Hike

Tomcat shares three shorter thru-hikes that you can do in about 2 or 3 weeks. We chat about the Ouachita, Benton MacKaye and Allegheny Trails. 

He goes over trail logistics, camp sites and set up, gear, resupply options, water carries, trail angels and trail magic and favorite parts of each thru-hike. 

Listeners can find out more about these trails and more by visiting Tomcat's blog and Facebook page

You can also check out our ep...

Pippa chats with Hike about her first big backpacking trip on the John Muir Trail and how that experience started her on the path that led her to hike in the North Carolina mountains. Pippa is also a singer-songwriter who gets a lot of inspiration from hiking in the outdoors. 

We specifically touch on the Roan Highlands and the AT from Carver Gap to Route 19e, Black Mountain Crest Trail / Mt. Mitchell and her upcoming Art Loeb thru-...

Explore Virginia is a new podcast coming Summer 2025 brought to you by the creator of Hike. 

Virginia has 43 state parks with more than 700 miles of trails, 24 wilderness areas, 22 national park sites and over 100,000 miles of streams and rivers. Whether you hike, bike, camp, paddle or are looking for a day trip itinerary, this podcast will highlight the best of what Virginia has to offer the outdoor adventure seeker. 

Subscribe here

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Emma of the Hudson Bay Girls chats with Lori about their Boundary Waters expedition. 

Abby, Olivia, Emma, and Helena will be paddling the Boundary Waters from Grand Portage on Lake Superior to York Factory on Hudson Bay over the summer. They hope to call attention to women and girls in paddling and also the protection of the Boundary Waters. 

In this episode Emma describes how the trip came about, the planning that went into it, and ...

Chris Powers hiked from the Northern Terminus to the Natural Bridge area as part of attempting a longer thru hike of the Sheltowee Trace Trail. We talk about what led to him deciding to leave the trail and lessons he learned along the way. 

We get into planning and logistics (gear, camping, food and water), the hard reality of road walking and its impact on his hike, and the joy found in photography along the trail. We also discuss ...

Philip Werner comes on the show to discuss his new book, "Hiking over 60: A modern guide to Hiking Gear and Techniques for Active Adults". 

Philip's website SectionHiker.com has been sharing gear and trail advice for almost two decades. It's a great resource whether you are new to hiking or at the intermediate or expert level. 

This episode is a great introduction for those new to hiking and we talk about how this...

Lori gives an update on her Shenandoah 500 progress after officially making it halfway through the challenge. 

She chats about:

Winter hiking and favorite trails for the winter season, getting acclimated to elevation after life as a flatlander, navigating water crossings and blowdowns, memorable moments on trail 

Some of the trail links:

https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/blackrock-summit.htm

https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/hawksbill-summit....

Vegas comes on to chat about his 2023 thru hike of the Appalachian Trail and how those experiences shaped his current life as guide and started his quest for completing the triple crown in long distance hiking. We talk about trail magic, tramily life, gear, and a lot of lessons learned. 

We touch on other long distance hikes and thru hikes - including his Sheltowee Trace completion and international hike of the West Highland Way in ...

Jessica Cocciolone is the Executive Director of the Shenandoah National Park Trust. She has helped nonprofits raise millions of dollars and establish sustainable organizations. 

Jessica comes on Hike to share some of the projects that the Shenandoah National Park Trust help fund for Shenandoah National Park. SNP Trust projects are wide reaching and touch on every aspect of the park operations and visitor experience. Whether it'...

Strider comes back on Hike to discuss completing his 2024 thru hike on the International Appalachian Trail (IAT). He started on the Pinhoti Trail and went all the way up to the tip of Newfoundland, though his hike was not always linear. We learn more about that in this interview, including how this hike led to his completion of the C2C (Coast to Coast) trail. 

We chat about some of the logistics of hiking across the Northern border ...

Brian of Keep Virginia Cozy comes back on the podcast to share updates on what's they've been up to, including corporate & community cleanups and being able to clean up 1,000,000 pounds of trash thus far.

We also talk about trail! We cover hiking trails in Shenandoah National Park, The Great Outdoors Challenge in Scotland, Trans-Catalina Trail, and the Wonderland Trail.

Connect with Keep Virginia Co...

Best selling Author and Long Distance Hiker, Lauralee Bliss, comes on the show to talk about her experiences in the outdoors. She is a 2x AT Thru-hiker and is currently working on her 3rd hike of the Appalachian Trail as a section hike. With over 10,000 miles of hiking, she has many experiences to share with listeners about her time in the outdoors. 

We also talk about the founding of the Shenandoah 500 challenge and some ...

Cori is hiking all of the trails in Shenandoah National Park and shares her favorite trail stories as well as some useful tips for those who are looking to recreate in the park. 

We touch on: 

• Research and Prep
• Water Crossings
• Hiking in the dark 
• Wildlife encounters
• Boundary trailhead access 
• Favorite trails
• Park's seasonal amenities and closures

Cori and Lori also compare their experiences so far as they work t...

Artist Rosalie Haizlett shares her Tiny Worlds journey in the Appalachian Mountains. We discuss how she started drawing and painting, the healing power of nature and how she finds inspiration on the trail.

Rosalie’s illustration inspired me to pick up painting again when I saw her work in West Virginia.

Check out and purchase her work at
https://rosaliehaizlett.com

You can also follow her on social...

Follow Lori as she takes on the Shenandoah 500 Hiking Challenge of completing all of the trails in Shenandoah National Park. There are over 500 miles of trails in Shenandoah and Lori is attempting to hike them all. 

She'll bring you along on hikes to historic landmarks and the remnents of settler homesteads. There will be hikes to the popular and famous trails along with the hidden gems that make one feel as if they a...

Iron comes on to talk about his new book, "Hike It: An Introduction to Camping, Hiking and Backpacking in the U.S.A."

Taken from book publisher details:
This fully illustrated book is the perfect introduction to enjoying America's great outdoors. Explore 20 National Parks with incredible trails that take you past snow-capped mountains, along stunning coastlines, and through ancient forests, and discover ...

Bronwyn comes back on Hike to share her 2023 and 2024 solo hikes on the Great Divide Trail. While injuries and wildfires affected her thru-hike attempts, Bronwyn discusses the rehabilitation and meaning she found on trail. Her positivity in the face of adverse moments and challenges faced both on trail and in life is inspiring.

She shares some of her recent works published and projects she is currently working on.

Troy, trail name Tomcat, shares his thru hike of the Colorado Trail with listeners. We go over hike planning logistics, camp sites, water carries, equipment, and much more.

We'll also cover the differences between Collegiate East and Collegiate West and why Troy thinks doing the Collegiate loop would also be a great backpacking trip.

Find Tomcat:
http://www.tomcatsadventures.com/
Facebook page
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Woody Ellis comes on the show to discuss his long walk to help raise awareness and funds for mental health issues. Woody kicked off his walk by crossing the iconic span of the Mackinaw Bridge this Labor Day. 

His route will be mostly dictated by those he will meet and by supporters who host him along the way. 

In this episode we chat about the goals and how he plans to achieve them, his gear (including a walking t...