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Whether you're a seasoned ultra-runner or curious about endurance challenges, this episode is for you. Hosts Dimity McDowell and Sarah Wassner Flynn talk with trailblazer Manika Gamble about her unique (and relatable) journey conquering the world's toughest races. The conversation covers: Manika's transition from collegiate hurdler to ultra-marathoner; Her experience as the first Black American woman to complete the Namib Race, a 155-mile ultra in Africa. Strategies that helped her push through extreme conditions; Lessons learned from a recent DNF; Advice for those looking to take on their first marathon—or any big goal. Manika also shares what's next on her adventure list and how she continues to challenge herself. Inspired to join us on an upcoming adventure? Check out these programs: Grand Traverse Hike & Trail Run (October 4, Duluth, MN) – A 10-27 mile trek along the Superior Hiking Trail. Better Together at the City of Oaks (November 2, Raleigh, NC) – Choose from a 5K, 10K, half, or full marathon. When you shop our sponsors, you help AMR. We appreciate your—and their—support! Feel the Currex difference: Get 15% off with code AMR15 at Currex.com Spring has sprung: Get 20% off Tifosi sunglasses with code AMR2025 at TifosiOptics.com Sleep well: Use code AMR to get 40% off sitewide at bearmattress.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek and brought to you by Topo Athletic, we're joined by Ben Vaugh, known on trail as Ginger Ballz. Ben is a Navy veteran, accomplished thru-hiker, and currently works as a dog musher, a topic Chaunce and Badger had way too much fun diving into. Ginger Ballz takes us through his transition from the military to thru-hiking, why he recommends it to fellow service members, and the parallels between the two. He shares stories from his hikes of the Triple Crown trails, the Hayduke, Superior Hiking Trail, and Long Trail. We also get a deep dive into his current gig managing a dog mushing and guiding company in Colorado, working with Iditarod-winning pups. He breaks down the process of training huskies for guiding, the biggest challenges of mushing, and the unique bond he shares with his dogs. We close out the show with a feature on a man who thru-hiked the AT while legally blind, a debate on whether airplanes have keys, why Zach is no longer allowed to enjoy pho, Chaunce's honey grease, the Triple Crown of abbreviated insults, and more. Topo Athletic: Use code “TREKWINTER15” at topoathletic.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code “BACKPACKER20” for 20% off packs at gossamergear.com. [divider] Interview with Ben “Ginger Ballz” Vaughan Ben's Instagram Ben's Facebook Colorado Dog Sledding Website Time stamps & Questions 00:05:12 - Reminders: Join us for our live show in Austin, listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon, and apply to blog for the Trek! 00:08:05 - Introducing Ben 00:10:00 - Tell us about your Navy experience 00:12:10 - What's it like chasing down pirates? 00:16:06 - Tell us about transitioning between the Navy and thru-hiking 00:19:00 - How did the AT get on your radar? 00:20:38 - Did your military background help you go into the AT with confidence? 00:22:30 - Did you do thru-hiking specific research? 00:24:02 - Did you feel your purpose restored when you started the AT? 00:24:30 - Do you think thru-hikers could succeed in the military? 00:26:20 - Tell us about the Kona Ironman? 00:28:20 - Tell us about the Navy culture in Coronado 00:31:15 - Did you know right away that thru-hiking was for you? 00:34:10 - How did you feel upon finishing the AT? 00:36:00 - What other traits did you get from the Navy that aided you in thru-hiking? 00:39:44 - Tell us about going from the AT to the PCT 00:42:50 - What was it like adjusting to the high snow year on the PCT? 00:48:00 - Can you completely recover from frostbite? 00:50:00 - Did you freak out when you were stuck in a blizzard? 00:51:55 - Was it fun seeing the Sierra in a different season? 00:53:55 - When did you decide to complete the Triple Crown? 00:57:10 - What was the difference in reactions you got on the CDT versus the AT? 00:58:14 - What did your Big 3 look like on the CDT? 01:00:45 - How does a snowy Smokies compare to the snowy Sierras? 01:05:00 - Tell us about hiking the Hayduke 01:09:45 - Tell us about dropping your pack down a canyon 01:12:20 - Tell us about hiking the Superior Hiking Trail 01:15:12 - Tell us about hiking the Long Trail 01:17:00 - How did you end up in Alaska dog mushing? 01:19:30 - What are the dogs like in their off time? 01:22:00 - What does it take to win the Iditarod? 01:23:10 - How do you train the dog to do what it needs to do? 01:24:50 - How can you tell if one of the dogs is getting tired? 01:26:10 - What do the dogs eat? 01:29:15 - Story from the Iditarod 01:31:40 - How does the tour operation work in CO? 01:33:00 - What types of commands do the dogs know? 01:35:10 - Who are your dogs? 01:39:45 - What do you pack for a backcountry dog mushing trip? 01:40:50 - What is your bond like with the dogs? 01:42:00 - How long can the dogs run for? 01:43:40 - Are Huskies all not great off leash? 01:47:05 - Ben is hiring! 01:49:40 - Peak Performance Question: What is your top performance-enhancing or backpacking hack? Segments Trek Propaganda Thru-Hiking While Blind: Completing the Appalachian Trail With A Visual Disability by Andrew Neylon The Best Trail Runners for Thru-Hiking in 2025 by the Editors QOTD: Do airplanes have keys? Thing of the Week Triple Crown of short insults Gross or Not Gross Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Ben Love, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Greg McDaniel, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Liz Seger, Mud Tom, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Bonnie Ackerman, Chris Pyle, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Katharine Rudzitis, Lauren Cain, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Ruth S, and Spencer Hinson.
The storied history of the Superior Hiking Trail is shared by Rudi Hargesheimer. Rudi joins Laura Schara to share historic trail tales from his book "The Superior Hiking Trail Story". If you would like to experience the trail with a group, you can join an all volunteer maintenance trip. Presented by Kinetico (https://www.kineticoMN.com/) Minnesota Masonic Charities (https://mnmasoniccharities.org/) Tito's Vodka (https://www.titosvodka.com/) Star Bank (https://www.star.bank/) Lakes Gas (https://www.lakesgas.com/) & North Dakota Tourism (https://www.helloND.com/)
The storied history of the Superior Hiking Trail is shared by Rudi Hargesheimer. Rudi joins Laura Schara to share historic trail tales from his book "The Superior Hiking Trail Story". If you would like to experience the trail with a group, you can join an all volunteer maintenance trip. Presented by Kinetico (https://www.kineticoMN.com/) Minnesota Masonic Charities (https://mnmasoniccharities.org/) Tito's Vodka (https://www.titosvodka.com/) Star Bank (https://www.star.bank/) Lakes Gas (https://www.lakesgas.com/) & North Dakota Tourism (https://www.helloND.com/)
Jon Werning is an outdoorsman who has backpacked the Ice Age Trail, Superior Hiking Trail, among others. We talk hiking, beauty of the Midwest, Lake Superior, and more. Brought to you by:SREgear.comSRE Outdoors is a Family Owned & Operated Outdoor Gear Shop in Black River Falls, Wisconsin. Great gear, great prices, unbeatable customer service. Use code WILL at checkout for 10% off your first order.Soda Peak Outfitters - Experience true Wyoming Wilderness With Soda Peak Outfitters. DIY and Guided Pack trips, fishing trips and more. Nestled in the Greater Yellowstone Area, Soda Peak calls the stunning Bridger Teton National Forest and the Teton Wilderness Home. Use code BR2024 for 5% off any trip, or email charles@sodapeakoutfitters.com for details or to help you plan your wilderness adventure.Fishell Paddles - Makers of Fine, Handcrafted Wooden Canoe PaddlesTry a Fishell paddle and FEEL the difference. Each paddle is handmade by Greg Fishell at his shop in Flagstaff, Arizona. Will uses a Ray Special model, and outfits all of his trips with Fishell Paddles as well. Use code WILL at checkout for a free paddle hanger w/ purchase of new paddle!Interested in advertising or partnering with Buffalo Roamer Outdoors? Contact Will here: buffaloroamer.com/contact
We're thrilled to have two incredible guests on today's episode: Jake Hegge, a seasoned winter ultra athlete, and Alan Chapman, a trail enthusiast, winter racing veteran, and the man behind the Fastest Known Time on the Superior Hiking Trail. In this episode, we'll talk about what draws these athletes to the cold, harsh world of winter running. We'll explore how they train for these unique events, relive some of their favorite winter running moments, and take a look at the best winter races, both locally and nationally. So grab a warm drink, bundle up, and join us for this winter-themed episode of Northern Exposure.
Barbara Budd, the volunteer and education coordinator for the Superior Hiking Trail, talks about the approach to fixing muddy trails
In this episode, I discuss the importance of knowing when to quit in various aspects of life, including outdoor adventures and personal projects. I share my experiences of quitting the Superior Hiking Trail and Nolan's 14, and how those decisions led to more fulfilling experiences. I emphasize the need to have a strong why and to prioritize enjoyment and personal growth over external achievements. I also highlight the importance of recognizing signs of dehydration and knowing when to quit for one's own well-being. Takeaways Knowing when to quit is important for personal growth and fulfillment. Having a strong why and prioritizing enjoyment and personal growth over external achievements is crucial. Recognizing signs of dehydration and knowing when to quit for one's own well-being is essential. Quitting can lead to new opportunities and more fulfilling experiences. Sound Bites "We don't talk now about quitting." "I quit after three days and then I had three more days to explore." "There is such an importance in knowing when to quit and when not to." Chapters 00:00 Introduction: The Importance of Knowing When to Quit 03:53 Quitting the Superior Hiking Trail and Exploring 10:42 The Importance of Knowing When to Quit 19:44 Quitting as a Path to New Opportunities 24:43 The Benefits of Quitting 28:04 Success and Failure Defined by Fulfillment 31:53 Learning from Failure 33:48 Quitting for Personal Well-being Keywords quitting, outdoor adventures, personal projects, fulfillment, growth, why, enjoyment, success, failure, dehydration
Buck Nelson is a retired Alaskan Smoke Jumper and outdoor adventurer. Check out a list of his trips here.We talk Living off the land in Alaska and on the "Cast Away" Island in Fiji, kayaking the Mackenzie River, Yukon River, Brooks Range Alaska, Grizzly Bear encounters, Wolf and Wolverine sightings, Great Divide Trail, Superior Hiking Trail, and more. Brought to you by:SREgear.comSRE Outdoors is a Family Owned & Operated Outdoor Gear Shop in Black River Falls, Wisconsin. Great gear, great prices, unbeatable customer service. Use code WILL at checkout for 10% off your first order.Soda Peak Outfitters - Experience true Wyoming Wilderness With Soda Peak Outfitters. DIY and Guided Pack trips, fishing trips and more. Nestled in the Greater Yellowstone Area, Soda Peak calls the stunning Bridger Teton National Forest and the Teton Wilderness Home. Use code BR2024 for 5% off any trip, or email charles@sodapeakoutfitters.com for details or to help you plan your wilderness adventure.Fishell Paddles - Makers of Fine, Handcrafted Wooden Canoe PaddlesTry a Fishell paddle and FEEL the difference. Each paddle is handmade by Greg Fishell at his shop in Flagstaff, Arizona. Will uses a Ray Special model, and outfits all of his trips with Fishell Paddles as well. Use code WILL at checkout for a free paddle hanger w/ purchase of new paddle!Interested in advertising or partnering with Buffalo Roamer Outdoors? Contact Will here: buffaloroamer.com/contact
Annie Nelson from the Superior Hiking Trail Association joins the show as DJ prepares for a backpacking trip.
Executive Director of the Superior Hiking Trail Lis Luokkala shares some insight into what this 310 mile hiking trail on the North Shore of Lake Superior has to offer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A triple science major at the College of St. Scholastica may be both the fastest and youngest to circumnavigate Lake Superior in a kayak — and he's hoping the 1,000-mile trip will draw more attention to climate change's effects in Minnesota. Last summer, Cale Prosen's adventure of the season was trekking the Superior Hiking Trail. This year, with little to no experience kayaking, he decided to undertake another gargantuan trip, hitting the water within 48 hours of finishing his final exams in mid-May. “It was about experiencing the raw nature” and spending time in an impermanent environment, he told MPR News. Prosen saved for the trip by putting in hundreds of hours as a caregiver at an assisted living facility, primarily in dementia care. He spent the last year saving money, buying equipment, doing research and talking to others who'd undertaken the trip in kayaks or canoes. He went vegan. Prosen began a blog two days before the Superior trip, documenting his journey with near-daily entries and photos. Once underway, the wet and storm-filled spring created some memorable moments. “It was just pretty wild to be out there at times, especially like June 18. Those storms that kind of rock the shore, it's pretty wild,” Prosen recalled. “I woke up in a pond. I got hit by a flash flood while I was trying to camp and the water rose like seven feet in two hours. Pretty nuts.” Highways close as rivers rise across southern Minnesota. More storms in forecast Minnesotans on flood watch during an unusually wet week Heavy rain brings flooding to the North Shore closes trails and roads For the most part, though, Prosen said he was able to anticipate inclement weather and be in a place to get off the lake quickly. Regardless, storms didn't stop his mission.“I think that like climate change, and the effects of that, are what I want my message and takeaway of this to be about,” Prosen said. “Focusing on my kayaking skills and adventure is not what's important to us all and I believe climate change is heavily impacting Lake Superior, and I wanted to bring advocacy and action to that.” Cale Prosen circumnavigates Lake Superior by kayak An incoming junior at St. Scholastica, Prosen is pursuing degrees in biology, chemistry and science education. While he's not exactly sure what his post-grad career will be, Prosen knows nature will inspire it. “I hope to eventually become an educator or advocate that seeks to conserve that outdoors.”What's next on the adventure bucket list?“We'll see. I haven't decided.”
Andrea Larson, an incredible trailblazer, recently set an FKT on the Superior Hiking Trail in northern Minnesota. As a resilient mother of three and executive director of Ironbull, Andrea shared her inspiring journey with Scotty which included scorching weather and tough terrain, as well as her historic race finishes and a hope to inspire all fitness levels towards a more active lifestyle. Tune in for a story of resilience, determination and outdoor adventure. Subscribe to UltraRunning Magazine Thanks to our episode sponsor, Drymax Socks Watch this episode on YouTube
Recorded high atop a pine-studded ridge line along the Superior Hiking Trail. https://www.buymeacoffee.com/eddygilmore
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Heidi Nisbett aka Sketch. Heidi is a thru-hiker, hiking guide, and an exceptionally talented artist, having recently been commissioned to paint a giant mural at the Trail Center in Damascus. Heidi gives us the lowdown on why she loved the Foothills Trail, the Superior Hiking Trail, Pinhoti Trail, and more. We also go in-depth on Heidi's journey as an artist, how she fell in love with it as a kid, fell out of love with it post-college, and rekindled the flame during her time hiking the AT. She shares her top advice to aspiring trail-focused artists, we learn about a CDT thru-hike that went wildly awry, and we chat the best and worst beer styles. This is another fun chat guaranteed to bring a smile to your head. We wrap the show with reasons why the Florida Trail is actually awesome, I'm shamed for liking things I'm good at, we do a triple crown of hiking things we just don't get, a Florida Man segment, and much more. Visit Iceland with Chaunce and Badger: Registration is live for our 2024 trip to Iceland. Come and hike to glaciers, waterfalls, and secret lagoons with your favorite podcast hosts. More info here! Range Meal Bars: Use code “THETREK” for 20% off at rangemealbar.com. RTIC Outdoors: Shop at rticoutdoors.com. PACT Outdoors: Use code “TREK20” for 20% off and free shipping at pactoutdoors.com. [divider] Interview with Heidi Nisbett Heidi Nisbett Instagram Sketching Summits website Sketching Summits TikTok Time stamps & Questions 00:03:05 - Reminders: Chaunce is unwell & we're still collecting poop stories for our book. Send your story here! 00:08:54 - Introducing Heidi Nisbett 00:09:42 - Is it safe to say you're a beer connoisseur? 00:09:55 - What's the style of beer you're into now? 00:10:07 - Do you have a favorite wheat beer? 00:10:24 - What is your trail name and the origin? 00:11:10 - Why didn't you like the name Picasso? 00:11:56 - What did Picasso do for art history? 00:12:45 - Were you sketching at all shelter logs? 00:13:58 - How long do the paintings take you? 00:14:58 - Was it hard to maintain a social group if you stop to paint? 00:15:40 - Do most people break up with art after their degree? 00:20:07 - When did art stand out as something you were talented in? 00:20:50 - Do you come from artsy people? 00:22:58 - At what point were you getting positive feedback on your art? 00:23:40 - What role did social media play as you re-entered the art world? 00:26:13 - What happens between your art career and hiking the AT? 00:29:11 - How does a paint and sip class work? 00:30:44 - What tips do you have for amateur artists? 00:34:00 - Tell us about your style of art now 00:35:08 - How would you describe the style of art? 00:37:36 - How did you transition from art girl to hiking girl? 00:40:28 - What was your hiking experience prior to the AT? 00:42:06 - Tell us about the evolution of your art as you hiked along the AT? 00:44:46 - How did you decide to make your art your full-time business after hiking? 00:47:20 - What draws people in the most? 00:48:40 - How do you overcome imposter syndrome? 00:49:50 - Tell us about your work with the ATC 00:52:52 - Was that your first mural? 00:54:40 - How does it work when painting around features in the room? 00:55:44 - Is this the piece of art that has consumed the most amount of your time? 00:55:52 - What is the second longest? 00:56:51 - What's the most popular piece of art? 00:57:22 - What do you mail most often? 00:59:07 - How do you determine what to turn into a sticker? 01:00:23 - Have you asked if the Pinhoti has any mural needs? 01:02:10 - How was the Pinhoti? 01:04:30 - Why pick the Pinhoti over other trails? 01:05:48 - How does the difficulty compare to the AT? 01:06:54 - Is there a bad time of year to hike the Pinhoti? 01:08:01 - Would you pick Pinhoti or Superior Hiking Trail? 01:09:42 - How was the Foothills Trail? 01:11:57 - What's the hiking culture in North Carolina? 01:12:56 - Are you familiar with the Overmountain Trail? 01:15:23 - FMK…Beer styles 01:16:53 - FMK…Landscape, Animal, or People Artwork 01:18:30 - FMK…Watercolor, Oils, or Acrylic Paintings 01:19:07 - FMK…Pinhoti, Superior Hiking Trail, or Mountains to Sea trail 01:20:36 - How did the CDT attempt go? 01:23:24 - Tell us about the double helicopter evacuation you witnessed 01:30:33 - Were you able to enjoy fun van activities? 01:31:27 - What's the proposal story? 01:35:40 - Tell us about guiding 01:38:12 - How do you experience a hike differently as a guide? 01:39:19 - If someone wants you as their guide, how do they request that? 01:40:53 - Tell us about your watercolor trips? 01:43:11 - Did your art background play a role in getting hired as a guide? 01:44:16 - Do you have any advice for someone who is trying to find their start in the art world? 01:46:25 - What was your top hike in Guatemala? 01:47:53 - What did you say your husband does? 01:48:15 - Thank you, Heidi! Segments Trek Propaganda: 11 Reasons The Florida Trail Is Awesome by Owen Eigenbrot QOTD: What is something you're good at, but don't enjoy doing? Voicemails Thing of the week Triple crown of hiking things you just don't get Florida man + birthdate Gross or Not Gross Chaunce QOTD: How is it living with Garrett? Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @paulyboyshallcross. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex & Misty with Navigators Crafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, DoGoodPantry, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Liz Seger, Matt Soukup, Mike Poisel, Morgan Luke, Patrick Cianciolo, Sawyer Products, Timothy Hahn, and Tracy “Trigger” Fawns. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: 12 Trees Farms, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jake Landgraf, Jeanne Latshaw, Jeff LaFranier, Joann Menzer, Keith Dobie Jr, Kelly Heikkila, Matthew Spence, and Peter.
It's all about hammocks in Episode 92. Back to share stories and information and hammocks and hammock camping in the Boundary Waters is none other than Shug. Well known for his YouTube channel and extensive hammock-camping adventures in the BWCA and along the Superior Hiking Trail, Shug shares information about Superior Gear hammocks, along with tips of the trade for hammocks in the BWCA. Also featured is Kevin "The K-man" Kramer, an experienced Boundary Waters paddler who ditched his tent years ago in exchange for a hammock.
In this episode, Courtney talks with Andrew “Tetanus” Black, They talk about the rabbit holes of research that suck hikers in, how to successfully complete the PCT in a high fire season and they answer the question: “Why did you hike huge trails back to back?” About Andrew: “I have hiked over 5k miles, including the Superior Hiking Trail in 2020, the Appalachian Trail in 2021, the Pacific Crest Trail, and Long Trail in 2022.” Follow him here: https://www.instagram.com/fun_with_tetanus/ https://www.facebook.com/andrew.black.18847876 https://www.youtube.com/@funwithtetanus Remember, I'd love to hear from you on any topic that comes up in the show or if you know someone that would be a great guest for the show. Email me at hikingunfiltered@gmail.com. Enjoying the show? Leave us a review wherever you listen to the podcast. It really helps the show! You can also leave a voicemail for me on through the website. I may even share it on the show! Click here: https://www.hikingradionetwork.com/show/hiking-unfiltered/ You can join the Unfiltered community on Facebook to share your questions and show ideas. https://www.facebook.com/HikingUnfiltered You also find me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hikingunfiltered/ Check out the other shows on the Hiking Radio Network https://www.hikingradionetwork.com/ Stuff I love! Show the love with t-shirts and goodies from the Hiking Radio Network Trading Post https://hrntradingpost.com/ Get your Myaderm CBD pain relief products here: https://www.myaderm.com/ Use the code HIKING at checkout to get 20% off your first order! Start your own Riverside Podcast here: https://riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=cam
Has someone ever taken you by surprise by doing something kind that made your day a little easier? Your life a little fuller? Our new series, “Thank You, Stranger,” looks at those special people and their impact. Today, we'll hear from Parker Lindo, who was an injured hiker on the Superior Hiking Trail. He got some help that inspired him to pay it forward. MPR Producer Ellen Finn talked with him.
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are breaking out the champagne and bringing you a super juicy show in celebration of Backpacker Radio's 5 year anniversary. We catch up with six of your and our favorite guests over the past handful of years, we reminisce on our favorite memories of the podcast (including the time Chaunce almost got fired), and give you a bit of a behind-the-scenes of how the sausage is made. In typical Backpacker Radio fashion, this episode is an ultra-marathon. Sorry in advance. Gossamer Gear: Use code “BACKPACKERRADIO” for 15% off at gossamergear.com. Organifi: Use code “BACKPACKER” for 20% off at organifi.com/backpacker. Goodr: Use code “BACKPACKER” for free shipping on your first order at goodr.com/backpacker. Enlightened Equipment: Use code “TREKPOD10” for 10% off Enlightened Equipment's Stock Revelation Quilt or Torrid Jacket at enlightenedequipment.com. [divider] Time stamps & Questions 00:05:20 - QOTD: Are you willing to make a bet? 00:13:10 - Reminders: Badger sponsorship launches today! Buy our Stay Feral merch! 00:15:45 - Structure of this episode 00:21:30 - A random podcast memory 00:24:20 - Guest 1: Weezer 00:27:20 - Weezer's love interest update 00:30:20 - What's your advice for romance on trail? 00:35:34 - Guest 2: Professor 00:37:40 - What happened after we last spoke to you? 00:40:50 - Do you have any standout stories since we last spoke? 00:44:10 - What were your emotions when you finished the PCT? 00:46:15 - What's next for you? 00:51:38 - Are you still excited to do more trail things in the future? 00:54:55 - Guest 3: Nancy East 00:57:10 - Tell us about the Superior Hiking Trail! 01:01:10 - What was the town experience like? 01:02:33 - How is your book doing? 01:04:10 - What are your hiking plans for 2023? 01:04:55 - Tell us about the Centennial Trail. 01:08:29 - Guest 4: Kevin Conley 01:10:30 - What are you up to? 01:14:20 - Sing your song for us. 01:21:46 - What reception did you get from your interview? 01:25:15 - What else do you have planned for this year? 01:26:48 - Get Kevin's book. 01:29:41 - Guest 5: Matt “Pretzel” Mason 01:36:00 - Tell us about climbing the ranks in the fire world. 01:39:33 - Tell us about the snow sports you're doing. 01:43:30 - What is an avalanche pit? 01:44:33 - What's scarier: fire or snow? 01:45:35 - What's your advice to thru-hikers considering fires? 01:47:20 - Do you see anything in the thru-hiking world you think could be improved? 01:52:20 - What do you have planned for the future? 01:56:30 - Zach gives Pretzel an honor! 02:03:50 - Reminiscing about the start of the podcast begins 02:43:54 - 2019 reminiscing 02:55:11 - Guest 6: Elise “SOS” Ott 02:59:50 - 2021 reminiscing 03:19:20 - What are Elise's big plans for 2023? 03:24:00 - 2022 reminiscing 03:28:40 - Chatting with Rachel 03:38:17 - Chatting with Leah [divider] Check out our sound guy @paulyboyshallcross. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Christopher Marshburn, Dayne, Greg McDaniel, Kristina Diaz, Matt Soukup, Mike Poisel, Patrick Cianciolo, Paul Packman Sealy, Sawyer Products, and Tracy “Trigger” Fawns. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Dcnerdlet, Jacob Northrup, Jeff LaFranier, Keith Dobie Jr, Liz Seger, and Peter.
Some people call it a rental kitchen, some people call it a professional studio” Today we sit back down with co-hosts Constantine and Magpie to talk all things North Country Trail. We began the show with what you all demand, an energy drink review! We chat airing it like a fine wine, spaghetti growing on trees, and baby birding previously chewed Hi-Chew candy. After a quick gross out portion, we dive deep into the North Country Trail. We find out that only NCT anniversaries count, that with a distance of 4833~ miles and growing you could walk across the country and half way back in the same length, and all friendly things about the state of Ohio. We break down the NCT by each state, starting with Vermont. Quickly jumping into New York, and then rolling into Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the beauty of North Dakota. We chat Ohio dogs and pepper spray, loving enough to avoid pain, and tracking miles. We chat fluctuation of miles, growing trail, and trail chapters. We chat sticking to the official route for the FKT and how exponentially hard it made this hike. We chat Finger Lakes, fighting winter, and long food carries. We chat weird days, anything and any animal chunky bringing unbridled joy, and horror film hotel lobby's in Michigan. We chat the Manistee Forest and the sigh of relief to free camp again. We shout out Munch and SOS and cutting the NCT in half. We chat Mackinaw Bridge logistics, hey dare ho dare doughnuts, and doldrums. We dive deep into what we called the “Duluth Doldrums” and unpack a story never told before. The feelings behind facing a growing trail already 3,400~ miles in and facing an “impossible” time frame to finish. We chat breaking points mentally and physically and finding energy when there wasn't any left to give. We chat being at the lowest we have ever been before on any hike. We chat the Superior Hiking Trail, Boundary Waters, and the Chippewa National Forest freezing rain rollercoaster. We chat all things beautiful in North Dakota, sheriff puppies, meteor showers, and licking a roast beef sandwich. We chat feelings, emotions, and giving oneself time to think and process what an amazing journey of mental and physical tests that is the North Country Trail. Favorite Quotes: “I purchased it with my own money… so yea… I'm sponsored… I just sponsored the company.” “Ask me what I had for breakfast nothing. Ask me to repaint a Chunky Pug… Picasso!” “What if and how” To learn more about who we are click below: Website: www.ElevenSkys.com
In continuation of suicide awareness month and mental health focus, Coach Lois has another powerful interview of one of her very own clients/friends who had a massive shift since May and a radical shift over the past year The pandemic killed her business, woke her up and also caused her to hit rock bottom in her life Tune in today for her life giving story Karen is a travel expert with over 20 years outdoor adventure and travel experience. She left a successful career in IT to pursue a lifelong dream of owning her own business. From that dream emerged her first travel company which launched in 2015. With the events of the past few years, Karen's driving passion has evolved into helping entrepreneurs create life-changing transformational retreats for their clients. Karen is a 3-time published author, certified first responder and has achieved a third rank scuba diving certification in Rescue Diving. She hiked the 270-mile Superior Hiking Trail solo, backpacked over 2,000 miles and has traveled to 7 countries and 24 states. It's been in the past few years, however, that Karen has faced the most difficult challenges of her life. She went through an ugly, extremely painful divorce, was diagnosed with skin cancer and Lyme's disease, and lost a successful business overnight. She lost her home, went through a period of homelessness and both of her parents passed away. She made a life changing/life saving call to Coach Lois on May 26th 2022 and 66 days later, she had a new lease on life She found all the answers within she needed to move forward in life and find/create happiness, joy and transformation that she now can share with her retreat clients She survived through major depression, a weight gain of 60 pounds and a planned suicide. Today she has a renewed sense of hope and chooses to live a life she loves. Every day she wakes up excited for the day and is in the process of moving to her dream home on the Big Island of Hawaii. Book a call with Karen here: https://calendly.com/karenlullmann/discovery SIGN UP FOR COACH LOIS' NEXT SUPERCONSCIOUS CREATION BREAKTHRU SMALL GROUP HERE https://magneticmind-midastouch.now.site WANNA SIGN UP AND BE A PLEDGING PATRON FOR HEALTHY N WEALTHY N WISE? https://patron.podbean.com/loiskoffi FOR COACH LOIS' RESOURCES - go to www.loiskoffi.com/resources FIND HER 4 STEP PROVEN FRAMEWORK AT: http://www.loiskoffi.com/framework JOIN HER FACEBOOK COMMUNITY AT HER PODCAST WEBSITE: www.loiskoffi.com/podcast SUBSCRIBE TO HER YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/loiskofficoffee BECOME A FOUNDING MEMBER OF HER INNER CIRCLE MEMBERSHIP AT: http://loiskoffi.com/membership
Join us tonight for the livestream as we chat with Rob Pelton of YouTube fame and one half of Chewing the Fat. We'll be talking about everything from hiking the Superior Hiking Trail, Spending time in Nepal, and severe cold weather backpacking. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/backpackingpodcast/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/backpackingpodcast/support
Today we're back with a hosts-only episode where we discuss turning knowledge to wisdom. We're looking back on our latest conversations, and Leah is planning her trip on the Superior Hiking Trail. We'll be back in August!! Transcript Find Us Online - Website: Wisdom Continuum - Twitter: Wisdom Continuum - IG: Wisdom Continuum Credits - Host: Leah and Daniel Lemm - Contributing Producer: Multitude: multitude.productions About Us A podcast celebrating Native knowledge for a thoughtful, healthier, more just future. Daniel (Lower Sioux Dakota Oyate) and Leah Lemm (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe) bring you conversations from awesome Native folks to celebrate Native wisdom for a healthier, thoughtful, more just future. Hyped, Humorous, and Hopeful.
As the Outdoors Weekend Editor at the Star Tribune, Bob Timmons shares stories about all the ways in which people in the Upper Midwest have fun outside - from FKTs on the Superior Hiking Trail to “Everesting” on the Ohio Street Hill in St. Paul. We talk with him about how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted activity in the BWCA and beyond, and how climate change is changing what winter recreation looks like in Minnesota. Plus, what sparked his love of the outdoors and where he likes to spend time in nature today. Follow him on Twitter at @rltimm or @striboutdoors.
It's been two years since I released a teaser episode of GALS Trip, so here's the fourth of four episodes dropping as we kickstart this new passion project. In this episode, I share a quick overview of my hike of the Superior Hiking Trail, along with snippets of some crazy stories and experiences from my weekends on trail. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Cece Boyle, a photographer and outdoor enthusiast, takes us along on her experience thru-hiking the Superior Hiking Trail in northern Minnesota as a solo female hiker. Through 25 long hiking days with her dog, Alice, and an incredible time on trail, she paints the picture of her biggest adventure yet. Cece details stats of the trail, her favorite pieces of gear that she brought with, along with backpacking essentials that all outdoor enthusiasts should invest in. She received an artist grant to hike the SHT and photograph those she encountered. Cece chats a bit about the artist grant process, along with the amazing people she met along the way. Cece Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cc.boyle/ Cece Photography Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ccboylephotos/ Cece Backing Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cecebackpacks/ Hunt Fish Conserve Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/huntfishconserve/ https://hunt-fish-conserve.com/
22-year-old, professional photographer and seasoned solo female backpacker from Duluth Minnesota, Ce Ce Boyle, shares highlights and stories from her recent through-hike on the Superior Hiking Trail. CeCe also describes what it's like to experience backpacking through the camera lens.Visit us at cwgoetzoutdoors.comThe Camping Show is broadcast live Wednesday's at 6PM ET.The Camping Show TV Show is viewed on Talk 4 TV (www.talk4tv.com).The Camping Show Radio Show is broadcast on W4CY Radio (www.w4cy.com) part of Talk 4 Radio (www.talk4radio.com) on the Talk 4 Media Network (www.talk4media.com).The Camping Show Podcast is also available on Talk 4 Podcasting (www.talk4podcasting.com).
Three friends look back on a most-unique grouse hunt. Did you know hunters can along the Superior Hiking Trail? Supported by: Thousand Hills Lifetime Grazed – (https://thousandhillslifetimegrazed.com/,) North Dakota Tourism (https://www.legendarynd.com/,) Kinetico (https://www.kinetico.com/,) Minnesota Propane Association (https://propane.com/) - “Clean American Energy” & Star Bank (https://www.starbank.net/)
Three friends look back on a most-unique grouse hunt. Did you know hunters can along the Superior Hiking Trail? Supported by: Thousand Hills Lifetime Grazed – (https://thousandhillslifetimegrazed.com/,) North Dakota Tourism (https://www.legendarynd.com/,) Kinetico (https://www.kinetico.com/,) Minnesota Propane Association (https://propane.com/) - “Clean American Energy” & Star Bank (https://www.starbank.net/)
When you think of Duluth, you probably think of the amazing scenery and breathtaking beauty it has. Lisa Luokkala gets a front row seat to it every single day as the Executive Director of the Superior Hiking Trail Association. Lisa has been contributing to the city of Duluth for more than a decade, eventually landing the coveted gig she holds now. She joined us to talk about how she beat out fifty people for the job, how the Superior Hiking Trail works and how YOU can support it. Grab your headphones, head to the nearest part of the trail and get to know Lisa!
Kel and Lee share their recent experiences from a 100k ultramarathon they just ran! It was hosted on the Superior Hiking Trail on a stretch that has some brutal terrain and technical running sections. Tag along as they share on this amazing feat on their feet! By the way that's 62 miles of running starting in the dark and ending in the dark! This will sure be a great episode! Time to sign up for some more!
Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
I recently saw a bunch of hikers finish under a banner headline of "Warrior Expeditions," and I was drawn to a black and white summit picture of today's guest, Shannon Shaver. Shannon's hiking really started after she saw Martin Sheen in The Way, that terrific little movie that tells about a pilgrimage on the Camino De Santiago, in Spain. That lead to her own pilgrimage and an early attempt on the Appalachian Trail that was ended by Covid in 2020. But Shannon is nothing if not tenacious, starting all over again in 2021 back at Amicolola Falls, in Georgia. Her shakedown hike for the AT was the Superior Hiking Trail in Minnesota that prepared her well for the AT. But it was the support that she recieved from the Warrior Expeditions that really struck a chord with me. You can find out about them at https://warriorexpeditions.org/ while you can learn more about Shannon at her blog, https://shannonhikestheappalachiantrail2020.art.blog/ or her Instagram account at https://www.instagram.com/shavannin_blue/ Katie is in Vermont, having made a tough decision about New Hampshire. As you'll hear, it was probably the right decision at the right time. Finally today, it's Snow Day at Mountain Crossings, though the work continues through the fun. If you like what we're doing on the Hiking Radio Network, and want to see our shows continue, please consider supporting us with either a one-off or monthly donation. You'll find the donate button on each Hiking Radio Network page at https://www.hikingradionetwork.com If you prefer NOT to use PayPal, you can now support us via check by mailing to us at PO Box 6161, Sun City Center, FL 35751. Any support is gratefully received. If you'd like to take advantage of Steve's Trail Days book offer (all three of his printed hiking books for $31, including postage to the United States) send a check payable to Mighty Blue Publishing at the address above.
Blissful Hiker walks like a thru-hiker again for just a few days on the Superior Hiking Trail, moving fast, smooth and far and connecting again with herself. In this episode:It's a steep trail up to rocky "balds" with views, though all in mist this morning. She learns that other hikers too find some people too loud and unfriendly, though the trail feels all hers today as she flies fast through forest, eating many handfuls of raspberries in peak.She begins to talk to herself, ruminating on "interesting choices" in her life, and knows she's getting her groove back.At Carlton Peak – the highest point on the trail at nearly 1,000 feet above Lake Superior – gives her splendid views at last as well as lunch. The Temperance River is low, though the narrow carving through rhyolite is thrilling to see from a bridge. Dinner is at Cross River and a camp at Fredenberg Creek with loud squirrels nearby.It's a short morning to Alfred Pond for breakfast with dragonflies, but harder walking after yesterday's walking in thru-hiker style. She realizes in Montana her body failed her, as did her spirit, but she's healing. MUSIC: Poema del Pastor Coya by Angel Lasala as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, piano; The Pasture from "Frostiana" by Randall Thompson Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/blissfulhiker)
Blissful Hiker dips a toe back into backpacking for a few days on the Superior Hiking Trail in Northern Minnesota and discovers her bliss can still be found on the trail. In this episode:Feeling a bit like Simone Biles on the beam, she simplifies things, going back to the basics on an easy trail, close to home and roads and for a manageable distance. The SHT marches up Minnesota's North Shore of Lake Superior on the edge of the boreal forest on some of the oldest rock in the world of rhyolite and basalt.Her start is random at Cascade National Park, and the best part is being able to walk south just as far as she likes. Raspberries and thimbleberries are in season and the trail is silent except for birds, wind and water, no need to yell out for bears. The trail is steeply up and down, but only for short distances, the high "balds" offering spectacular views. She shares a campsite with a mother and son and connects immediately, their kindness and obvious joy in hiking help heal the trauma-induced stress.MUSIC: Poema del Pastor Coya by Angel Lasala as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, piano.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/blissfulhiker)
A sit-down chat with born outdoorsman, Sam Levar of Duluth Coffee Company. Duluth Pack's CEO, Tom Sega speaks with Sam about his past journies that involve over 300+ miles of hiking the legendary Superior Hiking Trail and canoeing over 275 miles in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and Wilderness. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/duluth-pack/support
Hiking the Superior Hiking Trail together as the Adventure On Purpose Crew! A lot of thoughts come up when you are trekking through the woods. Some are positive and some are negative, but how can you get your mind programed to shifting to seeing the positive and engaged?
Jen, Jessica, Andrea, Angie and Kim share their adventures backpacking at Isle Royale. We discuss planning, transportation, campsites, privies (bring TP!), moose encounters and the legend of the over protective, dive bombing Goshawk. We talk about the highlights and the no so fun moments. But in the end, it sounds like they wouldn't trade any of them. Learn more about each of these women and their exceptional bond through hiking by listening to their adventures at Isle Royale.Isle Royale National Park is located in the middle of Lake Superior in Michigan. To learn more about visiting there and either staying at the lodge or backpacking - check out these resources:National Park ServicesBackpacking and Camping InfoNational Geographic Map of Isle Royale (REI link)Jim DuFresne's Isle Royale Book via Michigan Trail MapsRead Jen's Blog (Wandering Pine) and her posts on the tripWhat's in Her PackRock Harbor to Windigo trip reportListen to my episode with Jen "Wandering Pine" about her LASH of the Superior Hiking Trail from Season 1.Connect with The Wandering Squad on Instagram:Jen - @wandering.pineJessica - @pagecatsKim - @acolorfulcottageAndrea - @wanderingseagoatAngie - @be.still.and.wanderConnect with Lori:Instagram: @thehikepodcastTwitter: @thehikepodcastBlog: thehikepodcast.wordpress.comFacebook: @thehikepodcastEmail: hikepodcast@gmail.com Special thank you to Tim, Leisel, Greg, Julie, Colin, and Aaron for being patrons! Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/thehikepodcast)
A FKT is a "fastest known time" for someone to cover the distance on a set route.The year, 2020, may be remembered as the year of the FKT because so many races were canceled and ultra runners were looking for a new challenge.Brittany Peterson and Cody Lind decided to go after the FKT for the 310-mile-long Superior Hiking Trail in northern Minnesota. Brittany and Cody are ultra runners with a long list of races to their credit, including many first place finishes. They set the new FKT for the Superior Hiking Trail at 4 days, 9 hours, beating the previous men's record by 18 hours and women's record by 2 days.Both are running coaches and they have a passion to see runners succeed at every level, from the elite to those chasing cutoff times. Connect with them on social media for info about running camps they are starting. Connections:Cody LindInstagram: @lindcodyFacebook: @runninglindWebsite: g20running.comBrittany PetersonInstagram: @runhappybFacebook: @runhappybWebsite: brittanypetersonruns.com
In this episode, we talk with Bernie Kuprionas. Growing up in Pennsylvania, Bernie spent his younger years in the Appalachian Mountains. His adult years have been a collection of many section hikes including the Appalachian Trail, North Country Trail, Superior Hiking Trail, Continental Divide Trail, Border Route Trail, and Colorado Trail. We dive into some of his experience camping on the Superior Hiking Trail in the winter. We also talk about his experience of kayaking in the Boundary Waters on an inflatable kayak. He shares his perspective on how teaching Jiu-Jitsu has crafted his everyday lifestyle and his outlook on the outdoors. We discuss technical trail talk and some favorite gear so this episode is a must-listen for all the gear junkies out there! Check out the show notes for links and items mentioned in this episode! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/hiking-thru-life/support
Heidi "Picasso" Nisbett aka Sketching Summits shares her journey from her first long thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail to helping to blaze the hiking community within Charlotte, North Carolina. Heidi shares how the Appalachian inspired her to sketch (and be featured as a Appalachian Trail Conservancy featured #trailismymuse artist), and find a community of hikers as she brings all types of hikers together as part of Trail Talks and meetups at Blue Blaze Brewing. She's hosted thru hikers Jessica "Dixie" Mills, Jennifer Pharr Davis and Heather Anderson. We cover her section hikes of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail through the wilderness of the Linville Gorge and the urban trails in Raleigh-Durham. She shares trail stories and favorite parts of hiking the Art Loeb Trail, Foothills Trail, Superior Hiking Trail and more.Reach out to Heidi to check out her art or even commission a sketch of your own favorite summit photo. Connect with Heidi:Instagram: @sketchingsummitsWeb site: Sketching SummitsFind out more about Blue Blaze BrewingConnect with Lori:Instagram: @thehikepodcastTwitter: @thehikepodcastBlog: thehikepodcast.wordpress.comFacebook: @thehikepodcastEmail: hikepodcast@gmail.com Special thank you to Isabella, Tim, Leisel, Greg, Julie, Colin and Aaron for being show patrons! Music track "Name & Noise" by Thorn & Shout off of the album Thorn & Shout used under the Creative Commons license. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/thehikepodcast)
What's it like to run long and hard, as a couple? Is it easier or harder; more fun or a struggle? Host Hillary Allen speaks with Brittany Peterson and Cody Lind, who as a team set a big FKT on the Superior Hiking Trail last year, bettering the previous Male time by 18 hours and the Female by over 2 days. "Western States will be interesting - she'd like me to pace her, and I'd like her to pace me!" - Cody Don't miss what's coming next for this dynamic duo: "There's a route here in Idaho - I don't want to give away Cody's secret - but it's an FKT waiting to happen." - Brittany "FKTs are such a fun process, of being creative, then putting it out there to see who goes after it!" - Brittany Special thanks to Chaski Endurance Collective for sponsoring this episode. Chaski is reinventing online coaching for endurance athletes. Hand picked elite athletes like FKT rockstars Coree Woltering, Devon Yanko, and Mike Wardian, coach runners of all levels to chase their own dreams through human-to-human, science-based training. Join their ground-breaking community with a FREE month of coaching when you sign up for any of their coaching programs and mention FKT! Go here: http://www.chaski.run/fkt
This season we are suggesting books you might enjoy for our Goodreads group: Armchair Travel to Minnesota State Parks. We give you a prompt connected to each state park, and you find a book to fulfill the challenge. You can use one of our suggestions, and you should feel free to read any book! You can find our show notes page here, with links to all the books we share today. Cascade River park was founded in 1957. This beautiful park has lots of hiking trails, including the Superior Hiking Trail and the North Shore State Trail. Do some armchair hiking by enjoying a book with a character who walks or hikes. We give you links to each of these books on our show notes page, taking you to Amazon.com. If you click on any of them, and buy anything at all - including a nice book - Amazon will send us a small percent of the profits they made on these sales. Thank you for supporting CMLE! Thanks for joining us! We’ll be back next week with a look at the next park and the next book prompt!
In this episode, we talk with Gail Francis. Gail is a thru-hiker of the Pacific Crest Trail and Minnesota's very own Superior Hiking Trail. We discuss her time on both of the trails along with some inspiring people she met along her journey. She wrote a memoir Bliss(ters) about her time on the Pacific Crest Trail and during the month of December all profits from book sales will be donated to the Superior Hiking Trail Association. We also discuss Superior Small Batch, a vegan food company she and her husband run out of Superior, WI. Purchase Bliss(ters): https://amzn.to/3gLZZMY All profits from sales during the month of December will be donated to the Superior Hiking Trail Association Superior Small Batch food: https://www.superiorsmallbatch.com Use code HIKETHRU to save 15% (orders must be picked up at their kitchen in Superior, WI) ---- Ella's Wool: https://ellaswool.com Use code HIKINGTHRULIFE2020 to save 10% ---- Hiking Thru Life gear: hikingthrulife.net/shop Ways to support Hiking Thru Life: hikingthrulife.net/support Be a guest on the podcast: hikingthrulife.net/podcast Email: hikingthrulife@gmail.com ---- *Disclaimer*: This episode contains affiliate links in which we earn a small commission at no cost to you for qualifying sales. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/hiking-thru-life/support
In this episode, we talk with Michael Koppy and his coach Stephanie Howe about his attempt and FKT on the Superior Hiking Trail. At the perfect age of 69, Michael decided to take on the 310-mile trail in a supported FKT style fashion and raise some money for the trail foundation along the way. We discuss what went into his training, how he handled sleep deprivation, and what he would do differently. Donate to the Superior Hiking TrailCurrent FKT on the Superior Hiking TrailCoaching - www.trainright.com
Andy Kermode from the Hiking Thru Life podcast joins Jeremy to talk about the Superior Hiking Trail in Minnesota. The Superior Hiking Trail follows the North Shore of Lake Superior, the largest body of fresh water on earth by surface area. Andy thru hiked all 300 plus miles of the trail in 2019. Also, Jeremy recounts some of the history of the North Shore of Lake Superior, including its darker side as a hideout for gangsters and bank robbers.Hiking Thru Life: https://hikingthrulife.net/Jeremy's appearance on Hiking Thru Life: https://anchor.fm/hiking-thru-life/episodes/60-Trails-Worth-Hiking-with-Jeremy-Pendrey-el0fl3Outdoor Herbivore (TWH listeners get a discount!): https://outdoorherbivore.com/Questions, comments, or suggestions: trailsworthhiking@gmail.com
Donner Party Mountain Runners board member Chris Cloyd held a virtual conversation with Jeff Rauenhorst, local Incline Village resident, who set a new high mark for the unsupported FKT (Fastest Known Time) on the 310-mile Superior Hiking Trail in September 2020. Hear Jeff and Chris dig into the details of this amazing route, what led up to this outing, the ins and outs of his experience on the trail for 6+ days, his inspiration to go after this record, and more!Link References:Fastest Known Time route and FKT holdersCamino de SantiagoSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/themile99interview)
In this episode Coach Jake talks about his journey on the Superior Hiking Trail as he attempted to complete the 310 mile journey in under 4 days. You don't want to miss this one as we discuss the highs, lows, and everything in between that Jake experienced on the trail.
Sarah and Andy Kermode of Hiking Thru Life share planning tips for road tripping, overcoming challenges on Andy's thru-hike of the SHT, and the quest to explore all 70+ of Minnesota's State Parks. They also share more about their podcast "Hiking Thru Life" and their goal of sharing stories to both inspire others and help educate them on the outdoors. The Superior Hiking Trail, also known as the SHT, is a 310-mile long hiking trail in northeastern Minnesota that follows the rocky ridges overlooking Lake Superior for most of its length. The trail travels through forests of birch, aspen, pine, fir, and cedar.WikipediaConnect with Sarah and Andy:Website/Podcast: Hiking Thru LifeOther Episode Resources:Superior Hiking Trail AssociationHike's episode with Wandering PineMinnesota State ParksConnect with Lori:Instagram: @thehikepodcastTwitter: @thehikepodcastBlog: thehikepodcast.wordpress.comFacebook: @thehikepodcastEmail: hikepodcast@gmail.com Special thank you to Isabella, Tim, Leisel and Greg for being show patrons!Music intro track by Thorn and ShoutMusic outro track "Two Mountains at a Time" from Live at the Fillmore by PachydermSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/thehikepodcast)
In this episode coach Jake and Rachel talk about all things nutrition as coach Jake embarks on his big Superior Hiking Trail adventure!
In this episode, we follow up with the Ellis family to talk about their recent Superior Hiking Trail thru-hike. In episode #53 we discussed their plans and preparation for the thru-hike. We talk about trail logistics, how they all supported and encouraged one another along the way, and hear some of their favorite memories on the trail. We discuss different sections of the trail and hear about the diverse terrain the trail has to offer. This family is full of love, laughter, and warmth. They are sure to motivate you to get out on the trail with some good company... even if it's just for a quick day hike! Jenny's musical parodies on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZHwlkXy01KcTGugNIvvnLg Jenny's books: From Flat Tires to Root Beer Floats https://amzn.to/31HBdb1 The Most Beautiful Girl in the World https://amzn.to/3jwI4dI ---- Gear mentioned in this episode: Bug head net: https://amzn.to/2DVqr7Y Trekking poles: https://amzn.to/35z5LOs ---- Hiking Thru Life gear: hikingthrulife.net/shop Ways to support Hiking Thru Life: hikingthrulife.net/support Be a guest on the podcast: hikingthrulife.net/podcast Email: hikingthrulife@gmail.com ---- *Disclaimer*: This episode contains affiliate links in which we earn a small commission at no cost to you for qualifying sales. Hiking Thru Life only promotes products and services that we have used and stand behind. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hiking-thru-life/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/hiking-thru-life/support
In this episode, we talk with Crystal Gail Welcome. Crystal is a writer, activist, and black outdoor leader. She thru-hiked the Superior Hiking Trail in July 2020 with a goal to raise awareness on social justice and environmental justice with support for the organization PGM ONE. Crystal’s hike was also a peaceful protest in honor of the recent George Floyd tragedy in Minneapolis. We discuss things she did along the hike to peacefully protest the situation whether it was planned or unplanned. We go in-depth about the challenges, the highs, the lows, and some trail magic that came along the way. Crystal recently completed her master’s degree in interdisciplinary studies with an emphasis on adventure therapy and adventure education. We discuss what she hopes to do in her future. If you want to hear a meaningful and peaceful perspective on a topic that needs to be more voiced and heard, this episode is a positive listen! Crystal Gail Welcome Website: http://crystalwelcome.com/ PGM ONE website: https://www.pgmone.org/donate The Trek page: https://thetrek.co/author/crystal-gail-welcome/ ---- Hiking Thru Life gear: hikingthrulife.net/shop Ways to support Hiking Thru Life: hikingthrulife.net/support Be a guest on the podcast: hikingthrulife.net/podcast Email: hikingthrulife@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hiking-thru-life/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/hiking-thru-life/support
In this episode, we talk with the Ellis family. This is part 1 of a 2 part series! The Ellis family is from Illinois and has explored many parts of the country by bike as a family. They share some stories from their earlier days of traveling as a family and Jenny shares how this was the inspiration for one of her self published books From Flat tires to Root Beer Floats. The trio hiked parts of the Appalachian Trail together and sang along the way. The trail is a place where many people find inspiration and freedom, and for Jenny, that means creating musical parodies of the family's hiking experience! The Ellis family shares their plans for their most recent hiking adventure, a thru-hike of the Superior Hiking Trail. They set out to thru-hike the trail on July 2, 2020, and we talk about the preparation and logistics behind their SHT thru-hike as well as perspective challenges, plans, and have some Q&A support with Andy about his thru-hike experience on the SHT. Be sure to come back for part 2 where the family shares about their whole SHT thru-hike experience! Jenny's musical parodies on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZHwlkXy01KcTGugNIvvnLg Jenny's books: From Flat Tires to Root Beer Floats https://amzn.to/31HBdb1 The Most Beautiful Girl in the World https://amzn.to/3jwI4dI ---- Hiking Thru Life gear: hikingthrulife.net/shop Ways to support Hiking Thru Life: hikingthrulife.net/support Be a guest on the podcast: hikingthrulife.net/podcast Email: hikingthrulife@gmail.com ---- *Disclaimer*: This episode contains affiliate links in which we earn a small commission at no cost to you for qualifying sales. Hiking Thru Life only promotes products and services that we have used and stand behind. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hiking-thru-life/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/hiking-thru-life/support
Brittany Peterson, 2019 Western State 100 second-place finisher and Cody Lind, one of the world's foremost sky runners join us to talk about their recent FKT of the Superior Hiking Trail. Brittany first talks about her epic battle in the Western States 100. Next Cody and Brittany talk about the ups and downs of running 290 miles on rugged terrain, battling bugs, sleep deprivation, physical struggles, and what it is like to complete such an accomplishment with your significant other. Follow Brittany on Instagram Follow Cody on Instagram Subscribe Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/hammer-factor-hot-seat/id1414378393?mt=2 Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/hammer-factor-hot-seat?refid=stpr RSS Direct Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/hammerfactorhotseat
In today's episode -we are back to recording in person(!)- and joined by Jamey Mossengren, also known as The Unicycling Unicorn. Jamey traded in his cushy 9-5 job to pursue the glamorous lifestyle of a street performer, and hasn't looked back since. Not only does Jamey make a living by putting on unicycle shows, he's also unicycled both the Colorado Trail and Arizona Trail! We talk about these very unique trips, his thru-hikes of the AT and Camino del Norte, and what goes into being a successful street performer- for which, we got a personal show after the interview. We also talk about the return of AT thru-hikes in 2020 (maybe), we introduce a new segment- Hiker's Horoscopes, and close out the show with another edition of Backcountry Matchmaking. [divider] Backcountry.com discount code: Use code: Backpacker15 to save 15% on your first purchase from Backcountry.com/backpackerradio Zpacks discount code:Use code: HEXAMIDBPR for $25 discount at Zpacks.com [divider] The Trek's Pledge to Do Better BACKPACKER RADIO MERCH Interview with Jamey Mossengren "The Unicycling Unicorn Website Instagram Twitter Youtube QOTD: How are your summer backpacking plans shaping up? Hikerlink! Intro Song: Walking Slow by Animal Years Intro beats: Pauly Boy Shallcross Check out Trail Correspondents Check out The Attempt! The Trek's store [divider] 00:00:00 – Intro to Jamey Mossengren – The Unicycling Unicorn 00:04:00 – Backpacker Radio is back in person and it is _________ 00:06:00 – QOTD: How are your summer backpacking plans shaping up? 00:10:00 – Jamey, the Unicycling Unicorn 00:10:31 – Do you know how many people make a living on a unicycle? 00:12:20 – Did competing with your brother motivate you to be better at unicycling? 00:12:40 – How did you make unicycling a career? 00:15:00 – What goes into the performing side of a street performance? 00:15:45 – Examples of what does and doesn’t work in street performing? 00:16:20 – Do you do a lot of crowd work? 00:16:48 – Have you thought about doing a show at protests? 00:17:40 – Did you pick other performer’s brains to see what they were doing? 00:18:17 – Do you write out sets? 00:18:38 – What encompasses/started the Unicorn? 00:19:45 – What are the costume pieces of the Unicycling Unicorn? 00:20:44 – What was your first long outdoors feat? 00:21:35 – How do you mountain unicycle the Colorado Trail?? 00:22:21 – Do you ride or walk up big climbs? 00:23:26 – Backpacker Radio crossed paths with Jamey Mossengren? 00:24:51 – How long did it take to mountain unicycle the Colorado Trail? 00:25:00 – How much did your gear weigh? 00:25:40 – Did you get a lot of media attention for the hike? 00:26:00 – Did the backcountry give you good ideas for your act? 00:26:28 – What was your next trail? 00:28:18 – Did you have any nasty falls? 00:29:40 – How does the comfort of a unicycle compare to a bike? 00:30:25 – Are there any standard unicycle issues? 00:30:50 – How did you like hiking (on the SHT) compared to unicycling? 00:31:34 – How long is the Superior Hiking Trail? 00:32:00 – how did you pick the Superior Hiking Trail? 00:33:41 – What’s next? Arizona Trial on a unicycle? 00:34:04 – Where do you meet other unicyclists to thru-unicycle the Arizona Trail? 00:35:00 – What is it like unicycling in a group? 00:35:30 – Differences between unicycling the Colorado and Arizona Trail? 00:36:00 – How much does your unicycle weigh? 00:40:00 – Does your performance experience help when trespassing? 00:41:00 – What is the argument for a unicycle being considered a pedestrian? 00:42:05 – What’s next? Appalachian Trail? 00:42:45 – Why another hiking trail and not a unicycling trail? 00:44:30 – Any AT highlights? 00:48:15 – What about lowlights? 00:51:23 – Shitting? 00:53:25 – Burned down bar? 00:56:23 – Hiker meet up at a Cracker Barrel? 00:58:30 – Sex on the Camino del Norte? 00:59:20 – Any good trail sex stories? 01:01:00 – Untapped 5,000 beers? 01:03:01 – Your next muni-pack? 01:04:05 – Preparation for the Oregon Timber Trail? 01:05:30 – In which direction of the PCT is the OTT? 01:08:40 – Are you less afraid of rattlesnakes on a unicycle? 01:09:45 – How long have you been doing van life? 01:10:14 – Tell us about doing your performances in different continents? 01:11:11 – You perform in Australia as well? 01:11:44 – Do you build the vans out yourself? 01:12:25 – Have you thought about doing stuff on Tik Tok? 01:16:30 – Do you think you could chug a beer while riding your unicycle and juggling two other beers? 01:17:08- Do you ever aspire to snag unicycling records? 01:18:25 – Have you ever unicycled on a tight rope? 01:19:14 – What are the fan favorite tricks? 01:21:11 – Unicycling Unicorn – he’s single, find him on the socials Segments The Trek Propaganda! ATC is likely to recommend AT thru-hikes soon, by Hugh Owen CDTC article Virtually Hiking the AT: Hitting Some Snafus Pupdate! Episode Horoscopes: Know Your Stars Mail Bag 5 Star Reviews Backcountry Matchmaking Paige Pasquini | Instagram: @paigepasquini Cris “Indiana Bones” | Instagram: @cris.on.a.boat, email: cristopher.macdonald@gmail.com Taryn | Instagram: @Tarynwem, Facebook: Taryn Wem [divider] Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Stitcher and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Christopher Marshburn, Janelle L, Paul Packman Sealy, S11N, Sawyer Products, and Thomas Fullner A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Dcnerdlet, Jacob Northrup, Jason Lawrence, Jeff LaFranier, Jeffrey Miller, Mark Snook, Mitchell, Peter, Peter Ellenberg, and Zoe Jenkins Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio, and Chaunce on Facebook. Follow The Trek on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter. Buy Chaunce's Book on Amazon. Get a free account at Hikerlink.
We bring you an in-depth interview with Brittany Peterson and Cody Lind who just set multiple FKT records on the 310-mile Superior Hiking Trail.
Ever heard of a "Long Awesome Section Hike"? Jen Theisen aka "Wandering Pine" joins Jester on this Episode of the Podcast to share her LASH of the Superior Hiking Trail in Minnesota. Jen shares with us the history of how she deemed herself "Wandering Pine", how her somewhat of a "mid-life" crisis led her to the challenge of completing the SHT, and we also hear her version of the 52 Hike Challenge. You will find her passion inspiring when it comes to working with the Granite Gear Groundskeepers, Women Who Hike, and being a good steward of our trails and waterways. Thanks for sharing your passion for the outdoors with us on the podcast! Hope you Enjoy and Happy Section Hiking! Connect with Wandering Pine: Website: https://wanderingpine.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wandering.pine/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wanderingpine/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmvLxxYvCzlC_NS62ug5P1g Granite Gear Groundskeepers: https://www.thegroundskeepers.org/ Women Who Hike: https://www.womenwhohike.com/ Kula Cloth: https://kulacloth.com/ Resources Mentioned: Ray Jardine Website: www.rayjardine.com Fixing Your Feet: http://www.fixingyourfeet.com/ 52 Hike Challenge: https://www.52hikechallenge.com/ NCT Hike 100 Challenge: https://northcountrytrail.org/hike-100-challenge/ Superior Hiking Trail: https://superiorhiking.org/ Connect with Julie "Jester" Gayheart: Email: jesternc2212@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jesterhikes/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jesterhikes Music provided for this Podcast by The Okee Dokee Brothers "Through The Woods" www.okeedokee.org
In this episode, we talk with Jo Swanson who is part of the Superior Hiking Trail Association team of staff members. Jo has been a trail volunteer since 2007 and staff since 2015. She coordinates volunteers and trail work and manages trail data and mapping. We cover how Jo got involved in trail work and talk about her hiking background. The Superior Hiking Trail is a well-loved trail covering 310 miles of northern Minnesota. Stretching from lakeshores to cliff overlooks, the trail holds a special place in many people’s hearts. We are all trying to navigate how to safely get back on the trails this summer with the pandemic amongst us. We dig deep into the information and logistics about the Superior Hiking Trail. We talk about proper trail use during the pandemic, trail trips, some favorite spots on the trail, and ways people can support the trail. For avid Superior Hiking Trail users or for those just starting out, this is a must-listen for you! Superior Hiking Trail Association Website: https://superiorhiking.org/ Volunteer Portal: https://superiorhiking.galaxydigital.com/ Trail Conditions: https://superiorhiking.org/trail-conditions/ ---- Hiking Thru Life GIVEAWAY: hikingthrulife.net/giveaway ---- Hiking Thru Life T-shirts and water bottles: hikingthrulife.net/shop Be a guest on the podcast: hikingthrulife.net/podcast --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hiking-thru-life/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/hiking-thru-life/support
Follow Bigfoot joins the show to talk all about the Superior Hiking Trail in Minnesota. I've been curious to learn about this trail for a long time, so it was great to hear Bigfoot share all the essential information one must know before attempting a thru hike. In addtion, Bigfoot shares stories from his unsupported FKT of the Superior Hiking Trail, which is just as badass as it sounds. HUGE thanks to Sawyer Products for sponsoring this episode! Go check them out at https://sawyer.com/ Follow Bigfoot on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkA3z-lSyEg6ZN-BqMy6wow Check out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/kylehateshiking While you're at it, Check out the show's website at trailtalespod.com Like what you hear? Want to talk some smack? You can contact me on Facebook, 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!
Wisconsin has thousands of miles of trails that can be used for everything from hiking to snowmobiling – and lots in between. State trails are an easy way to start exploring Wisconsin's outdoors. We're also fortunate enough to have two of 11 National Scenic Trails wind their way through our state -- all of the Ice Age Trail and about 200 miles of the North Country Trail. The Ice Age National Scenic Trail spends nearly 1,200 miles winding its way through Wisconsin's many lakes, river valleys, hills, and even state parks. In 2013, author Melanie Radzicki McManus decided to take on the Ice Age National Scenic trail to set a trail running record. And once wasn't enough for her – she hiked and ran the trail in both directions. She also chronicled her journey in “Thousand Miler: Adventures Hiking the Ice Age Trail.” Beyond her adventures in Wisconsin, she has traveled the world hiking and writing. On this episode of Wild Wisconsin – Off the Record, Melanie shares her experience hiking in Wisconsin and beyond, plus gives her best tips for getting started. Also weighing in is Brigit Brown, the DNR's section chief for recreation management, who shares more on Wisconsin state trails. Listen in to learn more about Wisconsin's thousands of miles of trails and the many ways you can use them. Learn more about Melanie Radzicki McManus at: https://thethousandmiler.com/ Learn more about Wisconsin's state trails and find your nearest one at https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/findapark.htmlFind your next adventure at https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/outdoorrecreation/adventure.html--------------------------------------TRANSCRIPTAnnouncer: [00:00:00] Welcome to Wisconsin DNR's Wild Wisconsin -- Off The Record podcast, information straight from the source.Katie Grant: [00:00:13] Welcome back to another episode of Wild Wisconsin -- Off The Record. I'm your host, DNR's digital media coordinator, Katie Grant. These are unprecedented times as we embrace our new normal. We at the DNR hope you find this podcast to be a little escape from all things COVID-19. On this episode of Wild Wisconsin, I talk with award-winning journalist, author and hiking enthusiast, Melanie Radzicki-McManus. Available now, the Wisconsin native's first book, the Thousand-Miler, is a memoir about her record-setting trail run of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. Melanie has traveled the world hiking and trail running. She joins us to talk about her journey.As you know, several things are postponed with COVID-19 including this podcast. We've recorded this episode before the COVID-19 pandemic when Melanie was about to start her next long-through hike. You'll hear a bit more about that in this episode, but... which... We wanted you to know that she is back home and safe now.As a friendly reminder under Governor Ever' Safer At Home Order for those looking to explore the outdoors, we encourage you to stay in your local community and social distance to help slow the spread of COVID-19. For now, listen into my conversation with Melanie Radzicki-McManus, the Thousand-Miler.Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:01:32] My name is Melanie Radzicki-McManus, and I am a freelance writer. Um, travel is one of my specialties, and I write a lot about hiking in particular, uh, or active travel. But hiking is my super niche spot. Katie Grant: [00:01:47] Yeah. So we brought you on here today to talk about one of the experiences you've had here in Wisconsin.So back in 2013 and in 2015, you actually ran the Ice Age Trail. Why did you decide that this was something you wanted to do in the first place and why the Ice Age Trail specifically? Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:02:07] Well, it's kind of a longish answer and it stretches back to, uh, I guess you could say 2009 when I first learned about the Camino.Um, and in, um, in Spain. It's a ancient pilgrimage trail and a lot of people were hiking it. So I went over to Spain and I was just captivated by this long-distance trail and following these yellow blazes through the Spanish countryside. And so I started going back many times, writing many articles. I had an app guidebook on the Camino.And then in 2012, a running, friend of mine named Jason Dorgan told me about something called the Ice Age Trail in Wisconsin. And he said, it's a lot like this Camino you love so much, Melanie. So I researched it that night and I was flabbergasted because here I was a travel writer for, I don't even know at that time, 20 some years.I had never heard of the Ice Age Trail. When I learned that it was a long-distance hiking trail, twice the length of the Camino, almost 1,200 miles in my own backyard. One of just 11 prestigious national scenic trails. I knew I had to, um, explore it. And I didn't have too much time to take off of work to explore it.So I thought, well, I want to hike the whole thing and run it. Um, or I want to explore the whole trail. I don't have that much time, but I'm good at running, so I could actually run the trail like my friend Jason did, who had set what's called a fast-packing record on the trail in 2007. And I thought, oh, he's the only one that's ever tried to do it.And he's a guy. So I could say, I could set the record for women and just to have a bunch of fun in the process, write a bunch of stories, learn about the trail, et cetera. So that's what got me started the first time in 2013 and then I just got so hooked. Um, I was obsessed in a healthy way with the trail and being outside for such a long period of time. And so I decided I wanted to write a book about it, and then that meant I needed to hike it again, or that's what I told my husband.Katie Grant: [00:04:03] Once wasn't enough. Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:04:04] Right. So it's like I had to do it again opposite direction for the book. So I did it twice. Katie Grant: [00:04:09] So you wrote a book. Tell us a little bit about ... About the experience of writing the book and I guess what it's called so we can find it. Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:04:15] It's called Thousand-Miler: Adventures Hiking the Ice Age Trail, and it's this story. It's a story of the Ice Age Trail. It gives the history, it talks about my experience on the trail, and that's kind of the thread that holds the book together.And as I encountered different hikers along the trail, I weave their stories into the book as well. I also have a chapter devoted to Jason and his, um, fast-packing attempt, and another chapter devoted to the first person to through-hike the trail who did it back in I think like 1979 when I was probably in a disco.Katie Grant: [00:04:47] Wow. What were your favorite segments of the Ice Age Trail? Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:04:53] I'm glad you said favorite segments with an s. Cause I'm a person who never has one favorite. There are so many wonderful segments in this trail. Um, I like the Chippewa... Chippewa Moraine segment a lot. It's in the northwest portion of the state because it's just kind of a perfect, you know, not too hilly, but not flat.The trails are all perfectly groomed. You pass these beautiful lakes. I love, um. The, uh, Point Beach section, which is around, uh, two rivers and I had never been to Point Beach State Park, even though it's close to where I grew up in Sheboygan, but that's a beautiful pine forest. Cushy. I liked that, and two miles are right on Lake Michigan, which having grown up in Sheboygan, I just really love Lake Michigan.So that's unique. Um, I love the Lodi and Lodi Marsh segments that are near us here in Madison. There, there's just so many and they're all different, which is um, another thing that's wonderful about the Ice Age Trail. Slinger... Goes right through Slinger and passes this awesome shop selling the best ice cream.Katie Grant: [00:05:54] I hope that you made a pit up for some ice cream. Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:05:56] I did. Katie Grant: [00:05:56] Good. Good. Um, yeah, it's, it's interesting that on one stretch of trail through one state there's so much varied terrain and landscape and things to see and things to do and everything like that. Since your experience on the Ice Age Trail, you've explored some other famous trails throughout the world.You mentioned the Camino in Spain. Tell us a bit about some of your other adventures, maybe what was your favorite. Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:06:23] Uh, don't say that word favorite again. Katie Grant: [00:06:25] Favorites. Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:06:26] Yes. Um, I did a hike in Iceland called the Laugavegur Trail and one in New Zealand, um, the Tongariro Crossing. And both of those are rated, um, as some of the best hikes in the world.And what I loved about those two destinations is the scenery was so, um, different. I mean, it looked otherworldly, like someone just made it up for it a movie set or something. So those I really liked, but honestly, and every trail goes through just beautiful terrain. It's all different weather. I hiked the Arizona Trail last year, you know, that's all desert climate.Very different from what we have here that has beauty in its own way. Um, to the New England Trail. I hiked, that's another national scenic trail. Um, very much in some ways like Wisconsin, but very different because a lot of mountains in rocky outcrops, but everything is just beautiful. The being outdoors is wonderful.There's so much beauty in the world.Katie Grant: [00:07:26] Right. Right. Now, how many have you actually hiked and how many have you run? Is Ice Age the only one that you've done more running on than hiking? Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:07:35] Yes, definitely. I mean, the Ice AgeTtrail, again, I was trying to have fun with it the first time, um, by running it and saying, I could be, I have the through-hike, fastpacking record for women, but also, again, as I had said to just so I wouldn't have to take so much time away from work.And then I did it again in, in 2015 because I had a really compressed timeframe by the time the book deal came through and I had some other obligations, but you know, now I'm getting kind of too old for that, so I'm just doing the hiking on these other trails. But I am, I have set a goal of trying to hike all 11 national scenic trails before I die.Katie Grant: [00:08:12] How far are you on that list? Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:08:14] I'm going to start number five next week.Katie Grant: [00:08:17] All right.Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:08:18] Yeah. And I'm in, I've got a sixth that I'm in the process of section hiking. So there's two ways you can hike these trails. You do. You can do a through hike, which means you do it all at once, or a section hike where you do it in sections over time.Katie Grant: [00:08:30] So where are you going to explore next? Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:08:34] Next week? Katie Grant: [00:08:34] Yeah.Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:08:35] It's a, it's a very unusual trail called the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. Um, most of the other national scenic trails are a typical kind of point-to-point trail, but this one, um, is built by the National Park Service as a braided network of trails.So they're trying to showcase the best scenery and history of the Potomac River. So they've taken a lot of existing trails. For example, there's one called the Mount Vernon Trail that goes from Washington D.C. out to Mount Vernon. That's its own Mount Vernon Trail, but it's also part of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail.So logistically it's a little difficult to hike because there's a lot of back and forth and, um, some of the trails aren't as well marked as some of the others, and they don't have exact mileage... Mileage counts. So it's been, it'll be a little bit of a guessing game as to how long I'm out there. Katie Grant: [00:09:24] What's the estimate on mileage for that?Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:09:26] I've seen everything from, they mostly say 7 to 900 but I've seen one that said as much as 1,100 so it'll be a fun adventure. It sure will. Katie Grant: [00:09:36] What's the craziest experience you've had on the trails? Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:09:41] I'm going to tell you two, one didn't quite happen to me. If... It was when I was on the Ice Age Trail in 2015 and I had a friend crewing me, which is he would drop me off at the start of the day and then meet me several times during the day to offer food and snacks and water and things like that.And when I met him at one of the trail crossings, he said, 'Oh my gosh, there were just two nude hikers out here.' And I said, 'what?' And apparently two men have been section hiking the Ice Age Trail, always in the nude. Katie Grant: [00:10:10] All right. Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:10:11] So, yeah, call that crazy. I don't understand. I was very scratched up all over that day on my arms and legs, and I can't imagine it finding it enjoyable to be naked.But so then that's crazy. But luckily I didn't see, did not see them. But another kind of weird encounter I had, this is on the Superior Hiking Trail up in Minnesota, was, um, I saw a groundhog in the middle of the path and I thought, 'Oh, cute groundhog and didn't run away,' which I thought was amazing. So I took my camera out and I took a bunch of pictures and then as I went to walk it puffed its fur out and it started snapping these big long brown teeth at me and I'm like, 'Oh my gosh, this is crazy.' I tried everything for like 20 minutes to get this thing to move. I tried kind of jabbing my trekking pole at it, screaming, blowing my whistle, hiding for a while, coming back out, and it just was right in the middle of that path and would... Did not want me to pass. I actually called my husband cause I was kind of on the sort of on the top of a mountain and say, can you Google how to get past and groundhog? And he's like, OK. And the answer was just walk around it. And I said, I can't just walk around it. I'm afraid it's going to bite me.And then I started thinking maybe it was a rabbit, because you know every other wildlife just runs away from you. So I remember thank goodness, I had some mace that my husband had given me just in case, and so I didn't even know how to work it, was afraid I would spray myself, but luckily I sprayed it, and it hit it and it ran away right away and then I ran by.But that was kind of scary. And then when I think back, it's like, it was a little groundhog, but it had those big teeth. Katie Grant: [00:11:46] Yeah, I'm sure at the time they looked way scarier than they actually were. Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:11:51] I know. Katie Grant: [00:11:53] Beyond the Ice Age Trail here in Wisconsin, do you have any other favorite trails in the state for running, hiking, exploring?Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:12:04] You know, a lot of, in retrospect, looking now that I know what the Ice Age Trail is, a lot of the trails that I've hiked on and enjoyed happened to be part of the Ice Age Trail. Um, but that being said, like Indian Lake for example, I go to a lot mostly because it's close, but I do like it a lot. And there's a section of that that's the Ice Age Trail, but many other segments of that that are not, I like the trails at Devil's Lake a lot.How can you not like that? I like Lapham Peak. Um, quite a bit. And having grown up in Sheboygan, I did a lot of hiking in the Northern Kettle Moraine. So those are wonderful trails. So yeah, I would say those are some of my favorites for sure. Katie Grant: [00:12:45] Yeah, there's lots to explore here. Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:12:48] Definitely. Katie Grant: [00:12:49] For sure. So let's talk a little bit about getting ready for these long hikes. Uh, do you do any sort of cross-training or anything in preparation and what else is involved in getting ready for one. Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:13:02] Um, I don't usually train for a big hike per se, but that's only because I'm a very active person. I like being outside and I like working out. So, um, I'm normally doing some kind of workout six days a week.And that includes not just say running or elliptical, but also exercise, like pushups and things like that. So I have a good base, which I'm fortunate. Um, but then when, if you're getting ready for any adventure, whether it's hiking for several weeks or just for a day or two, you have to pay attention to the terrain.Make sure you have appropriate clothing. Always have, um, water, snacks, a phone or something for emergencies. Whistles, a little bit of first aid, um, supplies on you, that type of thing. And it's always good no matter where you're, how safe a trail is or how urban it is, just to let somebody know where you're going to be.Um, I know a lot of women in particular are nervous about hiking by themselves. I get that question a lot, and I am not, um, I'm not afraid at all of being out there alone. But that being said, you always have to take simple precautions. Katie Grant: [00:14:13] Yeah. Yeah, it's smart to stay safe. Um, and the, the, the part about letting someone know where you are, I feel like that goes for anyone going out into Wisconsin's outdoors ever.Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:14:25] Right. Katie Grant: [00:14:25] You know, whether, whether you're hiking, hunting, fishing, whatever it may be, just let someone know where you are. So if something does happen, they can find you. Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:14:32] Exactly. Katie Grant: [00:14:33] When you are out on the trail, what are some of your favorite go-to snacks to stay fueled? Other than ice cream? Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:14:40] I have eaten a lot of ice cream on the Ice Age Trail, so if anyone wants to ever know where the best spots are, they can call me.You know, it's interesting. I started out doing all like energy bar things, mostly because I was going to be running and I thought my stomach can't handle anything more. But what I've learned over time is not that energy bars aren't real food, but real food tastes real good. So I started doing more packing, regular sandwiches and I still have some energy bars and things like that, but, um, you know, dried fruit is good.Nuts are good. Um. Some candy's good. Especially if you're going all day, you do need some calories, so it's nice to have a big candy bar that I don't normally let myself eat. Katie Grant: [00:15:23] Yeah, yeah. Do you prefer to listen to any music or podcasts or anything or just be out there in nature and enjoy the sounds?Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:15:32] Mostly I like to be out in nature and enjoy the sounds. I love the sounds of the wind of when going through the different tree branches and all the different noises. Uh, branches can make, you wouldn't believe it. Everything from like a, um, an old door, big wooden door creaking open in a haunted house or something to some that sound like a, you know, a boat rubbing against a doc or something. That being said, especially if I'm on a long-distance hike where I'm maybe hiking for 8 or 10 hours a day, um, toward the end when I start getting tired, I need music or podcast or something to kind of distract me. So that's when I switch to that. Katie Grant: [00:16:10] Okay. Keep you going.Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:16:11] Right. Katie Grant: [00:16:13] So in some of your recaps of hiking, running the Ice Age Trail, you mentioned that you did it kind of in September cause you don't like the heat and then of course it ended up being a super hot September anyway. Um, do you get out on the trails in the winter? Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:16:27] I do. Um, yes. I like to snowshoe. That's actually my trail name now, Snowshoe. Um, and there's great snowshoeing on a lot of the trails all over the state. Um, and that's a great activity. I'm trying to get more people into it because so many people say, 'Oh, it's winter. You know, snow, it's cold.' But unless you're talking, you know, zero or below zero, it's, you generate heat when you're out there snowshoeing.And it's...it's so beautiful when you get into some of the woods where they're just, you know, the snow is so deep and it's so quiet and just so beautiful out there. And, uh, cross country skiing is nice too. And then sometimes when we don't have that much snow, we'll just hike on the trails in our boots.Katie Grant: [00:17:12] Right. Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:17:12] And just, it helps to have, uh, if you're doing that, some kind of traction device, like yak tracks or, um, ice cleats or something cause it can get icy. Katie Grant: [00:17:22] Right. Yeah. Do you have any tips for other cold-weather gear that you love or have to have? Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:17:27] I'm a big fan of trekking poles year-round. Um, they're useful for so many ways, not just balance or taking weight off your knees.You can see, um, if how deep water is in the summer and the winter, you can see, um, if the ice is thick, you know how, how, how solid the ice is. Um, in the summer, they keep your arms parallel to the ground, which means you don't get really swollen fingers. Um. So I love that. It's like a little, my little secret tip, I just discovered that by using them, but they come in handy for, well, didn't help with the groundhog but for other wildlife.You know, if you need to kind of draw yourself up large or just look scary, you know, trekking poles can help for that. And um, hydration. I'm just gonna mention too, cause we talking about year-round, but a lot of people think if it's winter, you don't need water, you don't need as much water and you definitely need water and sometimes you can, you need more water and it's, and you need to remember to drink your water cause I'm bad about that too. I'll take all this water in the winter and then sometimes it's like, ah, I'm not thinking to drink it, but it's really important to do that, to stay hydrated.Katie Grant: [00:18:33] For sure. For sure. What advice would you give to someone who's interested in maybe running the Ice Age Trail for the first time or doing a long through-hike kind of a thing? Any, any tips for beginners?Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:18:47] Well, if you're going to do something like running, um, make sure you have a big, uh, base, a deep base for running.Um, I had been running for decades before I started that and did long runs on the weekends and things like that. Um, and for, if you want to do, thinking of a long through hike and you're, um, maybe not having hiked that much. Just make sure you start getting out on the trails and getting yourself used to it and building up slowly.You can also start, a lot of people start these long hikes and just start out and build their way, as they're hiking. So for example, maybe your first day you hike five miles, maybe your first week you hike five miles a day or eight miles a day, and then you next week you bump up to 12 or whatever.It's always good to start, um, slowly and do some research so you know what you're going to get into. Um, I what I didn't know when I started the Ice Age Trail, despite nine months of research, I didn't realize that that trail and many of our others, um, are maintained by volunteers. And what that means is, um, people like you and I go out in their free time and they trim back the trail amongst other things or put fresh markings, but it's all people can't be out there.Keeping the trail in perfect condition every minute of every day. All I had in my head was, it's a national scenic trail and there's only 11, and I was picturing some like Disney-esque type of path where, you know, every, there'd be no weeds or rocks or roots, and it would be just perfectly mowed. And when I got up there, there were some sections that were pretty overgrown because volunteers just hadn't gotten there yet.And so you have to be prepared for that. Um, if you're going to, most trails have some kind of organization or place where you can find out information where you can call locally and just say, what's the trail like? So if you don't want to be in a situation of waiting through knee-high brush or something.Um, just call and say, what's this? This is where I want to hike. What's it like right now? And someone will be able to tell you, or if you like the adventure... Katie Grant: [00:20:52] Go for it anyway.Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:20:53] To be surprised by what you'll encounter. Katie Grant: [00:20:55] Yeah. Yeah. Anything else that you want us to know about your, your adventures, your experience, things that people should know before they get into this.Melanie Radzicki-McManus: [00:21:05] Two things. First of all, get out on the Ice Age Trail in Wisconsin and start exploring. You'll be blown away by the beauty. I thought I had seen so much of this state just from whether it's driving the car or times when I've hiked or ...Or biked or ran through different parks. But the trail takes you to so many places you just wouldn't normally stop and you will not believe how beautiful it is.And then also I would say, please people get outside and move. There's so many studies that show being out in nature is healthy for you. And, and uh, especially they, there's a link between walking and being in nature. And I'm here to tell you it's absolutely true. I cannot believe how therapeutic it was to be out there day after day in nature.All the stress and anxiety levels go way down. And um, it's just wonderful. So whether you can spare an hour a day, three days, just do it. You'll love it. Katie Grant: [00:22:05] Are you feeling inspired to find your next adventure here in Wisconsin? Curious about how many trails we have or maybe wondering all the ways that can be used? To answer those questions and more we talked with DNR Section Chief for Recreation Management and the Bureau of Parks and Recreation. Brigit Brown: [00:22:21] My name is Brigit Brown, and I am a Section Chief for Recreation Management in the Bureau of Parks and Recreation in the division of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. Uh, prior to that, I was the state trails coordinator for about 15 years.Katie Grant: [00:22:36] We brought you in to talk about our trails today cause we have a lot of them and they're pretty awesome. Um, and it turns out that it's not just a simple question of how many we have. Why don't you tell us a little bit about what it is that we have here in Wisconsin for trails. Brigit Brown: [00:22:49] Yeah. Well, we have a really rich history of trails here in Wisconsin.Um, everything from the first rail to trail conversion in the Elroy Sparta State Trail, uh, to, uh, the Ice Age Trail and the North Country Trail to national scenic trails. Um, the Ice Age Trail, uh, is one of the only nationals scenic trails that is contained entirely in one state. Uh, and the Ice Age Trail also has the distinction of being Wisconsin's only state scenic trail, a special designation that it has in state law.Katie Grant: [00:23:25] What does scenic trail mean for it? Brigit Brown: [00:23:27] Oh, that's a good question. Well, it sounds really nice. So that's one thing, but essentially, uh, it, it's a designation that was given, uh, at a federal level. Uh, so it is a national scenic trail. There are also national historic trails. Um, to me, I think, uh, although a lot of the national historic trails are things like a Natchez Trace, um, you know, Trail of Tears, uh, those kinds of trails that have a really rich, um, cultural history. Uh, the Ice Age Trail is really special because, uh, it really commemorates geology and the ice age formations that are, uh, so abundant here in Wisconsin. So it's, it's scenic, in that you know, you get to see a lot of the beauty of Wisconsin and a lot of our geologic, uh, ice age history.Um, but also just Wisconsin's beauty. Katie Grant: [00:24:20] What can you do on state trails on Wisconsin? Brigit Brown: [00:24:24] Oh, wow. That's a great question. So we have all kinds of opportunities on state trails in Wisconsin. Everything from walking and snowshoeing and skiing to, um, more, uh motorized pursuits and, uh, opportunities like off-highway motorcycling, which is a fairly new program here in Wisconsin.Snowmobiling, ATV-ing, UTV-ing. UTVs are kind of the, um, souped-up golf cart looking type devices, uh, that are treated very similar to alternative vehicles or ATVs here in Wisconsin. We also have a lot of equestrian trails, um, we have a lot of diversity in the kinds of pursuits that people enjoy here in Wisconsin on trails.So even among bicycling, there are a lot of different kinds of trails. So what we've done here at DNR is divided those into some different categories. So people have a better idea of the kind of experience they can expect and maybe even the kind of equipment they might want to have with them. Uh, so we have bicycle touring trails, which are, you know, sort of the easier trails, like our pave trails.A lot of our limestone surface trails on former railroad beds, uh, they generally appropriate for all levels of, uh, cycling ability and, and bikes with pretty skinny tires. Then we have off-road bicycle trails, and those are a little bit more intermediate level trails, often in the woods. And they have a variety of surfacing from just native soil to, to woodchips.Um, they're, you know, maybe more appropriate for folks, a little bit more experienced and who are looking for a little bit more of an adventure in the woods. Uh, they're appropriate for, you know, hybrid type bikes. Or mountain bikes as well. Then we also have constructed mountain bike trails. These are trails that are really purpose-built for bicycling.Um, in a challenging way they're, they're a more narrow width, usually about 18 to 24 inches in width, and, uh, they're, they're built to pretty specific standards for mountain biking. That's not to say though that other uses don't really enjoy them. We have, um, a lot of other folks, um, whether they be pedestrians, uh, hikers, runners, walkers, uh, who enjoy that kind of trail as well.Snowshoers, we find also really, uh, often enjoy those more narrow kind of intimate trails, um, that, uh, our constructed mountain bike trails offer. Katie Grant: [00:26:59] Yeah. So some of these are kind of multi-use, you know, you can bike them, you can run 'em, you can hike them. Some of them are more specialized where, you know, maybe you can only snowmobile on them or, um, only cross-country ski on them at different times of year.Brigit Brown: [00:27:16] Yeah, that's a really good point. All of our trails are open to people walking and those basic pedestrian uses, um, with the exception of our groomed cross-country ski trails. We don't want people walking on those. And so we have what's called administrative code that says, essentially, when one of our trails is groomed, uh, don't hike on it, don't allow your dog on it. Um, because we want to preserve that really specific experience of those tracks for the cross-country skiers. Um, but yeah, we have a whole variety of trails that are open to a lot of different uses. And I think a good way maybe to think about it is that trails will have, uh, multiple uses that are allowed uses.So you can do bicycling, you can do ATV-ing, you can walk on a trail. However, they may not be a kind of the, the experience that's catered to on that trail. So a lot of times, um, you know, we, we have a motorized trail that is open to a whole variety of uses. Um, but in large part, it is designed and maintained for usually that motorized use.So you can definitely walk on it. You can definitely bicycle on it, but it may not be a bicyclist or a walker's most desired experience. So, um, we encourage folks to kind of think about what their desired experience is. And we do our best to provide information and provide facts about all of our different trails so that folks can really find an experience that is gonna meet their needs and really meet what they're looking for.Katie Grant: [00:29:03] Yeah, for sure. So before we got started here, you kind of had mentioned that one of the things you like to do as long-distance hike and we have some resources on our website specifically about that. What is your favorite long-distance hike in Wisconsin? Brigit Brown: [00:29:17] Oh, that's a great question. You know, I have to say the Kettle Moraine is always a classic.Um, we're fortunate to have, uh, some great backpacking experiences here in Wisconsin. Of course, we have our two national scenic trails with the North Country Trail and the Ice Age Trail. And what we've done is we've provided online, if you, if you look up, uh, on our website and type in backpacking, we have some kind of sample experiences for folks.And, you know, they can say, 'Hey, I, I'm new to this backpacking thing. Maybe I just want to try one night.' Well, we have some, uh, areas where we suggest, 'Hey, you can park here, you can hike out on this trail, camp here, and then hike back the next day.' Um, maybe you want to try a few more days. And we have some, some sampling... Sample itineraries for that as well.Katie Grant: [00:30:09] What do you need to be able to use Wisconsin state trails? Do you need to buy any sort of a pass or admission stickers or anything like that? Brigit Brown: [00:30:17] Yeah, so we do require vehicle admission stickers at a lot of our properties. So once you get into the property, if it does require that vehicle admission sticker, then we also have some trails that require a state trail pass.So what that is is just a, it's a piece of paper that allows you for the calendar year to access our state trails. Uh, if you're doing so by bicycle or horse or cross country ski, um, and that isn't across the board. It's for certain uses on certain trails, and we do explain exactly where it's required and for what uses on our website if you just type in keyword "trail pass." Katie Grant: [00:31:02] Is there any trail etiquette that users should be aware of? Brigit Brown: [00:31:05] Yeah, that's a great question. And thank you for asking. Um, this is one of the things that I, I really wish more people knew about. Um, so basic trail etiquette, uh, and, and sometimes it gets confusing because if you're, if you're walking or bicycling on a road, uh, it's really different.But if you're on a trail in general, you want to stay to the right of the trail pass people on their left. Let people know that you're passing. Now we have a lot of folks who are at different speeds and different skill levels, and it's really frankly just the polite thing to do to say, 'Hey, on your left,' and to let someone know that you're going to be passing them.They won't always hear you. We do have a lot of folks that like using the trails with, uh, with headphones on or earbuds in, but, um, at least doing your best to alert others, to let them know that you're passing. You know, I think always looking before you want to change your position on a trail, whether you're going to be passing someone else or you want to avoid something, um, you know, a lot of it really just focuses on, um, kind of the golden rule of treating others how you'd like to be treated, you know, being polite and, and when in doubt, uh, I think yielding to other users is a good rule of thumb as well. Katie Grant: [00:32:28] Anything else you want us to know about Wisconsin state trails? Brigit Brown: [00:32:32] It can be considered that Wisconsin's trails are the windows to the DNR. In that trails can be a really great way for folks who don't necessarily have a lot of outdoor experience to have sort of a low consequences or, uh, uh, an easier introduction to, to being outside and to experiencing DNR lands. You know, we have, we have trails, especially some of our state trails, our rail-trails in urban areas.And you know, just getting on one of those trails and seeing where it takes you, it's, it's a great experience and a great way to get introduced to some areas and places and some of the beauty of Wisconsin that you might not otherwise see. Katie Grant: [00:33:14] It's an easy way to just get out there and go for a little ways and then turn around and come back, you don't have to commit to a lot of it. Brigit Brown: [00:33:21] Absolutely. Katie Grant: [00:33:22] Learn more about how you can explore Wisconsin's outdoors by visiting dnr.wi.gov and searching for keyword, "find your adventure." Be sure to subscribe to Wild Wisconsin -- Off The Record wherever you get your podcasts. Leave us a review or tell us who you'd like to hear from next time.Thanks for listening.
This season we are suggesting books you might enjoy for our Goodreads group: Armchair Travel to Minnesota State Parks. We give you a prompt connected to each state park, and you find a book to fulfill the challenge. You can use one of our suggestions, and you should feel free to read any book! George Crosby Manitou park was established in 1955. https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_par... The campsites here need to be hiked to, either from the Superior Hiking Trail or after leaving your car in the parking lot. Celebrate the wonderful isolation of this park with a book about a character who experiences some solitude.
Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
A packed show this week, with about 90 minutes of goodness!! Rory Anderson, or Bigfoot, is this week's main guest. Rory is an accomplished hiker, having completed the Appalachian Trail in 2016. He has done several other trails and recently broke the Fastest Known Time (FKT) for the Superior Hiking Trail. As Rory stresses, he's not superhuman; he's just a very determined guy with a plan. He and Steve talk about ultra-lite backpacking and the never-ending quest to shave off a few extra pounds from your pack. You can follow Bigfoot's YouTube channel, called Follow Bigfoot, at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkA3z-lSyEg6ZN-BqMy6wow For his FKT Superior Hiking Trail video, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKjmG0QkGTs His FKT gear list is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3B-Je29UhWI In this podcast, Rory also talks about his passion for Halloween and shares a video of his 2019 haunt at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_B-cvQ5mik It is well worth watching!! Steve also chats with Wim Schalken of Hiker Medals, the sponsor for today's show. You can find out more about Wim's awesome project at https://www.hikermedals.com/ Paul Stream, of The Barn in Gorham, tells us about his hostel in Maine, which you can find at https://www.libbyhouseinn.com/ In Steve's reading of Paul Stutzman's Hiking Through, Paul has an unlikely encounter....with a giant rabbit!!
In this episode, we talk with two long-time trail volunteers about the North Country Trail (NCT). The trails are a place many of us have grown to love. Have you ever thought of the work that goes into creating and maintaining a long-distance trail? We are joined by Matt Davis who is the North Country Trail Regional Trail Coordinator for ND, MN, and WI. We are also joined by Zach who is a hiking advocate and long-time volunteer on the Superior Hiking Trail and now the NCT. We discuss their stories behind the trails and how they got involved in volunteer work. We also talk about the North Country Trail Arrowhead Re-route project and the logistics behind what goes into building a trail system. This episode is sure to leave you with a different perspective next time you are out on the trail. Maybe you will even find yourself signing up to give back to the trails you love or start a new family tradition! NCT Association Website: northcountrytrail.org - click 'Volunteer' tab to get involved Hike 100 Challenge Facebook pages: Arrowhead Re-route, North Country Trail Association Facebook group: North Country Trail Community Contact info: northcountrytrail.org/contact Matt's email (regional trail coordinator for ND, MN, WI): mdavis@northcountrytrail.org ---- Hiking Thru Life T-shirts and water bottles: hikingthrulife.net/shop --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hiking-thru-life/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/hiking-thru-life/support
Andy, known off trail as Andy Kermode, hiked the Superior Hiking Trail this summer. 310 miles in 21 days. He didn’t quite get a trail name, but he’s all of us newbie thru hikers who wonder “Can I do this? Should I do a thru hike?” In this episode, he shares the lesson he learned about overall preventive care, the importance of the feet, things he would do differently and conversations with his wife so they were both on board this thru hike.
Jen takes listeners on her journey of what was an attempted through hike of the Superior Hiking Trail which became this amazing adventure where she learned about herself, her inner strength and the power of bringing together and creating community via hiking.In this episode Jen shares her background of coming to hike later in life and transforming into "Super Jen" as an active volunteer for her son's Boy Scouts troop. These experiences taught her confidence and many outdoors skills that she was able to apply to her hiking adventures.Jen's commitment to volunteerism and the outdoors is also evident through her clean up work as a Groundskeepers and leading hikes in her area for Women Who Hike.You can learn more about Jen's adventures by visiting her blog - Wandering Pine.The Superior Hiking Trail, also known as the SHT, is a 310-mile (499 km) long footpath in northeastern Minnesota that follows the ridgeline overlooking Lake Superior for most of its length. The lowest point in the path is 602 feet (183 m) above sea level and the highest point is 1,829 feet (558 m) above sea level. (Source: Wikipedia)Connect with Jen TheisenWeb site: Wandering PineInstagram: @wandering.pineConnect with Lori:Instagram: @thehikepodcast, @lori_the_explorerTwitter: @thehikepodcastBlog: thehikepodcast.wordpress.comFacebook: @thehikepodcastEmail Lori at hikepodcast@gmail.com Special thank you to Isabella for being a show patron! Music track "Two Mountains at a Time" from Live at the Fillmore by Pachyderm, used under the Creative Commons license. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/thehikepodcast)
With a bit of support from experienced people, anything is possible. In this episode, we take new backpackers on a weekend trip to the Superior Hiking Trail. We did a 7-mile hike between Oberg Mountain and Lutsen over the weekend back in June, which was a challenging yet attainable amount of distance and elevation gain for a first-time backpacker who felt capable. Listen to this episode for the thoughts, reactions, and insights from their first time backpacking. ---- Hiking Thru Life T-shirts and water bottles: hikingthrulife.net/shop --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hiking-thru-life/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/hiking-thru-life/support
In this episode, Andy reflects on his recent thru-hike. He shares what he learned both physically and mentally while hiking all 310 miles of the Superior Hiking Trail. This episode was recorded on mental health awareness day and ties in the importance of why taking care of yourself before anyone else is a number one priority. ---- Hiking Thru Life T-shirts and water bottles: hikingthrulife.net/shop --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hiking-thru-life/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/hiking-thru-life/support
Dan took his last drink 370 days ago. This is his story. Update on the Alcohol is Sh!t book! The book is out! Pick up your copy on Amazon here! On today’s episode Paul talks about how this journey into a new life without alcohol can be fun. In fact, he says, it must be fun. If you’re not having fun right now that is ok, you are not doing anything wrong. Recovering your true self, a life filled with inner joy and abundance, can only be done with love. You can’t fight darkness with darkness. Here are some strategies to invite love into your life…stop comparing yourself to others, get off social media, tell yourself ‘I love you’, listen to your body, put on headphones and dance. SHOW NOTES [9:30] Paul introduces Dan. Dan celebrated 1 year of sobriety on July 28, 2019. He is 37 years old and lives in Cottage Grove, MN. He is a teacher and teaches middle school math. He has 5-year-old twins, a boy and a girl, and a 10-year-old daughter. Dan is married and they just celebrated 13 years. For fun Dan likes to exercise and hike. [16:20] Give us a background on your drinking. Dan had his first drink in high school and bartended through college. He says his drinking just carried over into what he calls ‘his adult life’ and it just stuck with him. He wasn’t a binge drinker; it was more of cracking a couple beers open every night after work. Dan started to become depressed, getting anxious if he couldn’t drink his beers each night. He says he had some suicidal thoughts. [20:45] What did that depression feel like? Dan got to the point where he was finding no joy in anything, including alcohol, his job or his family. He confided in a friend about his depression and that was the start of his journey into sobriety. When he confided in his wife, he felt that he was surrendering and ready to get help. [24:00] When did you tell your wife and what happened after that? Dan says he made the commitment to stop drinking last summer and told his wife after about a week in. Dan says his wife overheard him listening to the Recovery Elevator podcast and that was the beginning of their conversation about his drinking and depression. [26:35] Talk to us about the 1st week, the 1st month. Dan made a doctor’s appointment a couple weeks in to talk about his depression and was prescribed anti-depressants/antianxiety medication. He was worried about how he would feel once taking the medication but says it has really helped him. Dan listened to the RE podcasts daily and would reach out to his wife when he was struggling at all. He also told his oldest daughter that he was quitting drinking alcohol. [35:30] With a year away from the alcohol how has the depression been? Dan says it has gotten better. He is going to sit down with his doctor and discuss if he should come off the meds, he says he was scared to go on them in the beginning and is now a little worried about coming off them. [37:25] What’s on your bucket list now with a year of sobriety? Next summer he’s going to finish up the Superior Hiking Trail and possibly do a ½ marathon. [38:44] You haven’t mentioned AA or 12-step, did you not go to AA during this last year? Dan says he never put it out of his mind or took it off the table, and that he even looked up when and where meetings were; but that he never went to a meeting. [40:40] Rapid Fire Round What’s a lightbulb moment you’ve found on this journey? My lightbulb moment was that I needed to fail a few times before I was actually able to be successful with it. What is a gift that sobriety has given you? The biggest gift is time. What is your favorite alcohol-free drink? Well my beer fridge has now became a sparkling water fridge. What are some of your favorite resources in recovery? I definitely have to say Recovery Elevator, plus my friends and my family. And what parting piece of guidance can you give to listeners? It would have to be that there is so much freedom once you have given up alcohol. You might have a drinking problem if... You have a fight with your girlfriend, decide to move out, and realize that you have only packed a camera and a swimsuit. Upcoming retreats: Asia Adventure – January 20-31, 2020 You can find more information about this event here Resources mentioned in this episode: Connect with Cafe RE- Use the promo code OPPORTUNITY for your first month free Sobriety Tracker iTunes Sobriety Tracker Android Sober Selfies! - Send your Sober Selfie and your Success Story to info@recoveryelevator.com “Recovery Elevator – It all starts from the inside out.”
Andy will be setting out to thru-hike the Superior Hiking Trail on September 8th. His goal is to complete the 310-mile trail in 21 days. ---- Hiking Thru Life T-shirts and water bottles: hikingthrulife.net/shop --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hiking-thru-life/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/hiking-thru-life/support
Today we sit down with Coach Mike, and chat about the importance of long term goals. We also chat about our top 3 predictions for this year's UTMB.Mike dives into the Superior 100 course, and what he thinks an attainable time is on that course!
Sometimes, as you're building your business and your personal brand, you might have to backtrack. It's not fun, it's not pleasant, but oh there is SO much value in it. Join Jamie on a walk on the Superior Hiking Trail and hear two stories of recent events in her life and the lessons she took away for her business that you will need to use at some point in yours. Need a Personal Brand Photographer? Check out Jamie's list of personally vetted photographers by clicking here! If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Jamie: Subscribe to this podcast & leave a review! Sign up for Email Updates about the Podcast Follow her on Instagram Like the FB Page Join the Facebook Group Mentioned in this episode: Jayson Gaignard
Sometimes, as you're building your business and your personal brand, you might have to backtrack. It's not fun, it's not pleasant, but oh there is SO much value in it. Join Jamie on a walk on the Superior Hiking Trail and hear two stories of recent events in her life and the lessons she took away for her business that you will need to use at some point in yours. Need a Personal Brand Photographer? Check out Jamie's list of personally vetted photographers by clicking here! If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Jamie: Subscribe to this podcast & leave a review! Sign up for Email Updates about the Podcast Follow her on Instagram Like the FB Page Join the Facebook Group Mentioned in this episode: Jayson Gaignard
We're back! After a few month-long hiatus, Trail Correspondents presented by The Trek is storming back into your world like a phoenix rising from the ashes. As you likely already know, last year the Trail Correspondents series ran through The Trek's flagship podcast, Backpacker Radio. Due to the popularity of this series, we deemed it worthy of its own home, i.e. this podcast. So.... What is Trail Correspondents? Last year, we showcased roughly a dozen thru-hikers taking on Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Divide Trail. Every other week, we'd feature their updates from the trail centered around a particular subject or theme. Through their eyes and vocal cords, we got a glimpse into the minds, hearts, and souls of those who take on a half year backpacking trip. This year, by and large, it's going to be more of the same. The primary difference for this year's show, is the hikers that we're featuring. More specifically, the theme for this season of Trail Correspondents was to Feature primarily first time thru-hikers. We made this decision as it's hard to replicate the excitement of your first cross-country trek, and this enthusiasm is palpable. And, Feature a greater diversity of voice. This season, we've got hikers ranging in age from 22 to 66. We've got hikers who are chasing their dream, and others who are eager to escape unsavory realities on the home front. Most of our correspondents are from the US, though we're also happy to be featuring those with Canadian, Mexican, and Indian descent. Our crew includes someone hiking with their spouse, someone hiking with their life partner, and a brother / sister duo. Really the only qualities this group has in common is their storytelling ability (which you are soon to learn, is captivating) and an intense desire to make 2019 a landmark year. You can find our Correspondents bios, headshots, and Instagram profiles (for most) below. This is the first episode, where you will meet our Pacific Crest Trail hikers, and Lucas, who's hiking the American Discover Trail from Iowa to California. American Discovery Trail Lucas Woolfolk Bio: Lucas is a long time lover of the outdoors, but last year decided to take that passion to a new level. In 2018, he decided to embark on the American Discovery Trail which spans across the USA from coast to coast. He made it roughly 1,500 miles as far as the end of his home-state of Iowa, but plans to finish the remaining 2,700+ miles to the California coast in 2019. Before the venture, Lucas was suffering from depression and creative block as an artist and set out to re-spark his passions and discover the USA one step at a time. | Follow Lucas on Instagram | Appalachian Trail Nancy Alexander Bio: Nancy will be 66 years young when she starts her journey on the AT. Recently retired, widowed, mom of two amazing daughters, grandmother, road cyclist, adventurer, and lover of wild flowers and wild places. She backpacked 240 miles of the AT in 2017, but that wasn't enough, so she's back for more. A lot more... Frozen Bio: Frozen has 5 years of backpacking experience with his biggest trip covering a 240 mile section of the Superior Hiking Trail. He has worked in IT at the same job for 14 years and needs a life change. After his Uncle had an unfortunate hunting accident that left him paralyzed below the waist, Frozen decided that his thru hike couldn't wait until retirement, and is setting out to hike from Georgia to Maine. | Follow Frozen on Instagram | Missy Baatz Bio: Dog lover, nature addict, crystal enthusiast. She has decided to trade in the corporate 9 to 5 for the adventure lifestyle to include the collection of experiences over material possessions. When not hiking she and her husband tour the country in their DIY camper van. Their one true happy place is in the mountains and hiking the Appalachian Trail is a dream come true. | Follow Missy on Instagram | Melissa Glass Bio: Melissa will be thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail in March of 2019 and it will be her first long distance hike. She currently resides in Delaware where she bartends while wistfully thinking about wide open spaces. You will always see her wearing her Buff and a pair of sunglasses. Melissa hopes that you enjoy following her and the other Trail Correspondent's journeys this season! | Follow Melissa on Instagram | Kenneth Pararo Bio: Kenneth is a 29 year old Atlantan. Prior to deciding to hike the AT, he spent most of his free time biking; however, a 1-week stint on the AT in March of 2018 awakened a new interest in the hardships and challenge presented by backpacking. He's submitted his resignation at the tech company he's worked at since graduating college and is ready to hit the trail again in late March of 2019 to finish what he started. | Follow Kenneth on Instagram | Katharine Rudzitis Bio: Katharine is a born and bred Manhattanite who enjoys exploring and the outdoors. She grew up wandering and adventuring, but she found herself spending less and less time outside, replacing the wild with (equally wonderful) trips to other cities. The Appalachian Trail has been a lifelong dream, and she decided that 2019 would be the year to give it a try. (Plus, she loves a good, challenging goal). | Follow Katharine on Instagram | Travis Bio: Travis is a naturally curious, freedom seeking Tennessee native. While preparing for his NOBO hike, he's fallen in love with trail running and creating gear spreadsheets. The AT will be his first solo thru-hike, and he's secretly hoping to catch long trail fever. | Follow Travis on Instagram | Continental Divide Trail Sara Dhooma Bio: Sara Dhooma’s trailname of “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?” perfectly describes this fearless, globe-trotting adventurer. She has travel backpacked in 75+ countries, and strives to trek the most epic landscapes on earth. After a life-threatening pulmonary embolism, she left her office job in August 2017 to complete her hiking bucket list. After a warm-up on the Israel National Trail this winter, Sara will take a big step towards the Triple Crown with a NOBO thru-hike Continental Divide Trail. | Follow Sara on Instagram | Dosu Bio: Dosu (pronounced "dough-sew") Kinuta looks like a bum but lives like a king. If you have ever wanted to quit your career and go backpacking he would tell you to do it. If you thought that living wild and free in your 30s was for people with trust funds he will show you it's not. If you need that encouragement then listen. | Follow Dosu on Instagram | Pacific Crest Trail Eric Dernbach Bio: Eric grew up in a small mountain town in Colorado and is the little brother to fellow trail correspondent, Alison. He studied architecture and design at Kansas State University and upon graduating moved to practice architecture in Austin, Texas. He has been working there for the previous 4 years, but the itch to get on the trail has been growing ever since. His curiosity of the outdoors has led him to take on a Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike with his sister Alison in 2019. | Follow Eric on Instagram | Karthikeya Nadendla Bio: When Karthikeya was young, he wanted to be a Scientist, later a doctor and instead became an IT Engineer. As soon as he began Hiking, Mountaineering, Rock climbing his experiences multiplied followed by a perspective change and he no longer strived to be something. So, he shifted his focus on adventures rather than designations and is leaving on a journey thru PCT with a goal to obtain maximum experience from life. | Follow Karthikeya on Instagram | Angie Kane Bio: Angie is a woman from Michigan who loves theatre, music & movement, and the outdoors! She is ripping herself from her "everyday life" to go on this incredible adventure and couldn't be more excited (and terrified) about it. :) She is most excited to allow the time to experience new things and new people... and to see what she sees. | Follow Angie on Instagram | Zack Munsell Bio: Zack Munsell is outgoing and thrives to keep the people around him comfortable, confident, and most importantly in laughing. Though he's a rookie outdoorsman, having only gotten into overnight backpacking this past summer, he's confident his strong will and personality will be defining factors that enable him to complete his thru-hike. Zack is in a little over his head, and is compensating by being a little out of his mind. | Follow Zack on Instagram | Jazmín Ortega Bio: Born in Los Angeles and raised in Mexico, Jazmin started out as a newspaper reporter and now works in state government, fueling her outdoor adventures in marathon running and hiking with a healthy dose of street tacos. Her SoCal-based indoor pursuits include reading, writing and painting. After section hiking the PCT for four years, she's jumping feet first into her first thru hike. | Follow Jazmín on Instagram | Sarah Herman Bio: Before embarking on homeless trail life, Sarah lived in the Philadelphia suburbs with her partner. She worked as a travel consultant for five years, and was an avid rock climber. She enjoys music, chocolate, Broadway, more chocolate, and being outside. She's heard candy bars abound on the PCT, and is as ready as she'll ever be for this adventure. | Follow Sarah on Instagram | Alison Dernbach Bio: Alison is from Colorado but has recently lived in California and New Mexico. She is still trying to figure out what to do with her life, but working at a nonprofit and helping land conservation projects seems to be the direction things are going. Her love of coffee, beer, and mountains knows no bounds. | Follow Alison on Instagram | Laura Stewart Bio: Laura, a 39-year-old physical therapist from Victoria BC Canada, “hated hiking” until her early 30s. After a friend insisted she just shut up and try it, Laura realized that hiking is actually just walking, usually in beautiful surroundings. Although late to the party, Laura has since has fallen in love with hiking and backpacking, exploring the many world-renowned trails near her home on Vancouver Island, as well as in the Canadian Rockies, the European Alps, and the US. The PCT in 2019 will be her first backpacking trip longer than 2 weeks. | Follow Laura on Instagram | Julie Klazynski Bio: Julie is a high school math teacher from Columbia, IL. She loves hiking and camping with her husband, coaching high school soccer, cooking, collecting National Park stamps, and having a few beers with her awesome friends and family. Today's show is brought to you by Granite Gear. Trail Correspondents can score a 20% discount off any purchase at GraniteGear.com by using "TREK20" at checkout. Get on it. Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio? Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Download this podcast one and two. Find us on Stitcher and Google Play. INSTAGRAM: Follow Trail Correspondents, The Trek, and Badger. YOUTUBE: Subscribe to The Trek. FACEBOOK: Follow Trail Correspondents and The Trek. < sign up for our newsletter > Editing and music courtesy of Pauly Boy Shallcross.
Show #75 – #campertunities – On this month´s Trail Show we revisit the scene of D-Low's bee sting incident, Speshul 41 gives the Sangres a go, OOO is still not legal, D-Low recommends Top 10s, Grizzly joins us in studio to talk about his recent thru-hike of the most requested Trail O' da Month in Trail […] The post The Trail Show #75: The Superior Hiking Trail first appeared on The Trail Show.
September 20, 2018 Destination MTB Show Page Castle Danger Brewery - Head Brewer Bjorn Erickson Two Harbors, Minnesota Bjorn and Ben sit down inside of Castle Danger Brewery in Two Harbors to chat about what's up with the beer and community at and around Castle Danger Brewery. This episode is sponsored by Health IQ. Health IQ is an insurance company that helps health conscious people like you get lower rates on life insurance. To see if you qualify, head over to Healthiq.com/MBR --------- Related Show Notes Other Minnesota North Shore episodes - http://mountainbikeradio.com/destinations/duluth-mn-north-shore/ Castle Danger Brewery - https://www.castledangerbrewery.com/ Castle Danger Brewery on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/castledangerbrewery Castle Danger Brewery on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/castledangerbrewer/ Castle Danger Brewery on Twitter - https://twitter.com/cdangerbrewer Two Harbors, Minnesota - https://www.twoharborschamber.com/ Spokengear Cyclery & Outdoor - https://www.spokengear.com/ Superior Hiking Trail - https://superiorhiking.org/ Heck of the North - https://www.heckofthenorth.com/ ---------- What is the Duluth/MN North Shore Special? Ben headed north to meet new people and bring something different to you. He met up with breweries, and distillery, and a bike shop and sat down to gather some audio for you. Scroll through below and have a listen. If you appreciate the feature and bringing you something different, please CLICK HERE to find out how you can support Mountain Bike Radio and help make future things like this possible! Thank you.
News Tribune reporter Jimmy Lovrien and his college roommate recently tackled 200 miles of the Superior Hiking Trail in 10 days. Why 10 days? That's all the PTO the young professionals could take off of work. Jimmy tells us about the grueling task of hiking from sun up to sun down, the wildlife sighting along the way, and how long it takes for a pair of socks to crust over.
Laura was a leader on a hike along the Superior Hiking Trail this weekend, and heard lots of cool birds.
Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
Laurie Potteiger came to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy to help them out prior to her attempted thru-hike in the 1980s. When her hike was over, Laurie returned to the ATC and found her passion–twice. She not only started a career there, she also found her husband! Laurie's quiet intelligence shines through in this conversation, with her extensive knowledge of the trail and its protocols informing her answers. While bear canisters are often required out west, Laurie is eager to see them more often on the Appalachian Trail. As you can see from the picture below of Laurie in the 100 Mile Wilderness, they can take a lot of stuff! Laurie is a great proponent of the various initiatives in the ATC and, as you'd imagine, has plenty of information for the interested listener. If you like the idea of doing a Flip Flop of the AT, try the AT Flip Floppers Facebook page. There is plenty of support for prospective hikers who want to help in this effort to maintain the trail for future generations. If you feel that a Flip Flop isn't for you, why not take part in the A.T. 14 State Challenge. Here, you'll find ideas about accessibility and suggested destinations that you can get to take on the challenge. I think that this is a wonderful idea that will bring the Appalachian Trail to Americans who might not otherwise get the chance to touch this magical piece of real estate. Laurie has also sent me a link to the AT Expert Advice Facebook page. Here, you'll get "advice that's good for you and good for the Trail." On the subject of what's good for the Trail, why not visit this link, which gives you tips and videos on the Leave No Trace policy. There's also the AT Camp, which is voluntary registration designed to help manage and record which hikers are leaving when. This is a great device to allow you to plan your journey and choose how many people you want to be around in those early days. If you're ever in the mood for a bit of trail maintaining, Laurie and her husband step up for that as well. The last two links are her Instagram and Twitter pages. Our other guest this week is Keith Myrmel. Keith is a mapmaker and he describes his painstaking process by talking about the Superior Hiking Trail. It was tough to get high-enough-definition pictures to show you, but these two sections are pretty good. One last thing about Laurie Potteiger. Not only did she meet her husband through hiking, they also spent their anniversary in Shenandoah at Stony Man Mountain. Don't forget to check out my "Merch" store, where you can buy Mighty Blue shirts, mugs, and even phone cases. The link directly to the store is https://www.teepublic.com/stores/mighty-blue-merch?ref_id=5927. Lastly, we hope that you continue to follow Bruce as he is in the early days in Georgia, at http://returningtokatahdin.libsyn.com While you're there, hop on over to our sponsor's site, https://www.trailtopia.com.
Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis
We first met Nate and Sharon at Trail Days in Damascus earlier in 2017. I was initially fascinated by the signs of Katahdin that Nate was selling, but he had such a compelling story to tell so I went back to him and Sharon to do a full interview. Life (or young Hank) got in the way between then and now, so it wasn't until recently that we were able to complete the interview. Neither of the children was awake as we talked, though Asher Thomas (AT) decided that he had something to say after our chat. The signs continue to be a source of pride, income, and an opportunity for The Hiking Vikings to give back to the trail in the form of donations to the ATC. The two pictures below are both of the replica sign; one on top of a mountain and one that lives on my desk. These are a constant reminder of the day you did something special. If you'd like to buy one, go on over to BetweenTheBlazes.com. There is so much about Nate and Sharon's journey that is worth watching, so these links should give you a flavor of what happened when the two of them took on the Appalachian Trail. First, there is the MacAfee Knob proposal, surely the most romantic place to pop the question. Then, there is their Katahdin finale video "Walking Together." You can see these videos and many others on Nate and Sharon's YouTube channel, Between The Blazes. If you'd like to follow Nate and Sharon, you can find them on both Facebook and Twitter under the name "tokatahdin." We also have a great run through of another lesser-known trail, the Superior Hiking Trail by Blaise Vitale. Blaise is soon to attempt an Appalachian Trail thru-hike in 2018. Learn more about the Superior Hiking Trail here. Thanks, as always to our generous sponsors, Trailtopia. Don't forget to visit their site as well as our brother podcast, Returning To Katahdin. If you'd like to find out even more about Bruce's journey, visit his site, ReturningToKatahdin.com.
Not a Perfect Fit: Laugh-out-loud funny one minute and thought-provoking the next, Not a Perfect Fit includes stories detailing everything from Jane Schmidt’s experience living off-grid as the only English woman in an Amish neighborhood to family trips that are remarkably similar to National Lampoon’s Vacation. Through it all, Schmidt manages to rise above the many challenges she faces, inspiring and entertaining her audience along the way. Filled with animal antics, gratitude, mishaps, and madcap adventures, Not a Perfect Fit’ s tell-all, single-girl-gone country, down-home stories give readers permission to laugh and cry—and, most important, to carry on. JANE A. SCHMIDT is a columnist and the owner of two businesses, Fitness Choices and Turtle Adventures. When not teaching her fitness classes or encouraging women to get outside, she spends her time backpacking in places like the Grand Canyon, Superior Hiking Trail, and Isle Royale National Park; biking across Wisconsin; hiking and kayaking in the Kickapoo Valley Reserve; or just hanging out with her animal family in rural Viola, Wisconsin. "Jane exudes an innocence in her presentation of life that made me want to meet her and see the world through her eyes. She had me laughing and commiserating, shocked and envious, all at once. Definitely a fun read, and I would recommend this book to all, without any hesitation." ―Readers' Favorite, 5 stars “Jane Schmidt documents the essential day-to-day of rural Wisconsin life with a deft balance of sentiment, reportage, and humor. City mouse, country mouse, newcomer or old-timer, you will find yourself nodding, grinning, and sometimes dabbing at your eyes as you read these stories." ―Michael Perry, best-selling author of Truck: A Love Story and The Jesus Cow "In daring to share herself fully with the reader through these funny and heart-felt stories of country life, Jane Schmidt helps us laugh out loud into that sometimes heart-breaking gap between our dreams and realities, and between what we hope is true about ourselves and what actually is. Whether you live out in the country or in the big city, Not a Perfect Fit is a gift of laughter, vulnerability, and wisdom." ―Jennifer Morales, award-winning author of Meet Me Halfway “Jane Schmidt is funny, candid, and has the keen eye of an outsider looking in―then turning the mirror back on herself. Reading the final pages felt like the last miles of a road trip with someone whose company you really enjoyed that has ended far too soon." ―Julie Buckles, author of Paddling to Winter “With humor, grace, and tenderness, Jane Schmidt gives her readers an entertaining peek into the layered life of a single mother, animal hoarder, and kick-ass fitness instructor―living a rustic life but still searching for the perfect wand of mascara and a respectable pair of jeans.” ―Sheila Sherwin, writer and editor of RealSmallTowns.com
Strange Pilgrimage: Exploring Sacred Travel with Sarah Seidelmann
Kim Stromgren and more pilgrimage inspiration can be found at facebook here.
Duluth News Tribune outdoors reporter and columnist Sam Cook stops by the podcast studio again, this time to talk about the best hikes in the area to enjoy the fall colors. Aside from the obvious Superior Hiking Trail, Oberg Mountain overlook and Ely's Peak, Cook offers some of his favorite trails, best places to stop and eat along the way, photo tips and other tricks so that you can spend less time in traffic and more time on the trails. What are some of your favorite fall color hikes in the Twin Ports area? Let us know at podcast@duluthnews.com. What we are into this week: Grouse hunting in Montana, the Nolan-Mills race, and Amazon's six-part comedy series "Fleabag".
The man, the myth, the living legend. Duluth News Tribune outdoors writer and columnist Sam Cook shares his words of wisdom, outdoor expertise and the story behind yellow dog on this week's Pressroom Podcast. Cook recently hiked the entire Duluth portion of the Superior Hiking Trail, 32.5 miles, in one day with two other guys. He tells us his favorite parts of the trail, what he ate throughout the hike and whether or not he will do it again. "It was everything I wanted it to be," Cook said about the daylong hike. "It's just walking but it ain't walking on the Lakewalk." What we are into this week: Learning from our children, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, and exploring the Northland trails. Can you guess who said what? We also respond to your best burger submissions. Thank you to all who responded and as always if you have a question or comment please email us at podcast@duluthnews.com.