Hiking Thru

REBECCA SPERRY aka SOCKED IN

12 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Socked In, known off trail as Rebecca Sperry, was focused last year on her goal of Red-Lining, or Tracing, all the trails of The Whites within 12 mont...

ANDREW & LORA McIVOR aka PROMETHEUS & NOT A MINOR

05 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Prometheus & Not A Minor, known off trail as Andrew & Lora McIvor, arrived at Campo looking like two British tourists and walked into Manning ...

ASHLEY MANNING aka YARDSALE

28 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

YardSale, known off trail as Ashley Manning, has been chasing adventure for a long time. Whether its white water raft guiding or hiking the AT, she's ...

MICHELE SCOTT aka GEEKY GIRL

21 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Geeky Girl, known off trail as Michele Scott, got put through the wringer in 2019 on the PCT and wrote about the experience in her book "A 100 Mile Jo...

EMILY FORD aka EMILY ON TRAIL

14 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Emily On Trail, known off trail as Emily Ford, with her trusty companion Diggins just finished a winter hike on the Ice Age Trail. It started out as a...

KEVIN GROOMAN aka SPACE JAM

31 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Space Jam, known off trail as Kevin Grooman, came to thru hiking from the side...a story he totally tells in this episode. He also fell in love just a...

JONATHAN MAIDMENT aka MONEY MAKER

24 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Money Maker, known off trail as Jonathan Maidment, has raised $250k through Hikes For a Cure for the Alpha-1 Foundation. Along the path to his Triple ...

MEGAN HARMON aka SOCHI

18 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Sochi, known off trail as Megan Harmon, had a dream. To be the first above knee amputee to thru hike the Pacific Crest Trail. And for 600 miles in 201...

DANIEL VORSTER aka TAILS

10 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Tails, known off trail as Daniel Vorster, came from South Africa to hike the PCT last year. Having started in mid-March, he was already on the trail w...

JOSHUA LEUNG aka TAPE

03 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Tape, known off trail as Joshua Leung, is one half of the 2020 PCT duo from Hong Kong known as Duct Tape. He hit the PCT first in 2019, but ran afoul ...

JESS RAECHELLE aka FROSTY

24 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Frosty, known off trail as Jess Raechelle, spent 6 years dreaming and planning about hiking the Pacific Crest Trail before she got her 2020 permit. An...

PAUL BARACH aka SNAKE EYES

17 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Snake Eyes, known off trail as Paul Barach, has hiked a few trails in his day but the Shikoku Pilgrimage Trail is where it all started. A 750 mile tra...

CSABA WINTERS aka DIGNITY

10 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Dignity, known off trail as Csaba Winters, took quite the twisted trail on his journey from Mexico to Canada. In 2019, he found himself at the southe...

NHANDI SINGLETON aka SEA LION

03 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Sea Lion, known off trail as Nhandi Singleton, had a serious case of imposter syndrome when she hit the PCT in 2018. Coming from a background with lim...

CHRISTINE REED aka LADY UNICORN

27 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Lady Unicorn, known off trail as Christine Reed, in her new book "Alone in Wonderland" explores the longer journey we're all on when we come to thru h...

MEREDITH JOHNSON aka ELEVEN

20 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Eleven, known off trail as Meredith Johnson, hit the PCT in 2019 chasing her experiences from the Appalachian Trail. But they are very different trail...

ANDRE & LIAN DE JEL aka MORNINGSTAR & COOKIE MONSTER

13 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Cookie Monster & Morningstar, known off trail as Lian & Andre De Jel, have covered a lot of miles in their 30+ years of hiking. But even with ...

CHRIS PHILLIPS aka MISCHIEF

06 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Mischief, known off trail as Chris Phillips, in November of 2018 slipped on some ice and fell getting water while hiking the AT. He woke up with sever...

MIKE PAPADATOS aka KICKSTAND

23 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Kickstand, known off trail as Mike Papadatos, needed something to shake up his life. So of course, he decided to do a thru hike. But not just any thru...

BECCA BERGSTROM aka LITTLE SKITTLE

16 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Little Skittle, known off trail as Becca Bergstrom, after one overnight camping trip tackled the Pacific Crest Trail in 2019. Launching herself into t...

ZELZIN AKETZALLI aka QUETZAL

09 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Quetzal, known off trail as Zelzin Aketzalli, is the first and only known person from Mexico to complete the Triple Crown. Sneaking in the Hayduke Tr...

JAYSON SHAFFER aka JINX

02 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jinx, known off trail as Jayson Shaffer, had never backpacked before in his life when he found himself at the southern terminus of the PCT. Three day...

ALIZA GOLDBERG aka GOOD FLOW

25 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Good Flow, known off trail as Aliza Goldberg, purposely planned not to plan her 2019 thru hike of the PCT, wanting to experience the trail as she foun...

BEN CRAWFORD aka THE FAMILY

18 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The Family, known off trail as The Crawford Family, hiked the AT together in 2018. They are the largest family to successfully complete the trail, wi...

JOHN SPRANKEL aka JOHN - THE OAHU COASTLINE TRAIL PROJECT

11 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This episode of Hiking Thru Podcast is a little different and it's because of all of you! Your excitement for the trails, your sharing of the agony an...

KATELIN REESER aka EAGLE EYE

03 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Eagle Eye, known off trail as Katelin Reeser, would shoulda been on the PCT with me this year. Instead, she stayed closer to home…adding the Long Tr...

DANA PICA & RYAN BUNTING aka MAGPIE & CONSTANTINE

28 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Magpie & Constantine, known off trail as Dana Pica & Ryan Bunting, joined me for a two perspective take on their thru hike of the Great Divide...

ALINA DRUFOVKA aka ABSTRACT

21 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Abstract, known off trail as Alina Drufovka, had been dreaming about hiking the AT since she was 13. Finally in 2015, she loaded up her pack and set o...

RYAN BUNTING aka CONSTANTINE

14 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Constantine, known off trail as Ryan Bunting, has done quite the trail tour in the last 5 years. From the Big 3 he fell in love then went on a search ...

SAM LEE aka GINGERSNAP

06 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Gingersnap, known off trail as Sam Lee, prepped for this conversation by pulling out the old journals from her 2012 AT thru hike. Which brought the me...

DARRAH BLACKWATER aka DARRAH DID IT

30 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Darrah Did It, known off trail as Darrah Blackwater, really did do it. This summer she got herself onto the Colorado Trail, fears and all, with a litt...

MAX CROOKS & JAYE GROVES aka THE BOSS & PRETZEL

23 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The Boss and Pretzel, known off trail as Max Crooks and Jaye Groves, are simultaneously section hiking both the Tahoe Rim Trail and the Pacific Crest ...

BARNEY MANN aka SCOUT

16 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Scout, known off trail as Scout or Scout & Frodo and sometimes Barney Mann, is known within the thru hiking community for hosting PCT hikers at th...

WILL PETERSON aka SISYPHUS

09 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

­­­­­­­Sisyphus, known off trail as Will Peterson, hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2019 and was supposed to hit the Pacific Crest Trail this yea...

WALLACE WASHINGTON aka STARK NAKED

02 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Stark Naked, known off trail as Wallace Washington, had completed 1182.1 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail when they decided to leave trail due to thre...

MARIE-PIER TREMBLAY aka POPPINS

26 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Poppins, known off trail as Marie-Pier Tremblay, went from thinking she wasn’t the type of person who could thru hike the Pacific Crest Trail to “...

MELANIE HARSHA aka PEANUT

19 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Peanut, known off trail as Melanie Harsha, was introduced to the Appalachian Trail by her mother who has section hiked it for years. So in 2016 she fe...

DANIEL NOGUEIRA aka TRANQUILO

13 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Tranquilo, known off trail as Daniel Nogueira, started his Te Araroa on October 31st of 2019. After a two month covid lockdown, he carried on reaching...

DANNY EYERMAN & MOLLY McDONALD aka SHARKBOY & LAVAGIRL

05 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Sharkboy & Lavagirl, known off trail as Danny Eyerman & Molly McDonald, are hiking the Appalachian Trail in the time of Covid. Having started ...

DOUG LAHER

29 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is going to be a little different. Today’s guest is Doug Laher. He is sharing this story for his son Trevor “Microsoft” Laher who l...

PAIGE PASQUINI aka FIDDLEHEAD

22 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Fiddlehead, known off trail as Paige Pasquini, earned her thru hiking cred on the Appalachian Trail, Colorado Trail, and Long Trail before hitting the...

NATHAN HANKES aka BB

15 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

BB, known off trail as Nathan Hankes, came back from Iraq heart set on thru hiking. Convincing his brother to join him, they SOBO’d the AT in 2009 f...

MANDY BLAND aka PURPLE RAIN

08 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Purple Rain, known off trail as Mandy Bland, began her thru hiking career on the AT. Then moved to the Grand Enchantment Trail and section hikes of th...

ANTHONY EARL aka LAYZER GOAT

02 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Layzer GOAT, known off trail as Anthony Earl, has completed the distance of the Appalachian and Colorado Trails. On the AT, he started out with a 55 p...

CHELSEA FISHER aka PCP

24 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

PCP, known off trail as Chelsea Fisher, knocked out the Appalachian Trail in 2017, the Long Trail in 2018 and the Pacific Crest Trail in 2019. So in t...

SAM LLEVA aka TIGER

17 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Tiger, known as Sam Lleva, did two life changing things in 2019. He thru hiked the Pacific Crest Trail and left trail for awhile to get married. In th...

MIKE STONE aka SNAZZY

10 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Snazzy, known off trail as Mike Stone, was also part of IB TAT’s late October PCT push to the border last year.  So, of course, we have to talk...

CAESAR SANGALANG aka HEAD TRAUMA

03 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Head Trauma, known off trail as Caesar Sangalang, fell into thru hiking quite by accident.  In New Zealand on a work visa, he was lured onto the ...

GRIZEL WILLIAMS aka GRIZ

27 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Griz, known off trail as Grizel Williams, is a strong, fierce LatinX woman one trail away from completing her Triple Crown.  She found in hi...

CAROL COYNE aka CHEER

20 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Cheer, known off trail as Carol Coyne, has 267 miles left to complete her thru hike of the PCT.  Many things factored into her decision to l...

ARIELLE SHIPE aka ARIELLE

13 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Arielle, known off trail as Arielle Shipe, was supposed to start the Pacific Crest Trail on April 30th. I spoke with her a few days before she was to ...

AARON OWENS MAYHEW aka SLING

06 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Sling, known off trail as Aaron Owens Mayhew, decided to solve her mid-life crisis via the Pacific Crest Trail in 2017. Injury had other ideas and 300...

MARI JOHNSON aka TACO SALAD

29 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Taco Salad, known off trail as Mari Johnson, came halfway around the world to take on the Pacific Crest Trail in 2019.  She’s built her br...

ELINA OSBORNE aka TIP TAP

21 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Tip Tap, known off trail as Elina Osborne, arrived at the Mexican Border a year ago almost to the day, faced north and started walking. 137 days later...

SARA KRUGLINSKI aka SOCKS

15 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Socks, known off trail as Sara Kruglinski, started 2018 with a plan to just hike a section of the Pacific Crest Trail during her vacation. Fast forwa...

CHRIS SMEAD

08 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Chris Smead co-directed a documentary called HIGHLINE, which follows the 10 day hike of five friends on the Highline Trail in the northern Utah mounta...

RUE McKENRICK aka RUE

01 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Rue, known off trail as Rue McKenrick, set out in July 2019 on the first scout for a new long trail. The American Perimeter Trail. He plans to finish ...

TIFFANY CHOU aka ARCHIVE

25 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Archive, known off trail as Tiffany Chou, did a thru hikers version of social distancing when she SOBO hiked the PCT last year.   And the sp...

RUSSELL CORFMAN aka RUSSELL

18 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Russell, known off trail as Russell Corfman, hiked the Pacific Crest Trail in 2018 at the age of 58. So I was very, very interested to hear how it wen...

KIM MORSE aka CATWOMAN

11 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Catwoman, known off trail as Kim Morse, hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2018 with her significant other, Turtle. In this episode we visit the pain of t...

JON SCHWARZE aka AIRBORNE

04 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Airborne, known off trail as Jon Schwarze, started his thru hiking career with a yo-yo of the PCT.  For 2020 he’s set his sights on the Gr...

ELAINE BISSONHO aka BRAZILNUT

26 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Brazilnut, known off trail as Elaine Bissonho, is starting her Triple Triple in 2020.  Add to that the TA, Arizona Trail, Oregon Coast Trail as w...

JOHN FLOYD aka SURVIVOR

19 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Survivor, known off trail as John Floyd, kicked off his thru hiking career in 2019 by selling his possessions to finance hiking the AT.  He then ...

LEISEL BAILEY aka GILMORE

12 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Gilmore, though you might also have known her as Back Seat Driver, on the AT, is known off trail as Leisel Bailey. She had completed the AT, JMT and C...

TRICIA CASE aka SKETCH

29 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Sketch, known off trail as Tricia Case, SOBO’d the Long Trail in 2019 to test whether the thru hiking life was for her. Apparently it was a succes...

TYLER & BECCA GOODMAN aka NOMAD & RATTLES

20 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Nomad & Rattles, known off trail as Tyler & Becca Goodman, completed their Triple Crown this summer as a couple. But it was not a straight pat...

JAMIE SIEBOLD aka NURSE BETTY

15 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Nurse Betty, known off trail as Jaime Siebold, was part of the PCT class of 2013.  To stay connected she section hikes, revisiting the Campo to T...

JEFF OLIVER aka IB TAT

08 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

IB TAT, known off trail as Jeff Oliver, found his sobriety in the mountains. His instagram handle SavedByMtns is quite literal and thru hiking has bec...

ANDREW GLENN aka PEANUT

18 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Peanut, known off trail as Andrew Glenn, was fresh off the trail when we spoke and still processing his experience from this summer. He went big, con...

NICHOLE YOUNG aka KARMA

11 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Karma, known off trail as Nichole Young, thru hike of the AT in 2016 and attempt at the Mini Triple Crown in 2017 had to be coordinated around A LOT o...

JADE CABRERA aka DARTH JADER

04 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Darth Jader, known off trail as Jade Cabrera, was one of the adventurers who took on the PCT in 2019. With her tramily, she walked, ran, glissaded an...

ANDY KERMODE

27 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Andy, known off trail as Andy Kermode, hiked the Superior Hiking Trail this summer. 310 miles in 21 days. He didn’t quite get a trail name, but he’...

SARAH DRAMIS aka HAWAII

20 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Hawaii, known off trail as Sarah Dramis, had never experienced mountains cause you know Florida and Hawaii aren’t known for them, before entering th...

JEFF GARMIRE aka LEGEND

13 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Legend, known off trail as Jeff Garmire, took a break from college in 2011 to hike the PCT and figure out his life with gear that his family would bri...

LANI ADVOKAT aka LARRY PART 2

06 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Larry, known off trail as Lani Advokat, is back for another round. This time we dive into the post trail places. Post trail depression is a phrase we ...

WILL ROBINSON aka AKUNA MATATA

30 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Akuna (Akuna Matata), known off trail as Will Robinson, completed his Triple Crown this summer with the Continental Divide Trail, becoming the first A...

JENNIFER MABUS aka STARBURST

23 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Starburst, known off-trail as Jennifer Mabus, solo hiked the PCT in 2018. In this episode, we talk about how and why she maintained her solo-ness on t...

CARROT QUINN aka CARROT

16 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Carrot, known off trail as Carrot Quinn, started this crazy adventure life with a thru hike of the PCT in 2013. Since then she's taken another spin on...

TREVOR PYKE aka CRUNCHMASTER

09 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Crunchmaster, known off trail as Trevor Pyke, developed his love of hiking with his Grandfather section hiking the AT. In 2013 he picked up the pack a...

JACK JONES aka QUADZILLA

02 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Quadzilla, known off trail as Jack Jones, transformed from gamer to thru hiker. In this episode we talk about his adventures on the AT and CDT. Touch ...

KRISTY, ANNETTE & LYNN aka THE WANDER WOMEN

25 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Up & At Em, Pesky and Lost & Found, The Wander Women, are known off trail as Kristy, Annette & Lynn. They have been hiking together for ye...

LANI ADVOKAT aka LARRY

18 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Larry, known off trail as Lani Advokat, packed up her life and hit the PCT in 2017. The year of fire and ice. In this episode we talk about the simple...

TOMMY COREY aka TWERK

11 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Twerk, known off trail as Tommy Corey, having left the PCT in 2017 came back in 2018 to finish what he started. Around Wrightwood, he began posting th...

TYLER LAU aka THE PRODIGY

04 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The Prodigy, known off trail as Tyler Lau, caught the thru hiking bug in 2016 when he hiked the PCT. Or maybe it was earlier when he became part of th...

JOEY LEEN aka THE MACHINE

28 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The Machine, known off trail as Joey Leen, was so excited to start the AT that he hiked 31 miles that first day. And so began the start of the adventu...

SARAH WILLIAMS aka TOUGH

22 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Tough, known off trail as Sarah Williams, set out in 2017 to hike the Appalachian Trail in 100 days. Vlogging daily, she recorded honestly the entire ...

CONNOR PIERCE aka BOLT

14 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Bolt, known off trail as Connor Pierce, hiked the AT to figure out what comes next after graduating with a philosophy degree. Little did he know, the ...

ALEX MASON aka PUFF PUFF

07 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Puff Puff, known off trail as Alex Mason, has been on a 4 year adventure. By the time Jukebox crossed her path on the AT in 2018, she had NOBO hiked t...

MAREK BOWERS aka BALLS

31 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Balls, known off trail as Marek Bowers, started Rawlogy to find a super light weight, environmentally friendly source for recovery balls in order to r...

DERICK LUGO aka MR. FABULOUS

24 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Mr Fabulous, known off trail as Derick Lugo, went from never having hiked before to AT thru hiker in a matter of weeks. In this episode, he regales me...

MICHAEL IVEY aka GRIZZLY

17 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Grizzly, known off trail as Michael Ivey, comes to you from the side of the road outside Sierra City. Going the extra mile, literally, to get receptio...

KYLE O'GRADY aka NAR NAR

10 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Nar Nar, known of trail as Kyle O'Grady, got a late start on the Appalachian Trail in 2018. We talk about the pressure to do the mileage and keep to a...

CRAIG FOWLER aka SCATMAN

03 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Scatman, known off trail as Craig Fowler, fulfilled a 30 year dream when he completed his Triple Crown in 2015. But that was just the beginning. Under...

KATIE HOUSTON & NICK PAVLOT aka OATS & LEGS

26 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In a change from the usual, Oats & Legs spoke with me on a recent zero day on the AT. Known off trail as Katie Houston & Nick Pavlot, they tea...

SCOTT & AIDAN DURKIN aka MR SHOES & KANALKANUT

19 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Mr Shoes & Kanalkanut, known off trail as Scott & Aidan Durkin, did some deep father / son bonding during their 2017 thru hike of the AT. The ...

AMY HUNSUCKER aka SLIDER

12 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Slider, known off trail as Amy Hunsucker, traveled the Appalachian Trail in 2018 with the Northbound Horde... and a plastic trombone.  In this ep...

JAKE RUSSELL & JEN COLLINS aka SUDS & JEN PART 2

05 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This episode continues my conversation with Jen & Suds, known off trail as Jen Collins & Jake Russell. We dig into adventures with North Ameri...

JAKE RUSSELL & JEN COLLINS aka SUDS & JEN PART 1

29 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Suds & Jen, known off trail as Jake Russell & Jen Collins, are approaching their SOBO hike of the PCT this summer from completely different pe...

TOBY & TRISHA PENROD aka TOBY & MCGUIRE

22 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Toby & Mcguire, known off trail as Toby, a chocolate lab mix, and Trisha Penrod, long ass section hiked 900 miles of the AT, from New Jersey to Ma...

CLAYTON BARKER aka CLAY HIKES

15 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Clay Hikes, known off trail as Clayton Barker, started his journey SOBO thru hiking the Appalachian Trail.  And if it ain't broke...well you know...