Trail Tales - Thru-Hiking & Backpacking
What’s it like to hike and live in the backcountry for 5 months? Host and thru-hiker & YouTuber Kyle Hates Hiking (Kyle O’Grady), who has completed every last step of the Appalachian Trail, interviews other thru-hikers, peak-baggers, and backpackers who are almost as crazy as him. Is life while thru-hiking really as glamorous as the social media stars make it out to be? Is pooping in the woods really that big of a deal? Find out these answers and more on Trail Tales.
Episodes
Sintax77 is BACK on the show, and in this episode we're going over common beginner backpacking mistakes! The reason I'm calling these 'stupid' mistakes is because, well, I'm an idiot and I've made pretty much all of these mistakes at one point or another. Sintax77 is the man, I'm so grateful he came back on the show, and I hope you enjoy! Sintax77 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sintax77
On March 3rd, 2024, my girlfriend experienced a freak accident as we started what was supposed to be an easy hike. Here's the story and what we can learn from it.
For guest/episode ideas, listener feedback, sponsorships, or business inquiries reach out to: trailtalespod@gmail.com
My Gear spreadsheet: https://lighterpack.com/r/9qjh18
BIG FOUR 🤘 Backpack: https://ula-equipment.9xrw.net/x9oX1x My FAVORITE Tent: https://zpacks.com...
Here are 20 things I wish I'd known before I thru hiked the Appalachian Trail. From gear choices, to social choices, to personal choices, there's always room for improvement on the Appalachian Trail, and hopefully this will be able to help YOU if you're planning on hiking the Appalachian Trail in the future. Appalachian Trail.
For sponsorships, business inquiries, or guest/episode ideas reach out to: trailtalespod@gmail.com
Frozen from Outdoor Adventures joins the show to talk about his upcoming thru hike of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT 2024). He previously hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2019, and is now taking his talents to the Pacific Crest Trail. We talk about what he is nervous about, what gear changes he's made, and how he is planning on dealing with the depressing reality that the Pacific Crest Trail will probably catch on fire while he's out t...
Baker is back and in this episode we talk (and disagree) about some of the most OVERRATED types of backpacking gear on the market. At the end of the day everyone is going to have different opinions on what backpacking gear is worth taking, but hopefully this discussion between two thru hikers can help guide your own opinion. What do you think is 'cooler', hammocks or fanny packs?!
Audrey "Glowstick" Payne joins the show to discuss the controversial Twelve Tribes hostel on the Appalachian Trail, also known as the Yellow Deli. Is this group a cult? Are they targeting Appalachian Trail hikers for recruitment? Or is it all being blown out of proportion? We also talk about Audrey's experience thru hiking the Appalachian Trail, John Muir Trail, and much more!
Audrey's NEW book: https://amzn.to/3uHTpm6 Audrey's Y...
Elina Osborne joins the show to discuss her Pacific Crest Trail thru hike, film-making, the Hayduke in Utah, and much more. A HIGHLY requested guest, it was fantastic to finally catch up with her.
Elina on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ElinaOsborne Elina on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elinasborne/
For sponsorships, business inquiries, or guest/episode ideas reach out to: trailtalespod@gmail.com
My Gear spreadsheet: h...
In this solo episode I do an in depth comparison between the Appalachian Trail and Pacific Crest Trail in the following categories; Weather/climate, Views and scenery, Gear differences, Difficulty (Mentally & Physically), Permits, Water, Resupply, Towns, and People. Then, at the end of the episode I tell you which trail I think is better (Appalachian Trail vs Pacific Crest Trail).
Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.yo...
The Appalachian Adventurista joins the show to talk all about her thru hiking of the Appalachian Trail. We talk about post trail depression, what it takes to vlog a thru hike, and at the end she shares a hilarious story about... smut?! You don't want to miss it.
Appalachian Adventurista on YouTube: @appalachianadventurista
Appalachian Adventurista on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/appalachianadventurista/
Thru hiker Hunter Musgrove joins the show, and we go back and forth on our top thru hiking tips for first timers. From very specific hitch hiking tips, to general attitude/vibe tips, we cover it all, and sneak in plenty of stories along the way.
Hunter's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hunterstrip/
Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@KyleHatesHiking Follow me on Instagram 📸: https://www.instagram.com/k...
Fresh off the Appalachian Trail, Maddie from Beer in Beautiful Places joins the show to talk about her hike on the AT, and some of the highs and lows she experienced along the way. One of the highs was floating the Shenandoah River, and one of the lows was a near death experience she had while crossing a dangerous river on the Appalachian Trail in Maine. I highly recommend you check out her channel for a refreshing perspective on t...
Appalachian Trail thru hiker Jessika Poppe is on the show to talk all about the AT, vlogging, being an "influencer" (cringe), meeting/hiking with her boyfriend on trail, and much much more. Jessika quit vlogging in the middle of her thru hike; we talk about why she did that, and we dive deep into how her and her boyfriend met at Appalachian Trail Days 2021.
Jessika's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessikaapoppe/ Jessika's Y...
The 7 WORST Controversies DIVIDING the Hiking Community... Where do you stand? (with Baker Bokorney)
Let's break down some of the biggest controversies in the hiking community right now. Should SOS button's REALLY be available for everyone to use? Is thru hiking with kids really a good thing? And should we be allowed to access the mountains at all? These are some of the things Baker and I wrestle with in this episode. I want to hear your thoughts on ALL of this stuff, so please leave a comment with your feedback.
Kristian Morgan has gone for the Appalachian Trail Fastest Known Time/Speed Record FOUR times now. In 2022 he got the second fastest time in the world, and in 2023 he set the FASTEST time for the Appalachian Trail Southbound. We talk about how he achieved this, and we also stray into the more controversial topic of hikers vs ultrarunners.
Kristian's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristianultra/ Kristian's Website (Ultrarunn...
Garage Grown Gear is your ONE-STOP-SHOP for all things Ultralight/Cottage gear: https://www.GarageGrownGear.com/
I Suck at Hiking (Michael McInally) joins the show to discuss his 2024 Appalachian Trail Thru Hike attempt. He will be vlogging on his YouTube channel, and in this episode I gave him the chance to pick my brain about the trail. I was brutally honest in all my answers. Will he make it all the way to end of the Appalachia...
Garage Grown Gear is your ONE-STOP-SHOP for all things Ultralight/Cottage gear: https://www.GarageGrownGear.com/
Two Appalachian Trail thru hikers go through the 10 most overrated parts of the Appalachian Trail. It's all for fun folks, and so of course Baker Bokorney joins the show to complain about our favorite trail. Is McAfee Knob worth the hype? Is the 100-mile Wilderness really all that remote? Is Mount Washington really that...
Go to https://www.GarageGrownGear.com/ for up to 25% off with sitewide deals! Don't miss their Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales!
Will Peterson set the unsupported Fastest Known Time for the Vermont Long Trail in 2023. It's an incredible feat of athleticism, grit, and determination... but was it even worth it? Is an effort like this even fun, or is it just nothing but pain? What happens when someone else comes along and breaks your r...
Tayson Whittaker, founder of Outdoor Vitals joins the show. After getting to know Tayson at PCT Trail Days I've come to really respect him and his company. However, I have a big problem with Outdoor Vitals gear which I confront Tayson about. I also wanted to get to the bottom of those annoying Outdoor Vitals YouTube ads we've all been seeing for years now!
Outdoor Vitals on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OutdoorVitals
Eric Hanson was nearly thrown in JAIL for committing a crime in Grand Canyon National Park. What was his crime, you ask? Camping out of bounds. Yes, you read that correctly; the federal government tried to make an example out of him and get him locked up, simply because he is a public figure on TV and on YouTube. In this episode he explains the FULL STORY of what happened.
Eric Hanson has his own YouTube channel and, until recently...
Rainer Golden is the producer & director behind Miranda Goes Outside! In this episode we discuss WHY Miranda Goes Outside parted ways with REI, what it's like backpacking with (and working with) Miranda, and at the end Rainer shares a story that almost landed him in a Kyle Hates Hiking mystery video.
Miranda Goes Outside on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MirandaGoesOutside
Miranda Goes Outside on Instagram: https://www.insta...
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