Trail Correspondents

Latest Episodes:

Season 3 Episode 3 | The First Night on Trail Jul 21, 2021

Show notes

The episodes leading up to this one introduced us to our 2021 hikers, taught us about their prep, and gave us insights as to why they decided to plan a thru-hike. However, planning a thru-hike and actually taking those first few steps are two very different things.

In this episode, we learn all about their first day on trial and about how they dealt with pre-hike jitters. For the first time this season, all of our correspondents will be calling us from the trail. We will be hearing from each of them on their very first night on trail. Tune in to hear if our correspondents' lofty expectations are becoming reality.

How are our intrepid heroes doing? How are they withstanding the elements, dealing with unruly gear, and getting used to sleeping in the elements?

Tune in to find out.

FIND US ON ITUNES | FIND US ON GOOGLE PLAY | FIND US ON STITCHER

Check out Appalachian Trials and Pacific Crest Trials.

In today's episode we hear from:

Cal "Starburst" Dobbs
Logan "Toodles" Roark
John "Catmando" Van Etten
Jeff "Link" Podmayer
Francisco "Toes" Mesa
Juli "M8" Wolter
Laura Waltrous
Natalie "Ibex" Parker
Monica "Moss" Aguilar
Henri "Rooster" de la Vega
Hazel Wagner

Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Trail Correspondents? Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co.

Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Download this episode here. Find us on Stitcher and Google Play.

INSTAGRAM: Follow Trail Correspondents, The Trek, and Badger.

YOUTUBE: Subscribe to The Trek.

FACEBOOK: Follow Trail Correspondents and The Trek.

Editing and music courtesy of David Zitney. Follow him on Instagram @dzitneyaudio.

Give us feedback on Trail Correspondents here.

Season 3 Episode 2 | Thru-Hike Preparation Jun 29, 2021

Show notes

Preparing for a thru-hike is no easy feat. After all, hikers have to completely overhaul their life. This often involves quitting their job, storing all of their belongings somewhere, saying goodbye to loved ones/partners, and make a strict budget - and we haven't even gotten into all the necessary gear and skills one needs for a thru-hike.

So where does one start? How on earth does anybody actually plan for, let alone go through with, a thru-hike? Let's find out. In this episode, our trail correspondents on the AT, PCT, and CDT have regaled us with their preparation stories. With correspondents ranging from fresh high school grads to a retired mom of eight, they had wildly different ways of getting prepped for their hikes. The only common thread in our hiker's stories seems to be the initial wanderlust and desire to get on the trail.

FIND US ON ITUNES | FIND US ON GOOGLE PLAY | FIND US ON STITCHER

Check out Appalachian Trials and Pacific Crest Trials.

In today's episode we hear from:

Cal "Starburst" Dobbs
Logan "Toodles" Roark
John "Catmando" Van Etten
Jeff "Link" Podmayer
Francisco "Toes" Mesa
Juli "M8" Wolter
Laura Watrous
Natalie "Ibex" Parker
Monica "Moss" Aguilar
Henri "Rooster" de la Vega
Hazel Wagner

Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Trail Correspondents? Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co.

Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Download this episode here. Find us on Stitcher and Google Play.

INSTAGRAM: Follow Trail Correspondents, The Trek, and Badger.

YOUTUBE: Subscribe to The Trek.

FACEBOOK: Follow Trail Correspondents and The Trek.

Editing and music courtesy of David Zitney.

Give us feedback on Trail Correspondents here.

Season 3 Episode 1 | Introductions Jun 01, 2021

Show notes

We are beyond thrilled to finally unveil our third season of Trail Correspondents presented by The Trek.

For those new to the show, Trail Correspondents is a teleportation machine to the trail - in audio form. Every other week (or so), host Zach Davis and a select handful of thru-hikers on the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Divide Trail, will give us a glimpse into the beautiful world of thru-hiking.

Through their eyes and vocal cords, we will learn all about the highs, lows, and nitty-gritty details that go into a half-year, cross-country trek. Trail Correspondents is the next best thing to being on trial yourself.

In previous seasons, our correspondents shared their perspectives as northbound hikers, which, is the more typical approach. This season, however, our correspondents, much like salmon, are swimming against the current and hiking southbound. Historically, the southbound (or SOBO for short) experience is much more isolated. However, given the unique circumstances of this year (you know, the whole apocalypse situation), will we see a busier, and thus more social SOBO experience? Time will tell.

FIND US ON ITUNES | FIND US ON GOOGLE PLAY | FIND US ON STITCHER

Check out Appalachian Trials and Pacific Crest Trials.

In today's episode we hear from:

Cal "Starburst" Dobbs
Logan "Toodles" Roark
John "Catmando" Van Etten
Jeff "Link" Podmayer
Francisco "Toes" Mesa
Juli "M8" Wolter
Laura Watrous
Natalie "Ibex" Parker
Monica "Moss" Aguilar
Henri "Rooster" de la Vega
Hazel Wagner

Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Trail Correspondents? Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co.

Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Download this episode here. Find us on Stitcher and Google Play.

INSTAGRAM: Follow Trail Correspondents, The Trek, and Badger.

YOUTUBE: Subscribe to The Trek.

FACEBOOK: Follow Trail Correspondents and The Trek.

Editing and music courtesy of David Zitney.

Give us feedback on Trail Correspondents here.

#24 | An Interview with Your Former Self Dec 23, 2019

Show notes

Today marks the final episode of our second season. Although this news is melancholy, this episode is too good to be down.

At the beginning of this year, before embarking on their thru-hikes, I asked our Correspondents to interview themselves. Specifically, their future selves. I wanted a way to capture both the metamorphosis a hiker goes through during their journey, as well as hit on the pressure points of what was driving our wonderful correspondents onto the trail in the first place. This episode features both the questions fielded before their journey, along with their answers a couple months after they finished. The result, is magnificent.

FIND US ON ITUNES | FIND US ON GOOGLE PLAY | FIND US ON STITCHER

Use code "TREK10" for 10% off at northxnorth.co

Use code "TC15" to save 15% at Gossamer Gear.com

Check out Appalachian Trials and Pacific Crest Trials.

In today's episode we hear from:

Jazmin
Dosu
Eric and Allison
Julie K
Karthikeya
Kenneth
Laura
Sara D
Angie K
Katharine R
Frozen

APPLY for 2020 Trail Correspondents here.

Give us feedback on Trail Correspondents here.

[divider]

Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Trail Correspondents? Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co.

Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Download this episode here. Find us on Stitcher and Google Play.

INSTAGRAM: Follow Trail Correspondents, The Trek, and Badger.

YOUTUBE: Subscribe to The Trek.

FACEBOOK: Follow Trail Correspondents and The Trek.

Editing and music courtesy of Pauly Boy Shallcross.

#23 | Readjusting After a Thru-Hike Dec 05, 2019

Show notes

When prepping for a thru-hike, aspiring trekkers spend countless hours stressing the transition to their new existence, one spent on the other side of walls. Within just a few days, the adjustment to living amongst the trees, on mountains, and under stars is all but complete. If only the transition back inside were so easy.

That's the subject of today's episode.

Our correspondents share how the adaption back to their former worlds has been, and what elements of their on-trail worlds they've brought with them- or at least hope to.

FIND US ON ITUNES | FIND US ON GOOGLE PLAY | FIND US ON STITCHER

Use code "TREK10" for 10% off at northxnorth.co

Use code "TC15" to save 15% at Gossamer Gear.com

Check out Appalachian Trials and Pacific Crest Trials.

[divider]

Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio? Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co.

Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Download this episode here. Find us on Stitcher and Google Play.

INSTAGRAM: Follow Trail Correspondents, The Trek, and Badger.

YOUTUBE: Subscribe to The Trek.

FACEBOOK: Follow Trail Correspondents and The Trek.

Editing and music courtesy of Pauly Boy Shallcross.

#22 | The End Nov 15, 2019

Show notes

Today is the end of the trail. For this one, we hear from our hikers twice, both the day before the northern terminus and at the finish line itself, with one exception. As you can imagine, this is an emotional update. Although the journey is the destination, there is likely no more exciting part of the journey than the finish line.

FIND US ON ITUNES | FIND US ON GOOGLE PLAY | FIND US ON STITCHER

Use code "TC15" to save 15% at Gossamer Gear.com

Check out Appalachian Trials and Pacific Crest Trials.

Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio? Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co.

Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Download this episode here. Find us on Stitcher and Google Play.

INSTAGRAM: Follow Trail Correspondents, The Trek, and Badger.

YOUTUBE: Subscribe to The Trek.

FACEBOOK: Follow Trail Correspondents and The Trek.

Editing and music courtesy of Pauly Boy Shallcross.

#21 | Wild Card III: Sober Hiking, Relationship Advice, and Trail Etiquette Nov 11, 2019

Show notes

Today's show brings us our final wildcard episode. Given the timing of this episode, near the end of our correspondents' journeys, there's a lot of reflection on the miles in their rearview mirrors. We also hear some advice about maintaining a relationship on the trail, sober hiking, hiking with a fishing rod, trail etiquette and more. These episodes have been listener favorites in the past, this one will be no exception.

FIND US ON ITUNES | FIND US ON GOOGLE PLAY | FIND US ON STITCHER

Use code "TC15" to save 15% at Gossamer Gear.com

Check out Appalachian Trials and Pacific Crest Trials.

Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio? Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co.

Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Download this episode here. Find us on Stitcher and Google Play.

INSTAGRAM: Follow Trail Correspondents, The Trek, and Badger.

YOUTUBE: Subscribe to The Trek.

FACEBOOK: Follow Trail Correspondents and The Trek.

Editing and music courtesy of Pauly Boy Shallcross.

#20 | Revelations Oct 22, 2019

Show notes

An extended period in the great outdoors is medicine for the soul. Breaking free from our routines in a natural setting is a recipe for happiness, clarity, and a fresh perspective. Having done it myself multiple times, I believe this with an unwavering conviction.

That is the subject of today's show. Our hikers will share all of the revelations or a-ha moments they've experienced on trail. They talk about what changes, little or big, they'd like to incorporate into their post-trail worlds, and how their hikes have facilitated this decision.

And, sadly, today's episode features a pair of sign offs. This will serve as a reminder of how much good luck is required to complete a thru-hike.

In today's show, we hear from Frozen, Katharine, Missy, Kenneth, Nancy, Zack, Jazmin, Angie, Karthikeya, Laura, Julie, Eric and Alison (our brother sister duo), Dosu, and Sara D. Here it is.

FIND US ON ITUNES | FIND US ON GOOGLE PLAY | FIND US ON STITCHER

Use code "TC15" to save 15% at Gossamer Gear.com

Check out Appalachian Trials and Pacific Crest Trials.

[divider]

Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio? Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co.

Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)!

INSTAGRAM: Follow Trail Correspondents, The Trek, and Badger.

YOUTUBE: Subscribe to The Trek.

FACEBOOK: Follow Trail Correspondents and The Trek.

Editing and music courtesy of Pauly Boy Shallcross.

#19 | The Mental Grind Oct 11, 2019

Show notes

Although a half year backpacking trip is a physical grind, this is not the most challenging part of a thru-hike. Apologies for sounding like a broken record, but as you might likely guess, this title belongs to the psychological side of this journey.

Our hikers chime in on whether they agree with this sentiment, what coping mechanisms they use to overcome their challenges, how the challenges have evolved over the course of the hike, and what advice they would offer to their pre-trail selves on how to better handle these hurdles.

As a bit of a spoiler, one of our hikers will greatly corroborate how difficult the mental side of this journey is, as she is no longer on trail, and cites this as the key reason. Listen through to hear her entry. Her honest take is full of valuable insights for those considering a thru-hike.

In today's show we hear from Frozen, Katharine, Missy, Kenneth, Nancy, Sarah H, Jazmin, Karthikeya, Laura, Julie, Eric and Alison (our brother sister duo), Dosu, and Sara D. Here it is. Enjoy.

FIND US ON ITUNES | FIND US ON GOOGLE PLAY | FIND US ON STITCHER

Check out Appalachian Trials and Pacific Crest Trials.

[divider]

Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio? Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co.

Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Download this episode here. Find us on Stitcher and Google Play.

INSTAGRAM: Follow Trail Correspondents, The Trek, and Badger.

YOUTUBE: Subscribe to The Trek.

FACEBOOK: Follow Trail Correspondents and The Trek.

Editing and music courtesy of Pauly Boy Shallcross.

#18 | Stories from the Trail Sep 07, 2019

Show notes

Grab a seat next to the rocking chair because today's show will feature some stories from the backcountry. We instructed our hikers to share a standout tale from their journey. It can be a highlight, lowlight, or something in between. The submissions are a delightful mix. We hear about one of our AT hikers who completed the 4-state challenge, one of our correspondents who played a part in rescuing a lost hiker, and another correspondent who had to use their SOS to save another hiker. Murphy's law.

FIND US ON ITUNES | FIND US ON GOOGLE PLAY | FIND US ON STITCHER

Check out Appalachian Trials and Pacific Crest Trials.

In today's show, we hear from: