"Jester" Section Hiker

Jester's Class of 2022 Section Hikers gains another member this week, Holly Gossage! Holly enjoys living in central Pennsylvania and living close to those white blazes we all know and love on the Appalachian Trail. Holly also enjoys the blue blazes of the Tuscarora Trail and is working on section hiking a route known as the Tuscalachian Loop! Thanks for Listening and Happy Section Hiking! Jester's...

Jester adds another member this week to her class of 2022 section hikers out blazing the trails this year. Julie Breindel-Hill shares with us her plans to section hike roughly 500 miles from Duncannon, PA to Vermont on the Appalachian Trail. Julie loves teaching Math, is a Mom to four children of her own, and was inspired to begin her journey on the AT after giving some hikers a ride in Shenandoah...

Amy Tippett, also known as Tiger Belle, joins "Jester's Class of 2022 Section Hikers" for this episode. Amy shares with Jester her journey to the Appalachian Trail and her love for section hiking the trail. Amy also enjoys day hiking on the Mountains To Sea Trail and getting out on trails in Western North Carolina. Jester and Amy also chat about the importance of colonoscopies, mammograms, and tak...

Sridhar Saraf not only joins Jester's Class of 2022 Section Hikers this week but he also shares with us why he loves listening to the Hiking Radio Network Podcasts, how he got his trail name "Lucky Dog", and what his plans are for his section hike on the Appalachian Trail this summer. Sridhar and Jester share a lot of laughs and enjoyed reminiscing about the AT. Thanks for Listening and Happy Sect...

After listening this week to Jester's newest member of her Class of 2022 Section Hikers you are going to be inspired to start planning your next section hike A.S.A.P. Deb Mille' has survived Lung Cancer, only has 80% of her lung capacity, and if that's not enough she just recently had her big toes on both feet fused. Deb also lives in the reality that we are not guaranteed tomorrow, so start hikin...

Deb Taylor (Sundial) and Danny Mooney (Fiik) started their section hiking journey on the Appalachian Trail back in 2011 and have been hooked ever since. Prior to 2020, both Deb and Danny enjoyed being avid triathletes and became very involved in their local triathlon community. In 2020, when triathlons were being canceled due to covid, Deb and Danny stepped up their section hiking game and took mo...

Welcome to episode #9 in Jester's series of shows this summer titled, "Jester's Class of 2022 Section Hikers". Jester shares with us her fun chat with Benjy "Doc" Brown. Jester and Benjy chat about his love for the Mountains To Sea Trail, his love for North Carolina History, why he enjoys walking on the road portions of the MST, and fills us in on his section hiking plans this summer to complete t...

Jester has a great chat with Larry Haines, her next member of "Jester's Class of 2022 Section Hikers". Larry or Lone Wolf has completed the Colorado Trail and has plans this summer to section hike out on the Continental Divide Trail. His overall goal over the next few summers is to complete the CDT in the State of Colorado and then when he retires in 2025, complete the rest of the CDT! Larry lives...

Over the last few years, today's newest member of Jester's Class of 2022 Section Hikers has spent time section hiking the Allegheny Trail in West Virginia. Jester and Laura chat about how she got her trail name "Babycakes," Laura's plans for her section hike on the Allegheny Trail this year, and what it's been like for her to serve a two-year term as the Board President for the West Virginia Sceni...

Sarah Chappell (Troubadour) joins Jester's Class of 2022 Section Hikers for this week's episode. Sarah enjoys hiking for several reasons. To reconnect with wild places, to get reacquainted with herself, and to test her limits, so she can grow stronger. The Appalachian Trail is her favorite. Each summer since 2019, she has embarked on long section hikes, between 100-200 miles, along one of the olde...

Jester continues introducing us to her Class of 2022 Section Hikers and this week you hear from Canadian Kelly McDonald or "Generous Dude." Kelly has spent the last 40 years hiking in the Canadian Rockies and working on completing the Great Divide Trail. Kelly is a certified Field Leader Instructor with the Outdoor Council of Canada, a Scouter, and a volunteer with the Great Divide Trail Associati...

Jester continues to introduce us to individuals out section hiking in 2022. This week we hear from Celeste Queen, who is retired and living life. Celeste is out section hiking on the Mountains To Sea Trail with no plans of stopping anytime soon! Celeste also leads group hikes for one of the North Carolina Chapters of the Trail Dames. On any given day, you can find Celeste enjoying time on the MST,...

Kate Stillwell, also known as Phoenix, joins Jester's Class of 2022 Section Hikers this week. Kate has been attempting to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail since 2017 but due to injury, covid, and life responsibilities at home, she is now focused on completing the trail as a LASHer. As you will hear, Kate is mentally focused and ready to hit the trail in early May! Be sure to follow Kate on her soci...

Meet Carol Chirpich and Debbie Shiffer as they share their intentions to section hike on the Continental Divide Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail starting this spring through the summer months. Carol (Late Bloom Hiker) and Debbie (Wrinkled Wanderer) share a little bit about who they are, why they love to be out section hiking, and where you can follow along on their journey on social media. Thanks...

Meet Charlie Carpenter, also known as Skyhawk, as he shares with Jester his plans for section hiking in 2022. Follow along with Charlie on his social media as he section hikes on the Pinhoti Trail, Colorado Trail, and on the Appalachian Trail in New Hampshire and Maine this summer. Charlie also shares with Jester his battle with two types of Cancer, and how he continues to pursue his hiking dreams...

Jester recently rallied her co-hosts Austin, Charissa, and Jacqueline for an in-depth fireside chat on what it was like to be a co-host on the podcast for the last several months. Each co-host shares their perspectives on common themes amongst their shows regarding mental health, healing in nature, growth as hikers, giving back to the trails, and various hiking related topics. Thanks for Listening...

Andy Niekamp, or more commonly known as Captain Blue, joins Jester this week to chat about his hiking adventures, volunteering, and his company, Outdoor Adventure Connection. Andy has over 30,000 miles of hiking experience, with more than 11,000 of those miles being on the Appalachian Trail. Andy has completed the AT five times as a section hiker with his most recent completion in 2021. Andy was t...

Jester and Austin have a great time in this episode talking about hammocks. You all know they both love their Dan Durston X-Mid tents, but also have a love for their hammocks as well. Jester is a new recruit to the hammock world, while Austin has been out many nights with his hammock set up. There are many new terms in the hammock world and Jester has enjoyed learning about them all from whoopie s...

The Section Hiker Spotlight this week goes to guest Cindy Taylor. Cindy initially reached out to Jester via email to share her goal of completing all the trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in sections. What you will hear is that there is so much more to her current journey than just hiking the miles. Cindy shares with us about the loss of both of her parents, working in healthcare,...

RVA Hiker Girl is back this week as a guest co-host with Jester. Their conversation focuses on overcoming your fears when it comes to hiking and backpacking. Jester and RVA share some common fears they have heard out on the trail, their own fears, ways to combat those fears with research and planning, and how to use fear to your advantage. Jacqueline Holzman, aka RVA Hiker Girl, refers to herself...

Jester and Austin are back to look into the creative process for hiking, filming, and storytelling. Over the last few years, it has become more and more popular to film your hikes and share over on YouTube, and many hikers are posting daily while on their journeys. For Austin, it has "just become part of the hike."   Austin walks us through his filming process by sharing the camera gear he uses, s...

The section hiker spotlight for this episode goes to Sue Bradley, or Young Nana. Sue shares with Jester how her love for the outdoors began with camping as a kid and then in her 40s she discovered the Appalachian Trail and the New England National Scenic Trail. Sue and Jester share a lot of laughs in this one as Sue talks about her first overnight on the AT with her husband, two dogs, and a tent m...

Previous guest of the podcast, Jennifer Browndorf (Low Gear), is back with Jester to share all about her section hike completion of the 1175-mile Mountains To Sea Trail. The MST starts at Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and ends on the outer banks on the tallest living sand dune at Jockey's Ridge State Park. Jennifer loved the planning and logistics aspect of her section...

Welcome to The Wildcard Episode! Jester is back with guest co-host Charissa Hipp and this week you are going to learn all about the Nature Meditations Deck! Charissa shares with us what the Nature Meditations Deck is and who it's for. Be sure to tune in as Jester and Charissa pull a few cards and have a great conversation! Charissa Hipp is the Visitor Center Supervisor for the Appalachian Trail Co...

Josue Gomez, or recently named "Spider-Meatball," joins Jester on the podcast to share with us how his life changed for the positive on October 20, 2021. Josue tells us how he started working for ZPacks, began hiking, and made the decision that his life was valuable and worth living after he summited Blood Mountain on the Appalachian Trail in Georgia. Hiking has become an important part of Josue's...