The Thru-Hiking Podcast

Backpacking & thru-hiking legend Chris Townsend joins us on the podcast to talk about his best tips for trail photography and for writing in the outdoor space. He's hiked 30,000+ miles around the world on the Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, Pacific Northwest Trail, Arizona Trail, and more.

You can learn more about Chris in ⁠Episode #180⁠ and Episode #195 of this podcast.

Chris has 30,000 miles of hiking experience, has written 30+ books on the subject, & is also an outdoor photographer (just take a look at ⁠his website⁠!). This jam-packed episode is perfect for new...

Get to know our 2025 Trail Team of thru-hiking trail correspondents in this episode, and stay tuned for more episodes featuring them in the coming months! Our hikers are trekking on the Continental Divide Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Appalachian Trail, Camino de Santiago, and more.

In this episode, you'll get insight on:

1. The hikers' backgrounds and trails they've hiked

2. What trails they're hiking in 2025

3. Fun facts about themselves, & more!

Connect & follow along with our featured Trail Team members:

Raven

Nikita<...

Get to know our 2025 Trail Team of thru-hiking trail correspondents in this episode, and stay tuned for more next week! Our hikers are trekking on the Continental Divide Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Appalachian Trail, Eastern Continental Trail, Tahoe Rim Trail, Hexatrek, Fisherman's Trail, and more.

In this episode, you'll get insight on:

1. The hikers' backgrounds and trails they've hiked

2. What trails they're hiking in 2025

3. Fun facts about themselves, & more!

Connect & follow along with our featured Trail Team members:

Vegas

...

Backpacking & thru-hiking legend Chris Townsend joins us on the podcast to talk about his best tips for long-distance hikers, trail food, and what to know about gear and shakedown hikes. Some trails he's tackled include the Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, Pacific Northwest Trail, Arizona Trail, and so much more.

You can learn more about Chris in Episode #180 of this podcast.

Chris has 30,000 miles of hiking experience, has written 30+ books on the subject, & is also an outdoor photographer (just take a look at his website!). This jam-packed episode...

Learn about creek crossings and how to stay safe while doing it with the founder of Mountain Education, Ned Tibbits! Here, Ned goes into his tried and true techniques to safely deal with the hazards of crossing bodies of water while hiking and backpacking. He also gives tips for hikers preparing for the Pacific Crest Trail, John Muir Trail, and for general backpacker travel where creek or river crossings will be present.

⁠⁠⁠If you'd like to watch this video, you can ⁠⁠apply for our Trail Family membership⁠⁠, and can find all of the Safety Series videos...

If you're a thru-hiker, don't miss this episode featuring Morgan Brosnihan - the founder and physical therapist behind Blaze Physio! Here, Morgan tells us how she got into the physical therapy space & how her Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike inspired her to serve long-distance hikers. Injury is the top reason why hikers have to exit trail early, and she's here to help.

In this episode, you'll learn:

1. The most common injuries she sees (which may be specific to the trail you're hiking)

2. How to prepare for trail and prevent injury

Learn about backpacker snow safety with the founder of Mountain Education, Ned Tibbits! Here, Ned describes how to safely travel through snow using tried and true techniques. He also gives tips for hikers preparing for the Pacific Crest Trail, John Muir Trail, or for general backpacking travel in snow.

⁠If you'd like to watch this video, you can ⁠apply for our Trail Family membership⁠, and can find all of the Safety Series videos in the Video Library after approval.

In this episode, Ned goes over:

1. How to move o...

Continental Divide Trail & Pacific Crest Trail thru-hiker Mike "Just Mike" McClure dives into technology for long-distance backpackers in this jam-packed episode! He goes into detail on the best tips and tools to help you have a successful and safe hike.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

1. The best planners to use including packing planners, trip planners, food planners, and more

2. Resupply strategy

3. Weather tracking tools, navigation tools, battery packs, & so much more!

All the links!:

Triple Crowner and Coast-To-Coast Trail hiker Michael "Maxheap" Goshey talks all things backpacking and thru-hiking with Cheer in part 2 of his jam-packed interview. Here, he goes over the Pacific Crest Trail, Appalachian Trail, & Continental Divide Trail - & gives us an idea of the differences in pursuit of the coveted Triple Crown of hiking.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

1. The differences between the Triple Crown trails

2. His 3,000 mile Coast-To-Coast trail walk

3. Tips and mindset tricks to have staying power on trail & so much more!

Triple Crowner and Coast-To-Coast Trail hiker Michael "Maxheap" Goshey talks all things backpacking and thru-hiking with Cheer in part 1 of his jam-packed interview. Stay tuned for part 2 in the coming weeks!

In this episode, you'll learn:

1. What can happen if you get Giardia, and how to avoid it

2. How to eat well and be versatile without a stove

3. How thru-hiking can affect your career (for the better) & so much more!

Connect & follow along with Maxheap:

⁠Website⁠⁠

⁠YouTube Channel

...

Learn about backpacker snow safety with the founder of Mountain Education, Ned Tibbits! Here, Ned gives a rundown of snow and how it forms and compacts. He also gives tips for hikers preparing for the Pacific Crest Trail, John Muir Trail, or for general backpacking and camping in snow.

This recording is part of our free Safety Series still going on as live events via THRU-r. To join in, you can register on ourEvents page at thru-r.com. If you'd like to watch this video, you can apply for our Trail Family membership, and...

Continental Divide Trail backpacker and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ THRU-r Trail Team⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ member Annika aka "Ravenclaw" joins us for a fun conversation about embracing the brutality (and beauty) while thru hiking from Canada to Mexico.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

1. A lesser known but not-to-miss spot (next to the highest point on the trail)

2. Foam sleeping pads versus air sleeping pads - & which one is better

3. Where to find the best town food on trail (& maybe in America?!)

4. The worst month for bugs on the trail & so much more!

Connect & follow a...

Hexatrek backpacker, thru-hiker, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THRU-r Trail Team⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ member Sandra D. aka "MacGyver" gives us the rundown of her trek in France - filled with amazing food, type II fun, and beauty.

In this episode, MacGyver goes into:

1. The pieces of gear that are essential for the trail

2. Food tips, France's specialties that you should pack along, & how to up-level your ramen

3. Tips on mindset for a thru-hike & so much more!

Connect & follow along with MacGyver:

MacGyver's Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Did you love this episode? If so, please help fellow hik...

Walker's Haute Route & Corfu Trail thru-hiker and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THRU-r Trail Team⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ member Stevie Teran comes back on the podcast to talk about his treks for 2024 and his future Pacific Crest Trail hike!

In this episode, he gives insight on:

1. The versatile piece of gear he can't live without, and his storm-worthy tent that was 10/10

2. Food tips when hiking abroad

3. Examples of how flexibility can serve you well on a thru-hike & so much more!

Connect & follow along with Stevie:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stevie's Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Stevie's TikTok

Past Walker's Haute Route Thru-Hike Episodes From Stevie:

Day 1 & 2: Episode #169

Decorated long-distance backpacker & author Liz "Snorkel" Thomas joins us on the podcast to talk about her latest book, the elite gear review company she co-founded (Treeline Review), & all of her backpacking experience! She's hiked 20,000+ miles and counting, including the coveted Triple Crown (Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, & Continental Divide Trail).

In this episode, you'll hear about her:

1. Top tips to thrive on a long-distance hike

2. Run in with mama mountain lion (& how it prepared her for anything, including business ownership)

3. Method of "defensive calendaring" & so much more.

Pacific Crest Trail & Appalachian Trail thru-hiker Ray Reynoso or "Geared Up" talks worldwide FKT's, hiking 22,000 miles, & shares some helpful long-distance backpacking tips. As a wounded Army veteran, he was told he'd never be able to walk very far again - and look at how far he's come!

In this episode, you'll learn:

1. How to budget effectively for a long hike

2. The keys to having a more painless and comfortable journey

3. What it's like to do things against all odds - & so much more!

...

Continental Divide Trail thru-hiker & backpacker Katie Jackson or "Double Dip" (as she's known on trail) joins us to talk about her thru-hiking adventure. She was part of our 2024 Trail Team and gives so much great insight on the trail and long-distance hiking in general.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

1. The #1 characteristic needed to hike this 3,000 mile trail successfully

2. The advice NOT to take from hikers who have gone before you

3. The freeze dried meal that changed her life (and could change yours too!)

4. Tips on...

Triple crowner and host Carol "Cheer" Coyne welcomes you to the new season of the podcast! If you're a long-distance thru-hiker, seasoned backpacker, new backpacker, or anything in between - this episode is for you.

In this episode, she'll go over:

1. How you can get involved with the podcast

2. The story of how the podcast came to be

3. What's going on in the hiking community - & so much more!

Mentioned Links:

Fill Out Our Feedback Form!

⁠Join The Trail Fa...

Backpacking & thru-hiking legend Chris Townsend joins us on the podcast to talk about the Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, Yukon Territory, and hiking in his home country of Scotland.

Chris has 30,000 miles of hiking experience, has written 30+ books on the subject, & is also an outdoor photographer (just take a look at his website!). This jam-packed episode is perfect for our Season 4 finale, and a great way to close out 2024!

In this episode, you'll learn:

1. What it's like to hike the Pacific Crest Trail in a high snow year (hello...

Walker's Haute Route thru-hiker and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THRU-r Trail Team⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ member Stevie Teran checks in from Days 9 & 10 - and the finish - of his trek!

In this episode, he gives insight on:

1. How powerful & supportive words can propel you forward on a long hike

2. The flood & landslide damage along the trail

3. The famous landmark he finally got to see - & more!

Connect & follow along with Stevie:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stevie's Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Past Walker's Haute Route Thru-Hike Episodes From Stevie:

Day 1 & 2: Episode #169

Day 3 & 4: Episode #172

Day 5 & 6: Episode #174

Day 7 & 8: Episode #1...

In this episode we welcome Pacific Crest Trail thru-hiker & all-around adventurer Cam Bostock. Here, he goes into his trek as an already experienced hiker and mountaineer. Cam includes so much insight into hiking long trails and gives his best tips on food, gear, starting out and more.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

1. His rarely used trail name (bestowed to him by his trail family)

2. Details on his favorite Ultralight Pack

3. The pros of being in a trail family

4. His best tips for aspiring long-distance hikers...

Walker's Haute Route thru-hiker and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THRU-r Trail Team⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ member Stevie Teran checks in from Days 7 & 8 of his Pacific Crest Trail preparation trek (hello, shakedown hike!).

In this episode, you'll:

1. Learn about the wilderness camping restrictions on the trail (different than in the US!)

2. Hear about the kindness of strangers & the "day of the cows"

3. Get some examples of how a hike doesn't always go to plan - & more!

Connect & follow along with Stevie:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stevie's Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Past Walker's Haute Route Thru-Hike Episodes From Stevie:

Day 1 & 2: Episode #169

Day 3 & 4...

Thru-hikers Cheer & the THRU-r Ambassadors talk about their animal encounters on trail! This is a great episode to listen to if you're planning on backpacking trails in the US - including the Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, & the Appalachian Trail.

In this episode, you'll:

1. Hear real stories about animal encounters on trail

2. Get an idea of what tactics worked well for our Ambassadors to have safe encounters with wildlife

3. Learn about identifying animal activity, & more

Relevant Links:

Cougar Soundbites

Triple crowner and Pacific Crest Trail, Appalachian Trail, & Continental Divide Trail thru-hiker & backpacker J.C. "Catmando" Van Etten joins us to talk all about his Triple Crown journey.

In this episode, you'll:

1. Hear about what it's like being charged by four grizzly bears

2. Get a list of the best places to eat on the Triple Crown trails

3. Learn his best tips for hiking long trails (including financial tips) - & more!

Connect & follow along with Catmando:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Catmando's Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Catmando's Facebook

Grizzly Bear Charge Footage!!

Past Episodes With Catman...

Walker's Haute Route thru-hiker and ⁠⁠⁠⁠THRU-r Trail Team⁠⁠⁠⁠ member Stevie Teran checks in from his drama-filled Days 5 & 6 of his Pacific Crest Trail preparation trek (hello, shakedown hike!).

In this episode, you'll:

1. Get an example of what happens when a self-arrest attempt goes wrong

2. Hear about listening to your body in the face of injury

3. Learn about taking misfortunes in stride - & more!

Connect & follow along with Stevie:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stevie's Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Past Walker's Haute Route Thru-Hike Episodes From Stevie:

Day 1 & 2: Episode #169

Day 3 & 4: Episode #172

In this episode, Triple Crowner & thru-hiker Liz "Chuckles" Archibald returns to the podcast to discuss her experiences on the Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and Appalachian Trail - focusing on her unpopular opinions about hiking them.

Here, she goes over:

1. The type of road walk you might enjoy (and the reasons why)

2. Why she didn't like finishing her Triple Crown on the iconic Mt. Katahdin

3. The best time of day to hike

4. The ideal direction for a CDT thru-hike - and the real deal with...

Walker's Haute Route thru-hiker and ⁠⁠⁠THRU-r Trail Team⁠⁠⁠ member Stevie Teran checks in from Switzerland on Day 3 & 4 of his Pacific Crest Trail preparation trek (hello, shakedown hike!).

In this episode, you'll:

1. Get detailed descriptions of the scenery (yes, it's stunning)

2. Hear about kindness from a stranger when it was needed the most

3. Learn about the real-deal with grocery prices, get tips on how to keep food costs down (while also staying gourmet!) - & more!

Connect & follow along with Stevie:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stevie's Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Past Walker's Haute Route Thru-Hike Episodes From Stevie:<...

American Perimeter Trail creator & founder Rue McKenrick joins us on the podcast to talk about the creation of this amazing trail - & the community and conservation around it.

Here, we pull from our community's questions and get insight on:

1. What life looks like post-trail after hiking for 5 years

2. The process of creating a trail, and the ups & downs along the way

3. His favorite (surprisingly beautiful) spots along the trail, and much more!

Connect with Rue & support the American Perimeter Trail by using the...

Appalachian Trail thru-hiker Erica "Rookie" Washkwich and host Carol "Cheer" Coyne talk about group hiking in "Trail Families" versus solo hiking on long-distance backpacking trips.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

1. The dynamics of trail families

2. The pros and cons of hiking solo versus hiking in groups 

3. Tips on how to find a compatible trail family, and much more!

Check out Episode 166 for Rookie's full Appalachian Trail episode.

You can connect with Rookie by using the links below:

Walker's Haute Route thru-hiker and ⁠⁠THRU-r Trail Team⁠⁠ member Stevie Teran checks in from France on Day 1 & 2 of his Pacific Crest Trail preparation trek (hello, shakedown hike!).

In this episode, he:

1. Gives trail insight and describes the views in the first two days on trail

2. Tells us about the international trail family situation

3. Describes the fastest way to travel in snow (with safety in mind, of course!) - & more!

Connect & follow along with Stevie:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stevie's Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Past Corfu Trail Thru-Hike Episodes From Stevie:

Intro: Epi...

In this episode, Triple Crowner & thru-hiker Liz "Chuckles" Archibald discusses her experiences on the Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and Appalachian Trail. Here she tells us all about hiking 8,000 miles and the highs and lows that go along with it. She also gives her best tips to take on such a large endeavor!

In this episode, you'll learn about:

1. The area on the Triple Crown trails she recommends leaving your stove at home

2. What it's like to hike in a high snow year  

3. Her gourmet on-trail recipe (w...

In this episode we welcome veteran Sierra thru-hiker and author Ethan "Po" Gallogly. Here, he dives into his award winning book "The Trail" and talks about all things Sierra (we are here for it!).

In this episode, you'll learn about:

You can connect with Ethan by using the links...

Appalachian Trail thru-hiker Erica "Rookie" Washkwich dives deep into her long-distance trek with us. She talks about the downpours, the beautiful sunrises, the highs and lows - and all of the emotions & challenges that come with taking on a thru-hike.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

1. The food item to NOT eat on trail

2. The mountain in the Whites you should be wary of 

3. The great resource she utilized to recover from a potential hike-ending injury, and much more!

You c...

As Hurricane Helene swept across the Southeast, its effects have rippled through the Appalachian region - particularly impacting several trail towns that serve as vital waypoints for Appalachian Trail hikers.

Here, experienced thru-hiker & Triple Crowner Catmando gives information on the hurricane and its impact including:

Follow along with Catmando here:

⁠⁠Catmando's Instagram⁠⁠

⁠⁠Catmando's YouTube⁠⁠

Local Relief Fun...

Corfu Trail thru-hiker and ⁠THRU-r Trail Team⁠ member Stevie Teran checks in from Greece on Day 6 of his Corfu Trail trek.

In this episode, he:

Connect & follow along with Stevie!:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stevie's Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Past Corfu Trail Thru-Hike Episodes From Stevie:

Intro: Episode #147

Day 1: Episode #149

Day 2: Episode #152

...

Triple Crowner (Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and Appalachian Trail thru-hiker) Carol "Cheer" Coyne describes 3 tried and true tactics to help you feel better and more energized while hiking. Here, Cheer pulls from her personal experience as a thru-hiker - and also gives feedback from hikers within the THRU-r community Trail Family.

You can check out video & clips of this episode on our ⁠YouTube channel ⁠and in the Video Library of our ⁠Trail Family+ membership⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Want to pay it forward? Help fellow hikers find the show by following, rating, and reviewing the...

Corfu Trail thru-hiker and THRU-r Trail Team member Stevie Teran checks in from Greece on Day 5 of his Corfu Trail trek.

In this episode, you'll:

Connect & follow along with Stevie!:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stevie's Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Read more about our Trail Team on the THRU-r website here:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠2024 THRU-r Trail Team⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Did you love this episo...

Triple Crowner (Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and Appalachian Trail thru-hiker) Carol "Cheer" Coyne describes 5 ways hikers can give back to trail angels to show appreciation for all that they do! Here, Cheer pulls from her personal experience as a thru-hiker as well as a trail angel. - and also gives feedback from trail angels and hikers within the THRU-r community.

You can check out video & clips of this episode on our YouTube channel and in the Video Library of our Trail Family+ membership.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Did you love this episode? If so, please...

In this episode, decorated thru-hikers Renee Miller and Tim Beissinger deep dive into the world of long-distance hiking, their unexpected social media success, and their highly-anticipated new book "Thruhikers: A Guide To Life On The Trail."

These two have hiked over 10,000 miles along the Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, Pacific Northwest Trail, and more. Renee also just achieved the Woman's Unsupported Fastest Known Time (FKT) for hiking the Oregon section along the Pacific Crest Trail!

In this episode, you'll learn about:

1. Their top tips for lightening pa...

Thinking about thru-hiking the Foothills Trail? This small but mighty 77-mile trail - which spans from South Carolina to North Carolina (or visa versa) - makes for a beautiful trek. The trail is also a worthy shakedown hike to prepare for the Appalachian Trail! In this episode, experienced thru-hiker Catmando gives a run-down on all aspects of the trail, including:

Follow along with Catmando here: