Posts tagged Thru Hiking Prep
ALINA DRUFOVKA aka ABSTRACT

Abstract, known off trail as Alina Drufovka, had been dreaming about hiking the AT since she was 13. Finally in 2015, she loaded up her pack and set out, getting half way before injury forced her off. Not to be denied, she went back to the beginning in 2017 and hiked the full trail Launching herself into the thru hiking life. Two hundreds miles on the Israel National Trail and 1800 miles on the PCT brought her to an existential crisis over who she was outside of thru hiking. In this episode, we talk about identity in and out of hiking, fear, letting go of the purist ideology, and the evolution of her art

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MAX CROOKS & JAYE GROVES aka THE BOSS & PRETZEL

The Boss and Pretzel, known off trail as Max Crooks and Jaye Groves, are simultaneously section hiking both the Tahoe Rim Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail. With 3 weeks off a year, they carve out 200 – 300 miles at a time on the PCT and use long weekends for the Tahoe Rim. In this episode, we talk the section hiking life and why it’s almost perfect, their experience on the trail from a non-binary and transgender perspective, working through the challenges of altitude sickness and earthquakes.

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GRIZEL WILLIAMS aka GRIZ

Griz, known off trail as Grizel Williams, is a strong, fierce LatinX woman one trail away from completing her Triple Crown.  She found in hiking a space to find herself.  And in this episode, we talk about hiking with a dog, building a safe place for people to share their stories, creating a bridge between mental health and hiking and the trekking pole ninja.

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CAROL COYNE aka CHEER

Cheer, known off trail as Carol Coyne, has 267 miles left to complete her thru hike of the Pacific Crest Trail.  Many things factored into her decision to leave trail and in this episode we talk about the “Whys”.  How asking yourself the tough questions and being clear about what’s most important to you helps when you are facing the moment your hike could be over.

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ARIELLE SHIPE aka ARIELLE

Arielle, known off trail as Arielle Shipe, was supposed to start the Pacific Crest Trail on April 30th. I spoke with her a few days before she was to have started. The reality of not being on the PCT was sinking in so this episode took a philosophical turn. We discuss the difficulty and challenges of the dream deferred, what the plans are now and sprinkled in a little gear talk for good measure.

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AARON OWENS MAYHEW aka SLING

Sling, known off trail as Aaron Owens Mayhew, decided to solve her mid-life crisis via the Pacific Crest Trail in 2017. Injury had other ideas and 300 miles in she stepped off the trail. Successful recovery invited her to jump to the Appalachian Trail… however jumping into the middle turned out to be a very bad idea. In this episode, we talk about her challenges on trail, how she applied her nutritionist background to the subject of trail food, van life and the creation of Backcountry Foodie.

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MARI JOHNSON aka TACO SALAD

Taco Salad, known off trail as Mari Johnson, came halfway around the world to take on the Pacific Crest Trail in 2019.  She’s built her brand and youtube channel around travel and travel videos, so documenting her thru hike is a natural extension.  In this episode, she talks trail names, overnight oats, a Sierra birthday party and the joys of Washington- the mice, the rain and the snow. 

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ELINA OSBORNE aka TIP TAP

Tip Tap, known off trail as Elina Osborne, arrived at the Mexican Border a year ago almost to the day, faced north and started walking. 137 days later she tagged the Canadian border.  She then made this little video… you might have seen it… ”It Is The People” that so perfectly captured the experience, it went a little viral.  In this episode, we jump into the making of the video, finding your people, embracing the discomfort and the power of peanut butter.

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SARA KRUGLINSKI aka SOCKS

Socks, known off trail as Sara Kruglinski, started 2018 with a plan to just hike a section of the Pacific Crest Trail during her vacation.  Fast forward to feet on trail and everything changed.  With both a NOBO and SOBO thru hike now under her belt, in this episode we talk about being clear on the goal of completing vs continuous footsteps, the joys of being a height challenged hiker, trail games to make the miles go by and safety islands.

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TIFFANY CHOU aka ARCHIVE

Archive, known off trail as Tiffany Chou, did a thru hikers version of social distancing when she SOBO hiked the Pacific Crest Trail last year.   And the speed and noise and people after trail took some getting used to.  In this episode, we talk night hiking in the Sierras, fun with porcupines and rattlesnakes, carrying fears and regrets, and picking up lost miles.

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KIM MORSE aka CATWOMAN

Catwoman, known off trail as Kim Morse, hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2018 with her significant other, Turtle.  In this episode we visit the pain of the mountains, dig into how they exited their city life for the trail, staying healthy on trail, and the 46ers.  

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ELAINE BISSONHO aka BRAZILNUT

Brazilnut, known off trail as Elaine Bissonho, is starting her Triple Triple in 2020.  Add to that the TA, Arizona Trail, Oregon Coast Trail as well as a yo-yo and FKT on the Great Divide Trail…to say she’s got some stories is an extreme understatement.  In this episode we talk about resupply problems, umbrellas, the PCT in 66 days and the fear and doubt that kept her off the GDT for 5 years.

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LEISEL BAILEY aka GILMORE

Gilmore, though you might also have known her as Back Seat Driver, on the Appalachian Trail, is known off trail as Leisel Bailey. She had completed the Appalachian Trail, John Muir Trail and Colorado Trail prior to starting the Pacific Crest Trail this past year.  However that doesn’t mean she was totally prepared for what the trail threw at her.  But a little luck, creative thinking and staying present in the moment went a long way toward making it a successful hike.  In this episode we talk about flip flopping, pastries, poodle dog bush and how Oregon marked her.

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TRICIA CASE aka SKETCH

Sketch, known off trail as Tricia Case, SOBO’d the Long Trail in 2019 to test whether the thru hiking life was for her.
Apparently it was a success as she’s now planning to start the Appalachian Trail in February. In this episode we talk about lessons learned. Food preferences, sleeping around people, gear, being wet… and a little hiker lore.

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TYLER & BECCA GOODMAN aka NOMAD & RATTLES

Nomad & Rattles, known off trail as Tyler & Becca Goodman, completed their Triple Crown this summer as a couple.  But it was not a straight path.  Injury knocked them off the Appalachian Trail in 2018 and snow changed their NOBO into a SOBO on the Continental Divide Trail this summer... But also gave them the opportunity to finish their Appalachian Trail miles and take a Southwest road-trip.  In this episode we talk about being flexible with your plans, hiking as a couple, how small the hiking community truly is and why its all about the people.

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JAMIE SIEBOLD aka NURSE BETTY

Nurse Betty, known off trail as Jaime Siebold, was part of the Pacific Crest Trail class of 2013.  To stay connected she
section hikes, revisiting the Campo to Tehachapi section this past summer.  In this episode we talk keeping your feet clean, how Northern Washington should never be underestimated in fall, why splitting up on the trail to hike your own
hike is important and the business she started making reusable wipes to help give back to the trail.  

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NICHOLE YOUNG aka KARMA

Karma, known off trail as Nichole Young, thru hike of the AT in 2016 and attempt at the Mini Triple Crown in 2017 had to be coordinated around A LOT of life events. A very relatable problem. In this episode, we talk about being flexible & realistic about how those things inter-relate, how being a planned solo hiker mixes with finding a tramily on the first day, expectations vs reality and how she hopes her adventures will inspire her new daughter as she grows up.

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JADE CABRERA aka DARTH JADER

Darth Jader, known off trail as Jade Cabrera, was one of the adventurers who took on the PCT in 2019. With her tramily, she walked, ran, glissaded and hitchhiked up the West Coast. In this episode we talk luxury items & mascara, post trail, leave no trace, The Sierras and stepping foot on the trail in the first place.

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