The Long Ways Podcast

What is it like to solo hike the Cotswold Way? In this episode we talk with Michael, who recently completed his third solo hike in the United Kingdom, and his 10th long ways hike.  Learn more about his thoughts on the trail, the people he met, and how this trail compares to some of our previous hikes. Plus... we reveal our next destination for this Septmeber! For more on this hike - visit: https:/...

It's been a really long winter, and if you're a hiker, you're probably itching to get back on the trail - and so are we! So as we are planning our spring and summer hikes, we decided to take a few moments and talk with Eric about his role in recording our adventures and stories in photos. Eric has been with us since the West Highland Way, and the amazing photos on our website (and s...

We're heading deep into the Middle East for our latest episode of The Long Ways Podcast. Last year, Devin spent four months living in Oman, a country in the southern Arabian peninsula, where he had the chance to hike through some of the country's stunning natural scenery -- including by hiking it's tallest mountain, Jebel Shams, or the "Mountain of the Sun."  Join us in ou...

We are starting a new segment to the podcast, called Trail Tech Hacks - apps and/or tech that we use on the trail to make the journey a little easier or more enjoyable.  We are starting with one of our favorite trail apps - the Merlin birding app from Cornell Labs . How many times have you been on a trail and heard a bird sound, and wondered... what the hell is that?! The last thing you want to ca...

We are back from our 7th Long Ways hike! And this time we come full circle to where we began in 2019... Scotland! One of our favorite hiking destinations, not only because of the amazing scenery, but also the fact that the Scottish are fantastic hosts! We actually started this trail in 2019 when, for the first time, our trio hiked the West Highland Way. In this episode we compare the two trails, o...

Sadie Yates, now a PhD candidate in Theology, spent the summer between her Masters and PhD program hiking the Camino de Santiago. The 500 mile trail leads from the Pyrenees Alps in France to the town of Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain, and has served as a major route for pilgrims to the cathedral for hundreds of years.  We talked to Sadie about what it’s like to hike Camino, the transfor...

We are back in prime hiking season, and for this episode we are going to catch up with Michael on his recent solo hike of St. Cuthbert's Way across Scotland and England.  We are going to find answers to some of the important questions, such as Who is St Cuthbert and why does he have a Way? Where can you find the best beer on this trail? If you can do it, can I? For more from our hiking trio,...

When he was 18 years old, our co-host, Devin, did something incredibly brave and stupid: he decided to hike across Colorado for a month with nothing but three high school friends, a lot of ramen and mac and cheese, and the invincibility that comes with being a teenager. He almost made it all the way, too. Today, Michael interviews Devin about hiking the Colorado Trail, why it set him on the path t...

The Inca Trail ascends over 14,000 feet to the ancient Incan site of Machu Picchu. Today, as we launch our new guest interview series, we speak with Devin's sister, Kayla, to hear from her experiences atop the Andes Mountains. We are also pleased to announce the launch of our free Substack newsletter, The Long Ways . This newsletter will feature tips on how to prepare for long hikes, stories...

This fall we set out on our latest Long Ways hike - this time along the Lycian Way (East), just south of Antalya Turkey.  It was hot, rugged, and a definite challenge - but the scenery of the Turkish coast, combined with the amazing hospitality of the Turkish people, made it all worthwhile. Check out more about this trail at: www.thelongwayspodcast.com/lycian-way And follow us on social media for...

What gear do we use for a long ways hike? Well, You asked for it ... and we have kind of delivered?!  Because, to be honest, we are still working this out and learning with every hike!  In this episode we explore what we have learned about the gear you need to hike these trails. From REI and Black Diamond, to Arc'teryx and Salomon, we look at what has worked for us and why. And if you think t...

This Spring, Michael took a leap and embarked on a solo hike across Hadrian's Wall in northern England. Listen to our latest episode, where he talks about the realities of solo hiking, how not to hike the Hadrian's Wall path (hint: don't go east to west!) and more.  Join Devin and Mike, a father-son duo hiking the great long trails of Europe. Each episode takes a look at at a single...

What is our hiking bucket list? From Iceland to Germany, New Zealand to Patagonia, we dive into the hikes we want to do before we die -- or, at least, within the next few years.  Join Devin and Mike, a father-son duo hiking the great long trails of Europe. Each episode takes a look at at a single day on the trail — with all the highs, lows, stupid moments and semi-profound insights two amateur hik...

This summer, we hiked the Julian Alps of Slovenia -- by far one of the most spectacular, but also most challenging, hikes we've ever done. Listen to hear about how we tackled the trail, what advice we'd have for others attempting to hike the Julian Alps, and more. For more on Eric Weber's photography, visit 5bluemedia.com ! Join Devin and Mike, a father-son duo hiking the great long...

Not every day on the trail has to be a hiking day -- in fact, it's important to take a day off, or "Zero Day," during a Long Ways Hike. In this episode, Devin and Mike go into their favorite Zero Days on the trail, why you should build a down day into your next trail, and more.  Join Devin and Mike, a father-son duo hiking the great long trails of Europe. Each episode takes a look a...

We are thrilled to introduce our new mini-sessions - The Short Ways! These series will feature some of the longer day hikes that we take to explore areas near where we live, or just prepare for the next Long Ways hike. Also, this episode introduces our friend Eric "The Storker" Weber as we review a recent hike that we took in South Carolina For more from our hiking trio, follow us on Fac...

Interested in hiking a long ways hike but don't know where to start? Overwhelmed with the  variety of trails in the world, or your own level of preparedness? We're here to help! In this episode, we talk about choosing your next (or first) long ways hike, and all of the considerations we make in considering where we travel next.  Join Devin and Mike, a father-son duo hiking the great long...

We've talked about what makes a great day on the trail, but what about those other days -- the days that you have to push through, both mentally and physically? Today we're visiting the Dingle Way and Ireland, and one specifically rainy, windy, awful day that stands out to us years later.  Join Devin and Mike, a father-son duo hiking the great long trails of Europe. Each episode takes a...

On this special episode, we go over our latest hike from this last summer: the Rota Vicentina, also known as the "Fisherman's Way", which follows the southern Atlantic coast along the Algarve and Alentejo regions of Portugal. For more from our hiking trio, follow us on Facebook , Instagram and YouTube . Do you have a story from a long trail that you would like to talk about? Or are...

Join Devin and Mike, a father-son duo hiking the great long trails of Europe. Each episode takes a look at a single day on the trail — with all the highs, lows, stupid moments and semi-profound insights two amateur hikers can provide.  In this episode, we bring you to one of the best days hiking the Tour du Mont Blanc — a high alpine hike through Switzerland, encountering soaring mountain views, t...

Join Devin and Mike, a father-son duo hiking the great long trails of Europe. Each episode takes a look at at a single day on the trail — with all the highs, lows, stupid moments and semi-profound insights two amateur hikers can provide.  In this episode, we bring you to where it all began: at the foot of the French Alps on the first day of the Tour of Mont Blanc. We talk about the highs and lows...