Off Trail

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

True to his name, it really is like this man is fueled by an internal engine of some sort. 

Well, we dive deeper into what this "engine" consists of and how he handled the mentality around a feat few can claim to have accomplished.

Horsepower set out to complete the Calendar Year Triple Crown this year of 2021, completing the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Divide Trail all within a calendar year. Totaling over 7,000 miles, this is a feat few hikers set their sights on, even rarer as their first introduction into thru-hiking. No baby steps for him, instant trail by fire and ice, mostly ice. 

Not only did he complete this feat, but he also set his sights upon a new milestone along the journey by trying to reach 10,000 miles in a single year. We talk about this goal and how it differed from the CYTC and what happens when you chose to seek failure. 

A one of a kind chat, with a fresh into the thru-hiking world mentality, that takes a new spin on our usual show. 

FAVORITE QUOTES: "Confident in my own ability to take misery"

"PCT was fun, CDT was love, AT was respect"

To learn more about Horsepower check out the link below:

Instagram: @naturalhorsepower

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

ElevenSkys

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

An episode diving into the feelings of living a life on trail. Multiple times throughout our chat we went back to unpacking the mentality on what it means to live a life for trail, on trail, and what it means when this is not just a temporary moment, but an entire way of living.

Dosu began hiking back in 2014 and hasn't stopped since. Accumulating many miles and many memories along the way, he is now setting himself up to complete all 11 National Scenic Trails in the hiking season of 2022. An aggressive itinerary to be sure with the Natchez Trace, Potomac Heritage Trail, New England Trail, Ice Age Trail, and North Country Trail. Yet, one that he looks forward to with much optimism and excitement. When you can find fuel in the "everyday" you will always have energy. When its not a specific trail you are after, but instead just living your life, the way ahead remains clear. 

Reaching this "goal" for him is just the natural progression of hiking. Stay tuned as we talk about what his "goal" is for this life that he lives, and the time that he spends living life on trail and off. It was a wonderful answer to hear and unpack. 

FAVORITE QUOTES: "Age 33 I started the AT, and found my first home"

"It is a privilege to do what we do and not be scared of it"

To learn more about Dosu Kinuta check out the link below:

Instagram: @thedosukinuta

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

ElevenSkys

We have the privilege of speaking with the one and only, Dine N Dash!

This week we have a very fun and inspirational episode for you all. We were able to catch up with Dine N Dash a few days before he began his Calendar Year Triple Crown hike, this January 1st. 

We learn about the differences between his planning and his friends for over 7000+ miles of hard stepping, how his "off trail" life is filled with education and mentorship, which is also the creation of his own Sass Army, how his ongoing pursuits and hikes have continued to provide individual growth inside of himself, and we get to find our own goal for this upcoming year, of generating our own Sass! 

He is also the first vlogger that we have had on the show, and we dive deeper into the motivations and feelings around filming a hike. The portrayal of the actuality and how expressing the feelings to the audience is always an ongoing learning process.

FAVORITE QUOTE: "I am making my own little Sass Army"

To learn more about Dine N Dash check out the link below:

YouTube: Dine N' Dash Hikes

Instagram: @dinendashhikes

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

ElevenSkys

We have the privilege of speaking with the one and only, or should we say, the two and only, Gutterspike and Layzer Goat!

We learn about what it takes to bring "trail" into the off-season with you. What happens when you revolve not just a specific time around living the life that you love the most, but incorporating it into every moment?

Layzer Goat and Gutterspike, or Avery and Anthony, are the co-owners of ZeroDay Coffee. A coffee shop in Leadville, Colorado. The highest elevation coffee shop in the country.

Yet, it is so much more than just a coffee shop. It is a place for others to congregate, it is a place to grow community, it is a place to share in the happiness and joy of living a life that you consciously choose. 

This is a really great episode, as we get to learn about these two thru-hikers, bikers, and adventures and how they combined their love with the outdoors into their livelihood. 

FAVORITE QUOTE: "Killing Dragons in the basement"

To learn more about Gutterspike, Layzer Goat, and Zero Day Coffee check out the link below:

Instagram: Zero Day Coffee

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

ElevenSkys

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

A real chicken and egg scenario here, did the trail name come first, or was he always a Legend? Who is to say.

What we can say is this man has done some incredible things. The Calendar Year Triple Crown, the Great Western Loop, and countless FKTs including the Arizona Trail and Long Trail FKT to name a few. Yet, who is he, and where does he find his drive and passion? That's what we dive into today. 

What is he up to now? Well he is continuing to pursue his love in the outdoors while being a fashion icon with tiger clothing, creating and routing beautiful hikes for any skill level and any distance, and generally just living his best life while being in the outdoors.

FAVORITE QUOTE: "I got out of the 9-5, so I now get to work 24/7"

To learn more about Legend check out the links below:

Website: FreeOutside

Website: Backpacking Routes

Instagram: @thefreeoutside

Facebook: Free Outside

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

ElevenSkys

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

Truly a special episode, every guest we have had on is one of a kind, but Bart truly has accomplished something that not only is beyond impressive to accomplish but also something not many people even know about.

He has not only hiked all 11 of the National Scenic Trails, but also all 19 of the National Historic Trails in this country. 

Totaling over 35,000 miles hiked. 

If you do not know what the National Historic Trails are, don't worry we go over it extensively in this episode. You can also learn more at Bart's website.

This episode is not our standard episode. We go way off script, and honestly there would be no other way we would have it. There is little to no conversational information about the National Historic Trails out there besides this one, and an hour format cant even begin to unpack the stories, knowledge, and information we wish to share with you all from our chat with Bart, but we tried. 

Thank you Bart for being so willing to go "off script" on Off Trail.

It would have felt "wrong" to try and steer the conversation in another direction, so we didn't. 

FAVORITE QUOTE: " A life fully lived for that day."

To learn more about Bart Smith check out the link below:

Website: http://www.bartsmithphotography.com/welcome

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

ElevenSkys

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

Starting his hiking career back in 2017, every year since has been a world of exploration, and a dedication to make life on trail his priority.

With many trails under his belt, he continues to pursue his love for the outdoors in all things hiking, hunting and fishing. 

We learn what his passions are and how he continues to draw inspiration from the community that he loves, the outdoors.

The saying goes, you can lead a horse to water, but you cant make it drink... well with Dirtbag, you may take the dirt out of his name, but you cant make him go indoors! 

FAVORITE QUOTE: "Just Hike, MOTHERF******!"

To learn more about Dirtbag, or Richard Pinard, check out the links below:

Instagram: Dirtbagwanderer243

Facebook: Richard Pinard

Instagram: Dirtyhuntinagnler243

To learn more about who we are, check out the link below:

ElevenSkys

We have the privilege of speaking with the one and only, "Nimblewill Nomad"!

Beginning backpacking back in 1998, this man, and hiking legend, never stopped. Becoming the first to complete many different trails, and adding his name, trail after trail, mile after mile, into the very heart of the hiking community, honestly it is hard to distill everything he encompasses into words alone. 

What we will say is his name is synonymous with hiking itself. You would be hard pressed to meet a hiker, outdoorsperson, or someone involved in this community, that does not know his name, and speak it with reverence. 

This year he also became the oldest person ever, at the age of 83, to successfully thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. 

FAVORITE QUOTE: " If you got to ask the question, you don't know the answer"

HONORARY MENTION QUOTE: "You are a jerk, Constantine"

To learn more about who Nimblewill Nomad, or Meredith Eberhart, is check out the links below"

Website: Nimblewillnomad.com

You can find all of his associated content including his books through the above platform.

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

ElevenSkys

We have the privilege of speaking with the one and only, "Apple-Pie"!

She began hiking back in 2003 and has not stopped since. Year after year, trail after trail, she continues to live the life of exploration that when she was young she always wanted to live. 

Her life "off-trail" has made her life on-trail possible, and it was quite a journey there. An ongoing process still, as she continues to live free and chase her dreams of hiking, exploring, and living this life.

FAVORITE QUOTE: "...Not a lot of planning that worked out the way that I thought it would" 

To learn more about Apple Pie, or Arlette Laan, check out the links below:

Website: ArletteLaan.com

Instagram: Arlette_Laan

Facebook: Arlette Laan

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

ElevenSkys

We have the privilege of speaking with the one and only, Buck-30!

A man that began hiking back in 2002, and never looked back. As the years have progressed he not only has been spending half his time on trail and half his time off, but continues to try and shift that ratio to be more skewed into higher percentages spent on trail.

With over 40,000+ miles hiked, this hiker continues to pave the way for so many more to follow, pave the way with inspiration, information, and a few Diet Coke's along the way.

FAVORITE QUOTE: "Remember the motto: Don't die or you will ruin the family"

To learn more about "Buck-30" or Brain Tanzman check out the links below:

Postholer

Facebook: Brian Tanzman

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

ElevenSkys