john muir trail

Today we have interviewed the winner from Val d'Ran by UTMB Katie Schide (CDH) and Germain Grangier (VHA) who is one of the power couples of our sport.

We also have a fresh interview with Lootie who is about to finish her run across the whole world.

Finally we caught up with Joe McCongaughy (stringbean) who set an impressive unsupported FKT on the John Muir Trail.

Contact us at info@ultrarunning.news

Andrew Steven shares how a fitness journey, grieving the loss of his mother and being on the John Muir Trail transformed his life.

After 30 years of feeling stuck, Andrew Steven attempted to get in shape for a month-long backpacking trip through the Sierra Nevadas. Looking at his career for inspiration, Andrew finds an unlikely revelation by imagining his life’s narrative arc. But after a death in the family, he found himself in a story of repeating loss.

Trail Weight chronicles Andrew’s journey as he narrates a year of his life. Through audio diaries, recordings from the trail, and conversations with authors, experts, Olympians, and more, Andrew takes listeners through an eye-opening adventure of self-discovery.

Connect with Andrew/Listen to Trail Weight:
Web: trailweight.co
Twitter: @trailweight
Instagram: @trailweight

Connect with Lori:
Instagram: @thehikepodcast
Twitter: @thehikepodcast
Blog: thehikepodcast.wordpress.com
Facebook: @thehikepodcast
Email: hikepodcast@gmail.com

Special thank you to Tim, Leisel, Greg, Julie, Colin, and Aaron for being patrons! 

Connect with Hike:
Instagram: @thehikepodcast
Twitter: @thehikepodcast
Facebook: @thehikepodcast
Email: hikepodcast@gmail.com

The last two days in September are as challenging as anything yet on Jim’s John Muir Trail trip, given the cold and icy conditions. A long final day will see him over Trail Crest, the highest pass on the JMT, and down into Whitney Portal. But Mount Whitney may be out of reach.

After backpacking together for four days, Jim and friends part company in Independence, where Jim spends two nights at a hotel. In between he has a zero day and goes to Bishop for some gear. Once on the JMT again, he goes over Forester Pass, and on toward Crabtree Ranger Station. The weather is getting cold, and he’ll need to make a trade-off between making progress and staying in a protected area.

Jim has been backpacking alone for many days now as he approaches the midpoint of his southbound John Muir Trail trek. He looks forward to meeting friends who have come into the backcountry from the east, with a resupply.

Concerned about staying on schedule to arrive at the meetup point on the planned day and time, Jim faces challenges in the days leading up to their coming together.

Jim cuts it close in trying to catch the boat to Vermilion Valley Resort. At VVR he has a day and a half of rest. He enjoys a real bed and food from a restaurant, and gets a re-supply of provisions. After leaving VVR, he soon completes the first half of the John Muir Trail.

Back in Mammoth Lakes, his staging area for the JMT backpack, Jim makes final preparations. He has choreographed things so that, for the first segment, 75 miles from Tuolumne Meadows to Vermilion Valley Resort, he’ll alternate two nights in the backcountry with one night in civilization. This offers him multiple chances to “opt out”, for whatever reason, should he need to.

Meet Alison Wright and Sarah Castle of the Cairn Project. Two inspiring women and friends who are doing great things to support young girls and women become confident adventurers.

They share their story of how during planning for a thru hike of the JMT they founded the Cairn Project. The Cairn Project has a mission of supporting and encouraging young women to get outdoors through community funded grants. They also share their own personal experiences and how connected they are to the things that their organization supports.

There are many ways to get involved with this unique organization and help their mission. You can donate, start your own fundraiser and also become a 2019 Ambassador.

2019 Ambassador applications are available through February 15th. Find our how to apply here.

Follow the Cairn Project on Instagram

Connect with Lori and Hike on social media


Music track "Two Mountains at a Time" from Live at the Fillmore by Pachyderm, used under the Creative Commons license. 

Connect with Hike:
Instagram: @thehikepodcast
Twitter: @thehikepodcast
Facebook: @thehikepodcast
Email: hikepodcast@gmail.com