The HiiKER Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

AI (more specifically, Generative AI) is on a sharp rise. With so many industries anxiously adapting it in order to keep up with trends in technology, the outdoors community has held back for the most part. With so much yet to be discovered from AI, it is only right that an industry that prides itself on trust and safety of its community, doesn't quickly integrate this somewhat untamed technology. But is it now time for companies like HiiKER to look to AI as an aid to helping more people get outdoors and building their confidence?

The HiiKER team discuss the rise of AI in the outdoors industry. We talk about the positive and negative implications of it if there is a wider adaption across the industry and debate the risks that come with it.

Join the conversation - this podcast is recorded live each week as part of our weekly community stream. You can join our facebook community discussion here - https://www.facebook.com/share/eYgJxXHbDujNBThA/

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The Art O’Neill challenge has long-been on Irish mountain-dwellers calendar. 

Hikers and ultra-runners gather in the depths of winter, at night to complete a grueling 60km course 

I say course, but there is actually no official route. 

Not only are participants facing into the darkness, 

but they also have to self-navigate over open mountains with almost no actual trails to use. 

Some might say those that run the route are lunatics for running in those conditions. 

The runners might be looking back at the walkers with awe as they continue in the bleak winter night. 

So why are they doing this? Why Am I doing this?? 

Last year, I myself took part in the challenge as a runner. Unfortunately, I dropped out early…

This year, I’m going again with the sole purpose of completing it! 

The more time I have spent with this challenge in my head, the more fascinated I became with the history of it. 

Who was Art O’Neill? 

Why is it named after him? 

Normally when a race is named after a person, it usually means that person is not around anymore! 

Turns out Art hasn’t been around for a couple centuries. 

I’ve wanted to do a podcast about the Art O’Neill challenge for a while, but it wasn’t until I came across my guest, that I felt we could do a good job of it. 

Jane Casey is a fellow hiker and content creator from Wicklow. 

Over the past few months, she has been documenting her curiosity around Ireland on social media. 

She offers bite-sized history lessons about things that we all walk by unknowingly everyday. 

And in a country like Ireland that is steeped in History and folklore, she has plenty of subject matter to get through. 

When I introduced Jane to the subject of Art O’Neill and the challenge, she was excited to be involved. While Jane is not a historian, she does her research well and came to the show prepared! 

So if you’re taking part in this years challenge or you’re just a curious Casey like Jane, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Follow Jane Casey 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/janecasey.ie

TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@janecasey.ie

Find all the maps you need for the Art O'Neill challenge

https://hiiker.app/purchases  

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Cal Dobbs is a trans-man athlete from America. Having already completed the coveted "Triple Crown" of thru-hiking (The Pacific Crest Trail, Appalachian Trail & Continental Divide Trail), Cal is now taking on a whole new challenge- running across the USA. Starting on the West coast in California and finishing up in Florida on the East coast, Cal is using this monumental challenge to shine a light for the Trans community in America - in particular the southern states, where Trans people face some of the harshest treatment.

Cal dials in from Arizona after just completing his run across California in roughly 12 days. Thats over 300 mile in that time!

Here are some links where you can support Cal and the charities he represents

Patreon: patreon.com/CalDobbs

Website: caldobbs.com

Latest fundraiser: https://equalityarizona.org/transcontinental

Instagram: @cal_hikes

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdSdibSJIzMZf37Wa_zAidg

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Wesley Trimble previously joined us on the show discussing his work with the American Hiking society. But Wesley's own adventure story is quite interesting. Despite being born with Cerebral Palsy, Wesley was encouraged by his parents to live a life of adventure. From an early age, he was already hiking up the highest peaks in colorado (the 14ers - mountains that reach an elevation of over 14,000ft). This lead him to completing the goal of climbing all 54 of these peaks in Colorado. As well as this amazing feat he has thru-hiked the PCT and the Colorado trail.

Now as a father, Wesley is adapting to family life and viewing and feeling the sense of adventure a different way.

On the show, we discuss Wesley's life of adventure and defying the odds as well as the triumph and tragedy surrounding his completion of climbing all 54 14ers in Colorado.

You can learn more about Wesley's life on his youtube channel - https://youtu.be/2_tNXjeKIaQ

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Sonny Mazzullo is the Education Manager for Wild Montana - an organisation that works to protect the wild places in The state of Montana and inspire people to become stewards for the land they live on, off of, and use for recreation.

You can learn more about the work that Wild Montana does at https://wildmontana.org/our-work/what-we-do/

You can also find thousands of amazing hiking trails in Montana over on HiiKER - https://hiiker.app/trails/montana?utm_source=acast

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Get offline access to over 24,000 hiking trails from around the world on HiiKER: The essential app for hikers worldwide. Use Promo code HIIKERPOD to get 20% off premium packages at checkout.

Kellie Flowers is the Senior Marketing and Communications Manager for Volunteer for Outdoors Colorado. The work of VOC includes trail management and development, as well as engaging the public to empower individuals to become stewards for the land that they cherish.

You can find out more about the work that Kellie and VOC do over at www.voc.org

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After seeing a family member with a massive love for hiking and the outdoors go though a tough battle with health issues, Paul Clarke started a charity event to support those in need of vital health services. Thus the Lugmo challenge was born.

11 years later and over €240,000 raised for charity, Lugmo is becoming a key date in the Irish hiking calendar.

Check out more about Lugmo over on the instagram page - https://www.instagram.com/lugmo_challenge/

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On our 50th an Final episode for 2022, we are joined by one-half of the Blues Brothers that hiked the Appalachian Trail back in 1986, H Shindle. After hiking the trail, the self confessed couch exerciser is getting his trail mojo back by hiking a bunch of trails all over the US and internationally, including Ben Nevis, Kilimanjaro and his native Tuscarora Trail. The latter is the trail he currently sits as committee chair under the banner of the Potomac Appalachian trail club. The PATC is responsible for the maintenance of some 1200 miles of trail, including 200 miles of the Appalachian trail.

Eoin shoots the breeze with H and talks about the changes in the AT over the past 30 years and the future of thru-hiking in the US.

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The American Hiking Society is a national organization that works to support hiking and the nationwide network of trails around the United States of America. Organizing events such as National Trails Day® and Hike The Hill® as well as their regular programs to promote trail advocacy and maintenance, the AHS is truly committed to its mission to "empower all to enjoy, share and preserve the hiking experience".

In this episode, Eoin speaks with Acting Executive Director and Senior Development Director, Heather Klein Olsen, Senior Director for Programs and Advocacy, Tyler Ray and Communications and Creative Director, Wesley Trimble. We dive into the various programs and events that AHS runs as well as a vision for the future of hiking in the US.

Find out more about the American Hiking Society here - https://americanhiking.org/

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Michael Quinn is a hiker, hillwalker and content creator from the west of Ireland. He talks with Eoin about his own mental health struggles and the impact that hiking and hillwalking have had on his life.

Check out Mike's content across his social media channels and Youtube

https://www.instagram.com/mountain.mikes_adventures/

https://www.youtube.com/@MountainMikesAdventures

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