Why We Hike

Why We Hike

By Ford EricksonSportsWilderness
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Why We Hike episodes

  • #36: PAUL BIRD! How being gay & holding dead bodies has led to hiking the Arizona Trail

    Paul Bird is a fascinating human specimen. He spent 32 months IN A ROW working rigorous wilderness therapy at the Anasazi Foundation and he is now about to start an 800 mile trek, on foot from the Mexican border to Utah, known as the Arizona Trail.

    Paul talks about how coming out as gay has led him to pursue other new experiences AKA adventure.

     Paul was also worked with dead bodies as a mortician for several years before he started working at Anasazi. 

    Death is still one of his favorite things. 

    Behold Mr. Tuscon Arizona himself, Paul Bird.

    FOLLOW PAUL BIRD!

    Insta: @PostModernPastoral

    Facebook: Paul Bird

    PAUL BIRD T SHIRTS: https://fordthunder.threadless.com/ 

    1 hr 17 min
  • #35: NATHAN DONNELLY! 72 Days on the Alone Show / Survival Psychology
    Nathan Donnelly is best known for surviving 72 days in the Northern Canada wilderness on Season 6 of History Channel's Alone Show. Nathan is the only person in the history of the Alone Show to choose NOT to bring a modern fire starting device, and chose instead to rely on his expert friction fire building skills. This is what initially drew me to Nathan! Nathan is a man of great wisdom and deep experience living in harmony with and in wild places. 
    In the past, he has been a wildlife biologist, backcountry park ranger, wildland firefighter, search and rescue team member, builder, outfitter, and homestead caretaker.
    Follow Nathan!
    Insta: @Northwest.Resilience
    1 hr 10 min
  • #34: CALLIE RUSSELL! Journey from angsty teen to nomadic goat herder
    Callie Russell is a long time outdoor "surTHRIVAL" practitioner and instructor as well as nomadic goat herder, and wilderness therapy backcountry guide, but is perhaps best known for her appearance on season 7 of History Channel's Alone show, where she survived and thrived for 89 days completely alone in the Arctic.
    In this interview Callie talks about her journey from a typical middle class angsty teen from the city to a full time nomadic goat herder living almost entirely off of goats milk!
    Follow Callie!
    Instagram: @CapraKhan
    1 hr 26 min
  • #33: ABI AYRES! Taking Her Power Back in the Grand Canyon

    Abi Ayres is a REAL LIFE Instagram influencer (@AbiAyres) and draws people in with her genuine, bright, goofy personality. She recently took it upon herself to train for and attempt to hike 24 miles from Rim to Rim in the Grand Canyon in one day. Abi says this was WAAAY out of her comfort zone. Abi talks about why the heck she felt compelled to do this and what the incredibly hard trek taught her about taking the power back in her life. Abi is the greatest.

    Follow Abi!

    Instagram: @AbiAyres

    49 min
  • #32: SAMUEL SMITH! Growing Up in Foster Care & Choosing Positivity

    Growing up in foster care, Sam Smith had a confusing and challenging childhood. He explains how engaging with the wilderness has helped him overcome and heal from the past and how it continues to do so for him. He once found himself stranded in the Mountains and decided to live out there alone for 2 months. He now lives outside in a Wikiup (AKA primitive living shelter made of sticks) full-time while attending a primitive skills university in Montana called Green University. What a guy!!!!

    Follow Sam!

    Facebook: Sam Smith

    Instagram: @Backcountry_Runaway

    52 min
  • #31: The Wind River Mountains (we had a pretty ok time there)
    In this episode you will join my comrades and I as we venture, for the first time, into the ominous Wind River Mountains in Wyoming. In addition, toward the end of the episode there is an interview with Alex, who we stumbled upon out there. He was severely sick with altitude sickness and couldn't stop throwing up. Fun times!
    Join my Patreon cult to help keep this podcast ad-free!:
    https://www.patreon.com/FordThunderErickson
    1 hr 2 min
  • #30: Why do I hike???? WHYYYYYY????
    In this episode Elizabeth Baird demands to interview the normal podcast host, Ford Thunder Erickson. She prevails. Ford talks about his most meaningful wild places he's been, a powerful experience he had on the John Muir Trail annnnd why he hikes. What else would he talk about?
    Ford's Patreon:
    https://www.patreon.com/FordThunderErickson
    Instantgraham: @Ford_Thunder_Erickson
    47 min
  • #29: ELISABETH BAIRD! Don't Make Decisions In the Middle of a Mountain

    Elisabeth Baird is an experienced wilderness therapy guide as well as a middle school art teacher. She once did an internship combining art therapy and wilderness therapy together, which I have never heard of anyone else doing before.

    Elizabeth is one of the most thoughtful people on earth and every human being would benefit from hearing the insights and experiences she shares in this episode.

    Follow Elisabeth!

    @Elisabeth_Ruth_Baird

    1 hr 3 min
  • #28: CLUTCH LAMBERT! Killing Animals & Finding Ruins
    Good ol' Clutch Lambert was on the 2nd episode ever on this podcast but it was definitely the worst interview I have ever done....not because of him but because of my crappy interviewing skillz. In this episode Clutch and I discuss the ethics of killing animals as well as the sacredness we will exists on ancient ruins of all kinds.
    FOLLOW CLUTCH:
    Thunderstone Wilderness Ventures
    @Thunderstone86
    @ClutchFootSnakeHands
    45 min

About Why We Hike

From the publisher's feed

Ford Erickson explores the highs, lows and most importantly, the whys of going outside.