The Trail Dames Podcast

Jan Leitschuh was bitten by the AT bug in 2002. With no real backpacking experience, she threw herself into learning, training and stomping down fears and questions that swirled around her preparations. She joined the infamous Pack 31- a group of hikers that met online and named themselves after the date they started, March 1, 2003. This community, built on meetings at the ALDHA Gathering and a thousand online hours, still remain friends to this day and Liteshoe, along with many of those original Pack 31 folks can often be found at the Gathering, sharing their stories and knowledge with a new class of hikers.

Guest Links- The Ordinary Adventurer- https://www.amazon.com/Ordinary-Adventurer-Vermonts-Adventurers-Musings/dp/0979708109/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1NFP8PYVQADLE&keywords=jan+leitschuh&qid=1644972714&sprefix=jan+leitschuh%2Caps%2C83&sr=8-1

Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at [email protected] You can find the Trail Dames at: Our website: https://www.traildames.com The Summit: https://www.traildamessummit.com The Trail Dames Foundation: https://www.tdcharitablefoundation.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traildames/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/traildames/ Hiking Radio Network: https://hikingradionetwork.com/ Hiking Radio Network on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hikingradionetwork/

Music provided for this Podcast by The Burns Sisters "Dance Upon This Earth" https://www.theburnssisters.com

Dr. Karen Lord Rutter is a retired teacher and administrator with over 30 years in education whose work with students ranged from preschool through high school.

Dr. Rutter has a passion for travel, children, animals, and perpetual learning. Her first novel was inspired when her son, David, thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail with the family dog, Copper. Her love of the Appalachian Trail was born after David invited her to hike a few sections of the A.T. as he progressed on his journey. From those Appalachian Trail adventures with Copper and David, Northbounders was born. With deep roots as an educator, she incorporated history, geography, science, math, and enriched vocabulary into Copper and David's story.

Guest Links- Karen's book - https://karenlordrutter.press/book.html Karen on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/KarenLordRutter/ Karen on Twitter - @‌karenlordrutter

Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at [email protected] You can find the Trail Dames at: Our website: https://www.traildames.com The Summit: https://www.traildamessummit.com The Trail Dames Foundation: https://www.tdcharitablefoundation.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traildames/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/traildames/ Hiking Radio Network: https://hikingradionetwork.com/ Hiking Radio Network on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hikingradionetwork/

Music provided for this Podcast by The Burns Sisters "Dance Upon This Earth" https://www.theburnssisters.com

Jan Leitschuh was bitten by the AT bug in 2002. With no real backpacking experience, she threw herself into learning, training and stomping down fears and questions that swirled around her preparations. She joined the infamous Pack 31- a group of hikers that met online and named themselves after the date they started, March 1, 2003. This community, built on meetings at the ALDHA Gathering and a thousand online hours, still remain friends to this day and Liteshoe, along with many of those original Pack 31 folks can often be found at the Gathering, sharing their stories and knowledge with a new class of hikers.

Guest Links- The Ordinary Adventurer- https://www.amazon.com/Ordinary-Adventurer-Vermonts-Adventurers-Musings/dp/0979708109/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1NFP8PYVQADLE&keywords=jan+leitschuh&qid=1644972714&sprefix=jan+leitschuh%2Caps%2C83&sr=8-1

Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at [email protected] You can find the Trail Dames at: Our website: https://www.traildames.com The Summit: https://www.traildamessummit.com The Trail Dames Foundation: https://www.tdcharitablefoundation.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traildames/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/traildames/ Hiking Radio Network: https://hikingradionetwork.com/ Hiking Radio Network on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hikingradionetwork/

Music provided for this Podcast by The Burns Sisters "Dance Upon This Earth" https://www.theburnssisters.com

Bio- Christine discovered long distance backpacking while surfing the internet at work. She decided that day to attempt to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. Her Rugged Outdoors Woman persona started as a joke, a nod to the outdoor adventurer that she wished to be. One adventure led to another and since then she has hiked the Wonderland Trail, the Colorado Trail and thousands more miles along the way.

​Her debut memoir, Alone in Wonderland, is about backpacking, but it is really about the independence that we seek when we go into nature solo.

Guest Links- Christine on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ruggedoutdoorswoman/ Christine on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ruggedoutdoorswoman/ Christine on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@ruggedoutdoorswoman Christine's Writing Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1246207385831424

Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at [email protected] You can find the Trail Dames at: Our website: https://www.traildames.com The Summit: https://www.traildamessummit.com The Trail Dames Foundation: https://www.tdcharitablefoundation.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traildames/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/traildames/ Hiking Radio Network: https://hikingradionetwork.com/ Hiking Radio Network on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hikingradionetwork/

Music provided for this Podcast by The Burns Sisters "Dance Upon This Earth" https://www.theburnssisters.com

Jan Leitschuh was bitten by the AT bug in 2002. With no real backpacking experience, she threw herself into learning, training and stomping down fears and questions that swirled around her preparations. She joined the infamous Pack 31- a group of hikers that met online and named themselves after the date they started, March 1, 2003. This community, built on meetings at the ALDHA Gathering and a thousand online hours, still remain friends to this day and Liteshoe, along with many of those original Pack 31 folks can often be found at the Gathering, sharing their stories and knowledge with a new class of hikers.

Guest Links- The Ordinary Adventurer- https://www.amazon.com/Ordinary-Adventurer-Vermonts-Adventurers-Musings/dp/0979708109/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1NFP8PYVQADLE&keywords=jan+leitschuh&qid=1644972714&sprefix=jan+leitschuh%2Caps%2C83&sr=8-1

Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at [email protected] You can find the Trail Dames at: Our website: https://www.traildames.com The Summit: https://www.traildamessummit.com The Trail Dames Foundation: https://www.tdcharitablefoundation.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traildames/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/traildames/ Hiking Radio Network: https://hikingradionetwork.com/ Hiking Radio Network on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hikingradionetwork/

Music provided for this Podcast by The Burns Sisters "Dance Upon This Earth" https://www.theburnssisters.com

Bio- Kara Hardman is the Chief Fun Officer of Thicket Adventure and a curvy adventurer living in Colorado. Her favorite adventures include hiking with her adorable dog and kayaking. Kara has been in a plus size body for many years and understands the thought work it takes to love yourself exactly as you are. In March 2019, Kara climbed Kilimanjaro with the Cury Kili Crew, an all women's group of curvy hikers, for International Women's Day. This trip convinced her of the need for size inclusive experiences.

Guest Links- Thicket Adventure Website - https://thicketadventure.com/ Thicket Adventure on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thicketadventure Thicket Adventure on IG - https://www.instagram.com/thicketadventure/ Thicket Adventure on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@thicketadventure Thicket Adventure on LinkdIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/thicket-adventure/?viewAsMember=true Kili Big - https://www.crackle.com/search?term=kili+big

Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at [email protected] You can find the Trail Dames at: Our website: https://www.traildames.com The Summit: https://www.traildamessummit.com The Trail Dames Foundation: https://www.tdcharitablefoundation.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traildames/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/traildames/ Hiking Radio Network: https://hikingradionetwork.com/ Hiking Radio Network on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hikingradionetwork/

Music provided for this Podcast by The Burns Sisters "Dance Upon This Earth" https://www.theburnssisters.com

Jan Leitschuh was bitten by the AT bug in 2002. With no real backpacking experience, she threw herself into learning, training and stomping down fears and questions that swirled around her preparations. She joined the infamous Pack 31- a group of hikers that met online and named themselves after the date they started, March 1, 2003. This community, built on meetings at the ALDHA Gathering and a thousand online hours, still remain friends to this day and Liteshoe, along with many of those original Pack 31 folks can often be found at the Gathering, sharing their stories and knowledge with a new class of hikers.

Guest Links- The Ordinary Adventurer- https://www.amazon.com/Ordinary-Adventurer-Vermonts-Adventurers-Musings/dp/0979708109/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1NFP8PYVQADLE&keywords=jan+leitschuh&qid=1644972714&sprefix=jan+leitschuh%2Caps%2C83&sr=8-1

Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at [email protected] You can find the Trail Dames at: Our website: https://www.traildames.com The Summit: https://www.traildamessummit.com The Trail Dames Foundation: https://www.tdcharitablefoundation.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traildames/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/traildames/ Hiking Radio Network: https://hikingradionetwork.com/ Hiking Radio Network on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hikingradionetwork/

Music provided for this Podcast by The Burns Sisters "Dance Upon This Earth" https://www.theburnssisters.com

Bio- Bonnie Nork lives in Southern Oregon with her husband, Mike, and daughter, Elaina. Her son, Ryan, is in college. Being active in the outdoors has always been a big part of Bonnie's life. With adventurous parents, she was always out and about as a child, either hiking, backpacking, river rafting, on horseback rides, on canoe pack trips, and more! When Grand Staircase Escalante was signed into a national monument in 1996, her parents planned a backpacking trip there. The whole family was smitten with the landscape, and now Bonnie relishes being able to share such special areas with her husband and children.

With such a soft spot for the southwest, Bonnie seems to be finding herself in southern Utah more and more. She landed a position with the Bureau of Land Management as a safety patrol volunteer for North Coyote Buttes, the wilderness area that is home to the famous Wave landmark. In 2023 Bonnie was able to split numerous patrols between three different trips, solo in April, with her daughter in June, and with her brother in September. She's found this experience to be incredibly fulfilling, with each hike throwing interesting interactions her way (seasoned hikers, guides, unprepared tourists, law enforcement, influencers, etc!).

Bonnie also hikes in her own backyard, and really anywhere else she can carve out tile to do so! For example, she summited Mt Shasta, 14,179' twice in 2023, with one trip being an overnight and the following done in one day! Crater Lake National Park, the Mountain Lakes Wilderness, and the Sky Lakes Wilderness are all favorite local hiking and backpacking spots.

‌Guest Links-

Bonnie on Facebook - Bonnie Nork's Custom Baked Goods | Klamath Falls OR

BLM Volunteer Opportunities - U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Volunteer Opportunities - VolunteerMatch

Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at [email protected] You can find the Trail Dames at: Our website: Trail Dames

The Summit: The Summit 2022 - Presented by the Trail Dames

The Trail Dames Foundation: Trail Dames Charitable Foundation | Home

Instagram: Instagram (@traildames)

Facebook: Trail Dames | Facebook

Hiking Radio Network: Hiking Radio Network

Hiking Radio Network on Instagram: Instagram (@hikingradionetwork)

Music provided for this Podcast by The Burns Sisters "Dance Upon This Earth"

The Burns Sisters

Bio- Aaron is a registered dietitian and backpacker with over twenty years of experience in the field of nutrition and in the backcountry. In 2017, she left her clinical dietitian career with dreams of thru-hiking the PCT and starting a business focused on backpacking nutrition. Seven years later, Backcountry Foodie is a thriving business serving thousands of hikers worldwide.

Guest Links- BCF website - Ultralight Recipes & Meal Planning Tools for Backpackers

BCF on Instagram - Instagram (@backcountry_foodie) BCF on Facebook - Backcountry Foodie BCF on YouTube - Backcountry Foodie BCF on Pinterest - Backcountry Foodie | Dietitian & Long-Distance Backpacker

Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at [email protected] You can find the Trail Dames at: Our website: Trail Dames

The Summit: The Summit 2022 - Presented by the Trail Dames The Trail Dames Foundation: Trail Dames Charitable Foundation | Home Instagram: Instagram (@traildames) Facebook: Trail Dames | Facebook Hiking Radio Network: Hiking Radio Network Hiking Radio Network on Instagram: Instagram (@hikingradionetwork)

Music provided for this Podcast by The Burns Sisters "Dance Upon This Earth" The Burns Sisters

Jan Leitschuh was bitten by the AT bug in 2002. With no real backpacking experience, she threw herself into learning, training and stomping down fears and questions that swirled around her preparations. She joined the infamous Pack 31- a group of hikers that met online and named themselves after the date they started, March 1, 2003. This community, built on meetings at the ALDHA Gathering and a thousand online hours, still remain friends to this day and Liteshoe, along with many of those original Pack 31 folks can often be found at the Gathering, sharing their stories and knowledge with a new class of hikers.

Guest Links- The Ordinary Adventurer- https://www.amazon.com/Ordinary-Adventurer-Vermonts-Adventurers-Musings/dp/0979708109/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1NFP8PYVQADLE&keywords=jan+leitschuh&qid=1644972714&sprefix=jan+leitschuh%2Caps%2C83&sr=8-1

Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at [email protected] You can find the Trail Dames at: Our website: https://www.traildames.com The Summit: https://www.traildamessummit.com The Trail Dames Foundation: https://www.tdcharitablefoundation.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traildames/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/traildames/ Hiking Radio Network: https://hikingradionetwork.com/ Hiking Radio Network on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hikingradionetwork/

Music provided for this Podcast by The Burns Sisters "Dance Upon This Earth" https://www.theburnssisters.com