Her Side of the Trail: A Hiking Podcast

It's been an amazing year recording and sharing the stories of 24 incredible women. Although Her Side of the Trail is ending (for now- who knows what the future holds), you can still follow along with the women from previous episodes on their social media and websites. Also, to fill the void, check out the podcast Outdoorsy Women + BookPod hosted by Christine Reed. Thank you for your support this...

Have you ever been on a hiking trail and wondered what the designer was thinking when they placed the trail? Landscape architect Sarah Walter, owner of Penn Trails, shares the process of designing, developing, and finishing the trail. She also talks about universal access trails (and how they differ from ADA accessible trails). Learn more about Sarah at trailsthatrock.com/sarah-walter

Lauren does a quick recap of the first year of Her Side of the Trail.

Emily Zarnow was your typical day-hiker in Southern California. Then one day, she got to experience backpacking (though she wasn't the best prepared) and it changed her! She's climbed Mount Whitney with her brother and eventually began solo backpacking around California. Learn more about Emily and her website Hikeology-LA at trailsthatrock.com/emily-zarnow

As the weather warms up, the ticks come out! Hikers should know how to avoid ticks, what to do if they are bitten, and the signs and symptoms of common tick-borne diseases. Not the most glamorous topic, but still an important one!

Tory Mather is back! And this time, it's to talk about her brand-new book, Natural Scenic Wonders of Pennsylvania. Tory shares about the research and writing process and visiting all of the cool places in Pennsylvania. Learn more and purchase the book at trailsthatrock.com/tory-mather-book

Lauren shares her thoughts on the responsibility of social media content creators and sharing locations of trails and other outdoor spaces.

If you love dogs and being outdoors, this could be the line of work you've been dreaming of! Jennifer Hartman of Rogue Detection Teams works with dogs to sniff out information about endangered animals worldwide. Her work has taken her to Bhutan, Vietnam, and all over the United States. She describes what traits they look for in the dogs they adopt from rescues and their human counterparts as well...

Lauren encourages others to get out and hike (or do other things they are intimidated to do). You don't have to be perfect your first time on the trail!

What's it like to hike in Alaska? Well, for starters, don't forget your bear spray! Trail guide Kierre Childers talks about what it's like to live and hike in Alaska and what inspired her to start her company Revel Treks & Tours. Learn more about Kierre and company at trailsthatrock.com/kierre-childers

Lauren talks about the trending social media topic, Alpine Divorce, and ways you can protect yourself.

Backpacker and travel photographer Gwyneth Manser shares some of her favorite hiking trails in the Pacific Northwest, including must-dos for first-time visitors to the region. Learn more about Gwyneth and where to follow along with her and her wife's adventures at trailsthatrock.com/gwyneth-manser

Lauren shares some quick winter hiking tips to keep you safe as you get out on the snowy trails.

Kendall Concini shares some of the best hiking trails in Maryland (yes, Maryland!), including options that are both kid-friendly and not-so kid-friendly. Kendall also talks about her new children's book series that focuses on mental health in a way that's easy for kids to understand. Learn more about Kendall and where you can purchase her book at trailsthatrock.com/kendall-concini

Social Trails Episode 2: Lauren celebrates Black History Month by featuring 7 black women hikers and their respective social media accounts. These include: @blackhikersexplore, @planetdiyor, @blackhikingqueen, @phillyhikingbeauties, @dinedowd, and @bri_nice_bri_kind.

Halle has been a backpacking guide for the past 4 years and shares her expertise on this episode. Halle shares how to determine the best trail to try out backpacking if you're new to the sport, what kind of gear you should have (and whether you should purchase, rent, or borrow it), and tons of tips! Whether you've never backpacked before or are interested in learning something new, this episode is...

Social Trails Episode 1: Lauren reacts to the comments people leave when creators share "Leave No Trace" posts on social media and shares some of the science behind packing out your food waste.

Laura Tolbert describes the good, the bad, and the ugly of hiking the Appalachian Trail with seven kids, ages 7 to 18 (and her husband, too!). She talks about the planning process (they started talking about doing the trail when she was pregnant with her youngest), how they managed to take the time off work and school, and all of the mishaps and fun things along the way. Learn more about Laura and...

Lindsey Bybee has lived in 5 different countries, including Germany, Ukraine, and Turkey. She shares her experience hiking in Europe and the major differences from hiking in the USA. Lindsey also shares some of her favorite trails, a few mishaps, and more. Learn more about Lindsey, where to follow her on social media, and more at trailsthatrock.com/lindsey-bybee. 

What's it like recording a podcast for the first time ever? Lauren shares her thoughts and some silly outtakes about her first season of Her Side of the Trail. Listen to past episodes and learn more about each guest on trailsthatrocl.com/podcast.

Breaking stereotypes and changing cultural norms is not what Alexandrie Adebayo set out to do when she created her Instagram account, Black Hikers Explore . Instead, her goal was to show black families (and really everyone) that they belong in the outdoor space and to offer opportunities and tips to get their kids outside. Lauren talks to Alexandrie about her childhood, why she focuses on getting...

Hikers who are also book lovers, this episode is for you! Lauren talks with Erin Burke from Flying Off the Bookshelf (https://flyingoffthebookshelf.com/) as she shares her top picks of non-fiction and fiction books about hiking and the outdoors. This list is packed with great recommendations, so you'll want to take notes! Find the full list and show notes at trailsthatrock.com/erin-burke

What's it like to hike with a chronic illness? Christine Reed from Ruggedoutdoorswoman.com opens up about her experience of being diagnosed with POTS and learning how to manage the symptoms so she can continue to push herself to do long-distance backpacking and hiking. She also talks about her two books, Alone in Wonderland and Blood, Sweat, and Tears. Follow along with Christine's adventures on I...

On Episode 12 of Her Side of the Trail, a hiking podcast, Emily Thornton and Lucy Hird talk about 'soft hiking,' a concept that they came up with after participating in a group hike where they realized they hiked a little differently than others.  Now, the concept has worldwide reach, and hikers are using Discord , Facebook , and Cliq to meet up with other soft hikers nearby! You can learn more ab...

Utah is known for its amazing parks! National Parks like Zion and Bryce, as well as state parks like Snow Canyon, draw visitors to the southern side of the state for incredible views and awesome hiking trails. On episode 11 of Her Side of the Trail, Lauren speaks with Jessi Bang (The Rambling Raccoon) about hiking in Utah, the best trails, the best time to visit, and how to prepare for your hike....