The Trail Creators Podcast

t's been a year since I met Trevor Laher on the Pacific Crest Trail as we embarked on our 2,665-mile journey from Mexico to Canada.We hiked together for a short while, but never would I have imagined that chatting with him at Montezuma Valley would be the last time I saw him.On the 27th of March 2020, snow-covered icy slopes and a lack of winter equipment caused Trevor to have a fatal fall in the San Jacinto Mountains at Apache Peak.Since that day, Doug Laher, his father, says after months of difficulty, his son's story has given him a new purpose in life, to selflessly ensure the safety of others following in Trevor's footsteps.This is the story of how a father's son's tragedy is saving the lives of others on the PCT.

Ben and I chat about how hiking has benefited our mental health and how we can use the skills we've learnt to deal with self-isolation.

Chris and I discuss his experiences on the Pacific Crest Trail in 1982 and how that led to him becoming a legendary writer for the outdoors and Gear Editor for TGO Magazine.

Atom Packs founder Tom Gale kindly agreed to be interviewed for the first episode of The Trail Creators Podcast. His company specialises in the design and build of custom ultralight backpacks and are made to order in Keswick in the Lake District National Park right here in the UK.In this podcast, I interview those who aim to make the wilderness more accessible, sustainable and enjoyable for us all with their creations, innovations, products and stories.In this episode, Tom shares his stories from thousands of miles of hiking around the world, starting with the Appalachian Trail, the Te Araroa in New Zealand and finally the PCT and Continental Divide Trail, completing his triple crown. And how this led to him starting his successful lightweight hiking gear company, Atom Packs.It's been great hanging out with Tom and discovering how he's built the business up and it's humbling to be supporting the cottage hiking gear industry and its companies.