All Episodes

July 23, 2023 37 mins

Imagine getting a knock on your door after dusk. It’s a woman in her 80s holding two hiking poles and carrying a backpack. She asks if she can pitch her tent in your garden for the night. She explains that she is a long-distance hiker and she’s known as ‘the Old Lady on the Trail’. And yes, she is alone and no, she is not afraid. 

Today’s guest is 82-year-old, Mary E Davison. She is a grandmother of 10, an author, a pastor & trekker with an impressive resume. Mary took up long-distance hiking at 60 and has since achieved The Triple Crown, walking the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail and Continental Divide Trail (totalling 12,520km). All in all, Mary has traversed the most scenic, demanding & diverse trails in North America. 


In this conversation, we talk to Mary about what it’s like to defy the stereotype of what an old lady can achieve. She shares stories from 60 years ago, when she was in the Peace Corps & found herself travelling alone in her 20s in Egypt - an experience that taught her to be courageous all throughout her life. 


This conversation is so much more than an elderly woman doing an extraordinary thing. It is also about how you can learn to leave fear behind in pursuit of your own adventure.


As always, you can support the show by leaving us a rating, review or supporting us on Patreon (all links below)


📚 CHECK OUT MARYS BOOKS (purchasing through our links supports the show!)

‘Old Lady on the Trail’: https://amzn.to/44zI84b

‘Aren’t You Afraid’https://amzn.to/46SH8JU


💛 BECOME A PATRONS TO SUPPORT OUR PODCAST: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/jitsintothesunset ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Other ways to support us:

Podcast Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/adventuremindsetpodcast⁠

Jits Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jits.into.the.sunset⁠⁠

YouTube: Subscribe to our channel to watch our Travel Films ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube.com/jitsintothesunset⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Jits Newsletter: Subscribe to our (free) Newsletter for exclusive content & updates ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jitsintothesunset.com/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Athletic Greens: Nab yourself a year's supply of Vitamin D + 5 Travel Packs of AG1 and help support the show by using our link: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.athleticgreens.com/adventure⁠

Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

Stuff You Should Know

Stuff You Should Know

If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

Dateline NBC

Dateline NBC

Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.