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I interviewed Dave Paumen at 5:30 in the morning as he was about to enter the 100 Mile Wilderness. I was struck by his calm intelligence and his story. A Vietnam Veteran, he had demonstrated a cold-eyed determination in his life and brought that personality trait to the trail. He had been injured in his first attempt in 2017 but returned to complete his hike this year. Dave’s solid common sense shines through in both the interview and his journals of the two, linked hikes. Read the journals at http://trailjournals.com/davepaumen17 and http://trailjournals.com/davepaumen18 Our Mighty Blue Class of 2019 continued with the introduction of an experienced hiker, Tina Dunaway. Tina has had the AT on her bucket list for several years and is ready to get at it. We’ll be checking in with Tina from time to time while we’re both on the trail. Let’s finish with the triumphant Dave at the top of Mt Katahdin. View the full article

This month, Jonathan and Mark chat it out with Chris Haramoto, director of the East Canyon State Park. The East Canyon State Park has embraced hammock camping by installing official hammock camping sites. Jonathan and Mark discuss this with Chris, and then learn a thing or two about how to talk with administration for the state parks that you camp in if you have issues hammock camping. Finally, after learning about some amazing places to camp in Utah everyone discusses their own amazing camping experiences. After the interview, Mark and Jonathan discuss the benefits of having a bugnet, even in the winter. In the new segment, “Hangin Out with Gresh and Spiguyver”, the guys answer a listener’s comment about tree selection. Show Notes: Here’s a link to the Goblin Valley State Park: https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/goblin-valley/ If you’d like to learn more about the 50 states project, here’s the link in the Hammock Forums: https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/showthread.php/70866-The-50-State-Project-US-State-Parks-amp-Hammocks As always, we are also inviting comments and suggestions on our Facebook page – like us there at https://www.facebook.com/hyohpodcast and join the conversation. You can listen to or subscribe to the podcast from a link on our home page online at https://www.hyohpodcast.com or give us a review on our page in iTunes. If you’d like to buy Mark and Jonathan a cup of coffee, go to https://www.hyohpodcast.com/donate to make a one-time donation, or you can donate monthly to our Patreon Campaign at https://www.patreon.com/hyohpodcast. As always, thanks so much for hanging around! Gå til artikkelen

As I’ll be hiking the AT myself in 2019, I won’t be able to follow one hiker as closely as I did with Jessa in 2017 and Bruce this year in the Returning to Katahdin podcast. So, in an effort to still follow some of these adventurers, I’m starting a new series of five interviews with members of this incoming class. The segment will normally support the main interview, but this we have a full interview with Nate Ferguson as the first member of the Class of 2019. Nate and I are fellow, members of the Fat Guys, and Gals, Back in the Woods hiking group. What originally started out as a ten- to fifteen-minute chat turned into a full-on interview and I thought it would be a great way to introduce the new series. Nate is fun to be around on a hike and, along with the other members who we’ll be featuring, I hope to be able to get some of their early–and perhaps later–thoughts on the trail once their hikes get underway. Dan Wowak is back with what he refers to as the four critical survival priorities in the wilderness. As before, his clear guidance is really worth listening to. If you’d like to contact Dan for further information or tips, reach out to him at [email protected] You can also check out his YouTube channel under Coalcracker Bushcraft or click on this link. View the full article

Darwin is a relatively new thru-hiker, having hit and completed the Appalachian Trail in 2015. Yet his YouTube channel is hugely popular, with over 135,000 subscribers at the time of writing. His articulate, information-laden content is of great help to hikers old and new. Darwin and his wife, Snuggles, sold most of their belongings in 2014 and radically altered their lifestyle, preferring to travel constantly as they had adventures. While the two of them shared the Appalachian Trail thru-hike, for Snuggles it was a “one and done” deal. So now, with Darwin on various trails, Snuggles writes and takes the occasional road trip. You can connect with Darwin in several different ways. He’s on Facebook at http://facebook.com/darwin.onthetrail, on Instagram at http://instagram.com/darwin_onthetrail, while his YouTube channel can be found at http://youtube.com/darwinonthetrail He also has a website, which you can find at http://darwinonthetrail.com/ We had a nice chat with Bruce Matson as he told of his fund-raising venture for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. Remember, Bruce has arranged $100,000 of matching funds, so if you contribute your donation will be worth twice that amount to fund the invaluable work of the folks at the Conservancy. To make your donation, please click on this link http://www.rtkchallenge.com/support/ View the full article

For many people, hiking the Appalachian Trail is the culmination of a lifelong dream. There may be issues that they don’t want to face, they may be grieving the loss of somebody. For many, the trail is spiritual in nature. For Stephanie Lorenze, eating unlimited pizza was her initial motivation. Despite this unlikely catalyst, Stephanie grew to love the trail and everything on it. She faced doubters at the outset, yet she pushed on, confidence growing in her own abilities to complete the journey. She chose to define her own life and didn’t permit the negativity to deflect her from the goal of standing on that brown sign at the top of Katahdin. In the end, she had the perfect answer to everybody who doubted that she would be able to get to the end. If you’d like to contact Stephanie, her Facebook profile is https://www.facebook.com/steph.lorenze View the full article

This podcast is about photography and filmmaking in the backcountry. It used to be that creating professional photography and video content in the mountains required thirty or more pounds of gear. Not anymore. An explosion of innovation over the last few years means that you can now tell stories and capture adventures with a high degree of quality while maintaining a low pack weight and a minimalist mindset. In this episode, Andrew and Ryan dig deep into the tools, skills, and philosophy you’ll need to enhance your backcountry photography and filmmaking skills. They get started by immediately jumping into the interview: an engaging and energetic discussion with filmmaker and ultralight backpacker Chris Smead. Chris’ film “Alcove” won the audience choice award at the inaugural Backpacking Light Film Festival in 2017, and he’s been creating non-stop ever since. After the interview, Ryan and Andrew take a deep dive into camera gear and content creation strategies. What makes a camera well suited for adventure filmmaking and photography? What are the different options? How do your choices affect the outcome of your final product? What is the most efficient way to improve photography and filmmaking skills? What are the best ways to spend a limited budget?All these questions and more are answered. The Gear and Hiker Hack sections are concerned with batteries and power sources—how to charge them, how to keep them charged, and which ones to use. Finally, Andrew and Ryan share what they’ve been up to lately. Ryan is making movies and Andrew is dressing for success Norwegian style. Click here for show notes This podcast is brought to you ad-free by the subscribing members of backpackinglight.com. Please leave us a review and rating, it helps other people find our show! View the full article

With just two days and about 32 miles left, Steve and Emma just had to contend with the torrential rain to get to Santiago. While the journey proved to be a spiritual experience for many, the Pilgrim mass at the end was spectacular in its gravity and grave in its spectacle. The incense burner heightened those thoughts as it seemed to crash through the long aisles. After 32 days and nearly 500 miles, our two adventurers made it to their ultimate destination, cold, wet, but very happy with their achievement. If you’d like to contact Steve don’t forget to email him at [email protected] View the full article

It’s been a tough few days since Steve found out that he’d miscalculated the miles per day required to finish by this Friday. Emma and Steve have stepped up their mileage to make up for the mistake. The two travelers have been responding to the kilometer markers by shouting down the reducing distance to Santiago. One of the lasting memories of this trip will be the convivial meetings between pilgrims, with beers and coffees shared over conversation. Steve and Emma enthusiastically embrace this convention!! If you’d like to contact Steve don’t forget to email him at [email protected] View the full article

This month, Jonathan and Mark chat it out with Wes Johnson from Lawson Hammock and discuss his progress from student to sole proprietor of Lawson Hammock. We have a conversation about the process of developing the Blue Ridge Hammock, a hybrid hammock/bivy product for the outdoors industry, and how outsourcing most of his business activities has given him the opportunity to grow a business and still have the freedom to grow his family from anywhere in the country. After discussing his business, Jonathan, Mark, and Wes chat about camping in the rain. After the interview, Mark and Jonathan discuss camping with kids. Finally, the HYOH Podcast introduces a new segment this month, “Hangin Out with Gresh and Spiguyver”. The guys answer a listener’s question about having so many hammocks. As always, we are also inviting comments and suggestions on our Facebook page – like us there at https://www.facebook.com/hyohpodcast and join the conversation. You can listen to or subscribe to the podcast from a link on our home page online at https://www.hyohpodcast.com or give us a review on our page in iTunes. If you’d like to buy Mark and Jonathan a cup of coffee, go to https://www.hyohpodcast.com/donate to make a one-time donation, or you can donate monthly to our Patreon Campaign at https://www.patreon.com/hyohpodcast. As always, thanks so much for hanging around! Gå til artikkelen

With almost 400 miles to their credit, Emma and Steve can hardly believe the luck they’ve had with the weather. Even where it has snowed there still seems to be a pristine path for them both. Steve’s favorite day was last Friday when the two of them went through Ponferrada. The castle that greeted them in the early morning sun was a surprise and a treat. As the day went on, the two of them knew that they were on the verge of a 20-mile day. That prospect is made much easier when you’re surrounded by so much beauty in the evening sun. If you’d like to contact Steve don’t forget to email him at [email protected] View the full article

With Steve and Emma now firmly choosing to hike and stay at hotels as opposed to auberges, the hunt for bargains is on. Luckily, Steve is ready for the task! The weather has been threatening for several days but our hikers seem to be leading blessed lives and avoiding the worst of the weather. After several cold and potentially wet days, the weather looks set for the next five days. People continue to brighten every day with a shared camaraderie that often finds friends in every bar. If you’d like to contact Steve don’t forget to email him at [email protected] View the full article

The injuries continue but the Meseta is nearly done. Now, with less than 200 miles to go, there is snow on the horizon. We’ve had beautiful sunrises, spooky moon settings, and even a Cider Guy. Steve received a picture tonight of the settling snow several miles ahead, so he and Emma, even though they’ve reached León, still need to tread carefully in the coming days. The Meseta has been a dour place to traverse, so it was an excellent diversion to meet and be instructed on how to pour cider by the Cider Guy. If you’d like to communicate with Steve, please email him at [email protected]. View the full article

With about 50 miles for the past three days, Steve and Emma have been making their way through the Meseta, finding gems like the town of Hontanas and its gloriously lit church. Their middle was all about the beauty of Castrojeriz and the way it dominates its surroundings. The weather is also starting to turn, with frigid temps in the mornings and fears of snow in the near future. If you’d like to communicate with Steve, please email him at [email protected]. View the full article

With a need to up their mileage, Steve has set a target of 15.45 miles a day to get to Santiago. They take regular breaks for coffee and beer on the way and recently saw this charming mobile bar. The weather hasn’t been great for the past few days, though they have by and large avoided any substantial rainfall. This reduces their opportunities for longer views, though a clearing cloud revealed this on Saturday. While often hiking alongside one another, Emma’s pace often takes her ahead of Steve, hence regular shots of Emma powering ahead. If you’d like to communicate with Steve, please email him at [email protected]. View the full article

This week, Emma gets stuck in an elevator, a red squirrel gets way too close for comfort and Steve continues his transformation into Old Father Time. All the while, Steve and Emma continue to get into the rhythm of their hike. They ache a little bit more and they whinge and moan a little bit more but, underneath it all, they are improving with every day and planning an even faster hike. Emma now wants to be at Santiago by November 10, so Steve has set a tougher schedule to see if they can achieve their desired outcome. So far, the two of them are getting to grips with the new plan. What could possibly go wrong? View the full article

In the summer of 2018 eleven people ventured into Montana’s Absorka-Beartooth Wilderness on Backpacking Light’s guided Whitetail Trek. They faced snow, hail, high temperatures, exposed conditions above treeline, and unstable footing. On top of all that, they were off-trail almost the entire way. The point of the trip was to gain the skills and confidence necessary to route plan and navigate off-trail in the mountains. Today’s episode examines navigational strategies and tools through the lens of the Whitetail Trek. Ryan and Andrew get things started by giving you a brief rundown of the trip before introducing this episode’s guest. Chris Shultz is an M.D., a hockey player, a most importantly (to us!) an ultralight backpacker who participated in the trek. After the interview, the guys cover a range of navigational topics: tools and resources for finding your way, books, apps, maps, and getting lost. Ryan touches on the planning for next year’s trips, and Andrew introduces a new podcast segment. The boys wrap up the show with a brief discussion of risk management, and Andrew plugs a great book he’s been reading lately. Spoiler alert: it’s a scary one. Click here for show notes This podcast is brought to you ad-free by the subscribing members of backpackinglight.com. Please leave us a review and rating, it helps other people find our show! View the full article

Our two intrepid adventurers have been on the trail for six days and have fallen a day behind schedule. They have sustained injuries, aches, and pains but continue westward towards Santiago. They have met fellow travelers, shared meals with others, and spent time together over a few beers, red wine, and brandy. They even met up with their very own ghost. This trail isn’t the walk in the park that some people seem to believe. The miles still need to be hiked, and the climbs and descents need to be tackled. On the way, Steve and Emma have met pilgrim after pilgrim and this time, one such pilgrim shares his family’s story. If you’d like to learn more about Kelley and his family, follow their blog at wander4purpose.com or follow them on Instagram at the same name. View the full article

This is something of an experimental podcast. We’re trying out several ways of doing this so the sound won’t be perfect but it should be listenable. Steve is on his way and finding it far tougher than he had ever imagined. Things can only get better! View the full article

This is a kind of crossover episode that keeps many of the “usual” parts of the Mighty Blue show but incorporates and transitions us over to the Camino show. Deanna McGregor hiked the Camino in 2017 as a truly spiritual experience and returned this year with her sons, 12-year-old Daniel and 16-year-old Jonathan. We speak twice with Deanna; once prior to her setting out, when she tells us about her evolution as a hiker and her experiences on the Camino last year. Once she had returned from this year’s trip we caught up with her again as she reflected upon how the journey with her two boys had transpired. Needless to say, there were significant differences. You can follow this year’s hike with Deanna on her YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/LupeShoes Also on the show, we have Dan Richards, CEO of Global Rescue. I’d originally intended to interview somebody about insurance available to hikers, as I’m aware that this is a regular topic of discussion for some people. Dan turned out to easily cover that base, even though he isn’t an insurance guy. What Global Rescue do turned out to be far more interesting than just boring old insurance. Check out the website at https://www.globalrescue.com/ View the full article

This month we have a surprise for you! Jonathan and Mark took a month off and you get a pair of special guest hosts! Gresh and Spiguyver interview Eric Johnson, inventor of the Hangtime Hook, an accessory used for hanging your smartphone or other device from a hammock ridgeline. They talked about the product and then chatted about backpacking and hiking solo versus hiking with buddies or going to group hangs. After that, Spiguyver and Gresh discuss their downtime activities and the fun stuff you can do when you’re done hiking for the day. Show Notes: You can purchase the Hangtime Hook through one of the many distribution channels to be found at https://ridgelinemediasystems.com/ The Gresh Outdoors Facebook page can be found at https://www.facebook.com/greshoutdoors/ Watch any of Spiguyver’s videos on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrhciPeCtIKAcZetSoWYxMw As always, we are also inviting comments and suggestions on our Facebook page – like us there at https://www.facebook.com/hyohpodcast and join the conversation. You can listen to or subscribe to the podcast from a link on our home page online at https://www.hyohpodcast.com or give us a review on our page in iTunes. If you’d like to buy Mark and Jonathan a cup of coffee, go to https://www.hyohpodcast.com/donate to make a one-time donation, or you can donate monthly to our Patreon Campaign at https://www.patreon.com/hyohpodcast. As always, thanks so much for hanging around! Gå til artikkelen

For Claire and Tenny, hiking the CDT had been an ambition but they soon decided that they needed to do something else. Between the two of them, they hatched a plan to walk the entire length of the Southern Border of the US, stretching from San Diego in the west to Brownsville and the Gulf of Mexico in Texas to the east. Here’s Claire. With no defined trail, the two of them set out to make their way and learn about the issues on both sides. It was an eye-opening experience for both women. Here’s Tenny. They were able to experience the kindness of strangers and the desperation of the disenfranchised. They each said that many of their pre-conceived notions were overturned by their experience. On the way, the two women wrote an excellent blog that mapped out what they saw. If you’d like to read it, go to https://walktheborder.com/ and, for pictures, you can follow them on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/clairetenny.walktheborder/ The last five interviewees from the Outdoor Retailers Summer Market in Denver were: Andrew Sidel, of Four Points, selling his slow-burning energy bars. You can learn more at https://www.fourpointsbar.com/ Brandon Rodriguez showed me the Spark, a new knee support combining kinesiology taping and compression. This IS NOT currently available but will be out sometime towards the end of October or early November. The link (at that time) will be https://www.brownmed.com/spark. Once again, THIS LINK DOESN”T CURRENTLY TAKE YOU ANYWHERE. Come back in November. Nicole Farah of Teva introduced me to a new shoe and suggested a good Teva for a long-distance hike. Go to https://www.teva.com/ for more. Kent Hernandez of Bucklegear (https://www.bucklegear.com/) AND Bad Raccoon (https://www.badraccoonco.com/) showed me two excellent items; the Camp Gear Hanger and some old school–but new designs–handerchiefs. Finally, Tim Richard shared the story of Oboz and how they give back to the outdoors. https://obozfootwear.com View the full article

As a writer, Cindy Ross must be feeling fulfilled. She has published seven books about hiking and educating in the outdoors. However, it is as a hiker that she established her bona fides to write these books. She has completed the Triple Crown and realized the value of educating her children while on these trails. Memorably, Cindy and her husband, Todd Gladfelter, spent five summers completing the Continental Divide Trail with their two children–on llamas. Cindy’s bio says “Cindy and her husband learned how experiences can generate extraordinary learning” and they put that realization into practice by providing their own children with the platform to learn in the outdoors. You can reach Cindy via email at [email protected] and read more about her on her blog, http://www.cindyrosstraveler.com/. If you’d like to read her latest book, check out http://www.theworldisourclassroombook.com/. For ALL of her books, just click on her author’s page in Amazon, https://www.amazon.com/Cindy-Ross/e/B001IZTEJE/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1537396207&sr=8-1 This week in our Outdoor Retailers Summer Market roundup, we spoke with the following people: Sourya Ghosh and Dale Pendleton of Soul Inventions, who had brought their Solar Scroll, an innovative solar charger that will shortly be available. You can check out this fascinating device at https://soulinventions.com/ Hugo Davidson, of Knog, introduced me to the Bandicoot Headlamp, after an astonishingly successful Kickstarter campaign. The best way to see this is through their Kickstarter page at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1951570531/the-bandicoot-headlamp, though you can learn more about Knog at https://www.knog.com.au/the-bandicoot Tiasha Renganathan introduced me to some of the stuff that she is working on with Twinery, including their Phoenix Active Heating Platform. Learn more about the exciting innovations at Twinery at http://twinery.co/ View the full article

The story of the Crawfords has been one of the most prominent Appalachian Trail stories of the year. Their seemingly quixotic adventure didn’t seem in the least bit strange to them. After all, they had been hiking as a family for some years so the AT appeared to be a natural extension to that as they tried to capture one last hike together before the children started to leave home. As YouTube viewers, this adventure divided us, with some critics castigating Ben and Kami, while others embraced them with an equally ferocious love. We watched them spend the night in the snow-covered Smokeys on a bathroom floor, only to be confronted by the child protection services the following morning. We saw them grow as a family as each child assumed tasks to help take their journey to fruition. By the time they reached Katahdin, most had come to applaud their resilience, with almost unheard-of support through the 100-Mile Wilderness. Baxter State Park refused to allow an exception to their rules of taking children under a certain age up to the top of Katahdin, so the family decided–unanimously–to finish the way they had started, as a family. You can follow their vlog on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/c/FightforTogether and their Instagram account at https://www.instagram.com/fightfortogether/ This week’s segment from the Outdoor Retailer’s Summer Market from Denver concentrated upon the claims made by manufacturers and the applicability of science to the process. I spoke with Dr. Jan Beringer of Hohenstein. You can find out more about their textile testing by visiting https://www.hohenstein.de/ You can reach Dr. Jan at [email protected] There is a translate button on the site for English speakers. Dr. Jan directed me to Shawn Flavin of Coolcore, who is a strong proponent of these stringent tests. As the Director of Textile Engineering, he explained some of the processes that they use. To find out more, go to https://www.coolcore.com/ where you’ll find some cool products. You can reach Shawn at [email protected] View the full article

Jennifer Pharr Davis is a woman on a mission. She wants to get people into the outdoors and, not only does she want to do it, she actually gets it done. Her Blue Ridge Hiking Company provides guided trips into the woods and over mountains, bringing many people who would never have considered going onto a trail before they came to her. She has hiked over 14,000 miles of long-distance trails all over the world, including what was then the Fastest Known Time on the Appalachian Trail of 46 days, 11 hours, and 20 minutes. She has been the National Geographic Adventurer of the Year and written five books. Between this frenzy of activity, she also finds time to be a wife and a mother. As you’d imagine, Jennifer is everywhere, so connect with her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jenpharrdavis/?hl=en, or learn about her guided hikes at http://www.blueridgehikingco.com/. She tweets at https://twitter.com/jenpharrdavis?lang=en and https://twitter.com/blueridgehiking, while you can find her on Facebook at both https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.p.davis.3/ and https://www.facebook.com/blueridgehikingco/?ref=hl. If you’d like to see a short YouTube video about her new book, The Pursuit of Endurance, click here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-g9kyzWP6o From the Outdoor Retailer Show in Denver, this week’s guests were Douglas Ruchevsky of Case Knives. Douglas showed me several camping knives, including the Kickstart Knife and the Southern Grind. You can find these at https://caseknives.com/ Matt Fitzgerald of Cauldryn showed me his “Swiss Army Knife of Travel Mugs,” an impressive device that controls the temperature of your coffee through your Bluetooth-enabled phone, as well as performing a bunch of other tasks. See what Matt was talking about at https://cauldryn.com/ Claire Kooperman very kindly gave me a pair of Injinji toe socks. These turned out to be exceptionally comfortable. You can find more about these at https://www.injinji.com/ View the full article

I met Will Ransom at Trail Day in 2017 and was impressed by the bond that he shared with his dog, Rhetta. I’d hoped to interview him for the show but lost his details, only to find them recently when I moved home. Will was a fascinating guy to talk with as he had strong views on how to care for your dog when on a trail. He had told me at Trail Days that he intended to summit Katahdin with Rhetta, but experience, other people, and his good nature prevailed. So, Will had to flip up to Katahdin where he summited alone. However, Will wasn’t to be denied finishing the Appalachian Trail with Rhetta. They finished, together, at Bennington Vermont. If you’ve ever thought about taking your dog with you on a long-distance hike listen and learn from Will’s experiences. Our three guests from the Outdoor Retailer’s Summer Market are: Aaron Kirkham of Renovo Water, with the MUV water filter. You can read much more about this remarkably versatile product at http://renovowater.com/about-muv/ or contact Aaron at [email protected] Lara Brecht showed me the Espro Ultralight Travel Press, which not only makes great coffee but keeps it great, and hot for hours. The results were really impressive. You can read more about the Ultralight at http://www.esprocanada.com/esproshop/espro-ultralight-press and contact Lara at [email protected]. Cade Rees of Klymit showed me my new favorite set up, with the Sky Bivy. I’ve added a few pics to show you what it looked like. You can read about it yourself at https://www.klymit.com/sky-bivy.html or contact Cade at [email protected] Greg Seymour (Sunsets) made a welcome return to the show with two things he would do differently in If I Did It Again. Greg and his wife, Jen (Chica), will be heading out to the Camino in Spain in a week or so. For those of you interested (like me!!) here is their Camino gear video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlXdiALZy14&t=606s We hope that you take the opportunity to support our sponsor, Trailtopia, when you consider your next backpacking trip. Go to https://www.trailtopia.com/ to check out their wide variety of meals. Obviously, we couldn’t finish without another picture of Rhetta (and Will). View the full article