Explore every episode of the podcast Hike
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| From Trail to Memoir: Christine Reed on Alone in Wonderland | 20 Jun 2026 | 00:34:40 | |
What happens when you leave behind the familiar and take a leap into the wilderness? Author Christine Reed joins me to share the story behind Alone in Wonderland, a powerful memoir about heartbreak, healing, and finding strength one step at a time on the trail.
Outdoorsy Women+ Book Club | Rugged Outdoorswoman https://substack.com/@ruggedoutdoorswoman https://www.instagram.com/ruggedoutdoorswoman/ Connect with Hike: | |||
| No Finish Line: Tom French on Why the Journey Never Ends | 09 May 2026 | 00:50:27 | |
What happens when you trade a four-decade career in business for the mountains, the trails, and the life you almost left behind? In this episode, I sit down with Tom French, author of The Gap Years: Climbing, Skiing, and the Journey Back, to talk about adventure, reinvention, and what it truly means to reconnect with the outdoors at any age. Tom's story is a powerful reminder that the call of the wild doesn't have an expiration date; some of the most meaningful journeys begin exactly when you think the adventure is over. Whether you're an avid hiker, a weekend adventurer, or simply someone who has ever felt the pull of wild places, this conversation will inspire you to lace up your boots and get back out there. 🎧 Enjoy this episode? Pick up a copy of The Gap Years: Climbing, Skiing, and the Journey Back by Tom French on Amazon or your favorite independent bookseller! Connect with Hike: | |||
| Hudson Bay Girls | 07 Jun 2025 | 00:26:44 | |
Emma of the Hudson Bay Girls chats with Lori about their Boundary Waters expedition. Abby, Olivia, Emma, and Helena will be paddling the Boundary Waters from Grand Portage on Lake Superior to York Factory on Hudson Bay over the summer. They hope to call attention to women and girls in paddling and also the protection of the Boundary Waters. In this episode Emma describes how the trip came about, the planning that went into it, and how friends, family and the outdoor community are supporting their journey. Go follow their journey: Find out how to Save the Boundary Waters Connect with Hike: | |||
| Five Michigan Backpacking Adventures with Misty Bischoff | 14 Oct 2021 | 01:15:31 | |
Misty shares the 5 next Michigan backpacking trips you need to add to your bucket list. From a quick weekend loop hike getaway with designated campsites to create your own adventure on the North Country Trail, there is a backpacking trip for all hiking levels and skill sets.
*More info about the creation of the yurt/cabin on the Skyline trail spur trail section on the NCT Misty's an experienced backpacker and thru-hiker of the Oauchita National Recreation Trail and the Appalachian Trail. You'll find her spending as much time on the trail as possible with her husband and their dog Dante. She also loves to give trail magic and has done trail maintenance as a way to give back to the hiking community. Connect with Lori: Connect with Hike: | |||
| The Long Trail with Papa Bear | 07 Oct 2021 | 00:59:00 | |
Papa Bear (Martin) chats with Lori about hiking Vermont's Long Trail and how his two decades as a Boy Scout volunteer also inspired and facilitated his love of the outdoors and sharing that through both giving back and starting the Papa Bear Hikes podcast. Martin is currently working on his book Switching Gears: Rediscovering the meaning of life, love, and happiness while backpacking Vermont’s Long Trail which chronicles his adventures in Vermont hiking the long trail over a two-year period. Outside of work and outdoor adventuring, Papa Bear and his wife Wendy enjoy local theatre, wineries, visiting museums & art galleries, and spending time with their sons. Connect with Lori: Connect with Hike: | |||
| Hiking The New England Trail with Chris "Cookie Monster" Pirrello | 30 Sep 2021 | 01:06:36 | |
Chris “Cookie Monster” Pirrello shares his New England Trail thru-hike with listeners and gives information on planning, logistics, responsible stealth camping, resupply and what any hiker needs to know about this trail. Connect with Lori: Connect with Hike: | |||
| A New Season of Hike Coming Soon | 16 Sep 2021 | 00:01:15 | |
Hike is back on September 30th, bringing listeners all new episodes. Several episodes are already recorded and in the lineup for release this Fall.
Plus so much more is in the works! Connect with Hike: | |||
| Three Michigan Weekend Backpacking Trips with Amanda Hughes | 29 Jul 2021 | 00:48:04 | |
Amanda Hughes share three of her favorite backpacking trails with Lori. These are trails that you could also do some day hikes on, but would be best experienced as an overnight backpack. 2. Little Carp River Trail 3. Shingle Mill Pathway
Connect with Lori: A special thank you to Felicia who connected us! Follow Felicia on Instagram Connect with Hike: | |||
| Solo Backpacking in the Porcupine Mountains with Kris Van Handel | 23 Jul 2021 | 00:54:21 | |
Kris shares her first solo backpacking adventure in the Porcupine Mountains. Listen to her talk about the trails she hiked, where she camped and all the tips and resources hikers might want to know about before setting off to the Porkies in the Upper Peninsula. Connect with Lori: Connect with Hike: | |||
| Sleeping Bear Dunes: Lake Michigan Sunrise and Sleeping Bear Point Hike | 15 Jul 2021 | 00:33:07 | |
Join Lori on Day 2 of her Sleeping Bear Dunes adventure where she takes in the beautiful sunrise from D.H. Day Campground's Lake Michigan access and then continues for a morning hike at a deserted Sleeping Bear Point. Connect with Hike: | |||
| Michigan Road Trip: Sleeping Bear Dunes, Fishtown, Manistee River, and the NCT with Sarah Waite | 09 Jul 2021 | 00:54:15 | |
Sarah shares her Spring road trip with her fiancé from Ohio to Michigan - exploring Sleeping Bear Dunes, Leland's Historic Fishtown, backpacking on the Manistee River and doing some hikes on the NCT and more. Connect with Hike: | |||
| Sleeping Bear Dunes: D.H. Day Campground and Hiking Pyramid Point and Alligator Hill Trails | 02 Jul 2021 | 00:29:47 | |
Lori takes listeners on a day of adventures at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan. Connect with Hike: | |||
| Backpacking Isle Royale National Park with The Wandering Squad | 24 Jun 2021 | 01:14:24 | |
Jen, Jessica, Andrea, Angie and Kim share their adventures backpacking at Isle Royale. We discuss planning, transportation, campsites, privies (bring TP!), moose encounters and the legend of the over protective, dive bombing Goshawk. We talk about the highlights and the no so fun moments. But in the end, it sounds like they wouldn't trade any of them. Listen to my episode with Jen "Wandering Pine" about her LASH of the Superior Hiking Trail from Season 1. Connect with The Wandering Squad on Instagram: Connect with Hike: | |||
| Lessons Learned on the Sheltowee Trace Trail with Chris Powers | 20 May 2025 | 00:56:42 | |
Chris Powers hiked from the Northern Terminus to the Natural Bridge area as part of attempting a longer thru hike of the Sheltowee Trace Trail. We talk about what led to him deciding to leave the trail and lessons he learned along the way. We get into planning and logistics (gear, camping, food and water), the hard reality of road walking and its impact on his hike, and the joy found in photography along the trail. We also discuss some of the ways being a climber can help with both planning and executing a hike. Connect with Chris: Find Hike at the Virginia Black Bear Festival on June 7th; come say hi and pick up free stickers and I'll have a few new and exclusive Hike items for purchase. Connect with Hike: | |||
| Encore Episode: The First 100 Adventures | 17 Jun 2021 | 00:10:40 | |
In this encore episode Lori celebrates 100 episodes of Hike and looks back on her own adventures. Connect with Hike: | |||
| Encore Episode: Hiking the Dunes of Lake Michigan | 10 Jun 2021 | 00:15:39 | |
Lori takes listeners on a recap of her December 2019 trip to the Muskegon area where she visited Hoffmaster and Muskegon State Parks. This short episode gives you a first hand account of hiking forested dunes and walking along Lake Michigan on a late December day. Connect with Hike: | |||
| Bay City and Port Crescent State Park Winter Hikes | 03 Jun 2021 | 00:17:21 | |
In this episode Lori shares some winter hiking in Michigan state parks. This is part of her series sharing hikes from around Michigan - both short day hikes and longer overnight trips. Connect with Hike: | |||
| Port Crescent State Park: Boardwalk and Dune Nature Trail | 27 May 2021 | 00:22:40 | |
Lori shares her hike at Port Crescent State Park at the tip of Michigan’s Thumb. She’ll visit the boardwalk, hike through the Dune Nature Area and checked out the Birds of Prey observation deck as well as the Dark Sky Preserve. Connect with Hike: | |||
| Michigan's Thumb: Sanilac Petroglyphs Historic State Park | 20 May 2021 | 00:19:19 | |
Lori explores the Sanilac Petroglyphs Historic State Park in Sanilac County, Michigan Among the depictions of swirls, lines, handprints, and living beings are:
(source: Wikipedia) Connect with Hike: | |||
| Hiking Michigan's Highbanks Trail Along the Au Sable River | 13 May 2021 | 00:29:49 | |
Lori does an out and back on the Highbanks Trail along the Au Sable River in Michigan. She takes you from Iargo Springs which is the western terminus to the Au Sable Dune Overlook and passes through the Canoer’s Memorial Monument and the Lumberman’s Monument. Instagram: @thehikepodcast Connect with Hike: | |||
| Saving Our Smokies with Benny Braden | 29 Apr 2021 | 00:59:52 | |
Benny Braden catches up with Lori and gives listeners some insight into his Benton MacKaye thru hike, how he got involved with Save Our Smokies - a non-profit focused on cleaning up the Great Smoky Mountains and promoting the Leave No Trace principles, and his upcoming project with Chris Smead and Outmersive Films that's taking him to Alaska this summer. Connect with Hike: | |||
| Trail Weight: Transformation on the John Muir Trail with Andrew Steven | 22 Apr 2021 | 00:39:56 | |
Andrew Steven shares how a fitness journey, grieving the loss of his mother and being on the John Muir Trail transformed his life. Connect with Andrew/Listen to Trail Weight: Connect with Lori: Connect with Hike: | |||
| Backpacking Michigan with Rue McKenrick | 15 Apr 2021 | 00:49:00 | |
Rue takes listeners along his backpacking adventures in Michigan as he works on the route for the American Perimeter Trail. The American Perimeter Trail is a 12,000 mile loop that circumnavigates the continental U.S. It uses existing trails such as the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), the Appalachian Trail (AT) or parts of the North Country Trail. Connect with Lori: Connect with Hike: | |||
| Backpacking the Art Loeb Trail with Zach Kuss | 08 Apr 2021 | 00:36:44 | |
Zach shares his tips for thru-hiking and backpacking the Art Loeb Trail. From completing the entire trail in one day to putting together day hike loops, Zach has a great perspective and provides excellent advice for creating your own adventure on the Art Loeb. Zach gives us his Top 3 for hiking & mountain biking in the North Carolina mountains. Cold Mountain Cat Gap Loop Pisgah National Forest Dupont State Forest Black Balsam Davison River Campground Daniel Ridge Loop Black Mountain Bennett Gap Avery Creek Special thank you to Tim, Leisel, Greg, Julie, Colin and Aaron for being patrons! Connect with Hike: | |||
| An Introduction to Hiking with Philip Werner | 24 Apr 2025 | 00:37:10 | |
Philip Werner comes on the show to discuss his new book, "Hiking over 60: A modern guide to Hiking Gear and Techniques for Active Adults". Philip's website SectionHiker.com has been sharing gear and trail advice for almost two decades. It's a great resource whether you are new to hiking or at the intermediate or expert level. This episode is a great introduction for those new to hiking and we talk about how this new book is meant for both those new to hiking and those who are reintroducing themselves to the hiking world after some time away. We cover topics - Finding Local Trail Systems - Essential Gear and Being Safe - Hiking over 60 considerations - Leave No Trace - Some of Philip's hikes in the White Mountains and beyond Hike Giveaway Alert Enter the Hike Celebrates 250k Giveaway here (open through 5/9/25) 5 Random winners will be chosen to receive either a Sticker, Yeti Tumbler, Button or Hat Stay tuned for how you can purchase your own Hike merchandise or send me an email/DM to inquire Connect with Hike: | |||
| Hike Explores Michigan | 03 Apr 2021 | 00:00:53 | |
Coming soon the Hike Explores Michigan series. Follow Lori as she explores the Michigan State Parks, Recreation Areas and public lands. She'll share history, favorite trails and local gems along the way. Connect with Hike: | |||
| Keep Virginia Cozy | 01 Apr 2021 | 00:45:54 | |
Keep Virginia Cozy founder, Brian Bell, chats with Lori about the mission, activities and events that are all part of keeping Virginia cozy. There's cleanups, trail magic, fundraising hikes and much more. Take a listen to how community drives the values and mission of this organization and how their vision is to work to conserve our land through outreach, restoration and research. At the heart of it, Keep Virginia Cozy's message is simple: Connect with Keep Virginia Cozy: Connect with Hike: | |||
| Backpacking New Zealand's Te Araroa Trail with Patrice La Vigne | 26 Mar 2021 | 00:54:29 | |
Patrice La Vigne and her husband Justin trekked New Zealand's Te Araroa trail over 2014-15. In this episode, Patrice shares some background about the hike itself, figuring out the logistics and some of her favorite memories of Kiwi hospitality. Connect with Hike: | |||
| Winter Thru-Hike of the Ice Age Trail with Emily Ford | 19 Mar 2021 | 00:40:13 | |
Emily Ford recently completed a winter thru-hike of the Ice Age Trail, becoming the second person - and the first woman - to thru hike the trail during the winter time. Emily and Diggin's journey has inspired others. We have a candid conversation about the importance of taking care of your mental heath, the loneliness of thru-hiking and the drive that kept her out on the trail during the coldest months. Emily talks about the bond she created with Diggins and how tough it was to let her go at the trail's end. Connect with Hike: | |||
| Alone in Wonderland: A Conversation about Grief, Self-Discovery and Community with Christine Reed | 11 Mar 2021 | 00:55:58 | |
Christine Reed shares her personal journey of how the trail helped her process the grief of losing her mother, provided the opportunity to discover both inner strength and self-acceptance, and allowed her the space to open herself up to a community at a time when she felt the most alone. Connect with Hike: | |||
| Thru-Hiking West Virginia's Allegheny Trail with Justin Mullins | 04 Mar 2021 | 00:50:59 | |
Justin shares his thru-hike of West Virginia's Allegheny Trail. Listeners will learn about the trail, it's segments, highlights of each section and tips on hiking it. We chat about some of the more popular places on the Allegheny and other West Virginia hikes, including the 360 views that you can find at the Hanging Rock Raptor Observatory (which can also be a side trip to/ from the Appalachian Trail). Connect with Lori: Connect with Hike: | |||
| The Mountains-to-Sea Trail 40 Hike Challenge with Julie "Jester" Gayheart | 25 Feb 2021 | 01:00:42 | |
Jester comes back on Hike to talk about her recent completion of 40 day hikes along the Mountains-to-Sea Trail and all the adventures she had as part of the MST community. She shares what to expect as part of this challenge and some of her favorite hiking and trail towns. We learn about the book that inspired her and was the guide for this challenge - Great Day Hikes on North Carolina's Mountain-to-Sea Trail. Connect with Lori: Connect with Hike: | |||
| From Thru-Hiking the Appalachian Trail to Blazing a Hiking Community with Heidi "Picasso" Nisbett | 18 Feb 2021 | 01:03:07 | |
Heidi "Picasso" Nisbett aka Sketching Summits shares her journey from her first long thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail to helping to blaze the hiking community within Charlotte, North Carolina. Heidi shares how the Appalachian inspired her to sketch (and be featured as a Appalachian Trail Conservancy featured #trailismymuse artist), and find a community of hikers as she brings all types of hikers together as part of Trail Talks and meetups at Blue Blaze Brewing. She's hosted thru hikers Jessica "Dixie" Mills, Jennifer Pharr Davis and Heather Anderson. Connect with Lori: Connect with Hike: | |||
| Thru Hiking Tips and Blue Ridge Mountain Hikes with Leisel and Dave Bailey | 11 Feb 2021 | 00:56:30 | |
Leisel and Dave share tips on preparing and planning for thru hikes, hiking as a couple and their favorite hikes along the Blue Ridge Parkway and Southern Appalachian Mountains including the Foothills Trail, Art Loeb Trail and completing the South Beyond 6000 Challenge. Connect with Lori: Connect with Hike: | |||
| Base Camp Chat: First Night Solo On Trail | 04 Feb 2021 | 00:49:58 | |
Lori, Julie, Benny and Johnny share their own personal stories about going solo on the trail, tips for being new to backpacking and answer listener questions on an episode recorded live in 2020. Connect with Hike: | |||
| Shenandoah 500 update: Halfway There | 28 Mar 2025 | 00:16:09 | |
Lori gives an update on her Shenandoah 500 progress after officially making it halfway through the challenge. She chats about: Winter hiking and favorite trails for the winter season, getting acclimated to elevation after life as a flatlander, navigating water crossings and blowdowns, memorable moments on trail Some of the trail links: https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/blackrock-summit.htm https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/hawksbill-summit.htm https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/hawksbill-summit.htm https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/dark-hollow-falls.htm https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/lower-whiteoak-falls.htm https://www.hikingupward.com/SNP/BrownMountain/images/Map.pdf PATC Store: https://potomactrailclub.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/potomactrailclub/giftstore.jsp Music Credit: https://thornandshout.bandcamp.com/album/thorn-shout Connect with Hike: | |||
| Hiking Japan's Shikoku Pilgrimage Trail with Paul Barach | 21 Jan 2021 | 00:49:14 | |
Paul Barach takes us on his 2010 pilgrimage around Japan's Shikoku Island, visiting 88 Buddhist temples on a 750 mile walk around the island. Only knowing a few words in Japanese and minimal research, Paul not only learns a lot about himself but about he generosity and kindness he is met with by those who he encounters along the way. His journey is a good reminder that we need to temper expectations and immerse ourselves in the moment and be part of the journey, no matter the outcome. His memoir "Fighting Monks and Burning Mountains: Misadventures on a Buddhist Pilgrimage" is told with humor and honesty as he navigates through this life changing journey. Connect with Lori: Connect with Hike: | |||
| High Peaks, Northville-Placid Trail and Finding the Heart of the Adirondacks with James Appleton | 14 Jan 2021 | 00:53:38 | |
James Appleton of the 46 of 46 podcast takes listeners into the heart of the Adirondacks where peak bagging, backpacking and adventures await. We'll learn about becoming an ADK46er, backpacking the Northville-Placid Trail, and how you can create your adventure around seasons and outdoor interests. Music outro track "Two Mountains at a Time" from Live at the Fillmore by Pachyderm Connect with Hike: | |||
| Indiana Hiking with Hiker Babes Ambassador Denise Kivett | 07 Jan 2021 | 00:51:48 | |
Denise shares all of the adventures you can have on the trail and the waterways in Indiana. We also chat about Hiker Babes and how the community supports women getting outdoors. Denise recommends places to explore if you're out for a day, an overnight, weekend or even longer backpack. Music outro track "Two Mountains at a Time" from Live at the Fillmore by Pachyderm Connect with Hike: | |||
| Backpacking the Pinhoti Trail with Johnathon Cranston | 25 Dec 2020 | 01:05:14 | |
John takes listeners on his section hike of the Pinhoti Trail. We also talk about section hiking the Appalachian Trail and his hike of the Benton MacKaye Trail. The Pinhoti Trail is a part of the Eastern Continental Trail and the Great Eastern Trail, both very long-distance US hiking trails connecting multiple states. (Wikipedia)" Music outro track "Two Mountains at a Time" from Live at the Fillmore by Pachyderm Connect with Hike: | |||
| The Trans Adirondack Route with Erik Schlimmer | 17 Dec 2020 | 00:52:34 | |
Erik Schlimmer found the Trans Adirondack Route in 2013 and through the Friends of the Trans Adirondack Route has provided support, resources and intel on what is some of the most rugged and challenging hikes in the United States.
Music outro track "Two Mountains at a Time" from Live at the Fillmore by Pachyderm Connect with Hike: | |||
| From Hiking to Trail Running with Gina Lucrezi of Trail Sisters | 10 Dec 2020 | 00:57:38 | |
Gina shares some tips and techniques for those new to trail running or transitioning from hiking to now running on the trail. We chat about gear and the considerations of running a trail. Gina also introduces listeners to Trail Sisters - a community for women trail runners and those who support them. To break through long-standing barriers, Trail Sisters generates educational content and resources, while fostering an inspirational community that encourages self-advocacy and life-long friendships.
Connect with Hike: | |||
| Thru Hiking the North Country Trail with Luke "Strider" Jordan | 03 Dec 2020 | 01:19:35 | |
Luke takes listeners on his journey of being the 4th person to thru hike the North Country Trail in 2013. We chat about the challenges of thru hiking the longest national scenic trail in the United States, logistics around planning for the hike and how he transitioned to a career working with the NCTA. Luke also gives an overview of another long distance trail that is less than a decade old - The Great Plains trail. We talk about the future of that trail and how he was the first person to thru hike it. Connect with Hike: | |||
| On the Road with Author Nathan Pettijohn and Hafa the German Shepherd | 23 Nov 2020 | 00:23:11 | |
On the heels of a breakup, Nathan Pettijohn rents a RV and hits the road for a month long trip in the Pacific Northwest. He takes along his dog Hafa. Lori catches up with Nathan and they chat about life lessons that can be found on the road, including the power of saying yes and how Hafa can teach us to live each day as your best day. Connect with Hike: | |||
| Encore: Latinas Who Hike with Victoria Buitron | 19 Nov 2020 | 00:32:33 | |
Hike shares an encore episode from Season 1, featuring Victoria Buitron and Latinas Who Hike. Connect with Hike: | |||
| Car Camping Tips with Victoria Buitron | 12 Nov 2020 | 01:01:58 | |
Victoria and Lori share their best car camping tips, and stories of their adventures and misadventures. They also chat about safely camping during a pandemic, including things to consider as part of social distancing and being self-sufficient at the camp site. Whether you're new to car camping or been at it for awhile, this episode will make you think about how you can improve your experience at the campground. Connect with Hike: | |||
| Casey "Vegas" Huffman | 14 Mar 2025 | 00:52:06 | |
Vegas comes on to chat about his 2023 thru hike of the Appalachian Trail and how those experiences shaped his current life as guide and started his quest for completing the triple crown in long distance hiking. We talk about trail magic, tramily life, gear, and a lot of lessons learned. We touch on other long distance hikes and thru hikes - including his Sheltowee Trace completion and international hike of the West Highland Way in Scotland. Vegas also shares his prep for tackling the PCT this year and what he's looking forward to as part of his trek. Go give Vegas a follow: Connect with Hike: | |||
| Thru Hiking the Buckeye Trail with Mei-Ling Liber | 05 Nov 2020 | 00:55:08 | |
Mei-Ling shares her experience hiking the Buckeye Trail (BT) as part of a Warrior Expeditions adventure. She also goes into some background of how she set out on a section hike of the Appalachian Trail leading up to doing the BT. We talk about trail towns, the amazing volunteers of the Buckeye Trail Association and what it's like to be a trail angel and trail maintainer. Connect with Hike: | |||
| Introducing Ohio's Buckeye Trail | 29 Oct 2020 | 00:53:21 | |
Andrew Bashaw, Executive Director of the Buckeye Trail Association, gives an overview of the Buckeye Trail. He shares info to consider as you get out for a day hike, section hike or thru hike. We chat about trail towns, trail maintenance and creating a community around the trail that encompasses all generations. Connect with Hike: | |||
| Hiking America's National Scenic Trails with Ryan Bunting | 22 Oct 2020 | 01:01:40 | |
Ryan Bunting, trail name Constantine, takes listeners on his 5 year journey of hiking 7 of the 11 National Scenic Trails. From completing his first long trail thru hike of the Appalachian Trail, then the Triple Crown, and to his most recent hikes in Canada this year - we cover a lot of miles. Ryan also shares how his love of the outdoors community and using great gear led him to start his own company - Elevenskys. Connect with Hike: | |||