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The Thru-Hiking Podcast
The Thru-Hiking Podcast episodes
- 233. Embrace The Brutality On The Continental Divide Trail With Thru-Hiker & Author J.C. "Catmando" Van Etten
New author and triple crowner (aka Pacific Crest Trail, Appalachian Trail, & Continental Divide Trail thru-hiker & backpacker) J.C. "Catmando" Van Etten joins us to talk all about the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) and his new book for aspiring CDT thru-hikers and weekend backpackers alike!
In this episode, you'll learn about:
1. His book and how it can help you prepare for your CDT journey
2. The rare and harrowing animal encounter he had just outside of Yellowstone
3. Favorite and worst experiences from trail, the type II fun - & more!
Connect & follow along with Catmando:
Buy his book: "Backpacking The Continental Divide Trail"
Catmando's Instagram
Catmando's Facebook
Catmando's YouTube
Grizzly Bear Charge Footage!!
Past Episodes With Catmando:
Episode #2: Appalachian Trail Q&A
Episode #90: Pacific Crest Trail Q&A
Episode #150: Pinhoti Trail
Episode #159: Foothills Trail
Episode #165: Hurricane Heline Relief
Episode #175: Continental Divide Trail & The Triple Crown
Sign up for the THRU-r mailing list so you don't miss a thing! (No spam, no selling, just thru-hiker things.)
Did you love this episode? If so, please help fellow hikers find the show by following, rating, and reviewing the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!
Connect With Us:
Join The Trail Family
THRU-r Website
THRU-r Instagram
THRU-r Facebook
THRU-r Youtube
THRU-r Threads
Cheer's YouTube
Cheer's Instagram
Episode Music: "Communicator" by Reed Mathis
37 min - 232. Heather "Anish" Anderson On Her New Memoir "Farther," Her Writing Journey, & How To Go For Your Goals
Today we're joined by author, speaker, record setter, and highly decorated thru-hiker Heather "Anish" Anderson. Heather just released a new memoir about her attempt to be the first woman to complete the Calendar Year Triple Crown: "Farther." Here she goes into her new book, her journey as a hiker and a writer, and the complicated but beautiful places in between.
In this episode, Heather tells us about:
- Her writing journey
- Dealing with grief and post trail depression, and ways to overcome them
- The best advice for going for your goals (whether you're going for your first thru-hike, or an FKT) & more!
Connect with Heather & buy "Farther" or her other books:
Website: https://wordsfromthewild.net/
Instagram: @_wordsfromthewild_
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnishHikes
Stay tuned and follow the THRU-r Instagram account for an upcoming book giveaway!
Sign up for the THRU-r mailing list so you don't miss a thing! (No spam, no selling, just thru-hiker things.)
Help fellow hikers find the show by following, rating, and reviewing the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!
Connect With THRU-r & Cheer:
THRU-r Mailing List
Join The Trail Family
THRU-r Website
THRU-r Instagram
THRU-r Facebook
THRU-r Youtube
THRU-r Threads
Cheer's YouTube
Cheer's Instagram
Episode Music: "Communicator" by Reed Mathis
35 min - 231. Spiritual Experiences & Pepper Spray Mishaps On The Pacific Crest Trail With Nicholas "Sgt Pepper" Kindred
In this episode, we're joined by Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) thru-hiker Nicholas "Sgt Pepper" Kindred. Sgt Pepper was part of the THRU-r Trail Team of trail correspondents in 2025, and here he goes into his PCT experience - including his favorite gear, best, scariest, and worst moments, best food stops, and more!
In this episode, you'll learn about:
- His top rain gear pick - which is especially versatile and durable
- High and low points of the Pacific Crest Trail
- The best advice for taking on a thru-hike & more!
Connect With Sgt Pepper:
Sgt Pepper's Instagram
Sgt Pepper's Facebook
Sgt Pepper's Articles For The Trek
Sign up for the THRU-r mailing list so you don't miss a thing! (No spam, no selling, just thru-hiker things.)
Help fellow hikers find the show by following, rating, and reviewing the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!
Connect With THRU-r & Cheer:
THRU-r Mailing List
Join The Trail Family
THRU-r Website
THRU-r Instagram
THRU-r Facebook
THRU-r Youtube
THRU-r Threads
Cheer's YouTube
Cheer's Instagram
Episode Music: "Communicator" by Reed Mathis
28 min - 230. Ramen Bomb Ratios, A Great Town Meal & Knowing When To Draw The Line On The Pacific Crest Trail With Anna "Magic" McKinney Smith
Today we welcome Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) thru-hiker Anna "Magic" McKinney Smith! Magic was part of our Trail Team of trail correspondents in 2025, and here she dives into her PCT experience - including scary heights, smoke woes, her best tips, favorite backpacking gear, and more!
In this episode, Magic shares about:
- Knowing where to draw the line and make decisions when the going gets tough (or scary)
- Her best town meal and proper ramen bomb ratios
- Financial tips on how to afford a thru-hike & more!
Connect With Magic:
Magic's Instagram
Magic's Articles For The Trek
Magic's Blog
Sign up for the THRU-r mailing list so you don't miss a thing! (No spam, no selling, just thru-hiker things.)
Help fellow hikers find the show by following, rating, and reviewing the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!
Connect With THRU-r & Cheer:
THRU-r Mailing List
Join The Trail Family
THRU-r Website
THRU-r Instagram
THRU-r Facebook
THRU-r Youtube
THRU-r Threads
Cheer's YouTube
Cheer's Instagram
Episode Music: "Communicator" by Reed Mathis
37 min - 229. Prepare For Your Thru-Hike & Finish Strong With Trailside Fitness Founder Lee Welton
Prepare for thru-hiking season with thru-hiker and Trailside Fitness founder Lee "Flick" Welton. Lee has thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail and Pacific Northwest Trail. He's also a personal trainer, nutritionist, and Physical Therapist Assistant.
This recording is the last of a three part series. If you'd like to join future live events at THRU-r - you can register on the THRU-r Events Page. Sign up for the THRU-r Mailing List for event news and thru-hiker things!
In this episode Lee goes into:
- Intelligent conditioning + sustainable self-care
- Dialed conditioning progressions and a minimalist recovery system so you finish your season strong instead of limping to the finish
If you'd like to see the sideshow, check out the THRU-r YouTube Channel.
Connect & Work With Lee:
Trailside Fitness Website
Adventure Ready Group Training (for a $50 discount: Mention THRU-r in the "how you found out about Trailside Fitness" section on the waitlist form.)
Check out the links Lee spoke about here:
Rest Stop Recovery
In Camp Recovery Routine
Help fellow hikers find the show by following, rating, and reviewing the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!
Connect With THRU-r & Cheer:
Join The Trail Family
THRU-r Mailing List
THRU-r Website
THRU-r Instagram
THRU-r Facebook
THRU-r Youtube
THRU-r Threads
Cheer's YouTube
Cheer's Instagram
Episode Music: "Communicator" by Reed Mathis
48 min - 228. Perseverance On The Continental Divide Trail, Candy Grab Bags, & Surprising Favorite Gear With Madelyn "Wrong Way" Dukart
Welcome to Season 6 of the podcast! In this episode we welcome back Appalachian Trail and Continental Divide Trail thru-hiker Madelyn "Wrong Way" Dukart. Wrong Way was part of our Trail Team of trail correspondents, and she has an amazing story of grit and perseverance. She overcame adversity (and a trail injury) to come back strong on the Continental Divide Trail in 2025. Check out Episode #156 for her previous episode regarding trail injury and post trail depression from the 2024 hiking season.
In this episode, Wrong Way goes into:
- Her comeback story and why the Continental Divide Trail is iconic
- Candy grab bags
- Her (surprising) favorite piece of gear & more!
Connect With Wrong Way:
Wrong Way's Instagram
Wrong Way's Trail Journal
Sign up for the THRU-r mailing list so you don't miss a thing! (No spam, no selling, just thru-hiker things.)
Help fellow hikers find the show by following, rating, and reviewing the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!
Connect With THRU-r & Cheer:
THRU-r Mailing List
Join The Trail Family
THRU-r Website
THRU-r Instagram
THRU-r Facebook
THRU-r Youtube
THRU-r Threads
Cheer's YouTube
Cheer's Instagram
Episode Music: "Communicator" by Reed Mathis
40 min - 227. Train Smart & Avoid Overuse Injuries With Trailside Fitness Founder Lee "Flick" Welton
Prepare for thru-hiking season with thru-hiker and Trailside Fitness founder Lee "Flick" Welton. Lee has thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail and Pacific Northwest Trail. He's also a personal trainer, nutritionist, and Physical Therapist Assistant.
This recording is the second of a three part series. If you'd like to join his future live event January 10th - you can register on the THRU-r Events Page. Sign up for the THRU-r Mailing List for event news and thru-hiker things!
In this episode Lee goes into:
- Load vs. Capacity (injury math for hikers)
- How to translate aches, fatigue, and training data into clear programming decisions so you can train hard without tipping into overuse!
If you'd like to see the sideshow, check out the THRU-r YouTube Channel.
Connect & Work With Lee:
Trailside Fitness Website
Adventure Ready Group Training (for a $50 discount: Mention THRU-r in the "how you found out about Trailside Fitness" section on the waitlist form.)
Check out the Self Assessment link here.
Help fellow hikers find the show by following, rating, and reviewing the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!
Connect With THRU-r & Cheer:
Join The Trail Family
THRU-r Mailing List
THRU-r Website
THRU-r Instagram
THRU-r Facebook
THRU-r Youtube
THRU-r Threads
Cheer's YouTube
Cheer's Instagram
Episode Music: "Communicator" by Reed Mathis
32 min - 226. Thru-Hiking Tips, How To Afford Long Hikes, & The Best Cinnamon Roll On The Pacific Crest Trail With Casey "Vegas" Huffman
In this episode we welcome back Appalachian Trail and Pacific Crest Trail thru-hiker Casey "Vegas" Huffman. Vegas is also the winner of the 2025 THRU-r hiker scholarship, a member of the Trail Team, and a THRU-r Ambassador! Here, he focuses on his most recent thru-hike on the Pacific Crest Trail and goes into:
- His best advice for aspiring thru-hikers
- Some great financial insights on how to afford a thru-hike
- The best cinnamon roll along the Pacific Crest Trail, & more!
Also, don't miss the tale of how he got his trail name!
If you want to meet up LIVE with Vegas, he hosts online events with us at THRU-r! Check out our Events page to register for our events at www.thru-r.com (all events are free).
Sign up for the THRU-r mailing list so you don't miss a thing! (No spam, no selling, just thru-hiker things.)
Connect With Vegas:
Vegas' Instagram
Vegas' YouTube Channel
Applicable Links:
Red Kettle
Help fellow hikers find the show by following, rating, and reviewing the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!
Connect With THRU-r & Cheer:
THRU-r Mailing List
Join The Trail Family
THRU-r Website
THRU-r Instagram
THRU-r Facebook
THRU-r Youtube
THRU-r Threads
Cheer's YouTube
Cheer's Instagram
Episode Music: "Communicator" by Reed Mathis
47 min - 225. How To Navigate Blowdowns During A Continental Divide Trail Thru-Hike
Are you backpacking, section hiking, or thru hiking the Continental Divide Trail (CDT)? Triple Crowner and host, Carol "Cheer" Coyne has some tips for you in this episode! Here, she discusses blowdowns and how to get through them successfully (from her own experience). You can check out the video on her YouTube channel "Cheer On The Trail" for additional visuals from trail here.
In this episode, you'll learn:
1. What blowdowns are
2. Where Cheer and other hikers experienced the worst blowdowns on the CDT
3. How to navigate blowdowns successfully & more!
If you'd like to watch this video (with clips from the CDT!), you can watch on Cheer's YouTube Channel here.
If you'd like to talk with experienced hikers LIVE via our THRU-r Events, be sure to join our mailing list so you don't miss a meetup. Join the THRU-r mailing list here.
Did you love this episode? If so, subscribe and help fellow hikers find the show by rating and reviewing the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!
Connect With Us:
Join The Trail Family
THRU-r Mailing List
THRU-r Website
THRU-r Instagram
THRU-r TikTok
THRU-r Facebook
THRU-r Youtube
THRU-r Threads
Cheer's YouTube
Cheer's Instagram
Episode Music: "Communicator" by Reed Mathis
17 min - 224. Build The Base Before You Chase The Miles For Thru-Hikers! Get Trail Ready With Trailside Fitness Founder Lee "Flick" Welton
Prepare for thru-hiking season with thru-hiker and Trailside Fitness founder Lee "Flick" Welton. Lee has hiked the Pacific Crest Trail and Pacific Northwest Trail - so he knows what he's talking about! He's also a personal trainer, nutritionist, and Physical Therapist Assistant.
This recording is the first of a three part series, so stay tuned in the coming months for more great information from Lee. If you'd like to join the future live events on December 13th and January 10th - you can register on the THRU-r Events Page. Sign up for the THRU-r Mailing List for event news and thru-hiker things!
In this episode Lee goes into:
- His TRAILS Method to build the base before you chase the miles
- The hiker hierarchy of needs
- The #1 bottleneck for most thru-hikers, & much more
If you'd like to see the sideshow, check out the THRU-r YouTube Channel.
Connect & Work With Lee:
Trailside Fitness Website
Adventure Ready Group Training (for a $50 discount: Mention THRU-r in the "how you found out about Trailside Fitness" section on the waitlist form.)
Assessment Links:
3min step test
Single Leg Sit To Stand
Single Leg Bridge
Dorsiflexion Test
Help fellow hikers find the show by following, rating, and reviewing the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!
Connect With THRU-r & Cheer:
Join The Trail Family
THRU-r Mailing List
THRU-r Website
THRU-r Instagram
THRU-r Facebook
THRU-r Youtube
THRU-r Threads
Cheer's YouTube
Cheer's Instagram
Episode Music: "Communicator" by Reed Mathis
36 min
About The Thru-Hiking Podcast
From the publisher's feed
Do you wish you could get expert thru-hiking advice from those who have done it? Or maybe you want to hear stories from trail?
Join Triple Crowner & THRU-r hiking community founder, Carol “Cheer” Coyne, as she deep dives into the world of long-distance hiking with her guests. Here, you'll learn from thru-hikers who recount their adventures in the wilderness. You'll also get the latest tips & tricks to help you up-level your backpacking game & prepare for trail.
New episodes drop every other week – subscribe and walk the trail with us!
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