"Jester" Section Hiker

Jester and recurring co-host Austin Wallis team up for the first time to interview a guest on the podcast. Jester and Austin welcome Dan Durston, the creator of the X-Mid line of tents, DD40 Backpack, and owner of Durston Gear to the show. Dan is an avid backpacker having completed the PCT, a Yo-Yo of the Great Divide Trail, held the FKT on the 90 km Stein Traverse, and is the 5x fastest finisher...

Jacqueline Holzman, aka RVA Hiker Girl, joins Jester this week to chat about her love for the outdoors that began as she grew up on her childhood farm. Over the years RVA followed a traditional path of going to college, getting married, having children, but as she says "something was always missing." Tune in as RVA shares with us how she regained her love for being outdoors, hiking, camping, and s...

Jester is happy to have back on the podcast ATC Visitor Center Supervisor, Charissa Hipp. Charissa starts off the episode with some updates from the ATC, and some information about the Flip Flop Festival that is planned for April 23, 2022. In the heart of the episode, Jester and Charissa do their best to answer two frequently asked listener questions, "How do you plan for your section hikes?" and...

Brad Felton, also known as "Crow," joins Jester this week to chat all things "As The Crow Flies Hiking." Brad begins with telling us why he started calling himself Crow and how the term "As The Crow Flies Hiking" became the name for his YouTube Channel. Crow also shares the details on why his first section hike on the Appalachian Trail became the catalyst for his current hiking endeavors and start...

Mills Kelly, host of The Green Tunnel podcast, joins Jester to chat about his journey on the Appalachian Trail that began as a kid in 1971. Mills refers to himself as a lifetime AT Section Hiker and enjoys learning and sharing the history of the AT. You will hear in their conversation Mills referring to various historical landmarks along the trail and responds to one of Jester's questions with an...

Dr. Aaron is back on the podcast with Jester to answer listener questions regarding hiking with your dog. The listeners sent in some great questions and Dr. Aaron shared with us some best practices for each one. He shares with us a few breeds that would not make good hiking companions, why preventative care is key in a dog's life, what to carry in case your dog needs first aid, food and snack sugg...

Happy New Year everybody! Jester and guest co-host Austin pick up where they left off from on last week's episode by continuing to share their 10 Essential Gear items utilizing the list from The Mountaineers. This week you will hear what they carry for making a fire, emergency shelter, extra food, water, and clothes. And Jester shares a tip she learned on how to keep the mice away if you stay in s...

December always seems to be the month that Jester begins to take a look at the calendar and starts to plot and plan her section hiking adventures for the next year. It's also a time when she starts to take a look at her gear, which includes the 10 essential items for each hike. As we all get ready for our upcoming adventures in 2022 Jester brings back guest co-host Austin Wallis to share their spe...

Guest co-host Charissa Hipp is back this week with Jester as they continue their talks centered on the healing power of nature. Charissa starts off with some updates from the ATC visitors center, shares with us about ATC Affinity Groups, shares about the Wild East Women's group, and rounds out the episode with some powerful words from one of her favorite authors. Charissa Hipp is the Visitor Cente...

Jester has a great talk with ALDHA Board Member and H.A.S.T.E. Coordinator, Penny Vann. Penny shares with us how she got her unique trail name "Reverse", why she hikes backwards going downhill, and the benefits of why a long-distance hiker should join ALDHA. In addition to the benefits of joining ALDHA, Penny shares the importance of ALDHA's H.A.S.T.E. program, which stands for Hiker Awareness, Sa...

Jester and co-host Austin Wallis continue their conversation this week centered around Post Traumatic Stress. Before you listen to this week's episode, be sure to listen to Episode #100, where Austin shared with all of us his definition of PTS, who PTS affects, and some examples of what PTS is. This week you will hear how planning section hikes, paddling trips, and adventures help Austin cope with...

Jester and co-host Austin Wallis are back this week and next week for a two-part series of conversations centered around Post Traumatic Stress. Austin shares with us about his career in the military and his current role of serving in the National Guard and working as a First Responder. Austin defines what PTS is for him, who can suffer from PTS, and begins to share how section hiking, paddling, an...

Jester and guest co-host Charissa Hipp are back this week as they continue sharing on the topic of the healing power of nature. Charissa gives us some insight on what's happening at the ATC in Harpers Ferry, WV., explains to us what a Forest Bathing Trail is, and ends the episode with some helpful mindfulness practices to think about while we are out on our hikes or even in our own backyard. Chari...

There is not a dull moment on the podcast this week as Jester shares with us her recent conversation with Nathan and Kimm Wright. Nathan and Kimm are with the Pinhoti Outdoor Center in Sylacauga, AL. If you have any interest in hiking or learning more about the Pinhoti Trail, Nathan and Kimm are who you want to contact! Nathan and Kimm also share with us their account of Nathan's final 100 miles t...

Jester speaks with Bill Blake this week about his ongoing pursuit to hike successfully, while being a Type I Diabetic. Right from the beginning of the episode, Bill shares with us his struggles and determination to keep hiking and figuring out his blood sugar levels, food intake, and proper mindset. It was not easy for Bill to share because, as he told Jester, "he deals with this daily and tries n...

Jester recently attended the ALDHA Gathering that was held in Abingdon, VA. The Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association, as stated on their website, is "An off-trail family of hikers, dreamers, and friends of the trail, working to preserve, protect, and promote the long-distance hiking experience." As you will hear, Jester had a great weekend attending the Gathering. She also had the chance t...

Jester continues this week venturing into the realm of having a co-host on the podcast to talk about specific hiker topics. The overall goal with the co-host idea is to have conversations that are educational, informative, and hiking related. As you will hear, Jester and Austin accomplished just that by sharing the idea of the "12th Essential," the P.A.C.E. Trip-Planning Method, and assessing risk...

Charissa Hipp reached out to Jester a few weeks ago with the idea of having some episodes centered around the topic of the power of healing in nature. After some thought, Jester decided why not bring Charissa on as a co-host! So this week, Jester re-introduces us to Charissa to begin the co-hosting adventure! Charissa shares about her new job at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy in Harpers Ferry,...

Nancy East joins Jester this week to chat about her Smokies 900 FKT (Fastest Known Time) completion, her recent "mombattical", and why she decided to join the Haywood County Search and Rescue Team. After you listen to this episode, please go check out Nancy's website titled "Hope and Feather Travels". There is so much information regarding Hiker Safety, Outdoor Education, and her personal hiking t...

If you enjoy watching reality TV, you might have seen an episode or two of Naked and Afraid. And you may have seen the Naked and Afraid episodes with Jester's guest today, Dani Beau. Not only has Dani been extremely successful on Naked and Afraid, she is also a highly trained and educated in Search and Rescue.   Dani shares with us how she began her career as an EMT, worked in Search and Rescue bo...

Jester brings back Austin Wallis to the show this week to continue their conversation from Episode #77. They left off with Austin going for a "shakedown" hike on the Mountains To Sea Trail on Segment 4, and then he was heading to the John Muir Trail for an awesome summer adventure. Tune in as Austin describes the beauty of Segment 4 in Western North Carolina to the exquisiteness of the John Muir T...

Jester welcomes Jennifer Browndorf to the podcast this week. Jennifer has a passion for the Mountains To Sea Trail community and has spent many hours helping build, clean up, and give back to the trail she believes in. In January 2021, she decided it was time to start hiking and completing the entire MST one segment at a time. Jennifer loves the planning and logistics aspect of her section hikes o...

Jester introduces us this week to Danny Bernstein. Danny has thousands of hiking miles under her feet with no plans of stopping anytime soon! As you will hear, Danny has a hiking resume that many dream of having over the course of their hiking career. From completing the Appalachian Trail with her husband, the Mountains To Sea Trail, and climbing Mt. Fuji in Japan! Danny is also a believer in join...

Every September, the Friends of the Mountains To Sea Trail celebrate the Birthday of the MST. This September is no exception as Kate Dixon, Executive Director for the Friends of the MST, joins Jester to share all about what's happening this month to commemorate. Besides sharing how everyone can participate in the MST Birthday month, Kate shares with us her recent announcement of retirement, inform...

As all of you know, the Mountains To Sea trail is becoming more near and dear to Jester's heart. Jester has a special interview to share with you all for this episode, as she had the opportunity to enjoy a conversation with Jeff Brewer. Jeff was the first President for the Friends of the Mountains To Sea Trail. You will hear that Jeff was asked to accept this role from a very iconic trail advocate...