Oct 30, 2025

Lisa Laidlow came to the trail when she became an empty-nester. She had always been an outdoor girl–often along with her father–yet it was only fairly recently that she returned to hiking and discovered the idea of a thru-hike.

As a black woman on the trail, she was embraced by hikers, though had a few...

Oct 23, 2025

James Dalberto, or Nomad, joins the podcast today. James has been an RV'er for the past few years, earning a living as a “starving artist” (his words) all over the country. This year, he decided to mix it up a bit and headed out onto the Appalachian Trail for a thru-hike.

On the way, he fell back in love with the...

Oct 16, 2025

Very limited notes this month, mainly because I'm away and rushing to get this out on Wednesday evening!!

It was an honor to be chosen to present the Saturday evening keynote speech at ALDHA last weekend. I picked my own guests–and subjects–and the event was not only well-attended but also well-received.

First up...

Oct 9, 2025

We meet an unusual hiker this week. Ken Posner has been a long-distance runner and hiker over the years, yet he has gradually morphed into a barefoot runner and hiker. Ken and I discuss this–to me–bizarre footwear choice, and he makes a compelling case for the advantages of barefoot walking.

Ken has also taken on...

Oct 2, 2025

Chrissy Schubert and her daughter Ady will be attempting a 250-mile section of the Appalachian Trail next year. No big deal, you may think. Think again. Ady is afflicted by profound autism, communicates through writing, and has a heart as big as the trail itself.

The adversity that Ady and her family have overcome...