Podcasts about continental divide trail cdt

I sit down with Tim and Renee—better known as Simply the ⁨@reneeandtim⁩ . These two have thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) and Continental Divide Trail (CDT), set a Fastest Known Time (FKT), and built a massive online audience with their content on backpacking, ultrarunning, and dehydrated trail meals.Follow the Thru Hikers on the internetInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thruhikers/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thruhikers?Website: https://thruhikers.co/We talk about their full-time careers in plant genetics and engineering to outdoor influencers, the pressure of going viral on TikTok, and what it's like filming content while hiking thousands of miles. Renee shares the story behind her self-supported Oregon FKT and how spreadsheets, heatwaves, and stubborn fire seasons played a role.Check out The Barkley Bonus Episodes: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5KrLfLJn9Joy6PwwX3uEFR?si=cb96d5bf10ca48f3Support our sponsors Janji.com, Garagegrowngear.com and Csinstant.coffeePlus, we dive into:-The realities of turning hiking into a career-Dehydrated food experiments gone wrong (bibimbap, we're looking at you)Trail name origins ("Blue Man" and "Sausage")-How to prep for your first long-distance hike (spoiler: you don't need to be an expert)-Their book combining backpacking recipes and advice-And why trail running has become their go-to between big hikesThis episode is perfect for aspiring thru-hikers, FKT nerds, trail chefs, and anyone wondering how to turn a love of the outdoors into a lifestyle.Chapters00:00 Adventuring with an Audience03:06 Balancing Careers and Adventures05:59 The Journey to FKTs09:00 The Transition to Ultra Running11:56 Navigating Social Media Growth15:04 The Process of Writing a Book34:51 The Journey of Publishing a Book36:44 Wildlife Encounters and Adventure Stories41:05 The Art of Dehydrating Food for Hiking50:29 Preparing for a Thru-Hike Adventure55:40 Trail Names and Their StoriesSubscribe to Substack: http://freeoutside.substack.comKeywordsThruhiking, Ultra Running, FKT, Adventure, Social Media, Content Creation, Hiking, Outdoor Activities, Balancing Work and Adventure, Recipe Book, hiking, adventure, wildlife encounters, thru-hiking, book publishing, dehydrating food, trail names, outdoor stories, FKT, hiking tips

In this episode of The Free Outside Podcast, I chat with thru-hiker and content creator Stella Hikes, who is preparing for one of the biggest challenges in long-distance hiking—the Calendar Year Triple Crown. Stella shares her hiking background, the inspiration behind attempting this ambitious feat, and the intense planning process required to hike the Appalachian Trail (AT), Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), and Continental Divide Trail (CDT) in a single year.We dive into her experience on the long trails, her approach to efficiency and nutrition, her strategy for tackling snow and weather challenges, and the importance of storytelling and content creation on the trail. I also shares insights from my own Calendar Year Triple Crown in 2016, including snow struggles, gear choices, and the evolution of thru-hiking.

In this episode of the 10 Adventures podcast, we learn about the incredible journey of Annette and Kristy, also known as the Wander Women, who traded their conventional lives for a life of adventure and exploration. We chat with them about their inspiring transition from traditional jobs to a life on the road, living out of their RV, and exploring the various places on foot. They share how a chance encounter with a book titled How to Die Broke led them to rethink their approach to life and retirement, ultimately pushing them to seek new experiences and embrace uncertainty.   We dive deep into their latest adventure on the Via Francigena, a historic pilgrimage route from Lucca to Rome. Annette and Kristy, who also recently achieved the incredible accomplishment of completing the Triple Crown of Hiking—the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), the Continental Divide Trail (CDT), and the Appalachian Trail (AT)—share their experiences of traversing these iconic American trails. They also share their philosophy on valuing experiences over material wealth and the importance of pushing beyond comfort zones to grow and stay mentally sharp.   Whether you're an avid hiker or someone dreaming of a life less ordinary, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration.   Don't forget to check out their YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@wanderwomenkristyannette5021   About Us

SUMMARY Melanie Harsha, an experienced hiker who has completed the Appalachian Trail (AT), Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), and Continental Divide Trail (CDT), joins the podcast. She shares her journey and insights into long-distance hiking. Melanie discusses her introduction to hiking, her decision to through-hike the AT, and the physical and mental preparation required for such endeavors. She compares the difficulty and characteristics of the AT, PCT, and CDT. Melanie also talks about wildlife encounters and the evolution of her gear throughout her hiking experiences. Garrett Frederick shares his experience thru-hiking the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) and the Appalachian Trail (AT), as well as his transition into ultra running. She discusses the importance of strength training and stretching while on the trail and how it contributed to his success. Melanie also talks about her trail name, Peanut, and how she got involved with Hoka. She shares her journey from academia to thru-hiking and how she ended up working for Hoka. She also discusses his personal experience with different shoe brands and the lessons she learned from thru-hiking and ultra running. Melanie also emphasizes the importance of supporting runners at aid stations, and shares advice for those interested in thru-hiking or ultra running. TAKEAWAYS: Long-distance hiking requires physical and mental preparation. Each long-distance trail has its own unique challenges and characteristics. Wildlife encounters, such as bears and snakes, are common on these trails. Gear choices evolve over time, with many hikers opting for lighter options. Strength training and stretching are important for success in thru-hiking. Trail names can have personal significance and be a connection to family. Transitioning from academia to thru-hiking can provide a much-needed break and clarity. Working at a local outfitter can lead to opportunities in the outdoor industry. Trying different shoe brands can help find the right fit and performance. Thru-hiking and ultra running require mental resilience and the ability to work through challenges. Supporting runners at aid stations can make a significant impact on their race experience. Thru-hiking can teach the lesson that hard things can be overcome. Researching and preparing in a way that suits individual preferences is key to success in thru-hiking. Listening to podcasts, reading books, or watching videos can provide valuable information for aspiring thru-hikers. Carrying items that provide comfort and peace of mind is important for a successful thru-hike. Thru-hiking and ultra running can provide a sense of home and appreciation for nature. The journey of thru-hiking is unique to each individual, and anyone can accomplish it with determination and preparation. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thetrailtrashcast/support

This week Tim is joined by author Heather to discuss her book “Thirst 2600 Miles to Home” Tune in to explore more Heather Anderson had hiked what is known as the "Triple Crown" of backpacking: the Appalachian Trail (AT), Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), and Continental Divide Trail (CDT)―a combined distance of 7,900 miles with a vertical gain of more than one million feet. A few years later, she left her job, her marriage, and a dissatisfied life and walked back into those mountains.In the second half of this interview, Heather and Tim were joined by Whitney "Allgood" La Ruffa, and the three of them chatted about their recent adventures in Uganda. Buy the book: https://wordsfromthewild.net/book/Find her on: Instagram @_wordsfromthewild_Facebook @Wordsfromthewild

Join us on this inspiring episode of "Papa Bear Hikes" as we welcome the adventurous Netteburg family, a remarkable team of seven who have made history on America's most iconic trails. From the Appalachian Trail (AT) to the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) and the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), they have not only conquered these challenging hikes but have also set extraordinary records along the way.Meet Olen (Spreadsheet, age 44) and Danae (Queen Bee), the pillars of this hiking family, along with their incredible children: Lyol (Blaze, 14), Zane (Boomerang, 12), Addison (Angel Wings, 10), Juniper (The Beast, 7), and Piper (Dead Weight, 2). Discover how their 2-year-old, Piper, embarked on the CDT at just eight months old and the PCT at one, possibly becoming the youngest hiker on these trails. Learn about their four-year-old, Juniper, who astonishingly finished the AT entirely on her own before turning five in 2020, and later became the youngest Triple Crowner at the age of seven.The Netteburg family's journey is not just about setting records; it's a story of resilience, teamwork, and the unique strengths of each family member. They have redefined what's possible for family hiking adventures and have inspiring tales from the trails to share.Tune in to hear firsthand about their preparations, challenges, and unforgettable moments on these epic trails, and how they've grown as a family through these experiences.

V treťom a záverečnom dieli minisérie o Continental Divide Trail (CDT) sa rozprávame s Ivkou Smolkovou o strave, zásobovaní, vode a návrate do bežného života po ukončení trailu. Pridávame aj odporúčania pre ľudí, ktorí by sa chceli vybrať na CDT.

Pokračovanie minisérie o diaľkovej trase Continental Divide Trail (CDT) v USA s Ivkou Smolkovou sa zameriava na samotu na trase, zver a vybavenie. 

V druhom dieli minisérie o Continental Divide Trail (CDT) pokračujeme s Ivkou Smolkovou rozprávaním o vybavení, samote a zveri na trase.

V treťom a záverečnom dieli minisérie o Continental Divide Trail (CDT) sa rozprávame s Ivkou Smolkovou o strave, zásobovaní, vode a návrate do bežného života po ukončení trailu. Pridávame aj odporúčania pre ľudí, ktorí by sa chceli vybrať na CDT.

Diaľková trasa Continental Divide Trail (CDT) v USA je menej známou sestrou Pacifickej hrebenovky. Tento rok ju prešla slovenka Ivka Smolková. 4072 kilometrov jej trvalo 145 dní.

Diaľková trasa Continental Divide Trail (CDT) v USA je menej známou sestrou Pacifickej hrebenovky. Tento rok ju prešla slovenka Ivka Smolková. 4072 kilometrov jej trvalo 145 dní.

Kurt Refsnider is a cycling coach and the founder of Bikepacking Roots, an organization that advocates for bikepacking and the environment. He's the only person to have won all three events in the Triple Crown of Bikepacking, and he recently became one of only a few people to have biked the entire Continental Divide Trail (CDT), a 3,300-mile route stretching from Canada to Mexico.   Are you glad to be off the trail after three months of riding? How is the Continental Divide Route different than the 2700-mile Great Divide Route that runs from Banff, Alberta to Antelope Wells, New Mexico? How is the CDT currently managed and administered? Are there groups working to connect the dots? What does it mean to be a responsible bikepacker?  How did you approach sections of the route that go through Wilderness areas where bikes aren't allowed?  Are there communities along the route that benefit from the CDT running through town? Is there much overlap with towns along the Great Divide Route? Which sections would you want to revisit to ride without all the gear on your bike? How will the Biking on Long Distance Trails (BOLT) Act help trails like the CDT? What is the latest status of the legislation?  Were you surprised that it took three months to complete the trail? Why isn't the CDT more popular with mountain bikers? What does a trail assessment look like? What are you hoping to do with the info you collected on your CDT ride? How was your bike setup different for this ride compared to what you might use on the Great Divide route? Was going full suspension the right call for such a long ride? What's your next adventure? Connect with Kurt and learn more at ultramtb.net and bikepackingroots.org. --Keep up with the latest in mountain biking at Singletracks.com and on Instagram @singletracks --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singletracks/support

What do you get when you pursue adventure in your life with abandon to push to the edge of growth? Rob Angst knows....peace.  This is such a cool conversation.  Rob has through hiked the Appalachian Trail (AT), the Pacific Coast Trail (PCT) and spent many other long days and weeks on adventure in other spaces around the world.  His accomplishments are beyond impressive, but I think I learned more hearing about the one trail that he has not been able to conquer while pursuing the Triple Crown (AT, PCT, CDT), the Continental Divide Trail (CDT).  Rob has an ability to brutally assess what he wants and needs, both when he is ready to start a new adventure as well as when it is time to pull the plug.  He has a high ability to constantly answer the question of 'Why'.  He has chased different adventures by being present in whatever space he's in and experiencing life through all the senses.   He has a constant pursuit to expand himself and stretch his preconceived limits.  This conversation challenged me in all the good ways.  Rob is a bit more explicit with his words than my previous guests, so consider yourself warned, but I think it is completely fitting as he describes the rough edges of how life really works.  It's never pretty and it's never clean but man, what a journey. 

Rémi est un marcheur au long cours.Récemment, il a bouclé le Continental Divide Trail, le plus long des 3 légendaires sentiers américains. Le CDT, c'est 5000km à travers les régions du centre des États-Unis entre le Mexique et le Canada. Il a fallu quasiment 5 mois à Rémi pour boucler ce défi colossal. Mais Rémi n'en était pas à son coup d'essai ! Avant le CDT, il avait déjà parcouru le PCT, le GR5 et le GR20. Un vrai adepte de la randonnée longue et engagée. Ce qu'il y trouve ? Une vraie connexion avec la nature sauvage et un cadre idéal pour se dépayser et se dépasser.Marcher 40km par jour pendant des mois avec 15kg sur le dos sur des sentiers très isolés, ça ne s'improvise pas. Rémi nous explique aussi la réalité de la logistique sur ce genre d'aventure et nous partage quelques anecdotes... qui en refroidiront plus d'un !Une vraie invitation au voyage... merci Rémi !

Long distance hiking routes like the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) or the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) are a once in a lifetime experience for many outdoor enthusiasts, but what about tackling three of these imposing treks within three years? Join this week's episode of the 10Adventures Podcast as host Richard Campbell chats with Josh Durum about his experience completing the CDT and the PCT twice between 2020-2022. Josh will be the first to tell you that, while similar in their scope, the Pacific Crest Trail and Continental Divide Trail are completely different beasts that require a good deal of determination, mental fortitude, and planning to overcome - just don't plan too much! Plenty of experience thru-hiking across 8,000 miles of North America has left him with some insightful knowledge, perhaps none more important than to simply go with the flow and take the time to experience the journey in your own way; a practice that teaches both patience and self-discovery. To learn more about thru-hiking adventures or to gain some inspiration for your own long distance treks, be sure to check Josh's Instagram. Clips: 2:41 - Thru hiking as an easier/stress-free activity 4:01 - Overview of the PCT 11:42 - Overview of the CDT 17:48 - Evolution of gear/packing 28:30 - Go with the flow

Marci Kornegay completed the Pacific Crest Trail on September 21; a journey that started in the desert at the Mexican border on May 12. The ultimate finish, the touchstone that PCT hikers aim for at the Canadian border was denied her and her trail friends due to wildfires that closed the final 80 miles. And there were other closures that Marci had to navigate and reroute in Northern California and into Oregon. Having reached as far north in Washington State as she could, Marci turned south to complete the miles in California and Oregon that she had earlier had to jump. This time she was completely alone and for her it felt like two different hikes. it became a battle of her will to complete these miles against the quietness of the solitude and loneliness. Her determination to complete held strong. And she found the joy that made hiking the PCT so worthwhile. The sights, the sounds, the smells… all of it unique to the wild and desolate high country that makes the PCT so special. Alas there are still about 280 miles that were closed and she plans to return to before she can check this box. And yes of course there is a next big hike waiting for her: the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) 3,100 miles. Host: Chris StaffordRecorded: October 10, 2022WiSP Sports is the ONLY GLOBAL PODCAST NETWORK FOR WOMEN'S SPORT with more than 60 hosts, 1600+ episodes across 50 shows and over 7 million downloads. Every episode is a WiSP SPORTS ORIGINAL PRODUCTION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.We are ranked in the top 2% of more than 2.71 million podcasts worldwide. WiSP Sports is on all major podcast players. Follow WiSP Sports on social media @WiSPsports. Contact us at wispsports@gmail.com.

Shilletha Curtis -  Trail name “Dragonsky” is 30 years old and is from New Jersey, USA.    She is an established writer and hiker and is inspiring to be the second Black woman to achieve the Triple Crown of hiking (The AT, PCT, CTD).    She recently completed the Appalachian Trail and is preparing for the Continental Divide Trail (CDT).    She graduated from Rutgers in 2014 and has worked in the social work and veterinary field for years.    She is currently working as a freelance writer and is working on her book.   Listen to Shilletha on the Tough Girl Podcast as she shares more about her life, her passion for hiking and spending time in the outdoors.   New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Hit the subscribe button so you don't miss out.    The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons.    Support the mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media. Visit www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast and subscribe - super quick and easy to do and it makes a massive difference. Thank you.   Show notes   Growing up in New Jersey, USA Graduating in 2014 with a degree in social work Getting into writing since Covid What her younger years were like Having a passion for reading Never being exposed to hiking  Her journey of getting into the outdoors Getting into hiking in 2020 Hearing about the Appalachian Trail for the first time Getting obsessed with the AT and making the decision to thru-hike it Living from paycheck to paycheck  Figuring out how to pay for the hike Joining AT Facebook Groups… Asking about her safety  Dealing with racism and threats  Being supported/sponsored by the Appalachian Trail Conservatory (ATC) Using the GoFundMe platform to raise funds for her hike Safety while on the trail  Needing people at certain points for safety Not being excited while on the trail and just being scared Being a triple minority and always having to look and check behind her back at all times Journalling and writing while out in the woods Being exhausted  Having a strategy for hiking the AT The Matrix World Listening to her body  Wanting to experience freedom while hiking  Starting the trail in February…. Dealing with the cold weather Her trail name and where it came from  Connecting with a trail family  Her summit day on October 5th 2021 Cover your poop! Loving the rock scrambling and feeling empowered and happy Feeling proud of herself Biggest lessons learned from the experience of spending 9 months on the trail The power of being present Learning how to live and what freedom means  Wanting to live life how she wants to  Sharing her journey and how people can follow along Working on new writing projects The significance of 29.5 Chasing the seasons Top pieces of advice for Black women who want to take on a challenge like hiking the Appalachian Trail Words to live your life by  Why she's going to keep on hiking    Social Media   Instagram: @I_Am_Dragonsky    Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/IAmDragonsky    Blog post - Not Just Another Hiker June 12, 2020   

On this episode: Thru-hiking warm fuzzies, lime green Crocs, and being a divemaster. We're talking with Matthew Hengst, a self-described indigent hiker who recently completed a 5,000 mile hike on the Eastern Continental Trail. Show Notes 0:30 – Introducing Matthew 04:15 – What is it like to hike 5,000 miles? 06:20 – The biggest animal problem in the south? Hint: it's not the gators. 08:40 – When Matthew got into hiking 10:45 – How do you follow up the Eastern Continental Trail (ECT)? 12:54 – The transition from 302 days on the trail back to “normal” society 14:00 – Physical recovery after the ECT vs the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) 16:00 – Biggest challenges on the PCT vs the ECT 19:00 – Would you do the PCT or Appalachian Trail (AT) again? 20:00 – Footwear (socks, shoes, etc.) for hiking 8,000 miles 23:30 – Food on long trails. 25:00 – How did you figure out how to connect up the trails that make up the ECT route? 28:30 – Mosquitos and “No See-ums” 33:40 – The human connection on the trail (and the giant warm fuzzy of thru-hiking) 35:40 – Preparing to thru-hike the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) 36:00 – Diving, and advice for anyone interested in getting into it 41:50 – Completing the Triple Crown (AT, CDT and PCT)… and beyond 44:35 – How do you support yourself while you do all this walking? 48:10 – Favorite parts of the trails Matt has hiked 50:45 – What is a typical day now that he is off-trail? 52:41 – What he uses for tech and how he keeps everything connected and charged Mentioned in this Episode Sierra Club Wilderness Travel Course John Muir Trail Pacific Crest Trail Florida Trail Appalachian Trail Eastern Continental Trail Pinhoti Trail FarOut Guides (formerly Guthook) Continental Divide Trail Theodore Solomons Trail American Discovery Trail Arizona Trail International Appalachian Trail Connect with Matthew online First Church of the Masochist – Matthew's website Instagram: @mattonamtn Watch Matt's ECT Vlog on YouTube Connect with us! Like Almost There on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/almostthereadventurepodcast/ Follow Almost There on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostthere_ap/  Send us a voice message! https://www.speakpipe.com/AlmostThere Our Co-hosts Jason Fitzpatrick – IG: @themuirproject Saveria Tilden – IG: @adventuruswomen  web: AdventurUsWomen.com Jeff Hester – IG: @thesocalhiker  web: SoCalHiker.net Theme song by Opus Orange. Courtesy of Emoto Music.  The Almost There Adventure Podcast is a celebration of outdoor activities both local and epic. Discussing the big topics and talking to adventurers, artists, legends and activists within the outdoor community.

Douglas O'Laughlin and I go way back to our swim team days in Plano, TX. It's been 9 years since we last really talked, and man was it good to catch up! Doug AKA “Hobo Toe”, recently trekked the Continental Divide Trail (CDT), which is a “thru-hike” spanning 3000 miles across America. One of the most difficult through hikes in America, and It starts in New Mexico and ends in Montana. “Eat. Sleep. Hike.” That was Hobo Toe's life for 4.5 months, Averaging 20-30 miles a day. There were high moments, and plenty of low moments… Thank you Doug for letting us into your life and journey across the CDT. Doug has quite the following for semi-conductor investing. Check him out! Substack: https://substack.com/profile/34637-doug-mule Twitter: https://twitter.com/foolallthetime?s=21 --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/zachary-barber/support

Interested in becoming a triple crown thru-hiker? Learn about the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) so you can earn your triple crown status.

Lo Phong La "Lil' Buddha" Kiatoukaysy is an accomplished Hmong American backpacking adventurer, speaker, writer, and outdoor diversity & equity advocate. He has hiked over 45,000 trail miles since 1995. He is best known for his calendar year 2010 6,000 mile Eastern Continental Trail (ECT) route which is considered an ultra long-distance hiking first. In April 2020 he completed his second ECT, making him a Double-Triple Crown Thru-hiker, a distinction bestowed to backpackers who have thru-hiked the 2,200 mile Appalachian Trail (AT), 2,650 mile Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), and 3,300 mile Continental Divide Trail (CDT) in their entirety twice each. With only one more CDT (planned 2021) and AT (planned 2022), he hopes to become a Triple-Triple Crown Thru-hiker. In summer 2021 he is re-hiking the CDT, and has partnered with #stopaapihate co-founding organization the Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA), to raise awareness on anti-AAPI racism, bigotry and violence. Follow his adventures on Instagram @lilbuddhahikes

IBTAT is back for a third time on Trail Tales! We talk about his upcoming plans to hike the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) in 2021, as well as his time spent working at Mountain Crossings on the Appalachian Trail. IBTAT is going to be sharing his entire CDT hike on YouTube, so go subscribe to him if you haven't already! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3aILHxDPaRH8fHO5JcE6qQ If you're really into Trail Tales and want to support my content, check out my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/kylehateshiking/ Feel free to leave me a five-star review on iTunes, and subscribe if you like the show! My personal Instagram is @kylehateshiking, so feel free to follow me on there as well. Subscribe on iTunes, and listen on Spotify and Stitcher

On this episode of the Aptitude Outdoors Podcast I sit down again with Kyle Lutz and we talk about his recent completion of the Continental Divide Trail (CDT), completing his Triple Crown at the ripe young age of 20 years old!!! Kyle is one bad dude and I can't wait to see what the future holds for him! 

Today I interview Francisco Miller who received the trail name "Karate Kid" while hiking the Appalachian Trail. Karate Kid went on to get a triple crown by hiking the Appalachian Trail (AT), Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), and Continental Divide Trail (CDT), and now works full time as a trail guide and hikes in his free time. Karate Kid realized (while hiking the AT) that he wanted to make a change in his life to do work he loved and spend his time in a more meaningful way. The AT is something I did in 2008, hiking 1,100 miles from Georgia to Pennsylvania over 3 months, and it is a bucket list item for me to go back and do the entire 2,200 miles start to finish. This episode is less about real estate specifically and more about the time freedom pot of gold at the end of all the real estate work - our "why". Thru-hiking the AT is one of my "whys", and I encourage you to identify and pursue your work with your "whys" providing fuel for your pursuit.

The Pilgrim's perspective Many people ask me, “What are you thinking about when you walk from sunrise to sunset in remote wildernesses?”Sometimes I’m just thinking of the next step. Other times I’m thinking about Megan Fox.However, during my pilgrimage, I do go into deep-thoughts mode occasionally. That’s what this article is about. It will lead to my next article which is about what it means to be human and my debate with a T-Rex on global warming. Yeah, light topics. Can’t I just talk about the weather?One of the aspects that I love about thru-hiking is the sense of perspective it gives you. Most humans are stuck in day-to-day drudgery, incapable (or unwilling) to break the chains of their self-centered, short-term point of view. I confess I’m no better than the average Joe and that missing one synchronized light can really send me into a deep depression. However, when I travel for months in the mountains I can’t help but have a broader perspective. For example, when I am walking a ridge on the Continental Divide, its history is etched into the landscape.Although the Earth is 4.5 billion years old, the planet didn’t really start to settle down until it was a billion years old. And life didn’t really get going until the Pre-Cambrian era (over half a billion years ago). However, it is nearly impossible for my puny human brain to relate to that much time. Actually, a million years is too hard to imagine, even if I compare it with how long my bank puts me on hold.Therefore, to crunch world history into a timescale that I can fathom let’s squeeze it into one calendar year. And I’ll focus on the development of the Continental Divide Trail (CDT). Here’s what we get. Earth's history compressed into one year January and February would be good months to stay in your cabin. The Earth’s environment was chaotic. Incessant wind and rain would erode away barren mountains faster than a plastic surgeon can erode away Michael Jackson’s nose. Still, on February 25 (or is it February 30?), life would spring forth! Sure, these single-celled organisms would be stuck in the warm coastal waters and by the thermal vents, but we’ll take what we can get. March 20: Stromatolites would pop up. July 17: Multicellular life, those cells with nuclei, were strutting their stuff. Trilobites (hard-shelled creatures) would start feeding on all the multi-cellular life. By the end of the month, small vertebrates would start feeding on the Trilobites. All you can eat restaurants were invented. Most of the year would go by and still no life on the land. Where would the Continental Divide be in October? It wouldn’t be a thrusting mass of mountains that I walked. Quite the opposite! It would be a broad channel of water. You could ride your kayak down the channel! In fact, if you flew over North America in June, you’d see that 60 percent of the land is underwater. Would you see forests of trees on the land? Nope, you wouldn’t even see moss clinging to the ubiquitous rocks. Zero plant life. However, it wouldn’t be a static boring rock-filled landscape. It would be constantly eroding, pummeled by endless torrential rains that make the south-east Asian monsoons seem like a drizzle. The Continental Divide would be impossible to recognize in early November. Instead of the Rocky Mountains stretching out as far as the eye can see, you’d see a massive sea that stretched from the Arctic to the Gulf of Mexico! In early November, the first plants would gain a precarious foothold on land. For every plant that latches on the land, many will get washed away by the endless rain. The struggle of the plants to get established lasts for weeks, but they finally settle down. Vegetarians aren’t far behind. On November 18, the Cambrian Explosion - a burst of complex life - would roll out. In a couple of days, the seas are crowded with fish. A few claustrophobic ones develop crude lungs, call themselves amphibians, and get timeshares on the land. Around November 20, the Appalachian mountain range starts to rise and will be far higher than any other mountain range in the USA today. You wouldn’t find cozy shelters every 15 kilometers on the Appalachian Trail. December starts with insects. Since CDT hikers hadn’t been invented yet, the mosquito started bugging the first amphibians, which show up on December 2. Sharks and seeded plants follow. December 5: First reptiles. December 12: Doh! The Permian Extinction, the most deadly event in Earth's history, happens. Siberian traps (big volcanoes) spew up so much toxic smoke that 95% of life on Earth dies.  December 13: Dinosaurs appear.  December 14: Dinosaurs chase the pathetic looking mammals that just start to appear. The dinosaurs thought these mammals were snacks since few were much bigger than a rat. December 22: Plants with flowers appear. It's about time! December 26: The planet's post-Christmas presents are cats and dogs. Cute puppies and kitties. The most memorable event of this day is when an asteroid the size of Manhattan Island strikes the Yucatan with a force of 100 million megatons. The impact would release a heat pulse that would set off fires across the planet. The result: a planetary dinosaur barbecue. Their “two-month” reign comes to an abrupt end.  December 27: Grasses spread like fire across the earth. Pigs and deer follow. The Rocky Mountains would finally start to rise and tower over the surrounding land. The CDT wasn’t well marked then either. The Colorado River would start its tedious process of slicing the Grand Canyon. December 28: First primates jump through the trees. The sun would rise on December 31 and still no sign of humans. Finally, at 17:18, somewhere in Africa, the first clumsy hominids would stand up. During the last hours of the year, you’d see massive sheets of ice, as tall as mountains, cover America and Euroasia. Like an accordion, you’d see the ice sheets (glaciers) come and go four times in just a few hours. It would look like a global warming yo-yo gone wild.With one hour to go before the year ends, Homo erectus shows up to the primate party. At 23:30 the French start showing off their artistic talent: Cro-Magnon man draws cool paintings in some caves. At 23:45 homo sapiens figure out how to make weapons of mass destruction: sharp knives and spears. Around 23:55 civilization begins. Prostitution shortly follows. Egyptians, Babylonians, Greeks, and Romans each spend a minute building touristy buildings. At 23:58 and 43 seconds, Jesus tells everyone to behave. We kill him a nanosecond later.With just 20 seconds to go before the year draws to a close, Columbus bumps into America. Dick Clark is born and starts making a living counting down the seconds to the New Year. “Just 7 seconds to go!” announces Dick, and rebels sign the Declaration of Independence. In the final 7 seconds, we finally arrive at the crown jewel of billion of years of evolution: Megan Fox. More info You can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter at http://wanderlearn.com. If you like this podcast, subscribe and share!  On social media, my username is always ftapon. Follow me on: http://facebook.com/ftapon http://twitter.com/ftapon http://youtube.com/user/ftapon http://pinterest.com/ftapon http://tumblr.com/ftapon Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron at http://Patreon.com/FTapon Rewards start at just $2/month! If you prefer to do a one-time contribution, you can send it to my PayPal at FT@FrancisTapon.com If you prefer giving me Bitcoin, then please send BTC to my tip jar: 3EiSBC2bv2bYtYEXAKTkgqZohjF27DGjnV Health Access Sumbawa One of WanderLearn's top patrons, Kathy Kennedy Enger, asked me to draw attention to Health Access Sumbawa. I am happy to promote this remarkable nonprofit. In 2014, Jack Kennedy founded the organization to bring malaria control and healthcare to remote, impoverished communities. It started on the remote island of Sumbawa, Indonesia. Since then, it's expanded thanks to generous donations. Visit their website to learn more and to donate: https://healthaccesssumbawa.org

In this episode we tell you all about our summer ultramarathon sufferfest in the mountains of South Dakota and Montana. Plus Coach Angie will explain how to effectively go from marathon to 50k. Angie and Trevor’s 50k Sufferfest Extravaganza! The Black Hills 50k I choose the Black Hills 50k in Sturgis as my South Dakota race in my quest to finish a marathon or beyond in all 50 states. There were a couple of other options in the state that I’d been eying but this race was too convenient to pass up. It also landed exactly one week after my Michigan marathon. Pre-race: The 50k was part of multiple other distances that they offered including a 30k, 50 mile, and 100 miler. We arrived in town Thursday before the race and stayed at the Sturgis RV Park & Campground where packet pickup was taking place. Race Morning: The race offered busing out to the start line from the city park and the 50k bus left at 6 a.m.. It was already completely light by this time and the amount of heat for that early in the morning worried me a bit. It was a 45 minute bus ride to the start line. When we got to the 50k starting area near the aid station at Dalton Lake there were a few port-a-pots, a couple camper trailers for the volunteers, the drop bag area for the 50 and 100 milers, and the food table. The sun was feeling very hot and we had over an hour wait until the 8am start. As we waited there were several 100 milers coming through the aid station and we were able to cheer them on. Course: The 50k distance was a point to point course with over 95% on single track following the Centennial Trail. Marking the 100th anniversary of statehood, 1889 to 1989, the 111-mile Centennial Trail represents the diversity of South Dakota. The Trail crosses the prairie grasslands near Bear Butte State Park and climbs into the Black Hills high country, skirting lakes and streams until it reaches Wind Cave National Park near Hot Springs. The starting elevation was 4,455 ft and there was a total of 3,891 ft of climbing. There were five creek crossings, one which came over my knees. I always find the first creek crossing (or the first time you get your feet wet) to be a bit daunting. They had ropes strung across the crossings to hang onto since the creek bottom was a bit slippery and the water flowing fairly strong. But after that first crossing the coId water felt very refreshing to my overheated body. Thankfully the trail shoes I was wearing, On Cloudventures, dried quickly and provided good traction and stability. I found the course to be very clearly marked and it was beautiful with views of mountains, valleys, trees, and a few cattle. Aid Stations: The aid stations were located approximately every 7 miles. They were well stocked with fueling supplies and the usual great ultra food offerings. They handed out collapsible cups at packet pick up to cut down on the number of disposable cups. The race email said, “In reality, if you’re running an event like this you should probably have a liquid carrying vessel of some sort on your person. We really don’t care if it’s a collapsible cup or an empty beer can that you scavenged from the bed of your truck, but we would strongly encourage you to carry something reusable to drink out of. Just doing our part to save the planet, one cup (or beer can) at a time!” My experience: My strategy was to stay very conservative the first half which meant that I didn’t really pass people unless they were hiking uphill more slowly than me. I remember looking down at my watch about midway (25k) and thinking that I’d already been out there longer than my last marathon. But overall I enjoyed being out on the trail and was able to keep my headspace very positive. I kept rolling my right ankle several times which really hurt but it didn’t seem to interfere with my ability to run. I also caught my foot several times on the trail but managed to catch myself before falling. Gracefulness on the trails is apparently not my strong suit. For gear I was using compression socks (for support and protection of the legs in tall grass/weeds), ON Cloud Ventures, Trail Toes ointment, Nathan Vapor Airess Pack, and Generation UCAN bars. Trevor and the boys met me at the final large aid station at Alkali Creek (around mile 24) and gave me a Mountain Dew which hit the spot with the jolt of caffeine and sugar. My conservative pacing strategy paid off and I didn’t get passed by anyone in the last 8 miles and was able to make up some ground. For the final mile the course came off the trail back into town to the finish area in the City Park. I was able to pass several people and my final mile was my fastest with a 9:45 pace. My finish time was 7:41:44 for my 3rd 50k (and slowest to date). They gave out a nice finisher’s mug (and the race shirt was great as well). I was 34th out of 96 50k runners. Finish Line: The finish cut off for all the distances was 8 p.m. on Saturday June 29th, 2019 (the 100 milers had started the previous day). The 100 miler had 41 finishers. The men’s winner was Andrew Pavek with a time of 21:47:58. The women’s winner was Lisa Walbridge with a time of 27:01:04. The 50 miler had 62 finishers. The men’s winner was Devon Olson with a time of 7:50:40. The women’s winner was Christine O’Gorman with a time of 11:14:34. The 50k had 96 finishers. The men’s winner was Mark Marzen with a time of 4:36:25. The women’s winner was Denise Kaelberer with a time of 6:16:44. The 30k had 93 finishers. The men’s winner was Tim Fryer with a time of 2:50:38. The women’s winner was Alicia Porsch with a time of 3:18:03. Shout out to MTA listener Yoko Hartland who finished in 3:36:19 and placed first in her AG. Post race: After finishing I felt pretty tired from all those hours in the heat. We had a nice dinner to celebrate and then hit the road the next day to continue our travels. I was pretty stiff and sore, especially through the quads, for the next three days and came away with a couple bruised toenails. I’m guessing that my body wasn’t completely recovered from the marathon a week before. Still, I thoroughly enjoyed the race and would recommend it to anyone who wants to enjoy some great trails in South Dakota. The Divide 50k in Butte, Montana By Trevor The Divide 50k took place on July 13, 2019. My build up to the race wasn’t stellar but I had good mental training after reading the book Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins. The race started in Thompson Park- a large land area south of Butte that connects to the Continental Divide Trail (CDT). The CDT runs from Canada to Mexico along the Continental Divide for a total of 3,100 miles. The Course: The course was mostly single track and kinda congested the first mile until everyone spread out. There were tiny orange flags along the course for directions and every runner received a sheet with turn-by-turn directions. I still managed to miss a turn! We ran for a couple miles and came upon an old railroad tunnel. I knew there would be tunnels- the race recommended bringing a headlamp. The runners ahead of me ran into the tunnel so, naturally, I followed them. We emerged from the other side and continued running . . . then I saw a group of runners backtracking toward me and I realized that something was wrong. Apparently we had all missed a turn and were not supposed to run through the tunnel but it had been like a vortex pulling us all in. Sure enough, before the tunnel, the course went off to the left. It was marked with flags but we all missed it. It cost us about a mile of backtracking. As we were running back to find the turn we missed we kept intercepting runners and telling them the bad news. I pulled out my sheet of instructions and sure enough! It said, “Do not go through the tunnel- turn left before the tunnel”. This illustrates how easy it is to get into a rhythm, especially on a hot day, and forget to pay attention to the course. We eventually came to the correct tunnel which was nice and cool (temperature wise) to run through . . . and very dark, so dark you couldn’t see your feet. Another highlight of the course was a rail to trail bridge spanning a massive canyon. We came to the first aid station at the 16k point (Pipestone Pass) where I grabbed a bag of potato chips and filled up my hydration pack. Once we got back on the trail it eventually connected to the CDT (the first time we ran on it). I was pretty much by myself for the next couple of hours. The higher I climbed the more spectacular the views. Slogging Up the Mountain I knew that the next aid station was at the 25k (halfway) point and ending for the 25k runners but I didn’t know at any given point what kilometer I was in. I chose to run according to feel rather than pace. On the way up and down the mountain it was endless switchbacks but the trail was smooth and very runnable. No sounds of civilization, no people, just a lone trek through the mountains. My strategy was to run the downhill sections and walk the uphill sections. Half Way Point When I arrived at the 25k aid station there were 4 or 5 runners hanging out (some had just finished the 25k and they were going to get a ride back to the start). It was stocked with lots of goodies -chips, candy, granola bars, drinks. I grabbed another bag of chips and filled my water up. They did have some lawn chairs and I sat down and got the rocks out of my shoes (it felt great to sit down). The clouds started to get very dark and a thunderstorms blew in. Around that time Angie texted me and said “Are you getting any of this rain?” After leaving the aid station I had a long slow slog back up the mountain from whence I came. It started to rain and I got out my poncho but it was superfluous and actually trapped in too much body heat. I continued the uphill death march for another hour on very tired legs. Angie texted me again to find out how many miles I’d gone. All I knew was that I’d passed the 25k point plus 5 more miles. She texted back, Only 18k (11 miles) to go My right ear plugged up which happens to me when I’m out trail running. I was worried about my water situation and sucking it down like a camel. Since I couldn’t breathe through my nose I had to catch my breath after getting a drink. I ate a frosted strawberry Pop Tart around 25 miles (don’t judge). It tasted magical. I hadn’t had one in decades. There was a tiny stream crossing and I bent down to splash some water on my face. I could see little gold specks in the stream and it reminded me of gold panning in Juneau, Alaska. When I bent down I laid down on the ground and it felt so good. Then I thought to myself, “Angie would never allow herself to do this.” After I got going again it seemed like every rock and tree stump looked like an inviting chair. There was one point where a tree had fallen across the trail and I had to crawl under it. Gravity felt heavy and I lingered under the tree . . . just laying back for a minute. I thought, “if this wasn’t a race I’d probably take a longer break here.” As I was laying there a runner came up to me and said, “How’s the lactic acid treating you?” And I felt like a doofus to be laying on the ground. I hadn’t seen another runner for hours. Her name was Anna from Bozeman and she was very friendly. We ran together for a mile and then she surged ahead. As the day warmed up I have visions of jumping into a cold lake. It was hard to make myself keep going and it was still mostly uphill. I was starting to get cramps on the inside of my thighs which I’d never felt before. I got to the very last water stop but all that was left were five empty jugs. This 50k hurt in the usual places that a marathon does and additionally my neck was sore from the combination of looking down and carrying my pack. With 2 miles to go a runner came upon me and he said that this was his 3rd ultra in 14 days. I asked him “why?”. He said, “Just to see if I have what it takes.” I surged ahead and finished before him crossing the line at about 4:30 in the afternoon. The website says my time was 8:13:17:42. Plenty of room for a PR next time! The race director congratulated me, I found a lawn chair, and dug into the nice post race snacks on offer -Pringles and a beer. I put my recovery sandals on and waited for my ride. It very satisfying feeling to have finished a 50k especially after very minimal training. Once you get up to marathon shape it’s not that hard to maintain your endurance and jump into a 50k if you don’t care about your finishing time. If I can finish a 50k I have no doubt that you guys can too.Also Mentioned in This Episode MTA Beginner 50k Training Plan -designed by Coach Angie Spencer to get the beginner ready to run a 50k ultramarathon. This is a 20 week long plan that will have you running 4 days per week with interspersed cross-training. (Includes: Downloadable/Printable Training Plan, Detailed Explanation, Core Workout 1.0 & Core Workout 2.0 documents and Metric Version). CEP Compression -Check out the latest tall compression sock from CEP! The 3.0 has an updated look, upgraded fit and feel thanks to a blend of 16 yarns. But it has the same best in class graduated compression, now just a little easier to put on. Use the code “Marathon” for 15% off from now till August 31st. Generation Ucan -the revolutionary new way for runners to fuel. UCAN keeps your blood sugar stable, is gentle on your stomach, and allows your body to burn fat. Use the promo code “MTA50k” to save 15% off your order. Or if you’re new to UCAN, save 25% on your first order with code MTA25”. DripDrop O.R.S. An electrolyte powder developed by a doctor to treat dehydration. Go to dripdrop.com/mta to get 20% off any purchase. The post Angie and Trevor’s 50k Sufferfest Extravaganza! appeared first on Marathon Training Academy.

Growing up within reach of the White Mountains, Dave Moore was exposed to the world of hiking and backpacking from a young age, and eventually went on to complete the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail! But not only is he a Triple Crowner, he has hiked many other smaller trails as well! For this episode, we focus mostly on the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) as I pick Dave's brain about some of the challenges that thru-hikers face on the CDT that they may not encounter on the PCT or the AT.  Please consider making a donation of any size to the Trail Tales 46 Climbs team, raising money for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: https://afsp.donordrive.com/participant/1975017 Like what you hear? Want to talk some smack? You can contact me on Twitter, Instagram, or send me an email: trailtalespod@gmail.com If you're really into Trail Tales and want to receive some bonus content, please consider supporting the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/trailtales.  Feel free to leave me a five-star review on iTunes (I read every one at the beginning of the next episode), and subscribe if you like the show! My personal Instagram is @kylehateshiking, so feel free to follow me on there as well.  Subscribe on iTunes, and listen on Google Play and Stitcher!

Heather holds the overall self-supported Fastest Known Time (FKTs) on the Pacific Crest Trail (2013) hiking it in 60 days, 17 hours, 12 minutes, breaking the previous men’s record by four days and becoming the first woman to hold the overall record.Her book Thirst, is all about this feat! We talk about some of the events she wrote, leaving much to be read by you.She also holds the women’s self-supported FKTs on the Appalachian Trail (2015) with a time of 54 days, 7 hours, 48 minutes and the Arizona Trail (2016), which she completed in 19 days, 17 hours, 9 minutes.We talk about her Calendar Year Triple Crown she completed in 2018. On November 8, 2018 on a southern point along the Continental Divide Trail in Grants, New Mexico Heather Anderson, known as “Anish” on the trail, became the first women to complete a Calendar Year “Triple Crown”of thru hiking completing the Appalachian Trail (AT), Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), and Continental Divide Trail (CDT), a combined distance of 7,900 miles with a vertical gain of more than one million feet, in a single year. In the process she set a female Fastest Known Time (FKT) for the route, hiking it in 251 days, 20 hours, 10 minutes and became the only female “Triple Triple Crowner” having competed all three trails three times since 2003.Six Moons DesignTents and morehttps://www.sixmoondesigns.comWaymark Gear CompanyHeavy duty ultralight backpackshttps://www.waymarkgearco.com

Craig Dinkel is the founder of BioTropicLabs.com. He is a former world class sprint freestyle and butterfly swimmer having achieved multiple Olympics Trial and NCAAs. He currently holds multiple national records and is a 23 time All American. He was the fastest inductee to his college's Sports Hall of Fame. Here he is interviewed by fitness Guru, Ben Greenfield. Craig competed against, and was side by side with, many of the world's great's swimmers including Rowdy Gains (Olympian), Bruce Stahl (World Record Holder and Teammate), Bruce Furniss (Olympian and Teammate) and others. He was coached by two of the greatest coaches of all time, legendary USC and 2 time Olympic coach Peter Daland, and former Michigan Wolverine Swimming Coach and also 2 time Olympic coach, John Urbanchek. Both coaches are International Hall of Fame inductees. Here they discuss Craig's athletic background and about, how he “fell” into competitive swimming, his company, the custom sports supplement formulations he used (and still uses) to gain competitive edges when competing and staying healthy, as well as discussing forth coming supplements aimed at athletes of all kinds, and other supplements designed to help fast paced executives. They also discuss Craig's plans for hiking the Continental Divide Trail (CDT), one of the three triple crowns of long haul hiking, the others being the Pacific Crest Trail and the best known of them all, the Appalachian Trail. Please enjoy the podcast and do comment here and share on social media! Thanks! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-who-are-you-podcast/support