Trail Correspondents artwork

Trail Correspondents

56 episodes - English - Latest episode: 6 months ago - ★★★★★ - 161 ratings

Trail Correspondents is a teleportation machine to the trail- in audio form.

Every other week, a select handful of thru-hikers on the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and the American Discovery Trail, give us a glimpse into the world of long distance backpacking. Through their eyes and vocal cords, we learn all about the highs, lows, and nitty gritty details that go into a half-year, cross-country trek. Trail Correspondents is the next best thing to being on trail yourself.

Wilderness Sports Society & Culture Places & Travel appalachiantrail backpacker backpacking continentaldividetrail hikertrash hiking julianachauncey pacificcresttrail thetrek thruhiker
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Episodes

S4 Episode #15 | Interview With Your Former Self

October 25, 2023 04:52 - 1 hour - 160 MB

Welcome back to Trail Correspondents! This is the final episode of season 4: an interview with your former self.  Traditionally, this episode is formatted such that we pan back and forth between the present and the past as the Correspondents ask and answer questions they posed to themselves prior to leaving for their journeys; however, as I started to dig into putting this episode together, I was struck by the stark difference in tone between these two chronologically distant clips.  S...

S4 Episode #14 | The Finish

October 11, 2023 03:59 - 1 hour - 104 MB

Welcome back to Trail Correspondents! We’ve finally come to it: the finish.  Send us your questions about anything and everything here: https://www.speakpipe.com/TrailCorrespondents In today's episode we hear from: Abbey Turnbull Harking from the South Coast of the UK, Abbey, aged 26, is swapping the rolling hills of the South Downs for the mountains of the Pacific Crest. A thru-hike of the JMT last year confirmed what she thought to be true – hiking from Mexico to Canada was her ...

S4 Episode #13 | Last Week On Trail

September 27, 2023 03:59 - 1 hour - 88.9 MB

Welcome back to Trail Correspondents! I am your host moron and this is episode 13 all about the last week on trail. There are a lot of complex, possibly mutually exclusive and contradicting feelings that can arise on the last week of trail. You’ve found a groove, have your gear and resupply system fine tuned and have all of the intellectual, emotional and physical momentum you could need to reach your destination. But then, there you are at the sign or monument signifying your journey’s co...

S4 Episode #12 | Lessons Learned

September 13, 2023 03:59 - 1 hour - 107 MB

Welcome back to Trail Correspondents! You’ll certainly find a noticeable theme throughout these clips - especially with those who are completing their first long trail, that it’s difficult to sum up in words what’s been learned.  The duration of time a thru hike requires is definitely enough to cause a thorough change within a person - it’s so all-encompassing and transforming that it’s hard to nail down exactly who and what you were before embarking on your journey. It requires re-accli...

S4 Episode #11 | The Mental Game

August 30, 2023 03:09 - 1 hour - 118 MB

Welcome back to Trail Correspondents! This is Episode 11 which is all about the mental game required to attempt a thru-hike.  Denial is not just a river in Africa and it’s the stories we tell ourselves that frame our experience as heavenly or hellish. Now some relevant quotes:  Henry Ford, “Whether you think you can or can’t, you’re right.” Sapiens author, Yuval Noah Harari, "Homo sapiens is a storytelling animal that thinks in stories rather than in numbers or graphs, and believes...

S4 Episode #10 | Wild Card 3

August 16, 2023 03:59 - 1 hour - 86.3 MB

Welcome back to Trail Correspondents! I am your host moron and this is the last installment of the wildcard episodes for this season of the show. No real need for introductions here as we all know the drill by now. So, settle in and prepare to hear a little of this, a little of that, and a whole lot in between.  Let’s get into it.   In today's episode we hear from: Abbigale (Abby) Evans Abby Evans (she/they) has a hankering to shave their head and hike the AT and now they will get t...

S4 Episode #9 | Trail Diet

August 02, 2023 03:59 - 1 hour - 109 MB

Welcome back to Trail Correspondents! Though many of us eat more so out of pleasure, schedule, routine or the like, a hiker’s relationship to food evolves during the course of a thru-hike and it’s an interesting change to take note of. Wherever you fall in the dietary spectrum it’s somewhat unlikely that you will have the same relationship with food pre and post trail.  Food is important and it becomes a vital part of your hiking strategy out of necessity, which is obvious on its face:...

S4 Episode #8 | The Physical Adjustment

July 19, 2023 03:59 - 1 hour - 103 MB

Welcome back to Trail Correspondents! Today we're talking about the physical adjustment our correspondents have endured on trail.  When it comes to staying on trail, you have to listen to your body. You ignore its cries and protests at your peril. If there’s one piece of advice I can give with respect to acclimating to the physical demands of thru hiking, it’s to tend to things THE MOMENT they arise. If you feel a small itch on the back of your heel, pull over and investigate. If your co...

S4 Episode #7 | Wildcard 2

July 05, 2023 03:59 - 1 hour - 103 MB

Welcome back to Trail Correspondents! Today we’re looking at another wildcard edition of the show.  In case you don’t know, wildcard episodes give our correspondents free reign to talk about whatever they’d like.  So strap in for some wholesome rambling regarding this, that, and the other! Let's get into it.  In today's episode we hear from: Abbey Turnbull Harking from the South Coast of the UK, Abbey, aged 26, is swapping the rolling hills of the South Downs for the mountains o...

S4 Episode #6 | The Social Experience

June 21, 2023 03:59 - 1 hour - 111 MB

Welcome back to Trail Correspondents! This is episode 6: the social experience. This episode isn't just about the "tramily" most hikers will invariably and organically find themselves a part of - it’s about the trail angels, the people who give you rides to town, the clerks at the grocery stores, the attendants at gas stations and so on.  When you’re on trail, you’re on a mission and its gravity is palpable. People see you with your pack and assign you a special special status. It feels ...

S4 Episode #5 | Expectations Vs. Reality

June 07, 2023 03:59 - 1 hour - 110 MB

Welcome back to Trail Correspondents! This is episode 5: expectations vs. reality.  Picture in your mind’s eye, an ideal version of time spent in nature. It’s likely not raining and warm but not hot. Perhaps the perfect cooling breeze supportively buffets your face while you climb a challenging but not impossible ascent.  You may find yourself surrounded by lush, green foliage, peeking out from which you spot rare and beautiful wildlife, that is so unafraid of your presence as to be prac...

S4 Episode #4 | Wildcard 1

May 24, 2023 04:27 - 1 hour - 114 MB

Welcome back to Trail Correspondents! I am your host moron. This is episode 4 of Trail Correspondents - the first wild card edition, wherein each of our contributors get to relay whatever is on their mind. This episode is a fun exposé highlighting everyone’s unique taste and what they individually bring to the table: it’s a narrative potluck, y’all.   Let’s get into it!  In today's episode we hear from: Abbey Turnbull Harking from the South Coast of the UK, Abbey, aged 26, is swap...

S4 Episode #3 | First Night On Trail

May 10, 2023 13:19 - 1 hour - 119 MB

Welcome back to Trail Correspondents! This is the moment we’ve all been waiting for: hitting the trail. While 11 members of this group have boots on the ground and are headed in their chosen direction toward their trail’s terminus, today we also hear from one correspondent who has yet to depart along with another who, after a harrowing first day, has made the difficult decision to get off trail.  Each trail presents its own difficulties and challenges and simply showing up on the first...

S4 Episode #2 | Thru-Hike Preparation

April 26, 2023 13:52 - 1 hour - 111 MB

It’s said that proper preparation prevents poor performance. That being so, though there is a high level of inescapable serendipity and general chaos that has to be accepted and even embraced during a thru-hike, equally important is the forethought that goes into this kind of endurance endeavor.  Preparation is individualized and personal. In the world of trail tropes, it's also often said that one packs their fears and in a similar vein, the way in which one plans for a multi-month backpa...

S4 Episode #1 | Introducing the Class of 2023

April 12, 2023 14:02 - 1 hour - 136 MB

Hello and welcome back to the much anticipated, 4th season of Trail Correspondents! This season features a great group of hopeful hiker who will be sharing their journeys with us all. Beyond just getting to know this new batch of folks, there is also the passing of the host-torch from Zach "Badger" Davis to Kenneth "Moron" Pararo. We get a quick update on this change of guard, hear a bit from Moron about how and why he's taken the reigns and then dive into introductions from our correspond...

S3 Episode #15 | An Interview With Your Pre-Trail Self

March 21, 2022 19:15 - 41 minutes - 94 MB

Today marks the final episode of our third season. At the beginning of this year, before embarking on their SOBO thru-hikes, I asked our Correspondents to interview themselves. Specifically, their future selves. We wanted a way to demonstrate the metamorphosis a hiker goes through during their journey- or perhaps lack thereof. This was our listeners' favorite episode last year, and I have no doubt that the response will be the same this time around. Here it is. FIND US ON ITUNES | FIND U...

S3 Episode #14 | The End

March 11, 2022 19:55 - 17 minutes - 40.9 MB

The finish.  We are here.  Not days, not weeks, but months of blood, sweat, and tears, all with the remote hope that the journey will conclude at the intended destination- the southern terminus.  A goal that at one point feels too big to conceptualize, and today, this goal is realized. Our hikers give us a glimpse of how they're feeling- their current emotional state and how the expectation of reaching the destination compares to the reality. Enjoy. FIND US ON ITUNES | FIND US ON GOOGL...

S3 Episode #13 | The Last Week on Trail

February 11, 2022 18:57 - 37 minutes - 85.6 MB

Today brings us to our hikers last week on trail.  Here, we asked our hikers to reflect on their journey overall.  Although this isn't technically a wildcard episode, we gave our Correspondents free rein to focus in on whatever they felt most passionate about in the process of looking back on their journeys.   You'll hear some disbelief, you'll hear some excitement, you'll hear some somber thoughts.  This one runs the full spectrum, and appropriately so. FIND US ON ITUNES | FIND US ON GO...

S3 Episode #12 | Lessons Learned

January 14, 2022 15:39 - 45 minutes - 109 MB

The trail is my teacher. Perhaps one of the most underrated aspects of a long distance backpacking trip is the time it allows someone to be with their thoughts. It's not uncommon for the time and space to allow for a breakthrough, or even just seeing old problems in a new light. Today we learn what lessons our hikers have learned over their course on trail. FIND US ON ITUNES | FIND US ON GOOGLE PLAY | FIND US ON STITCHER Check out Appalachian Trials and Pacific Crest Trials. In toda...

S3 Episode #11 | The Mental Grind

December 29, 2021 18:05 - 43 minutes - 99.6 MB

It is said that the mental component is the most challenging aspect of a thru-hike.  I am one of those making this claim, in fact, I wrote two books on this very subject.  Although the physical element of a cross country trek can't be understated in terms of difficulty, after a few weeks, a hiker's body largely adjusts to the rigors of walking all day, every day.  As the physical element gets easier, for many, the psychological struggle only grows in magnitude.  And that's the subject for to...

S3 Episode #10 | Wildcard III

December 13, 2021 21:25 - 39 minutes - 90.8 MB

We're back at it today with this season's third edition of our wildcard episode. Instead of giving our hikers a specific prompt, they are given the freedom to report on whatever subject they find most pressing. We get some very moving entries, including an emotional take on what it feels like to lose your hiking partner in the midst of the journey, we hear about hiker entitlement, we get a check-in from Ibex fresh off the Benton Mackaye trail- and why she's no longer on the PCT, and more. ...

S3 Episode #9 | The Thru-Hiker's Diet

November 23, 2021 22:25 - 47 minutes - 109 MB

What does one eat on a backpacking trip?  It may seem like a simple question with an equally simple answer.  But dig a bit beneath the surface and, you'll quickly learn there's more nuance than you might originally think.  Not only do we get a taste of what goes into a day's menu for our hiker trash, but we also learn how their tastes have evolved while on trail, the much-anticipated Hiker Hunger- the point at which a trekker's stomach evolves into a bottomless pit, and general advice for ho...

S3 Episode #8 | The Physical Adjustment

November 10, 2021 16:22 - 52 minutes - 119 MB

Obvious statement of the year award- walking the length of the country will do a number on one's body.  Just how severe is the impact...well, that's what our trekkers will share with us today.  In addition to the physical adjustment, our hikers will detail exactly how they manage their pain and what advice they would offer to those who are looking to prepare for a long distance backpacking trip themselves.   FIND US ON ITUNES | FIND US ON GOOGLE PLAY | FIND US ON STITCHER Check out Ap...

S3 Episode #7 | Wildcard II

October 13, 2021 10:00 - 51 minutes - 122 MB

Because our prompts can often leave the juiciest trail stories uncovered, this season, we have built in even more wildcard episodes, where our correspondents muse on whatever is most inspiring to them about their recent trail experience.  Today's show covers quite a bit of ground, everything to a wild storm in the Winds, a play by play of a day in the life of a thru-hiker, the importance of hiking your own hike, the importance of grit, and much more.   FIND US ON ITUNES | FIND US ON GO...

S3 Episode #6 | The Social Dynamic

September 16, 2021 18:09 - 1 hour - 164 MB

Today we explore the social dynamic of a thru-hike.  If you've listened to previous seasons shows on this subject, you might think that you already know the answer to this question.  However, let us not forget, our trekkers are hiking against the current.  Whereas the vast majority of thru-hikers- regardless of which triple crown trail they're on- hike northbound, our hikers are trekking south.  For that reason, the bubbles that one experiences on the AT or PCT may look a lot different. ...

Season 3 Episode 5 | Surprises

September 02, 2021 14:18 - 56 minutes - 129 MB

Roughly one month into their journey, our correspondents are now at the point of learning about just how much they don't know about their trail, themselves, and thru-hiking as a whole. After all, even the most experienced thru-hikers have gaps in their research, preparation, and occasionally fail to pack needed items of gear. This episode is all about the twists, turns, and surprises that are an intrinsic part of life on trail. While we won't provide too many spoilers, our correspondents r...

Season 3 Episode 4 | Wildcard I

August 16, 2021 23:34 - 1 hour - 140 MB

It's Wildcard time! A few times a season, we challenge our correspondents' to be creative and discuss whatever they want to! Our trail correspondents lived up to the challenge that the wildcard presents. They regal us with a variety of stores, give us topics to ponder, and provide us an insight as to what "real life" on trail looks like. Turn's out, our correspondents get quite philosophical when they get to deal their own hand! Well into the first few weeks of hiking, most of our correspo...

Season 3 Episode 3 | The First Night on Trail

July 21, 2021 19:18 - 1 hour - 143 MB

The episodes leading up to this one introduced us to our 2021 hikers, taught us about their prep, and gave us insights as to why they decided to plan a thru-hike. However, planning a thru-hike and actually taking those first few steps are two very different things. In this episode, we learn all about their first day on trial and about how they dealt with pre-hike jitters. For the first time this season, all of our correspondents will be calling us from the trail. We will be hearing from ea...

Season 3 Episode 2 | Thru-Hike Preparation

June 29, 2021 11:51 - 1 hour - 152 MB

Preparing for a thru-hike is no easy feat. After all, hikers have to completely overhaul their life. This often involves quitting their job, storing all of their belongings somewhere, saying goodbye to loved ones/partners, and make a strict budget - and we haven't even gotten into all the necessary gear and skills one needs for a thru-hike. So where does one start? How on earth does anybody actually plan for, let alone go through with, a thru-hike? Let's find out. In this episode, our trai...

Season 3 Episode 1 | Introductions

June 01, 2021 22:59 - 1 hour - 161 MB

We are beyond thrilled to finally unveil our third season of Trail Correspondents presented by The Trek. For those new to the show, Trail Correspondents is a teleportation machine to the trail - in audio form. Every other week (or so), host Zach Davis and a select handful of thru-hikers on the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Divide Trail, will give us a glimpse into the beautiful world of thru-hiking. Through their eyes and vocal cords, we will learn all about the...

#24 | An Interview with Your Former Self

December 23, 2019 23:33 - 2 hours - 142 MB

Today marks the final episode of our second season.  Although this news is melancholy, this episode is too good to be down. At the beginning of this year, before embarking on their thru-hikes, I asked our Correspondents to interview themselves.  Specifically, their future selves.  I wanted a way to capture both the metamorphosis a hiker goes through during their journey, as well as hit on the pressure points of what was driving our wonderful correspondents onto the trail in the first place...

#23 | Readjusting After a Thru-Hike

December 05, 2019 00:00 - 1 hour - 57.9 MB

When prepping for a thru-hike, aspiring trekkers spend countless hours stressing the transition to their new existence, one spent on the other side of walls.  Within just a few days, the adjustment to living amongst the trees, on mountains, and under stars is all but complete.  If only the transition back inside were so easy.  That's the subject of today's episode.  Our correspondents share how the adaption back to their former worlds has been, and what elements of their on-trail worlds ...

#22 | The End

November 15, 2019 04:04 - 1 hour - 68 MB

Today  is the end of the trail.  For this one, we hear from our hikers twice, both the day before the northern terminus and at the finish line itself, with one exception.  As you can imagine, this is an emotional update.  Although the journey is the destination, there is likely no more exciting part of the journey than the finish line. FIND US ON ITUNES | FIND US ON GOOGLE PLAY | FIND US ON STITCHER Use code "TC15" to save 15% at Gossamer Gear.com Check out Appalachian Trials and Pa...

#21 | Wild Card III: Sober Hiking, Relationship Advice, and Trail Etiquette

November 11, 2019 19:09 - 1 hour - 111 MB

Today's show brings us our final wildcard episode.  Given the timing of this episode, near the end of our correspondents' journeys, there's a lot of reflection on the miles in their rearview mirrors.  We also hear some advice about maintaining a relationship on the trail, sober hiking, hiking with a fishing rod, trail etiquette and more. These episodes have been listener favorites in the past, this one will be no exception. FIND US ON ITUNES | FIND US ON GOOGLE PLAY | FIND US ON STITCHE...

#21 | Wild Card III: Sober Hiking, Relationship Advice, and Trail Etiquette

November 11, 2019 19:09 - 1 hour - 111 MB

Today's show brings us our final wildcard episode.  Given the timing of this episode, near the end of our correspondents' journeys, there's a lot of reflection on the miles in their rearview mirrors.  We also hear some advice about maintaining a relationship on the trail, sober hiking, hiking with a fishing rod, trail etiquette and more. These episodes have been listener favorites in the past, this one will be no exception. FIND US ON ITUNES | FIND US ON GOOGLE PLAY | FIND US ON STITCHE...

#20 | Revelations

October 22, 2019 20:57 - 1 hour - 106 MB

An extended period in the great outdoors is medicine for the soul.  Breaking free from our routines in a natural setting is a recipe for happiness, clarity, and a fresh perspective. Having done it myself multiple times, I believe this with an unwavering conviction. That is the subject of today's show.  Our hikers will share all of the revelations or a-ha moments they've experienced on trail.  They talk about what changes, little or big, they'd like to incorporate into their post-trail worl...

#19 | The Mental Grind

October 11, 2019 16:10 - 1 hour - 120 MB

Although a half year backpacking trip is a physical grind, this is not the most challenging part of a thru-hike.  Apologies for sounding like a broken record, but as you might likely guess, this title belongs to the psychological side of this journey. Our hikers chime in on whether they agree with this sentiment, what coping mechanisms they use to overcome their challenges, how the challenges have evolved over the course of the hike, and what advice they would offer to their pre-trail selv...

#18 | Stories from the Trail

September 07, 2019 02:25 - 1 hour - 126 MB

Grab a seat next to the rocking chair because today's show will feature some stories from the backcountry. We instructed our hikers to share a standout tale from their journey. It can be a highlight, lowlight, or something in between. The submissions are a delightful mix. We hear about one of our AT hikers who completed the 4-state challenge, one of our correspondents who played a part in rescuing a lost hiker, and another correspondent who had to use their SOS to save another hiker. Murphy'...

#17 | Wildcard II (Group 2)

September 03, 2019 20:52 - 56 minutes - 64.4 MB

In our previous episode, our first group of hikers weighed in on a wide array of subjects from their thru-hikes. Today's episode comes from the PCT and CDT, and with it being a high snow year on both trails, much of the subject matter of these recordings will stay within a much tighter confine. Given a blank slate, the vast majority of our correspondents felt compelled to share how the high snow has impacted their hikes. For those considering taking on a thru-hike in the future, I strongly e...

#16 | Wildcard II (Group 1)

August 27, 2019 16:54 - 1 hour - 72.3 MB

Today's episode brings us our second wildcard, and our first from the trail. I gave our correspondents a blank canvas for which they can paint whatever trail-related artwork they were currently most passionate about. The previous wildcard episode was a listener favorite, and I'm guessing today's will also follow suit. We hear about a wide range of subjects, from hammock camping to finding romance on trail , to game changing trail magic, to hiking the Sierra in a high snow year, and beyond....

#15 | The Social Dynamics of a Thru-Hike (Group 2)

August 05, 2019 05:09 - 1 hour - 79 MB

Social dynamics on trail. In our previous episode our group one hikers gave us insight on how their hiking groups have evolved over the course of their hikes. Today, we hear from our remaining PCT and CDT hikers on this same subject. This year has been especially interesting for group dynamics given the high snow levels on the PCT and CDT, as this plays a large role in fragmenting the hiker bubble, as some groups forge through the risky conditions, some skip sections, some flip to the northe...

#14 | The Social Dynamics of a Thru-Hike (Group 1)

July 30, 2019 04:00 - 1 hour - 86.3 MB

There are many fascinating components to the thru-hiking lifestyle, none more so than the social dynamics a hiker will encounter during the course of this trek. Today our hikers give us a glimpse into the ways in which hikers group up on trail. We learn if they're hiking solo, with a partner, in a group and why, how the dynamics have evolved since the early days of their journeys, the friendships they've formed, how it's compared to their pre-trail expectations, and much more. FIND US ON ...

#13 | The Thru-Hiker Diet: Favorite Foods, Hiker Hunger, and Nutrition Strategies (Group 2)

July 15, 2019 03:07 - 1 hour - 72.7 MB

We hope you've got enough appetite to stomach another show about trail food, because today's edition is an all you can eat buffet of hiker fare. Our remaining PCT and CDT hikers weigh in on what their favorite trail foods are, what they're craving most, if they've been stricken with the notorious hiker hunger, how their food systems have evolved over the course of their hikes, and more. For anyone who's curious about how long distance backpackers manage their diets, this episode will provi...

#12 | The Thru-Hiker Diet: Favorite Meals, Snacks, and Philosophy (Group 1)

July 01, 2019 19:13 - 1 hour - 81.4 MB

Food. It's is a subject of endless fascination to just about everyone. Even the most experienced hikers stand room for improvement with their backcountry menus. Rarely do I go a long stint on trail without picking up some sort of tip for how to enhance my hiker fare. This episode will be appealing to those who want to improve their on trail culinary skills or who are simply curious about what a hiker eats, what the vaunted hiker hunger is all about, and how tastes evolve over the course of...

#12 | The Thru-Hiker Diet: Favorite Meals, Snacks, and Philosophy (Group 1)

July 01, 2019 19:13 - 1 hour - 81.4 MB

Food. It's is a subject of endless fascination to just about everyone. Even the most experienced hikers stand room for improvement with their backcountry menus. Rarely do I go a long stint on trail without picking up some sort of tip for how to enhance my hiker fare. This episode will be appealing to those who want to improve their on trail culinary skills or who are simply curious about what a hiker eats, what the vaunted hiker hunger is all about, and how tastes evolve over the course of...

#11 | Thru-Hiking Gear: Regrets, Upgrades, and Best Advice (Group 2)

June 12, 2019 16:44 - 1 hour - 66.7 MB

Gear. For some people it's their favorite topic in the world, for others, it results in a shoulder shrug and an eye roll. But whether you love or hate gear talk, there's no way around it: what you carry on your back, plays a big role in how much you enjoy your hike. More precisely, getting it wrong the first time, can be emotionally and financially draining. -Check out the full list of what our hikers changed in the show notes below- Today our hikers share what they've sent home, what th...

#10 | Expectations vs. Reality (Group 2)

June 06, 2019 22:29 - 53 minutes - 60.8 MB

To prepare for a thru-hike is to spend months reading blog posts, watching videos, and following social media accounts trying to absorb as much information for your forthcoming journey as possible.  But even the most type A person can't completely envision what lies ahead on the trail- and thank god for that. That is precisely the premise of today's show.  Today our hikers let us in on how the journey has deviated from their expectations. FIND US ON ITUNES | FIND US ON GOOGLE PLAY | F...

#9 | Reactions to the Murder on the Appalachian Trail

May 30, 2019 21:24 - 24 minutes - 28.5 MB

Today's episode was not supposed to happen.  At the beginning of the season, we outline the subjects in which we want our hikers to share with you. Today's show was not on that agenda. This episode is in response to the recent news of the murder that occurred on the Appalachian Trail. In the very early hours on May 11th, a pair of hikers were attacked by a man with a machete.  One of them survived, albeit with very serious wounds, the other, Ronald Sanchez known on trail as Stronghold, did...

#8 | Thru-Hiking Gear: What Works, What Doesn’t, and Why (Group 1)

May 21, 2019 17:48 - 58 minutes - 67.3 MB

It's the subject which most aspiring thru-hikers dedicate the most time, energy, and money toward.  Yes, let's talk gear. We get an early look into our how our crew's backpacking gear is treating them. They share what they've sent home (if anything), if they've added anything new, if they have any regrets- really just an overall shakedown, a few weeks into their treks. This is a subject of deep passion to many of our listeners, so grab your pens and notepads, and get ready to scribble down...

#7 | Night Before the Trail + First Day on Trail (Group 2)

May 09, 2019 17:03 - 50 minutes - 57.5 MB

As you likely recall, in episode 5, we got our first updates from the trail. Today we get our first trail update from our second group of hikers. More specifically we get a pair of updates. We first get a taste of where our hiker's minds are the night before they embark on their treks. This likely comes as no surprise, but this is a time when emotions are flowing like a fire hose. Whether it's excitement, anxiety, or a combination of the two, our hikers' long-awaited treks are just one bad...