Trail Tales - Thru-Hiking & Backpacking
177 episodes - English - Latest episode: 20 days ago - ★★★★★ - 436 ratingsWhat’s it like to hike and live in the backcountry for 5 months? Host and thru-hiker & YouTuber Kyle Hates Hiking (Kyle O’Grady), who has completed every last step of the Appalachian Trail, interviews other thru-hikers, peak-baggers, and backpackers who are almost as crazy as him. Is life while thru-hiking really as glamorous as the social media stars make it out to be? Is pooping in the woods really that big of a deal? Find out these answers and more on Trail Tales.
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Episodes
#26 | What Was an Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike Like in the 90s? That and the North-South Trail in Rhode Island with Kristen Gardella
May 02, 2019 02:01 - 1 hour - 61.5 MBKristen Gardella has hiked a ton of long distance trails, including the Appalachian Trail and the North South Trail in Rhode Island. In this episode we chat about what it was like to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail in 1999, and how the gear and trail culture has changed since then. She also shares the basic information about the North South Trail, and sheds some light on this relatively unknown trail. Like what you hear? Want to talk some smack? You can contact me on Twitter, Instagram, or...
#25 | Logistics of Thru-Hiking the Appalachian Trail For Non-U.S-Citizens with Sarah Williams from Tough Girl Challenges
April 23, 2019 23:06 - 1 hour - 67.6 MBSarah Williams joins Trail Tales to talk about her 2017 thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail and her podcast Tough Girl Challenges. We get into the logistics that non-U.S-Citizens must deal with in order to do a safe, successful thru-hike, and we also talk at length about Sarah's choice to quit her corporate job and become a full-time influencer and content creator. Like what you hear? Want to talk some smack? You can contact me on Twitter, Instagram, or send me an email: trailtalespod@gmail...
#24 | The White Mountain Single Year Grid... New Hampshire's 48 Four-Thousand Foot Peaks with Philip Carcia
April 10, 2019 01:46 - 1 hour - 73.5 MBPhilip Carcia is attempting to beat the fastest-known-time to complete the White Mountain Grid- hiking all 48 four thousand foot peaks in a single year. We talk all about what made him decide to commit to this insane project, and many of the struggles and successes he has had along the way. Philip has also completed the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, and many other trails around the country. Like what you hear? Want to talk some smack? You can contact me on Twitter, Instagram, ...
#23 | Can a 68 Year Old Thru-Hike the Appalachian Trail?! Hell Yeah! Meet Keith Wingad
April 02, 2019 23:59 - 1 hour - 68.1 MBKeith Wingad joins the show this week to talk about his thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2017! He is a veteran of the United States Military and talks about how his experience affected his thru-hike, and how he made it his mission to hike as an inspiration to veterans and doctors who treat them. We also talk about what it's like to thru-hike as an older hiker. Like what you hear? Want to talk some smack? You can contact me on Twitter, Instagram, or send me an email: trailtalespod@gmai...
#22 | IBTAT on Vlogging a Thru-Hike, The Art Loeb Trail, and Avoiding Trail Burnout
March 25, 2019 22:11 - 1 hour - 48.1 MBThe one and only, IBTAT joins the show this week to chat all things Appalachian Trail, Art Loeb Trail, and Pacific Crest Trail. We talk about why his vlog was so successful, his experience thru-hiking the Art Loeb Trail in North Carolina, and of course, his upcoming plans to thru-hike the PCT! Those topics are only the tip of the iceberg, IBTAT and I really jumped all over the place with this one. Check out IBTAT's YouTube Channel to watch him head North on the PCT this year: https://www....
# 21 | Being Bit by a Cat... on the Appalachian Trail? Plus, the Best and Worst of the 46 Adirondack High Peaks with Kimberly Morse
March 18, 2019 23:20 - 1 hour - 47.6 MBKimberly "Catwoman" Morse thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2018, and has also completed the Adirondack 46 High Peaks. In this episode we chat about how she took time off in the middle of her career to complete the 2,000 mile trek, our favorite and least favorite High Peaks in the Adirondacks, and how she was bit by a cat (which she eventually rescued) while at a road crossing in Pennsylvania. Like what you hear? Want to talk some smack? You can contact me on Twitter, Instagram, or send m...
#20 | The Four State Challenge, Thru-Hiking with a Spouse at Home, and First-Month Advice with Ramblin' Rosie
March 12, 2019 01:12 - 1 hour - 47.2 MBRamblin' Rosie joins the show this week! She thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail during 2018, and shares all about it on episode twenty. We talk about how she completed the Four State Challenge, hiking in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania all in the span of 24 hours! We also cover some important tips for keeping yourself healthy at the start of a thru-hike, and she talks about completing the trail while having a spouse supporting her at home. Like what you hear? Want to talk...
#19 | Ranking The States on the Appalachian Trail with Mikey "Mullet" Brenkus
March 05, 2019 01:39 - 1 hour - 72.7 MBThis week thru-hiker Mikey Brenkus, our guest all the way back from episode four, joins the show to talk about his ranking of the states on the Appalachian Trail. We go through our ranks one-by-one, and discuss why we ranked each state the way we did. Our standard for the rankings was very loose, arbitrarily factoring in difficulty, scenery, and our experiences in each state. Is Pennsylvania really as bad as people say it is? Find out based on our ranks. Like what you hear? Want to talk som...
#18 | Being Stalked by a Mountain Lion, Vlogging, and the Post PCT Thru-Hike Adjustment with The Whimsical Woman, Jennifer Mabus
February 26, 2019 02:23 - 1 hour - 72.7 MBThe one and only Jennifer Mabus, also known as The Whimsical Woman joins the show to talk about her thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail. Seemingly on a whim, she set out to make the walk from Mexico to Canada in 2018. We talk about why her vlog was so successful, the post-trail adjustment period that we both went through after our hikes, and the craziness that ensued when she was stalked by a mountain lion. Like what you hear? Want to talk some smack? You can contact me on Twitter, Instag...
#17 | What Does Hiker Trash Mean? Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail and Skateboarding the Florida Trail with Alex Fogt
February 19, 2019 01:14 - 1 hour - 59.4 MBAlex Fogt had a crazy 2018, thru-hiking not only the Pacific Crest Trail, but the Florida Trail as well. We talk about how this skate-rat brought a board with him on his Florida Trail thru-hike and skated hundreds of the paved miles on the FLT. We also talk about his best and worst experiences on both trails, and attempt to define what the popular term "hiker trash" actually means. Like what you hear? Want to talk some smack? You can contact me on Twitter, Instagram, or send me an email: ...
#16 | A Mountain Lion Encounter in Maine, Being a Ridgerunner on the Appalachian Trail, and Hiking Photography with Aaron Ibey
February 12, 2019 22:49 - 1 hour - 69.8 MBThis week I'm joined by Aaron Ibey, who is a professional photographer and thru-hiker, having hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2016. He worked for the Appalachian Mountain Club as a ridgerunner in 2018, and talks all about what that job entails, as well as some tips for taking better hiking photos on your smartphone. He ends the episode by telling an insane story from his 2016 thru-hike, where he encountered a mountain lion in the Hundred Mile Wilderness of Maine. Trail Tales has had plenty of...
#15 | Hiking The 46 Adirondack High Peaks In One Week for Suicide Prevention with Kolby Ziemendorf
February 05, 2019 01:40 - 1 hour - 67.5 MBOn a bit of a departure from normal episodes, trail runner and 46 Climbs co-founder Kolby Ziemendorf joins the program this week! We talk about his attempt to hike all 46 of the Adirondack High Peaks in one week to raise money for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Turns out, a trouble-some bear may or may not have thrown a wrench into those plans. We also chat about how that hike turned 46 Climbs into a national movement, and some of the nuances between trail running and normal...
#14 | How to Hike In The Desert, Navigate the Pacific Crest Trail Permit System, and Much More with Russell Corfman
January 29, 2019 01:20 - 1 hour - 67.9 MBRussell Corfman joins Trail Tales for episode 14, woo! Russell thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail in 2018, making him the show's first (but certainly not last) PCT guest. He answer's many of my questions about hiking the PCT, including how the permit system works, how to not die when hiking the desert, and what gear he picked up when he entered the Sierra's. Check out his You-tube channel, Russell in the Bush! Like what you hear? Want to talk some smack? You can contact me on Twitter, Inst...
#13 | Do Thru Hikers Get Stung on the Appalachian Trail? Jessica Pu Shares Insight on her AT Experience
January 22, 2019 02:14 - 1 hour - 63.1 MBJessica Pu joins Trail Tales! She is the fiance of episode 8's guest, Baker Bokorney, and they both successfully completed a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in the summer of 2018. Jessica and I jump around to a few different topics related to our thru-hikes; if thru-hikers ever get stung by bees (the answer is yes), which section nearly made Jessica quit, and some advice for couples who wish to attempt a thru-hike together in the future. Like what you hear? Want to talk some smack? You...
#12 | A Calendar Year Triple Crown with The Hiking Prodigy
January 15, 2019 00:35 - 1 hour - 83.9 MBTyler Lau, otherwise known as The Hiking Prodigy, is one of only eleven human beings on earth to complete a Calendar Year Triple Crown hike. He hiked the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail, roughly 8,000 miles, all in the year 2018. Join us as we walk through (ha) his entire Triple Crown hike, talking in-depth about the limits you must push your mind to when hiking the length of the United States three times in one year. Please consider donating to...
#11 | Would You Share a Water Source with Cattle? Everything about the Arizona Trail with Joseph Pecoraro
January 08, 2019 02:20 - 1 hour - 62 MBJoseph "Sweatlines" Pecoraro completed a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail this past summer, but that wasn't enough for him. After about a month of resting, he set out to complete thru-hike number two for the summer; The Arizona Trail. In the chat Joseph explains how the trail features a large variety of diverse landscapes, that AZT hikers must share water sources with cattle, and much more! Like what you hear? Want to talk some smack? You can contact me on Twitter, Instagram, or send me ...
#10 | Social Media, Increased Traffic, and a State-By-State Breakdown of the Appalachian Trail with Scott Goldie
December 31, 2018 22:45 - 1 hour - 73 MBScott Goldie (trail name Pacman) recently completed an Appalachian Trail thru-hike, and gives an overview of his experience on the ENTIRE trail in episode number 10 of Trail Tales. We also dive into the topics of social media use on a thru-hike, and whether or not the Appalachian Trail is becoming too crowded. Like what you hear? Want to talk some smack? You can contact me on Twitter, Instagram, or send me an email: [email protected] If you're really into Trail Tales and want to rec...
#9 | Four Failed Attempts at the Adirondack's Northville-Placid Trail, and a Fifth Shot at Success with Tuts from Trekking On
December 18, 2018 01:26 - 1 hour - 60.3 MBOn today's episode I chat with Tuts, a thru-hiker, film-maker, and all-around outdoors man about his fifth, thats right FIFTH shot at thru-hiking the Adirondack's Northville-Placid Trail (spoiler, he crushes it the last time). What makes a relatively short, and nearly completely flat trail so difficult? We cover this and much more in our discussion about Tut's latest film, 'Northville-Placid Trail - If At First'. We also got into why Tut's shares his adventures with the world on Youtube, and...
#8 | Underwater on the Florida Trail, Thru-Hiking with a Significant Other, and Three Thru-Hikes in One Season with Baker Bokorney
December 11, 2018 00:55 - 1 hour - 66.3 MBNot only did Baker Bokorney thru-hike the Appalachian Trail this summer, but he also hiked the Florida Trail, and a good chunk of the Arizona Trail. What an animal! We decided to focus most of the chat on the Florida Trail, giving an overview of what exactly the trail is about, as well as Baker's experience walking the length of his home state. We also talked about how Baker hiked the entire AT, over 2000 miles, with his significant other, and how it has changed their relationship! Like wha...
#7 | A Bloody Reminder to Keep Your Head Up While Hiking, AWOL vs Guthooks Vs The Companion, and a Speedy Thru-Hike with Matthew Park
December 04, 2018 01:28 - 1 hour - 66.6 MBMatthew "Breezy" Park recently completed an under 4 month thru hike of the Appalachian Trail. He certainly set out on a mission right from day one, and we talk all about how he was able to push himself to complete the trail in such a short time. We also cover the differences between the most popular guidebooks that Appalachian Trail thru-hikers carry with them, and the popular navigation app "Guthooks." At the end of the episode, we get into a scary story that should serve as a reminder to a...
#6 | Flip-Flopping, Weight-Loss, and Taking Your Time on the Appalachian Trail with Liz Syster
November 27, 2018 00:52 - 1 hour - 64.6 MBLiz Syster completed a flip-flop thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail this past summer, and talks all about what it's like to send it up to Maine and hike south, after hiking northbound all the way to the Mason-Dixon line. We also talk about her experience losing weight on the trail and what it did to her body, and she even gives some advice to prospective female thru-hikers (hint: the advice is DO IT). It was great to talk to Liz and shed some light on the fact that a thru-hike does not have ...
#5 | Another Sketchy Bear Encounter, Going Stoveless, and Southbound vs Northbound with Scott Hughes
November 20, 2018 01:25 - 1 hour - 68.7 MBScott Hughes is fresh off of a south-bound thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, and answers the obvious question I had for him: why did he decide to hike the trail in the wrong direction? We discuss the differences between a northbound and southbound Appalachian Trail thru-hike, his decision to leave the stove at home and eat cold food for the entire 2200 mile trek, and a sketchy bear encounter he had in Shenandoah National Park. Like what you hear? Want to talk some smack? You can contact ...
#4 | Bad Diets, Yellow-Blazing, and Fundraising on a Thru-Hike with Appalachian Trail Hiker Mikey Brenkus
November 13, 2018 00:55 - 1 hour - 64.4 MBOn the fourth episode of Trail Tales, I talk with Mikey Brenkus, who nearly completed the entire Appalachian Trail this past summer. We talk about how his bad diet contributed to him not being able to complete the trail, the controversial subject of yellow-blazing, and how he raised over 3000 dollars for a friend who was suffering from ALS. Like what you hear? Want to talk some smack? You can contact me on Twitter, Instagram, or send me an email: [email protected] If you're really i...
#3 | Bear Charges, Brotherhood, and Injury Recovery on the Appalachian Trail with Mitchell Larby
November 06, 2018 02:41 - 1 hour - 62 MBOn this episode of Trail Tales, I talk with Mitchell "Flossy" Larby about his experience completing the Appalachian Trail this past summer. He recalls the time he was bluff charged by a mama bear and her cubs, the bonds that form between thru-hikers as they move up the trail together, and how an injury almost took him off the trail for good in Damascus Virginia. Like what you hear? Want to talk some smack? You can contact me on Twitter, Instagram, or send me an email: [email protected]...
#2 | All Things Long Trail with Taylor Norton
November 06, 2018 02:36 - 48 minutes - 51.6 MBOn the second episode of Trail Tales, I talk with Vermont Long Trail thru-hiker Taylor Norton. Taylor hiked the 273 mile trail this past summer. We chat about some of our favorite sections on the trail (believe it or not, I've done the LT twice), how Taylor was able to complete the trail in an aggressive 17 days, and some of the lessons Taylor learned from AT thru-hikers early on in his journey. Like what you hear? Want to talk some smack? You can contact me on Twitter, Instagram, or send ...
#1 | Sketchy Situations, Mental Challenges, and Highlights of the Appalachian Trail with Cameron Smyk
November 06, 2018 02:30 - 1 hour - 57.9 MBIn the inaugural episode of Trail Tales, I talk with my good friend and fellow Appalachian Trail thru-hiker Cameron Smyk. We discuss everything from some of his sketchy hitch-hikes into town, to the mental endurance necessary to complete a 2200 mile trek. To top it off, we get into some of Cameron's gear, and why he plans on bringing a different set up on his next thru-hike. Like what you hear? Want to talk some smack? You can contact me on Twitter, Instagram, or send me an email: trailtal...
#0 | Introduction to Trail Tales
November 06, 2018 02:19 - 2 minutes - 2.44 MBTrail Tales is a weekly show featuring guests who have extensive experience in the world of backpacking and thru-hiking. New episodes every Tuesday will feature hikers that have done the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and many more. Hosted by Kyle O'Grady, AT Class of 2018.