Looking for some great gifts to give your favorite hiker? Check out our suggestions for the best gifts out there....from coffee to lip balm to the craziest gaiters you can imagine! These gifts show your support and belief in your friend's outdoor dreams! https://campcraft.coffee/ https://cascadewild.com/ https://dirtygirlgaiters.com/ https://www.foodforthesole.co/ https://greengoo.com/ https://www.injinji.com/ https://morselspork.com/ https://ursack.com/ https://lightheartgear.com/ https://henne...
Dec 08, 2020•16 min
Sue started camping as a child. She became very involved in camping with her children and then became the Outdoor Specialist for the Palm Glades GS Council. As her daughters grew up, she moved over to the FL Trail, working as a Trail Master. Her next path went up to the Adirondack Mountains, where she was the Lead Backpack Instructor for 8 years. Once the children were grown and out of the house, she was free to wander up the Appalachian Trail, and this is where her hiking passion became an addi...
Dec 01, 2020•13 min
Tanya Muckelrath is a retired jack-of-all-trades. Seriously. Her professional years have been so eclectic, she doesn’t know what to call herself anymore. She was a teacher and tutor for decades, earning the moniker “CLEP Coach” for helping students give themselves scholarships by utilizing CLEP exams to save time and money before/while attending college. She also worked for the U.S. House of Representatives as a Constituent Services Representative, was the Executive Assistant to the CEO of an ar...
Nov 24, 2020•59 min
Tanya Muckelrath tells how she got her trail name of Parachuting Beaver. It's hilarious! Connect with Tanya at Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parachuting_beaver/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/parachuting.beaver.21 Her website: https://parachuting-beaver.com/ Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at info@traildames.com You can find the Trail Dames at: Our website: www.traildames.com The Summit: www.traildamessummit.com The Trail Dames Foundation: www.tdcharitablefoundation.org Instagram: ht...
Nov 17, 2020•8 min
Zoe describes herself as a mid-life blogger, speaker, and adventure seeker. She set off to walk the UK's longest national trail in 2011, solo and soon realised that despite her many fears of going alone or not being fit enough, she had, in fact, left it way too long. Realising that many women experience the same anxieties and doubts as her, Zoe is now on a mission to encourage more women to head out of their comfort zone and do something that scares them every day. Zoe has written about her firs...
Nov 10, 2020•55 min
When Carla Robertson hiked into Maine for the first time, she had to face ALL her fears in one day. Carla Robertson is an inspirational woman and a life coach. Carla is an Appalachian Trail thru-hiker who discovered a talent for inspiring people through that rich experience. www.livingwildandprecious.com Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at info@traildames.com You can find the Trail Dames at: Our website: www.traildames.com The Summit: www.traildamessummit.com The Trail Dames Foundation: www.tdch...
Nov 03, 2020•16 min
Zoe describes herself as a mid-life blogger, speaker, and adventure seeker. She set off to walk the UK's longest national trail in 2011, solo and soon realized that despite her many fears of going alone or not being fit enough, she had, in fact, left it way too long. Realizing that many women experience the same anxieties and doubts as her, Zoe is now on a mission to encourage more women to head out of their comfort zone and do something that scares them every day. Zoe has written about her firs...
Oct 27, 2020•1 hr 5 min
Zoe describes herself as a mid-life blogger, speaker, and adventure seeker. She set off to walk the UK's longest national trail in 2011, solo and soon discovered that, despite her many fears of going alone or not being fit enough, she had, in fact, left it way too long. Realizing that many women experience the same anxieties and doubts as her, Zoe is now on a mission to encourage more women to head out of their comfort zone and do something that scares them every day. Zoe has written about her f...
Oct 20, 2020•13 min
In this week's Lagniappe, Anna recalls her visit to Mt Ranier's endlessly dramatic Wonderland Trail. Official Park Site - https://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/the-wonderland-trail.htm Fantastic site with everything you need to know to hike the Wonderland Trail - https://www.wonderlandguides.com/hikes/wonderland-trail Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at info@traildames.com You can find the Trail Dames at: Our website: www.traildames.com The Summit: www.traildamessummit.com The Trail Dames Found...
Oct 13, 2020•27 min
Margaret Webster is a writer, a traveler, and a Trail Dame. You can read more of her writing at her blog, Lessons from the Road USA. In her story, read today by Anna, she tells us about her visit to The Wonders of Watkins Glen. Margaret's blog - https://www.lftrus.com/ Watkins Glen State Park - https://parks.ny.gov/parks/142 / Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at info@traildames.com You can find the Trail Dames at: Our website: www.traildames.com The Summit: www.traildamessummit.com The Trail Dam...
Oct 06, 2020•15 min
For our fifth-Tuesday-of-the-month podcast, we brought together a varied panel to discuss what they put in their packs. Our three panelists: Roxanne Schenk - I am married and, together my husband Lynn, I have 6 children, 12 grandchildren, and 3 (step) great-grandchildren. I spent my career working in health care and retired early to help provide care for my aging mother and other family members. Hiking is my way of relieving my stress and the way I recharge. On my second date with my husband, we...
Sep 29, 2020•1 hr 33 min
Kris "Hair Tie" Van Handel lives in Madison, Wisconsin, and is an avid hiker. Her book, Hiking with Hair Tie: Section Hiking the Ice Age Trail, is about her first completion of the Ice Age Trail. Kris is currently working on section hiking the Ice Age Trail for a second time and hopes to be done by summer 2020. She plans to section hike the trail for a third time after her second completion and thru-hike the trail in the future. Kris also published a photography book titled Ice Age Trail Through...
Sep 22, 2020•37 min
In this week's Trail Dames story, Carla Robertson tells us about the tears, the rain, and a voluminous amount of pee in Vermont!! Carla is an inspirational woman and a life coach. She is an Appalachian Trail thru-hiker who discovered a talent for inspiring people through that rich experience. www.livingwildandprecious.com Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at info@traildames.com You can find the Trail Dames at: Our website: www.traildames.com The Summit: www.traildamessummit.com The Trail Dames Fo...
Sep 15, 2020•17 min
In this month's lagniappe, Anna shares her favorite hiking and outdoor podcasts with you all. As you'd imagine, The Hiking Radio Network is featured fairly heavily, but there is plenty of other great stuff to listen to. Try a few of them out! Links- All the best podcasts - https://www.hikingradionetwork.com/ Mighty Blue's show - https://www.hikingradionetwork.com/show/mighty-blue-on-the-appalachian-trail-the-ultimate-mid-life-c/ Jester’s Section Hiking Podcast - https://www.hikingradionetwork.co...
Sep 08, 2020•16 min
Anna shares how a chance meeting on a rainy AT day changed her whole perspective......on hiking and on life! It is amazing what you can learn from a pair of wet socks! Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at info@traildames.com You can find the Trail Dames at: Our website: www.traildames.com The Summit: www.traildamessummit.com The Trail Dames Foundation: www.tdcharitablefoundation.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traildames/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/49722445862/ Hiking Radi...
Sep 01, 2020•8 min
Kim Starr, aka Kool Aid, is a 64-year-old woman with a thirst for life and an energy that knows no bounds!! She lives in Ohio and, upon falling in love with the Appalachian Trail, decided that she wanted to section hike it. Join us as she shares stories of the ups, the downs, and the magic that she found along the way. Kim on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/kim.starr.148 Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at info@traildames.com You can find the Trail Dames at: Our website: www.traildames.com T...
Aug 25, 2020•49 min
Melissa's first backpacking trip holds some important lessons on the value of FUD's, the importance of practicing first, and the cost of enjoying the outdoors. Melissa Zimmerman is an architectural consultant who stumbled into hiking three years ago. (Literally. She really needs to watch for those troublesome tree roots!) Since then, she has widened her experience to include backpacking, car camping, and international trekking. How to Shit in the Woods - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004OR1KWC/ref=...
Aug 18, 2020•6 min
When we left Tami two weeks ago, she was about to head down into the Canyon. Let's find out how it turned out. In 2016, with zero outdoor experience, Tami Brooks decided to hike the Grand Canyon. Aided by a Google search bar and a glass of Cabernet, she made reservations and embarked on a life-changing year reclaiming her life one step at a time. Brooks now works as a freelance travel and lifestyle writer and is currently writing a book about her experience. She is also the creator of the 52 Wee...
Aug 11, 2020•49 min
Kris Van Handel shares her love of the Ice Age Trail by reading an excerpt from her book Hiking with a Hair Tie - Section Hiking the Ice Age Trail Hiking with Hair Tie: Section Hiking the Ice Age Trail - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085RTM4TX Ice Age Trail Through the Seasons - https://www.blurb.com/b/10009633-ice-age-trail-through-the-seasons Ice Age Trail - www.iceagetrail.org . Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at info@traildames.com You can find the Trail Dames at: Our website: www.traildames.c...
Aug 04, 2020•8 min
In 2016, with zero outdoor experience, Tami Brooks decided to hike the Grand Canyon. Aided by a Google search bar and a glass of Cabernet, she made reservations and embarked on a life-changing year reclaiming her life one step at a time! Brooks now works as a freelance travel and lifestyle writer, and is currently writing a book about her experience. She is also the creator of the 52 Weeks 52 Hikes online community. When she's not on the trail or in her kayak, you can find her on her deck plottin...
Jul 28, 2020•51 min
Dana Ballard is a musician, teacher, and thanks to a childhood full of family outings to the Smokies, a lover of the outdoors. Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at info@traildames.com You can find the Trail Dames at: Our website: www.traildames.com The Summit: www.traildamessummit.com The Trail Dames Foundation: www.tdcharitablefoundation.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traildames/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/49722445862/ Hiking Radio Network: https://hikingradionetwork.com...
Jul 21, 2020•11 min
Have you ever been reading a hiking book and gotten a little lost? Or perusing a Facebook group only to find that everyone is using a language that you have never heard? Here is a quick guide to some of the more common trail terms and lingo out there. Give us a quick listen and you will be 'talking trail' before you know it! https://www.litesmith.com/trail-lingo/ https://nuttyhiker.com/hiking101/hiking-terms-jargon/ Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at info@traildames.com You can find the Trail D...
Jul 14, 2020•20 min
Melissa's first backpacking trip holds some important lessons on the value of maps, preparation, and earplugs! And it reminds us all that the very best stories come from some of the less-pleasant hikes! Melissa Zimmerman is an architectural consultant who stumbled into hiking three years ago. (Literally. She really needs to watch for those troublesome tree roots!) Since then, she has widened her experience to include backpacking, car camping, and international trekking. Pinhoti Trail - http://ww...
Jul 07, 2020•12 min
Ever since seeing a play named Brigadoon during high school, Judyth had searched for her own Brigadoon. She grew up spending time out of doors through wild adventures with her vast network of cousins - 54 by blood! Judyth was also a member of the same Girl Scout troop for eleven years and they were known as the camping troop. In 1965 she spent three weeks participating in the Girl Scout Senior International Round-up where over 12,000 girls from all over the world gathered in Farragut, Idaho. Lat...
Jun 30, 2020•59 min
Hiking and camping weren't something El was introduced to as a child but, as an adult, she feels that it has helped her relax. She says, "Hiking feeds my body, mind, and soul". Some of her favorite trails are the Goldmine and Section A of the Billy Goat Trail @ Great Falls in Potomac, MD. and she also enjoys Pine Grove Furnace State Park in Gardners, PA. In general, she says, "I appreciate any trail I get to wander!" El enjoys campgrounds camping and says that while there was a time she would ha...
Jun 23, 2020•51 min
Dana Ballard is a lifelong teacher, nature lover, and trail hiker. She teaches high school orchestra during the day and on the weekends, can be found exploring the parks of Georgia with her best friend, Husky Sura. Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at info@traildames.com You can find the Trail Dames at: Our website: www.traildames.com The Summit: www.traildamessummit.com The Trail Dames Foundation: www.tdcharitablefoundation.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traildames/ Facebook: https://w...
Jun 16, 2020•9 min
Want to clear your mind, lower your blood pressure, and just find a bit more peace in your day? Join us on today's Lagniappe podcast as we talk about Meditation Hikes and how you can make your next walk a deeper one. Stephanie Wright co-hosts Incremental Steps Podcast along with Christine Gautreaux and is co-president of the Gwinnett County chapter of the League of Women Voters. Stephanie is a practicing herbalist and meditation instructor who enjoys facilitating women’s retreats. She was former...
Jun 09, 2020•29 min
Anna shares her story of a hike through the hills, ridgelines, and ravines of the Arusha National Park in Tanzania, Africa. Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at info@traildames.com You can find the Trail Dames at: Our website: www.traildames.com The Summit: www.traildamessummit.com The Trail Dames Foundation: www.tdcharitablefoundation.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traildames/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/49722445862/ Hiking Radio Network: https://hikingradionetwork.com/ H...
Jun 02, 2020•17 min
Ever since she was a small girl growing up in Ohio, Julie has been intrigued by the Appalachian Trail. She and her Dad would have many conversations and dreams about hiking the AT and without her knowing it, the AT climbed into her heart. Julie ended up in Charlotte, NC, and realized that, as an educator with summers off, she could begin work on pursuing her AT dream. So, in 2006, Jester loaded up her pack, put on her boots, and set off on a 2,189-mile journey. For the next 12 summers, she would...
May 26, 2020•1 hr 2 min
Marie is one of those trail fixtures in the Southeast. Gatherings, Rucks, Festivals....you will always see her there, hanging out with the 'we have all hiked a million miles' hikers. She has a zillion trail miles under her belt and spends her free time helping teenaged girls learn about hiking and backpacking. Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at info@traildames.com You can find the Trail Dames at: Our website: www.traildames.com The Summit: www.traildamessummit.com The Trail Dames Foundation: ww...
May 19, 2020•12 min
