Explore every episode of the podcast Hikes and Mics Podcast
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mission Therapy on the Arizona Trail | Chappy | Program Director, AZT Veterans Engagement | 10 Nov 2025 | 00:54:23 | |
🎙️ A Conversation on Healing, Service & the Power of the Trail Just in time for Veterans Day, Chappy joins us — Program Director for the Veterans Engagement and Trail Stewardship Program with the Arizona Trail Association. After years working outreach for REI, Chappy stepped into the role during a difficult stretch post-pandemic, and has since built the program into something he calls "mission therapy," giving veterans purpose through hands-on trail maintenance and stewardship rather than recreation alone. Chappy talks through the meaning behind carrying the American flag in honor of fallen brothers and sisters in arms, a powerful moment speaking alongside young Marine Vine Bahe at Window Rock on the Navajo Nation, and his favorite stretch of the 800-mile Arizona Trail, the aptly-named Wilderness of Rocks on Mount Lemmon. We also get into Operation Freedom March — a statewide effort running through July 2026 to celebrate America's 250th birthday while getting veterans out on the trail — his philosophy that "the trail may not always give you what you want, but it always gives you what you need," and a full round of season "this or that" questions, including some new backpacking-specific ones. A powerful conversation about healing, service, and hope — and how much the trail truly gives back. Learn more about the AZT Vets Program and support Operation Freedom March, a statewide effort running through July 2026 to honor America’s 250th birthday and empower veterans through the outdoors. Check out the episode links below to get involved, hike a segment, or donate. Episode Links: This episode was Produced by Jordyn Smith, follow her on Instagram @jordyn.journeys Follow us on Instagram, @Hikesandmics AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| A 13-Year Father-Son Legacy: Grant & John on National Parks, Cowboy Hats & Growing Up on the Trail | 03 Nov 2025 | 00:55:57 | |
🎙️ Chasing National Parks: A Father–Son Quest 🥾🌄 Grant returns to the podcast for a special first — joined by his dad John for the very first time. Recorded live at a snow-dusted overlook on Washington Pass in North Cascades National Park, this conversation traces 13 years of father-son national park trips that started when Grant was a senior in high school and have since taken them everywhere from Glacier to the Tetons to Zion. John shares his old-school system of laminated, hand-written trail notes ("John Trails," as Grant calls them) that saved the day when unexpected snow derailed their plans, and the two look back on standout moments — a windswept pass at Glacier where Grant's cowboy hat blew into a canyon, a champagne toast at the Grand Canyon's North Rim honoring Grant's late grandmother, and a 16-hour pandemic-era road trip to the Grand Tetons. We also get into how their roles have shifted over the years, John's youngest son Spencer and the joy of introducing him to local hikes, Grant's own podcast Grateful Galavanters, and a full round of season "this or that" questions — switchbacks or straight up, sunrise or sunset, loop or out-and-back. A heartfelt reminder that the best views are the ones you share, and that it's never too late to start a family hiking tradition. 🎧 Tune in for a beautiful reminder that the best views are the ones you share — and that it’s never too late to start a family hiking tradition. Episode Links: This episode was Produced by Jordyn Smith, follow her on Instagram @jordyn.journeys Follow us on Instagram, @Hikesandmics AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| 100 Moose Encounters & a Bobcat at 40 Yards | Mark | Wildlife Photographer in Utah's Wasatch | 01 Sep 2025 | 00:48:19 | |
🦌 Moose Encounters & Mountain Stillness with Mark🌲📸 🎙️ Mark joins us this episode — wildlife photographer, storyteller, and something of a moose whisperer along Utah's Wasatch Front. He picked up a camera back in middle school to get closer to his brother and dad, but hiking only became central about three years ago, after a breakup sent him looking for an escape. Now he's on trail four or five times a week and has logged well over a hundred moose encounters. Mark talks through the bobcat he spent minutes eye-to-eye with at 40 yards near Lake Desolation, and the early mistake with a bull moose at ten yards that taught him to read the signs — the lip licking, the ears going back — and give wildlife the space it's owed. He shares his year-long project photographing Lake Blanche through every season, why Paintbrush Canyon to Lake Solitude in the Tetons is the best hike he's ever done, and finally winning a Wave permit after two years of applying (and driving through a blizzard to get there). We also get into his goal of 250,000 feet of elevation gain in 2025 and why the number matters less than what it's taught him about his own body, the hours he spends in a hammock at Lake Mary, how Zen and Alan Watts reshaped how he sees the trail, his hope of selling prints at local farmers markets, and a full round of season "this or that" questions. Unforgettable wildlife encounters, trail reflections, and the belief that hiking is more than a hobby — it's a sacred act of becoming. Episode Links: This episode was Produced by Jordyn Smith, follow her on Instagram @jordyn.journeys Follow us on Instagram, @Hikesandmics AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| S04 - Episode #02 - Bekka | 09 Oct 2023 | 00:50:58 | |
In today's episode we’re talking to an incredible individual whose been an amazing supporter of the podcast and has done some amazing hikes across California and the Southwest, her name is Bekka and you can follow her on Instagram @i.am.bekka AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| Caminatas y Micrófonos - Episodio en Español #04 - Noé Álvarez | 06 Oct 2023 | 00:43:10 | |
En nuestro cuarto episodio, tenemos un invitado especial que también es de mi pueblo de Yakima, es el autor de un increíble libro, Spirit Run: A 6,000-Mile Marathon Through North America's Stolen Land, su nombre es Noé Álvarez y puedes seguirlo en Instagram @noealvarez509 En este episodio hablamos con Noé de su juventud en Yakima y de la importancia que tuvo la naturaleza en su juventud, y de su participación en las maratones épicas llamadas Peace and Dignity Journeys (Viajes por la Paz y la Dignidad), que tienen como objetivo renovar los intercambios culturales a través de Norteamérica. Y cómo cambió su opinión de la naturaleza y la comunidad después de terminar su maratón. AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| S04 - Episode #01 - Sasha | 02 Oct 2023 | 00:43:06 | |
And in today's Season 4 premiere episode we’re talking to an amazing individual who you may know for his hidden gem features on his Instagram and most recently on his new website, offthebeatentravel.com, his name is Sasha and you can follow him on Instagram @sasha_traveler AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| Caminatas y Micrófonos - Episodio en Español #03 - Juan Marcos | 29 Sep 2023 | 00:52:12 | |
En nuestro tercer episodio, tenemos otro invitado que regresa al podcast desde el sureste, su nombre es Juan Marcos, y comparte sobre sus increíbles experiencias de senderismo a través del sureste de EE.UU. y Ecuador, asegúrese de seguirlo en Instagram @junglemarkadventure AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| S04 - Bonus Episode #07 - Joshua from Foretold Coffee Co. | 25 Sep 2023 | 00:53:54 | |
As we put the finishing touches on our Season 4 premiere episode, this episode was too good not to share at the start of the Fall hiking season so we’re sharing this bonus episode with Joshua from Foretold Coffee Company on a Monday, you can follow them on Instagram @foretoldcoffeeco In today's episode, Joshua shares with us the inspirational origin story of Foretold Coffee Co, some of his favorite hikes in and around Washington, and he breaks down how their different varieties came to be, including my personal favorite, Mexican Honey, which once you hear the story behind it, you’ll appreciate it as much as I do. And Joshua and the team at Foretold Coffee Company are offering Hikes & Mics listeners a special offer of 10% off your 1st bag of coffee when you use the promo code “HikesMics10” at check out. Episode Links: Foretold Coffee Co. Website Use Promo Code “HIKESMICS10” at checkout for 10% off your first bag of coffee Follow us on Instagram, @Hikesandmics This episode's music was created by Ketsa, follow him on Instagram @Ketsamusic AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| Caminatas y Micrófonos - Episodio en Español #02 - Jonathon | 22 Sep 2023 | 00:47:30 | |
En nuestro segundo episodio, tenemos un invitado increíble del sur de California, su nombre es Jonathon, y comparte con nosotros sus increíbles experiencias de senderismo a través de California y el suroeste, asegúrese de seguirlo en Instagram @__juanflowers__ AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| S03 - #13 Episode - Sherri | 18 Sep 2023 | 00:37:24 | |
And in today's Season 3 finale we’re talking to an amazing individual who has called home to two of my favorite places, Arizona and Hawaiʻi. Her name is Sherri and you can follow her on Instagram @ninjahikergirl AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| Caminatas y Micrófonos - Episodio en Español #01 - Dani | 15 Sep 2023 | 00:41:59 | |
Bienvenidos todos al Podcast de Caminatas y Micrófonos, Yo soy Iván, y juntos nos embarcamos en un viaje semanal, conectándonos con increíbles senderistas de todos los rincones de los Estados Unidos y más allá. Para el Mes de la Herencia Hispana/LatinX estamos estrenando cuatro episodios en español desde el 15 de Septiembre hasta el 13 de Octubre presentando algunos increíbles senderistas compartiendo sus increíbles aventuras en la naturaleza. AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| S03 - #12 Episode - Geno | 11 Sep 2023 | 00:52:42 | |
On today's episode we’re heading back to Northern California and talking with Geno about his amazing adventures in and around Northern California’s beautiful landscapes. You can follow him on Instagram @ggonzales1981 AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| S03 - #11 Episode - Suzanne Roberts | 04 Sep 2023 | 00:39:53 | |
On today's episode we have a special guest, Author and Thru-Hiker, Suzanne Roberts. Who's releasing a New Edition of her book, Almost Somewhere - Twenty-Eight Days on the John Muir Trail. This new edition includes an afterword by Suzanne looking back on the ways both she and the John Muir Trail have changed over the past thirty years, as well as book club and classroom discussion questions and photographs from the trip. Check out the episode show notes to pre-order your copy today. You can follow her on Instagram @suzanneroberts28 Follow us on Instagram, @Hikesandmics AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| Two Overnights to Three Thru-Hikes | Melanie "Poppi" | PCT, Colorado Trail & Arizona Trail Hiker | 25 Aug 2025 | 01:02:41 | |
🎙️ From First Steps to Thousands of Miles with Melanie 🌲🥾 Melanie — known on trail as Poppi — joins us this episode. A Portland-based hiker with a master's in nutrition, she's completed the Pacific Crest Trail, Colorado Trail, and Arizona Trail, which is remarkable considering she'd only done two single overnights before setting out on the PCT in 2023. Melanie talks through her flip-flop PCT year, when heavy Sierra snow sent her north instead — a decision that ended up dodging every wildfire, giving her a nearly empty Sierra, and closing out her hike with a 2 a.m. climb to a stunning sunrise on Mount Whitney with ten strangers in frosted sleeping bags. She shares how her nutrition background shapes her resupply strategy (real macronutrients, whole foods, and the protein coffee ritual she stops for every single day), plus stacking Fourteeners on the Colorado Trail, unexpected snow and storms on the AZT, and the mindset she keeps returning to: the storm always passes and nothing is permanent. We also get into the origin of her trail name, hiking with her Aussie Butters and the dog treat business she runs, her "summer of loops" around Rainier and St. Helens, an eye on the CDT and mountaineering, her advice for anyone intimidated by a thru-hike, and a full round of season "this or that" questions. If you've ever dreamed of a thru-hike but felt intimidated, Melanie's story proves that courage, community, and curiosity can carry you farther than you think. Episode Links: This episode was Produced by Jordyn Smith, follow her on Instagram @jordyn.journeys Follow us on Instagram, @Hikesandmics AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| S03 - Bonus Episode #06 - Justice from Connect and Hike | 01 Sep 2023 | 00:42:15 | |
We have a new bonus episode this week featuring an amazing guest from Austin, Texas. His name is Justice and you can follow him on Instagram @justiceharker In today's episode, Justice shares with us what it's like moving from Eastern Canada to the great state of Texas. He also shares with us some of his most memorable hikes in and around Texas and the Southwest. Since moving to Austin, he’s been able to build up an amazing hiking community through the Connect and Hike outdoor social club. Their aim is to make hiking and camping accessible, while promoting physical and mental well-being through inclusive hiking experiences that connect individuals with nature and community. To learn more about how to get involved be sure to check out the episode show notes for all the links. AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| S03 - #10 Episode - Bort | 28 Aug 2023 | 00:47:37 | |
And on today's episode we travel down under to chat with Bort as he shares his experiences both in the States and in Australia. While we recorded this episode while he was still living in Australia, he recently moved back to the States, on Instagram you can follow him, @drbortedwards This episode's music was created by Ketsa, follow him on Instagram @Ketsamusic AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| S03 - #09 Episode - Rue McKenrick from the American Perimeter Trail | 21 Aug 2023 | 01:00:18 | |
On today's episode we Rue McKenrick, the Creator and Executive Director of The American Perimeter Trail, a 14,000+ mile trail that follows the perimeter of the Contiguous United States, you can follow him on Instagram, @ruemckenrick During our chat with Rue, we learn about how his love for the outdoors as a child has catapulted him in exploring our beautiful country, Rue shares with us how after completing the Triple Crown of Hiking the seed for The American Perimeter sprouted and 10+ years later, he’s building a wonderful community across the country to help continue to grow the American Perimeter Trail Conference. AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| S03 - Bonus Episode #05 - Em | 18 Aug 2023 | 00:47:47 | |
We have a new bonus episode this week featuring an amazing guest from Colorado, her name is Em and you can follow her on Instagram @emily_goes_exploring AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| S03 - #08 Episode - Leilah | 15 Aug 2023 | 00:48:29 | |
And on today's episode we are heading back to Pennsylvania and talking to Leilah about her incredible journey in hiking and backpacking around the Northeast, you can follow her on Instagram, @leilah.grace.adventures AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| S03 - #07 Episode - Allie & Zack | 07 Aug 2023 | 01:01:48 | |
And on today's episode we are going international as we head up North to Canada to speak with our first hiking couple to come on to the podcast, the husband and wife team of Zack & Allie. You can follow them on Instagram, @henderson.adventures AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| S03 - Bonus Episode #4 - Justin from Just Trek | 04 Aug 2023 | 01:09:12 | |
Welcome to our latest bonus episode featuring Justin aka Justroc from @Just.Trek an outdoor inspired podcast, hiking group, indie apparel brand, and blog. The platform aims to inspire, motivate, and elevate people to a higher state of well being. Elevation is their recreation. Episode Links: AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| S03 - #06 Episode - Mike | 31 Jul 2023 | 01:03:05 | |
And on today's episode we have an amazing guest whose on an extraordinary journey to reach the highest points both domestically and abroad, his name is Mike and you can follow him on Instagram @highpointmike AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| S03 - #05 Episode - Daniela | 24 Jul 2023 | 00:50:19 | |
On today's episode, our amazing guest, Daniela, shares with us her amazing hiking and travel experiences both in the states and abroad, make sure to follow her on Instagram @dannimanti AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| S03 - #04 Episode - David | 17 Jul 2023 | 00:42:08 | |
And on today's episode, we’re heading back out to the Northeast and Upstate NY with our guest, David, make sure to follow him on Instagram @davidtrestick AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| 1,000 Summits & a Broken Ankle at 996 | Brett Marciasini | Peak Bagger & Great Basin Explorer | 18 Aug 2025 | 00:45:59 | |
🎙️ Peak Lists, Family Trips & 1,000+ Summits with Brett ⛰️ Brett Marciasini joins us this episode — peak bagger, hunter-turned-hiker, and the dad behind @thehuntindaddy. He got into peak bagging in 2018 almost by accident, tired of showing up to hunting season out of shape, and it's since taken over: he's now past 1,000 lifetime summits, has finished all 63 Tahoe Ogul peaks, 91 of the 115 Great Basin Peaks, and every one of Nevada's 17 county high points. Brett talks through what makes Nevada peak bagging so unique — the technical part isn't the climb, it's surviving the old mining roads to get there — and the strange satisfaction of opening a summit register and finding nobody's signed in for three years. He shares the ankle break at 996 peaks that sidelined him for months and forced him to cancel his 1,000th summit celebration, plus the trip to Ecuador where he went five for six on massive volcanoes, including a 19,000-foot sunrise on the crater rim of an active Cotopaxi and a Chimborazo attempt turned back by wind so strong it throws baseball-sized rocks. We also get into hiking with his 14-year-old son (already near 500 peaks and starting to outpace him), the arrowheads and ghost-town artifacts he keeps stumbling on, his dream of Nevada land near Elko, and a full round of season "this or that" questions — narrow ledges or creek crossings, sun on your back or wind in your face. An inspiring conversation about grit, family, and finding beauty in the places few others go. Episode Links: This episode was Produced by Jordyn Smith, follow her on Instagram @jordyn.journeys Follow us on Instagram, @Hikesandmics AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| S03 - Bonus Episode #3 - Kevin from Park Life | 14 Jul 2023 | 00:44:55 | |
Welcome to our latest bonus episode featuring Kevin from Park Life, a brand dedicated to the great outdoors. Their mission is simple: to inspire and empower everyone to embrace the Park Life. By encouraging people to venture outside, visit breathtaking National, State, and Local Parks, and actively protect these natural wonders, Park Life is making a positive impact. AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| S03 - #03 Episode - Alison | 10 Jul 2023 | 00:47:09 | |
And on today's episode, we have an incredible guest. While currently based out of SoCal, Alison takes us on an amazing journey around her home country of Spain. To see some of the incredible photographs from her previous and recent hiking adventures, make sure to follow her on Instagram @risingsummits AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| S03 - #02 Episode - PJ | 03 Jul 2023 | 00:49:05 | |
And on today's episode, we have an amazing guest. Get ready to travel around the globe as we chat with PJ. If you want to keep up with his amazing travel and hiking adventures, make sure to follow him on Instagram @pj.forgione AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| S03 - #01 Episode - Anna | 26 Jun 2023 | 01:03:50 | |
And on today's Season 3 Premiere, folks, we have a truly exciting guest. Get ready to be inspired as we welcome the incredible Anna, known to many as Magic on the AT. If you want to keep up with her inspiring journey, make sure to follow her on Instagram @annamckinney22. AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| S02 - #33 Episode - John Mark | 12 Jun 2023 | 00:43:23 | |
We have an exciting guest on the Season 2 Finale episode. His name is John Mark also known as Jungle Mark on Instagram and you can follow him @junglemarkadventure AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| S02 - #32 Episode - Juan Pablo | 05 Jun 2023 | 01:04:08 | |
We have an exciting guest on today’s episode. His name is Juan Pablo also known as JP and you can follow his adventures on Instagram @pct.data AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| S02 - #31 Episode - Melissa | 29 May 2023 | 00:48:43 | |
We have an amazing guest from the North Shore of Minnesota on today’s episode. Her name is Melissa and you can follow her adventures on Instagram @northshoreexplorermn AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| S02 - #30 Episode - Elise | 22 May 2023 | 00:52:57 | |
We have an amazing guest on today’s episode. Elise has not only participated in the 52 Hike Challenge but she is also a 52 Hike Challenge Leader, as well as a Certified Hiking Guide, you can follow her adventures on Instagram @hike_explore_recharge AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| S02 - Bonus Episode #2 - Cindy from 48 Peaks Hike for Alzheimer's | 19 May 2023 | 00:55:25 | |
Our newest bonus episode is with Cindy from 48 Peaks Hike for Alzheimer's. Established in 2013, each year hikers climb the 48 4,000 footers in the White Mountains of New Hampshire in the quest to end Alzheimer’s and dementia. In one big collective effort, they’re climbing to the tops of NH's 4,000 footers and beyond to raise funds and awareness for all those affected by Alzheimer's and other dementias. One team for each peak, with the Alzheimer's cause driving it all. To learn more follow them on Instagram @48peaksalz and be sure to check out all the links in the episode show notes for more information and resources about Alzheimer's and dementia.
Alzheimer’s Association Links:
Books about the White Mountains:
Follows us Instagram, @Hikesandmics AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| S02 - #29 Episode - Julie & Sara | 15 May 2023 | 00:55:25 | |
We have two amazing guests on today’s episode. We have best friends Julie & Sara on the podcast, you can follow their adventures on Instagram @folkloreadventures AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| No One Walks the Trail Alone | George "Keeper" Eshelman | Army Veteran & Subject of The Keeper | 11 Aug 2025 | 00:54:16 | |
🎙 No One Walks the Trail Alone We sit down with George Eshelman — U.S. Army veteran, three-time Appalachian Trail finisher, and the real-life subject of the award-winning film The Keeper. In 2016, after losing his best friend, George set out on the AT carrying over 300 name tapes of fallen brothers and sisters, intending to honor them at the summit of Katahdin. He didn't expect the trail to save his own life along the way. George talks through the chain of small human connections that changed everything — the tape company, the post office, the hostel owners, a cantankerous Vietnam veteran at a shelter who asked him a question he couldn't shake — and the moment behind a tree near Rainbow Stream where he realized no one walks the trail alone. He shares how the AT helped him confront PTSD, why he believes veterans need to drop the tough-guy guard, and the honesty of a hard night in 2024 when nearly a hundred missed calls proved the message all over again. We also get into the making of The Keeper, from journals to screenplay to award-winning film, the trail legends and hostels featured in it, why he's kept his phone number public since 2016, and a full round of season "this or that" questions. A raw, generous conversation about resilience, healing, and the role the outdoors can play in saving lives. 📺 The Keeper is streaming now on Prime, Tubi, and YouTube. ⚠️ Content Warning: This episode contains candid discussions of suicide, PTSD, and sexual assault related to military service. Some stories may be distressing. Please listen with care and take breaks if needed. If you're a veteran in crisis — or anyone in need of support — help is available. Dial 988 and press 1 to reach the Veterans Crisis Line, 24/7. You are not alone. Episode Links: This episode was Produced by Jordyn Smith, follow her on Instagram @jordyn.journeys Follow us on Instagram, @Hikesandmics This episode's music was created by Ketsa, follow him on Instagram @Ketsamusic AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| S02 - #28 Episode - Beth from The Bench Project | 08 May 2023 | 00:48:09 | |
We have a great guest on today’s episode. She is the Founder of The Bench Project, a Non-Porfit hoping to inspire and nurture the human spirit by enabling connection through a shared experience: one bench at a time. Her name is Beth and you can follow her on Instagram @thebenchproj AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| S02 - Bonus Episode #1 - Austin | 05 May 2023 | 00:41:05 | |
Our first bonus episode is with my friend Austin aka Stinny, who I met in Hawaiʻi. You can follow him on Instagram @austinzeller Episode Links: AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| S02 - #27 Episode - Riley | 01 May 2023 | 00:56:13 | |
We recorded this week’s episode prior to our guest starting his PCT journey in April 2023, his name is Riley and you can follow him on Instagram @riley.seeholzer AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| S02 - #26 Episode - Sarah | 24 Apr 2023 | 01:10:01 | |
I’m so stoked to share this episode with you all, the Hawaiian Islands hold a special place in my heart and I’m excited to have our first hiker on the podcast whose living in Hawai‘i, her name is Sarah and you can follow her on instagram @_zerb AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| S02 - #25 Episode - JB & Mike - The Rugged Outdoorsmen | 17 Apr 2023 | 00:53:57 | |
We have an amazing father and son duo on today’s episode, JB & Mike have been showcasing the beauty of the Southwest on their Instagram feed, you can follow them @theruggedoutdoorsmen AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| S02 - #24 Episode - Erica | 10 Apr 2023 | 00:53:57 | |
We have an amazing guest on today’s episode, Erica has created an amazing hiking community both Facebook and Instagram, the PNW Happy Hikers & Backpackers, you can follow on Instagram @pnwhappyhikers AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| S02 - #23 Episode - Megan | 03 Apr 2023 | 00:59:13 | |
We have an amazing guest on today’s episode, her name is Megan and you can follow her on Instagram @smoky.mountain.soul AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| S02 - #22 Episode - Karina | 27 Mar 2023 | 00:52:45 | |
We have an amazing guest on today’s episode, her name is Karina and you can follow her on Instagram @pnwyogi_ AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| S02 - #21 Episode - Tami | 20 Mar 2023 | 00:58:13 | |
We have an amazing and inspiring guest on today’s episode, her name is Tami and you can follow her on Instagram @tamionthetrail AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| S02 - #20 Episode - Casey | 13 Mar 2023 | 00:46:37 | |
We have an amazing guest on today’s episode, his name is Casey and you can follow him on Instagram at @the_hiking_fool AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| Taking the Trip Alone: Maddie on a Breakup, 63 National Parks & Choosing Herself | 04 Aug 2025 | 01:20:56 | |
🎙️Bears, Breakups & Big Views with Maddie of @nomaddiie🐻⛰️ 🎙️ Maddie joins us this episode — solo traveler, outdoor content creator, and aspiring wildlife biologist working toward visiting all 63 U.S. National Parks in her 2016 Toyota Corolla. Her page started almost by accident, made just so she'd stop flooding her friends' feeds with trip photos, and then the algorithm found her. Maddie talks through the breakup that became the unexpected start of her solo travel journey — taking the road trip she'd planned with someone else, alone, and rediscovering the "little gremlin forest girl" she'd lost track of. She shares finally summiting Angel's Landing exactly one year to the day after winning a permit she couldn't use, beating an incoming monsoon down by about 60 seconds, and the intense solo bear encounter at Tokopah Falls in Sequoia, where a bear charged her twice and she stood her ground with trekking poles overhead. We also get into her coordinates tattoo and why Sequoia feeds her soul, catching the Yosemite Firefall in February, why elk calves are hidden (not abandoned) in early summer, building her own first-aid kits, nature's role in her mental health, an unapologetic case for raspberry Uncrustables as essential trail gear, and a full round of season "this or that" questions — narrow ledges or creek crossings, sun on your back or wind in your face. A vulnerable, funny, and real conversation about choosing yourself, chasing big views, and protecting the places we love. Episode Links: This episode was Produced by Jordyn Smith, follow her on Instagram @jordyn.journeys Follow us on Instagram, @Hikesandmics This episode's music was created by Ketsa, follow him on Instagram @Ketsamusic AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| S02 - #19 Episode - Bink | 06 Mar 2023 | 00:56:30 | |
We have an amazing guest on today’s episode, her name is Bink and you can follow her on Instagram at @adventuresofbink AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| S02 - #18 Episode - Justis | 27 Feb 2023 | 00:18:29 | |
We have an amazing guest on today’s episode, his name is Justis, you can follow him on Instagram at @pnw.backpacker AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||
| S02 - #17 Episode - Haley | 20 Feb 2023 | 00:57:02 | |
We have an amazing guest on today’s episode, her name is Haley, you can follow her on Instagram at @haleyheath & @thereroutedfamily AllTrails+ Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership! Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app) Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. | |||