Stories From The Trail

In this episode we address the very difficult question: How might your hike impact the spread of COVID-19 in the trail community?  Our qualified expert this week is Dr Kathryn Michels, (aka "Mr Peanut), a CDT SOBO thru hiker who also  holds a PhD in Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer biology from the University of Virginia.  In addition to covering this very important topic, we get some good trail talk too. 

We're back!

An episode about nothing.

Easily our most requested guest. Listen in on this reunion between Green Giant and Lemmy. We do our best to tell his story without spiraling into inside jokes... much. 

Ryan Bedell has been to over 40 countries and lived in 4. He has a passion for learning about people and places different from what he’s used to, and he loves to hear the stories of others. The podcast was born out of a desire to let people tell their stories of movement, intercultural exchange, and genuine human connection. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/travel-for-a-loop/id1456415953

Each month in addition to their regularly scheduled duties Ridge Runners also get treated to a little well deserved R&R. This July, Jim Fetig of ATC Headquarters invited me to join him and four NoVA Ridge Runners at the PATC's rustic cabin retreat, the Blackburn AT Center, near Harper's Ferry.

File this one under "Inspirational"! Sarah Williams is not only a veteran outdoor adventurer and world traveler, she has spent the past few years curating HUNDREDS of hours of conversation with other inspiring women from around the world on her amazing podcast, Tough Girl Challenges.  The Tough Girl Podcast won the Women's Sports Trust #BeAGameChanger National Award for Media Initiative of the Year 2018.

Chris "Muddy Moose" German is a hiker, trail angel, river guide, ice climber, shuttle driver, photographer, and all around super-cool guy. In hopefully the first of many visits, Muddy Moose tells us stories of adventure and shares much advice, both inspirational and practical. 

Steve Adams, trail name Mighty Blue is on the Appalachian trail, again. Best known for his hiking memoirs "Creaking Geezer Hidden Flagon" and "Three Weddings and a Sabbatical", he also produces the popular hiking podcast "The Ultimate Midlife Crisis".  Steve is currently producing his show from the trail and he took time from his busy schedule to call us from a listeners house in Pennsylvania.

Calendar Year Triple Crowner, and current Arizona Trail speed record holder, Jeff Garmire did not give himself the trail name Legend. It was bestowed upon him before he even finished a single long distance hike back in 2011. In the years and miles since, he's definitely grown into it.  This show was recorded on May 1st, just a few days after Legend destroyed the FKT for the Arizona Trail. 

Bill Bryson's "A Walk in the Woods" is the book and/or movie that introduced so many of us to the Appalachian Trail that it seems almost silly for us to have taken this long to shake it down.  Come hang with the gang and we spill this thing onto the floor, pick through the parts and decide what's too heavy, and what's too light.   

June Gear Contest Still Open  Go back and check out Episode 41 (Virtual Campfire with Guthook) for details on how to win! Rachael DeLano (Trail Name: Rabbit) describes herself as "a hiker, guide, rabbit lover, and yoga teacher." She recently completed her Triple Crown and joined us for a Wednesday night hangout this May. We talked about her reasons for starting the AT, big adventures out west and her journey hiking Hadrian's Wall, an ancient Roman defensive fortification.

June Gear Giveaway Contest announced in this episode! We're moving this one to the front of the queue so you can get in on the contest while there's still time. You have till the end of June to enter, listen for details! In this episode, Guthook joins us and we talk about chiggers and get caught up on Trail Days. Reptar tells us more about his upcoming PCT hike, and we give away not one, but TWO prizes to our listeners. One of which could be you!

Reptar, Voldemort, Daniel and Green Giant tell stories based on your questions: Hiking in crappy weather, meetups with randos, the coronation of Captain Underpants and more! 

Allyson "Clarity" Hester was a motorcycle racing grade school teacher before she broke her back. Now she's an Appalachian Trail Thru Hiker who inspires others, and continues to teach through her work as an ATC Ridge Runner, blogger, and is just an all around amazing person. Enjoy. Appalachian Trail Clarity