Today we thank our veterans for their service. And we take a moment to reflect on how the history of one of our favorite pastimes, thru-hiking, remains inextricably linked to “walking off the war.” From the father of thru-hiking Earl Shaffer to the founder of Warrior Expeditions Sean Gobin, explore how veterans find catharsis on the trail.
Tag:
thru-hiking
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Mac of Halfway Anywhere has been conducting surveys on the PCT for eight years, and on the CDT for four. Get the inside scoop on what makes people quit the trail, why he dislikes trail magic, and why he swears he’ll never hike the AT.
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After 69 days of walking through sub-zero degree temps and knee-deep snow, Emily Ford became just the second person and first woman to complete a winter thru-hike of Wisconsin’s 1,200-mile Ice Age Trail. Plus, she found a new best canine friend in the process. Tune in to the Out and Back podcast to find out how (and why) she tackled this long trail during the toughest time of year.
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Packrafting expert Luc Mehl has spent decades creatively exploring Alaska. He worked his way up the learning curves of skiing, bikepacking, ice skating, and packrafting — sometimes at the expense of his own safety. But when a friend drowned in a packrafting accident, Luc critically examined his lifestyle. He decided to relearn how to packraft the right way. Buckle up as Luc takes listeners on a wild ride this week on the Out and Back podcast.
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Pacific Crest Trail “trail angels” Scout and Frodo have hosted thru-hikers — sometimes 40 per night — for over 15 years. This week on the Out and Back podcast, Scout gives the inside scoop on why he and his wife open up their doors to so many people without charging a cent. He talks about how the PCT has changed over time, and gives insight from his own PCT thru-hike.
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This year, Gaia GPS started a podcast to help inspire your backyard adventures and beyond. Here are the top five episodes according to our listeners. Stories range from unexpectedly becoming a world class athlete, to surviving a bear attack.
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Special Out and Back co-host The Real Hiking Viking joins Shanty to chat with hiking legend Zach “Badger” Davis. Badger shares how meditation and mental preparation helped him complete thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail despite having zero backpacking experience. He shares how that thru-hike changed his life, leading him to write Appalachian Trials and found The Trek. Plus, Viking and Badger share wild stories from their joint PCT thru-hike.
Seven years after a life-threatening cycling crash, Alan Adams reclaimed his fitness, tenacity, and connection to nature through a new year’s resolution. He set out to cover two million vertical feet in a single calendar year — all under his own power. He ended up ski touring and cycling his way to the world record. Alan climbed over 2.5 million vertical feet, averaging over 7,000 vertical a day. Tune in to the Out and Back podcast to learn how Alan juggled this overwhelming feat while maintaining his job and a relationship.
Dreaming up summer hiking and backpacking adventures? You can start getting ready for them right now, right from home. This week on Out and Back, personal trainer and founder of Backcountry Fitness Billy Gawron shares how you can get strong, fit, and mentally prepared to hit the backcountry. Minimal space, equipment, and time required.
Fidgit and Neon have spent the past five years traveling backpacking, biking, and paddling their way across South and Central America, Mexico, and the United States on a non-motorized tour. In this episode of the the Out and Back podcast, get the inside scoop on their trip, Her Odyssey. Learn how they dreamt up the trip, how to navigate foreign cultures, and tips for staying safe while backpacking abroad. They also share heart-warming stories about locals they’ve met along the way and how their contrasting personalities serve their expedition mission in unique ways.