01. Appalachian Trail Besties Talkin' Trail, Bears, Nutrition (or lack thereof) & Friendship

Today’s episode is Part 2 of my Mount Everest Base Camp Trek Travelogue from May of 2018. If you haven’t yet listened to Part 1, I highly recommend starting there so you can catch up on the journey so far, as I travel from to Kathmandu to Namche Bazaar with a group of five fellow New York City based photographers.

This episode covers days 8 through 18, as we continue up and across the Sagarmatha National Forest, all the way to Base Camp, and back down, stopping in different villages and teahouses along the way. If you’ve already listened to Episode 1, thank you so much! I’ve gotten some lovely feedback about the format and am excited to share the conclusion with you today.

And if you happened to hear it back when it was first released and have been eagerly awaiting this follow up, I sincerely thank you for your patience! Podcasting has been a fun and creative way for me to share outdoor adventures and stories with you, but it’s just one part of my greater Girl Gotta Hike universe. While I fully intended to pop out this second installment the following week, I found myself both booked up for the foreseeable future with guided trips and photo gigs, and bogged down with the boring behind-the-scenes business stuff that eats away at my best intentions.

While six er.. seven months may have slipped by between that last recording and this one, the sentiment remains the same -- I’m so stoked that you’ve tuned in to head back to the hills with me and hear about the second half of this Base Camp Adventure!

 

Gossamer Gear — use code “GIRLGOTTAHIKEGOSSAMER” for 15% off your first purchase at GossamerGear.com

Check out GG’s amazing backpack lineup here:
Vagabond Jet (25-Liter)
Mariposa (60-Liter)
Gorilla (50-Liter)
G4-20 (42-Liter)
Kumo 36 (36-Liter)


1-Hour Coaching call with Click – use code “EXTRAHELP” for 15% off three or more
sessions at girlgottahike.com


Anjali’s Cup Turmeric Blends — use code “GIRLGOTTAHIKE” for 10% off your cart at anjaliscup.com

Camera Voyages travel company

Kancha The Last Sherpa video by William Vazquez

Kancha Sherpa Foundation

Nirvana Home, Namche Bazaar

Himalayan Rescue Association

Kids of Kathmandu

Today’s episode is a bit of a departure from the usual. I’m going to take you back in time to the beginning of Girl Gotta Hike, or actually, before the beginning. Living in New York City, it’s all too easy for me to get tied into the day-to-day hustle and while I often dream of heading out on long hikes, it’s been the rare occasion that I’ve been able to step out of the fast lane for an extended break.

In the summer of 2017, I had become an officially licensed Outdoor Guide. I hadn’t quite worked up the courage to lead my own hikes yet, and my website was a series of blog posts from my John Muir Trail thru-hike from the year prior. But that December, the neon sign for my next adventure started flashing right in front of my eyes.  I got an invitation to join a small group of photographers on trek up to Mount Everest Base Camp, and in a few short months, I found myself traveling halfway around the world with William Vazquez, photographer and founder of Camera Voyages, plus four other new York city based photographers.

And it was five years ago this week that we reached Mount Everest Base Camp, at 17,598 feet above sea level. The journey to get there has been taken by many before us and many since, but walking amongst the highest mountains in the world was unbelievably special, and somehow, despite the lack of oxygen in the air, I had enough reserves to write down my daily  experience along the way. 

This episode covers the first 7 days of my trek, from Katmandu to Namche Bazaar. Part two will be headed your way next week.


Anjali’s Cup Turmeric Blends — use code “GIRLGOTTAHIKE” for 15% off your cart at anjaliscup.com

Gossamer Gear — use code “GIRLGOTTAHIKEGOSSAMER” for 15% off your first purchase at GossamerGear.com

Check out GG’s amazing backpack lineup here:
Mariposa (60-Liter)
Gorilla (50-Liter)
G4-20 (42-Liter)
Kumo 36 (36-Liter)

Camera Voyages travel company

Into Thin Air, by Jon Krakauer

Everest, 2015 movie

Kancha Sherpa Foundation

Nirvana Home, Namche Bazaar

Today we’re talking all things thru-hiking on a super special Q&A episode featuring three New York City-based hikers, who are all aspiring to hike the Appalachian Trail this year! Alyssa, Micaela, and Haley have participated in many Girl Gotta Hike day hikes, snowshoe excursions, and weekend backpacking trips over the last couple of years, and it’s been a blast getting to explore the outdoors with them. Hiking the Appalachian Trail had a huge impact on my life, so I was stoked when I learned that they were all independently gearing up to take their backpacking to the next level and give this thru-hiking thing a go!

Escaping regular life to embark on a five-to-six-month journey by foot is no easy feat, and there’s no right or wrong way to prepare for it. There’s a lot to consider in the lead up, and these future hikers had some questions about what to wear, what to eat and how to stay safe out there. To help set them up for success, I invited everyone to gather upstate in the Catskills, and enlisted two of my most favorite thru-hikers and regular podcast guests, Kelley “NoSeeUm” Blosser and Lauren “Woodchuck” de la Vega to weigh in on the lessons they’ve learned along the way.

No matter if you’re a newbie to the backpacking scene or a seasoned thru-hiker, this episode is sure to teach you something, or at the very least make you laugh along with us. So go ahead and grab a snack, your favorite brew and settle in for some trail talk!

Show Notes for Episode 26 :
Anjali’s Cup Turmeric Blends — use code “GIRLGOTTAHIKE” for 15% off your cart at anjaliscup.com

Gossamer Gear — use code “GIRLGOTTAHIKEGOSSAMER” for 15% off your first purchase at GossamerGear.com

Check out GG’s amazing backpack lineup here:
Mariposa (60-Liter)
Gorilla (50-Liter)
G4-20 (42-Liter)
Kumo 36 (36-Liter)

1-Hour Coaching Call with Click – use code “EXTRAHELP” for 15% off three or more sessions at girlgottahike.com

Previous thru-hiking themed episodes:
Episode 1 – A.T. Trail Besties Talkin’ Trail
Episode 13 – Talkin’ Trail with Woodchuck, NoSeeUm & Click
Episode 17 – The Slackpack Series with Sprout, Woodchuck, NoSeeUm & Click
Episode 19 – Liz Forkel, Fitness Coach & Future Thru-Hiker
Episode 24 – Kelley “NoSeeUm” Blosser on the PCT

Follow these hiking adventurers on Instagram:
@alyssa.on.the.at - Alyssa
@kkbgotgame – Kelley “NoSeeUm” Blosser
@westmountainguideco – Lauren “Woodchuck” de la Vega

On today’s episode, I go for a hike in the Catskills, with local artist and ceramicist extraordinaire, Cheyenne Mallo. Cheyenne and her partner Zac handmake functional pottery such as mugs, bowls and dishes that feature topographic map-imagery of mountains, hiking trails and rivers out of their home studio. I’ve been a big fan of Cheyenne’s style ever since I first laid eyes on one of her mugs back in 2017. As someone who is drawn to all things hiking maps and coffee-drinking, I certainly fall right into her target market, and have been happily adding her pieces to my kitchen cabinets ever since. My fan-girling got a major boost last summer, when I got to chat with her in person at an event in the Catskills and find out just how much she beams with mid-western friendliness.  
 

During this conversation we talk about her love for hiking and her connection to her surroundings, her artistic process, the importance of residency programs in the arts, as well as some of the challenges and joys of being a small business owner. It was a true pleasure to head out for a walk alongside Cheyenne in the very landscape that inspires her art!

Discount Links:

Anjali’s Cup Turmeric Blends — use code “GIRLGOTTAHIKE” for 15% off your cart at anjaliscup.com

Gossamer Gear — use code “GIRLGOTTAHIKEGOSSAMER” for 15% off your first purchase at GossamerGear.com

Check out GG’s amazing backpack lineup here:
Mariposa (60-Liter)
Gorilla (50-Liter)
G4-20 (42-Liter)
Kumo 36 (36-Liter)

Cheyenne Mallo can be found at:
@cheynnemallo on Instagram
Cheyenne Mallo Pottery website
Cheyenne Mallo on ETSY

Other info:
Ashokan Quarry Trail info from Catskill Mtn. Club
Olive Library – Ashokan Reservoir Photo Collection
Map of land taken for Dam – From Olive Library Collection
PeakFinder App
NYNJTC Maps – New York New Jersey Trail Conference

NEW! Get yer Girl Gotta Hike hats here!

On this episode, I get a chance to catch up with my good friend and regular Podcast guest, Kelley “NoSeeUm” Blosser, at the halfway point of the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail! Kelley’s been making her way north from the Mexican border toward the Canadian one for the last few months, and now by the time this episode is airing, she’s almost halfway through Washington State and nearly finished already! 

During our conversation she talks about what it’s like to finally be on a journey that was over two years in the making. We chat about how her pre-conceived notions of what she thought the experience would be like stack up to what it’s actually like to be out there and doing it, day after day after day. She talks about the different types of topography she’s traversed, how her body is holding up and how she’s adapted what she’s carried (and what she’s eaten) to fit the demands of the terrain. 

While I was lucky enough to tag along for the first 100 miles of Kelley’s trip, I was not able to head back to California to interview her in person for this episode. Instead, I caught up with her over zoom, while she was on a rare night off in a hotel with good wifi!

Useful links:

Gossamer Gear Discount — use code “GIRLGOTTAHIKEGOSSAMER” for 15% off your first purchase at GossamerGear.com

Check out GG’s amazing pack lineup here:
Mariposa (60-Liter)
Gorilla (50-Liter)
G4-20 (42-Liter)
Kumo 36 (36-Liter)

Kelley "NoSeeUm" Blosser can be found at:
@kkbgotgame on instagram

Find more info about the PCT:
Pacific Crest Trail Association

NEW! Get yer Girl Gotta Hike hats here!

 

Hello and welcome to Episode 23!


This episode sounds a bit different than usual, because I’m the one who’s answering questions, while guest host Alexandra Kenin is the one asking them! Alexandra is the founder of Urban Hiker SF, an urban hiking tour company in San Francisco and author of two guidebooks, Urban Trails: San Francisco, and Urban Trails: East Bay. She is super passionate about getting out and exploring cities by foot, and she also happens to be a big fan of Girl Gotta Hike!


Well I’m a big fan of hers too – in fact I interviewed her back on Episode 9 of this podcast – so when she proposed the idea of interviewing me during a recent visit to Brooklyn, though I was a bit nervous, I just couldn’t say no!


When I started this podcast, I assumed that my listeners would mostly consist of those who get to come out for a hike with me in person. On trail, I’m often answering questions about how I got into guiding and sharing snippets of my thru-hiking adventures, so my podcast goal was to talk less about me and highlight other women who are rockin’ their outdoor passions instead!

But it turns out that so many of you listeners, and especially those that are new, come from locations that are much further afield than my New York City-based circle, and until Alexandra pointed it out to me, it hadn’t really occurred to me that you might want to learn some of the history and details about how I got into the outdoors too! 

So many thanks to her for the invite, and I hope you enjoy our walk and talk together in Prospect Park!


Useful links:

Gossamer Gear Discount — use code “GIRLGOTTAHIKEGOSSAMER” for 15% off your first purchase at GossamerGear.com

Check out GG’s amazing pack lineup here:
Mariposa (60-Liter)
Gorilla (50-Liter)
G4-20 (42-Liter)
Kumo 36 (36-Liter)

 
Melissa "Click" Goodwin can be found at:

Girl Gotta Hike - Website

@girlgottahike - Instagram

Facebook -  @GirlGottaHike

Guest Host Alexandra Kenin can be found at:

@urbanhikersf  - Instagram

Urban Hiker SF - Website

Facebook - @UrbanHikerSF

Twitter - @UrbanHikerSF

Trip Advisor - Urban Hiker SF - Day Tours

Urban Trails: San Francisco - guidebook to the trails of San Francisco

Urban Trails: East Bay - guidebook to the trails of Oakland, Berkeley, Freemont, & more! 

On this episode I go for a walk in Pine Hill with Alex McClain, a Catskills 3500 peak completionist, Long Path End-to-Ender and outdoor apparel designer. Alex’s outdoor adventures began as a child, hiking and camping with family in her home state of Indiana, but it wasn’t until she moved to New York City to pursue a career in fashion design, that she began to notice how spending time in the outdoors became essential for both her mental health, and her creativity.

 Like many carless New Yorkers, Alex utilized regional public transit to get her out of the city and into the woods and soon found herself hiking even further upstate, summiting all the Catskill 3500 peaks and section hiking all 357-miles of New York State’s Long Path.

 Throughout our conversation, you’ll hear how Alex managed to fit all of this adventuring into some very short weekends, how spending so much time on trail inspired her to become a trail maintainer, and how getting furloughed during the pandemic, actually allowed for her to land a dream job as a sock-designer for Darn Tough! We also go deep on what it takes to make a good sock and how wearing what you love can play a key role in your enjoyment of the outdoors. 

Useful links:

Gossamer Gear Discount — use code “GIRLGOTTAHIKEGOSSAMER” for 15% off your first purchase at GossamerGear.com

Link here to check out GG’s Vagabond Jet Backpack

@regretlessred on Instagram

Darn Tough - the best hiking socks!

Catskill 3500 Club - Stewards of the Catskills

NYNJTC - New York New Jersey Trail Conference

Hoosier Hill - Indiana’s High Point!

On today’s episode I head up to East Harlem for a chat with Jasmine Guadalupe, founder of The Hood Hikers, a hiking and outdoor adventure company based right here in NYC! The Hood Hikers creates a safe space in nature for all Black and Brown folks, regardless of gender, income bracket or any other divider. While everyone is welcome on her hikes, the Black and Brown experience is at the core, allowing participants to enjoy the outdoors on their own terms. 

A self-described “Bronx-bred, 80s baby of Puerto Rican descent,” Jasmine was blessed with being able to escape the bustle of the big city as a kid, spending many summers upstate, exploring the woods of her grandparent’s property in central New York. Fast forward through law school and a demanding schedule as a litigation attorney, she was re-introduced to her love of hiking in April 2020, during the early days of the pandemic. Those first outdoor adventures were so therapeutic for her, she knew she needed to help her fellow city-dwellers overcome the obstacles of getting out into nature too, so she got her Guide License and boom, The Hood Hikers was born.

Through the magic of social media (and having some hikers in common), we’d been following each other for a while, but this was Jasmine and my first meeting IRL!  And while we were gonna go out for a walk together, the weather proved inhospitable, so we simply switched gears and recorded at Jasmine’s apartment instead. Thankfully, one thing us New York based guides know how to do well is pivot!

Useful links:

Gossamer Gear Discount — use code “GIRLGOTTAHIKEGOSSAMER” for 15% off your first purchase at GossamerGear.com

Link here to check out GG’s Vagabond Jet Backpack

The Hood Hikers - website

@thehoodhikers on Instagram

@thehoodhikers on TikTok

@thehoodhikers on Twitter

@thehoodhikers on Facebook

@thehoodhikers on YouTube

The Hood Hikers video / Timberland All For Nature Nature For All

Guess what y’all? This is the 20th episode of Girl Gotta Hike the Podcast, whoop – whoop! It seems like with every new episode and every new interview, this podcast actually inspires me to want to get outside and adventure more, and I hope that it’s been doing the same for you!

On this landmark episode, I go for a day hike in Denver with long-distance backpacker, author, fellow podcaster, and fellow New York State native, Juliana Chauncey, trail name, Chaunce. Many of you may recognize Juliana’s voice as the co-host of Backpacker Radio, the crème-de-la-crème of backpacking podcasts. Juliana’s been hosting BPR alongside my long-time trail buddy, Zack “Badger” Davis, ever since its inception, 4 years ago. But she’s been a part of the greater theTrek.co family for even longer, when, in 2017, she became the popular backpacking website’s first vlogging contributor during her Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike. 

Post PCT, Juliana’s gone on to traverse the Appalachian Trail, the Colorado Trail, and the John Muir Trail, among others, and has kept herself busy in non-hiking-seasons by editing videos, writing a guidebook, raising Harper, (her cutie-pie Australian Shepherd), and oh yeah, keeping down a 9 to 5. 

Throughout the episode, we talk about how she got interested in the outdoors to begin with, what brought her to Denver, how she wrote her book, “Hiking From Home: A Long Distance Hiking Guide for Family and Friends,” at a Starbucks in just one month, and a new podcast project she’s got coming our way, which, let me tell you, sounds like it’s going to be nothing short of  amazing!

Useful links:

Gossamer Gear Discount — use code “GIRLGOTTAHIKEGOSSAMER” for 15% off your first purchase at GossamerGear.com

Link here to check out GG’s Vagabond Jet Backpack

@juliana_chauncey on Instagram

@juliana_chauncey on TikTok

Hiking From Home: A Long Distance Hiking Guide for Family and Friends on Amazon

Backpacker Radio

theTrek.co

William F. Hayden Park on Green Mountain, Lakewood, CO

Melissa recently had the absolute honor of guiding Liz Forkel on a 5-day backpacking trip. Liz is a personal trainer, fitness coach and owner of LizFit, a fitness center in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Nearly seven days a week, she helps her clients find their way to a fitter and healthier lifestyle by leading them in small group classes, personal training sessions and nutrition consultations. She works side by side with them to help raise their confidence and reach their fitness goals, but like many small business owners and busy entrepreneurs, it’s rare for her to be able to take some time out for herself.

Liz has had thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail as an item on her bucket list for nearly 30 years now, and with a milestone birthday approaching next June, she has decided that 2022 is her time to attempt it! But setting aside your actual business and only form of income for a 6-month trip on trail isn’t a decision made lightly. While she is starting with a base fitness level that is unparalleled, and has every intent on success, she’d done no actual backpacking up until a few weeks ago, so she knew she needed to seek out a trusted source to help show her the ropes. A google search gratefully brought her to Girl Gotta Hike, and after a couple of zoom planning sessions, Melissa was stoked that Liz decided to choose GGH to be her guide. We spent 5 days and 52-miles together from New York to Massachusetts, hiking the entire Connecticut section of the Appalachian Trail.

What follows is their post-hike convo. They started recording just after they reached the Mass border in order to catch her in the moment – feeling accomplished and proud but not too far removed from their 5 days and 4 nights, (some of them rainy and cold), out there. Liz is super insightful about her time on trail, and at almost 60 years old, proves that there’s no time like the present to fufill a dream!

SHOWNOTES AND USEFUL LINKS:

Gossamer Gear Discount — use code “GIRLGOTTAHIKEGOSSAMER” for 15% off your first purchase at GossamerGear.com

Link here to check out GG’s Vagabond Jet Backpack

LizFit – Instagram

LizFit - Website

Appalachian Trail Conservancy

AMC - Connecticut Chapter