in together the "completed" route. Yet, with a trail of this size, each year there will be changes, land will switch hands, routes will change. The APT is still growing, has just begun, it will continue to change. Current maps are "scouting route" not finalized route. 

FAVORTIE QUOTES:

"The trail is my teacher, the greatest privilege and education of my life"

"This is my family"

"Maybe I could beat being a human"

To learn more about the American Perimeter Trail check out the links below:

Website: American Perimeter Trail 

Instagram, Facebook, YouTube: @AmericanPerimeterTrail

To learn more about who we are click the link below:

Website: https://www.elevenskys.com/

Don't forget to leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts if you are enjoying the show! All weirdness not only welcome but appreciated!

We have the privilege of speaking with the three members of the North Country Trail Association!

Kate Lemon - Marketing and Communications Coordinator

Valerie Bader - Director of Trail Operations

Matthew Davis - Regional Trail Coordinator (North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin)

Today we have a very special episode for all of you as we sit down and chat with three of the members that help create, maintain and grow the North Country Trail which is America's longest National Scenic Trail.

We cover a broad range of topics such as funding for the NCT, the Chapters of the NCT which manage and maintain their local trails, the volunteers that make this trail possible, and what each of these people do on a day to day basis.

We learn that every day is different but the message and theme remains the same, growth of community, growth of accessibility, and spreading their love and passion of a wonderful trail. Valerie said it best, when she said "the other duties of our job description is where we spend 90% of our time." We learn about these other duties and the people that make a thru-hike, a section hike, a day hike, a few miles hike, possible on the North Country Trail.

We chat about land management, community relationships, and community involvement which all are an integral piece of the puzzle that creates a National Scenic Trail.

We chat about the Hike 100 Challenge, a wonderful initiative by the NCTA to increase the accessibility for anyone and everyone who whishes to experience the trail in their own unique way. We chat about the new Events Calendar, that will now make it easier to find, plan, and participate in all things North Country Trail.

Simply, we learn a lot about the workings behind the the physical trail itself, and learn about the wonderful people that makes it their everyday goal to continue to create and spread the love of what it means to be a part of the North Country Trail. 

FAVORTIE QUOTES:

Kate: "The North Country Trail is for everyone"

Valerie: "Very little barrier to entry... you need a pair of shoes and the initiative to get yourself out there!"

Matthew: "For me the NCT is a community...that we are all working together to build a legacy"

Thank you Kate, Val, and Matt for sharing with all of us a piece of what it takes to make such a wonderful trail possible! 

Get out there, get involved, become a part of the community! 

To learn more about the North Country Trail and get involved check out the link below:

Website: Northcountrytrail.org

To learn more about who we are click the link below:

Website: https://www.elevenskys.com/

Don't forget to leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts if you are enjoying the show! All weirdness not only welcome but appreciated!

We have the privilege of speaking with the one and only, Shotgun!

We could not help ourselves with this one, the passion, happiness, and joy from Shotgun was contagious, and we were thrown fully into hiker chat. This Off Trail episode is going to focus quite heavily On Trail, and it is absolute glorious!

We chat about Shotgun's quick progression into hiking, and hiking hard. Finding a competitive spirit against herself to test and push her capabilities everyday. Beginning hiking a few years ago, she has already traveled and hiked many of the trails hikers have on their bucket list. The smaller, "lesser known" trails. 

We talk of the upcoming year, chasing 6,000+ miles. Experiencing one of the Big 3 trails of hiking, The Continental Divide Trail, and how it is going to be different while being the same. We get jealous as she talks of her itinerary, as her personality bubbles with energy for every part of this upcoming hiking season.

We chat about the benefits and joy shared when hiking with a partner. The "games" that you play with each other to have a laugh, go an extra mile, enjoy the trail fully. 

Truly a wonderful chat with Shotgun, feeling the authenticity and essence of love for the trail and love for hiking. 

P:S: We work through a spark of an idea, instead of the 24hr challenge hiking, the 24hr challenge talking with hikers. It would be an absolute circus! Should we, could we, shall we? 

FAVORITE QUOTES: "This is not a hobby, this is a lifestyle"

"It went from 0 to 100 and has no intentions of slowing down"

To learn more about Shotgun check out the link below:

Instagram @nikolekulio

To learn more about who we are click the link below:

Website: https://www.elevenskys.com/

Don't forget to leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts if you are enjoying the show! All weirdness not only welcome but appreciated! 

We have the privilege of speaking with the one and only, Nancy East!

A unique episode as we dive into the accomplishments of mother, author and FKT holder, Nancy East.

Beginning her transition into a life revolved around the outdoors in her 40s, we learn about the journey towards chasing her passion. Along the way she has now become a member of Search & Rescue along with attempting and completing a highly sought after Fastest Known Time. Known as the Smokies 900 Challenge, it is a combination of all the trails in the Smoky Mountains National Park. 

Along with her hiking partner, she completed the miles in 29 days averaging over 30 miles a day in rugged terrain. We learn about the stories behind her first 30+ mile day, the fuel in togetherness, and the comedy you have to find when the going gets tough. 

Once she completed the FKT, she wrote a book titled, "Chasing the Smokies Moon" about her journey towards the FKT and the struggles and triumphs along the way.

A truly inspirational chat as we learn what it takes to be fearless as you chase your passion.

FAVORITE QUOTES: "Mom-batical's are the best!"

"Average, everyday people can do really hard things when you just commit"

"Don't let age define you or limit you"

To learn more about Nancy East check out the link below:

Website: https://www.hopeandfeathertravels.com/chasing-the-smokies-moon/

To learn more about who we are click the link below:

Website: https://www.elevenskys.com/

We have the privilege of speaking with the one and only, Lil Buddha!

A unique episode as we have a special guest on the show with a special guest as our co-host. Legend returns as we co-host the show to ask Lil Buddha the hard hitting questions. 

Such as, why do you not filter your water? Who is actually better at tennis? When will you start advertising by shaving company brands into dog's fur? What was his mom's base weight?

The questions that we all wonder! 

Honestly, it was a very fun episode, filled with humor, but also deep conversation. We learn about Lil Buddha's incredible journey through the jungles of Thailand, we learn about not "wanting" to make hiking anything more than actually just walking but finding a purpose and responsibility to help spread awareness for AAPI, and we learn about how Lil Buddha began his journey into year after year life on trail.

Not one to tout miles or consider them important, he is now close to 50,000 miles hiked, an incredible feat for the stats, but as we all know the importance is in the moments and life within, not the miles. 

Absolutely an amazing show, as we left it mostly unedited so you can feel the joy and laughs shared between 3 hikers as we all share in this wonderfully weird life we have found.

Thank you Lil Buddha and Legend, it was truly a joy!

FAVORITE QUOTES: "We all drink water at some point we are going to have to use the restroom" (in reference to mile accumulation)

"Buddha Filter - piece of mesh taped to a Gatorade cap"

"If my mom can cross the jungle in Laos and the Mekong River, I can get up this ridge"

"I dabble in thru-hiking"

To learn more about Lil Buddha check out the link below:

Instagram: @lilbuddhahikes

To learn more about Legend check out the links below:

Website: http://freeoutside.com/

Instagram: @thefreeoutside

To learn more about who we are click the link below:

Website: https://www.elevenskys.com/

We have the privilege of speaking with the one and only, Wow!

We catch up with Jackson, Jacksong, Wow as he transitions from the Southwest this "off-season" to the Northeast.

We talk about how when there are new "goals" within your life, how you have to make new decisions to build your way towards them. Decisions fueled by opportunity, necessity, and a choice of what you chose to put your time, energy, and worth into. 

We dive deep into the philosophy of trail community, trail culture, and the darker and unhealthier sides of something that can be so beautiful. We unpack not the answer nor the solution, but we unpack the thoughts and the feelings nonetheless, to shine light upon an underrepresented conversation that needs to be had more often. 

It was truly a pleasure chatting with Wow, the conversation that took many beautifully unexpected turns into the human psyche and the wonderful gifts we can all harness inside if we but take the time to stop, take a look, and work through the uncomfortable. 

We even talk about a professional Wizard in this world, and how there is hope for us all out there! If there can be a professional Wizard, what other possibilities are there?!?! They are unlimited!

FAVORITE QUOTES: "I don't have time for non-magical experiences"

"No plans, only goals"

To learn more about Wow check out the link below:

Instagram: @wowiwalk

To learn more about who we are click the link below:

Website: https://www.elevenskys.com/

We have the privilege of speaking with the one and only, Lady Unicorn!

Lady Unicorn or Christine Reed is an acclaimed author who has written the extremely popular "Alone in Wonderland" book.

We chat about how she began her transition into a life in and for the outdoors. We talk about the fear of being alone, discovering depths of yourself when alone, and all the "baggage" inside the concept of being alone.

We chat about the process it takes to write a book, and all the intricacies and feelings that go into it beforehand and after. 

Not being defined singularly as a hiker, or backpacker, she chooses to experience growth in herself having the outdoors but be an impetus for the self-knowledge within.

Having created an all women writing community together, we learn about how she views and creates her community within the outdoors. 

A wonderful chat with a very deep and insightful author, climber, hiker, outdoor enthusiast, person.

FAVORITE QUOTES: " The outdoors is an avenue to discovering who I truly am"

"A book, like a hike, never goes the way you think it will"

To learn more about Lady Unicorn  check out the link below:

Website: https://www.aloneinwonderland.com/

Instagram: @ruggedoutdoorswoman

To learn more about who we are click the link below:

Website: https://www.elevenskys.com/

We have the privilege of speaking with the two and only, Fidget and Neon, also known as Bethany Hughes and Lauren Reed!

Two absolutely amazing woman who are on an epic journey. Hiking, biking, kayaking, using human power to connect their travels the length of the Americas. Yes you heard that correctly, not just America, but the Americas, the entirety of South America, Central America, and North America. An epic journey they are on which they call Her Odyssey.

Beginning this journey 5+ years ago, it is possible by the end of 2022, that they will complete their odyssey. By connecting all of their human powered travels together.

We were lucky enough to catch up with them while they were in Mexico a few days before they resume their epic quest. With 15,000 miles underneath their proverbial and literal hip-belts, they have but 5,000 miles left! 

Yet, those are just the stats, and as you know here at Off Trail, we dive quickly past the "stats page" to learn what make these adventurers unique, special, individually human. 

We talk of connection, we talk of the definition inside of "thru-hike" and how it has both pros and cons, we look into what it means to tackle a multi-year odyssey and the relationships, thoughts, and planning that goes into such a quest.

We learn about what it means to truly live their motto of "a human powered journey connecting the land and its inhabitants." We learn what happens when as their website states: "the heart of the journey is connection."

We cannot thank Fidget and Neon, and Her Odyssey enough for taking the time in their very very busy schedule to connect with us!

FAVORITE QUOTES: "Humans will fill any space we have to capacity"

"An invitation to work towards being your best self" 

To learn more about Fidget and Neon and Her Odyssey check out the links below:

Website: https://www.her-odyssey.org/

Instagram: @herodyssey

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HerOdyssey

To learn more about who we are click the link below:

Website: https://www.elevenskys.com/

We have the privilege of speaking with the one and only, Whitney LaRuffa or "Allgood"!

This episode takes our "classic" format and adds in a special twist. This is our first inaugural episode where we chat with a hiker and outdoorsperson but also with a member of a outdoor company. 

Whitney is the VP of Sales and Marketing at Six Moon Designs, an ultralight backpacking company, built around the love of the outdoors.

We wanted to hear and share the two different sides to each question, as we ask him personally, and then also as a representative of Six Moon Designs.

With this episode, and hopefully many more to come, we hope to shine light upon the companies that support the hiking community. The companies that create the gear that we all use in the outdoors. Without sponsorship, without not saying a name because it would be "product placement" but instead proudly and openly mentioning these companies, without any monetary exchange. 

Instead purely, because we want to show that it is okay to not only mention company names but also shine light on them because they make the backpacking world a better place. They give back to the outdoors, they create, they are involved in capacities we as individuals cannot be.

Six Moon Designs was a company born by a hiker, molded on the trail, and grown by the love. Creating affordable tents and gear they hope to help generate an easier and more affordable outdoors for everyone.

Truly a pleasure to speak with Whitney, who as we also learn in this episode is quite an inspirational and amazing guy in his own respect. 

FAVORITE QUOTES: "Hugs from the inside out"

To learn more about Six Moon Designs check out the links below:

Website: https://www.sixmoondesigns.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sixmoondesigns

Instagram: @sixmoondesigns

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SixMoonDesignsUS

To learn more about who we are click the link below:

Website: https://www.elevenskys.com/