Many people's perception of the thru-hiking lifestyle comes via social media, where people are more likely to portray the the cheery, positive aspects of this undertaking. You see the breathtaking views, the smiling faces, the slender bodies, and the hiker camaraderie. What you often don't see is the chafing, the injuries, dehydration, never ending rain, the heat, the cold, what it's like to get sick on trail, the attrition, loneliness, sleep deprivation, home sickness, a lack of motivation, and the bugs- oh god, the dense clouds of motherfucking mosquitoes.

Well, that's the point of today's show. Thru-hiking is always rewarding, but it may not always be pretty. Here's some of its darker underbelly.

In today's show, we hear from:

• Jacob Beaver
• Kate Mueller aka Sassafras
• IBTAT
• Madeline Newel
• Miles Bisher aka "Miles To Go"
• Kate Emmons
• Lukas Isaacson
• Sarah Mowery
• Rachael "Rabbit" DeLano

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Episode produced by Pauly Boy Shallcross. Check out his coffee roaster, Old Man Murph's. Music via.