The Trail Dames Podcast

Natalie Bonthius is the founder of Survival Med. She earned her Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Central Florida, and is combining a career in austere medicine with her a background in neuroscience. Dr. Bonthius is a Fellow in the Academy of Wilderness Medicine, Advanced Wilderness and Expedition Provider, Advanced Wilderness Life Support instructor, and board member of the Internation...

Charles Huthmaker, CEO and Founder of CJ Crew Co., has been immersed in rowing since 1988 when he was walking across campus and saw the same sign that thousands of rowers have seen, "If interested in trying crew, show up to the meeting at (fill in the blank)." Since then, he has been a student of the sport. Having first jumped into a coaching launch in 1991, he has since coached at all levels of t...

Courtney has had an on-again/off-again relationship with mountains, hiking, and primitive camping, starting in Alaska in her early life. She also often hiked and "car camped" in the high desert and Sierra Nevadas in California growing up. After living almost 20 years at Sea Level, the mountains were calling again. After "accidentally" stepping onto the Appalachian Trail in Georgia in 2020, the aff...

After completing the AT in 2018, Julie Wilson-Freeman, aka Stripper, decided she wasn't quite done.... she shares her stories of the last 150 miles of her complete section hike of the AT, complete with rock scrambles and rebar climbing, and dancing on top of Katahdin. Bio: I have been married to Jon Freeman for 7 years, but have only been home twice to celebrate our anniversary! Usually I'm out hi...

I have been married to Jon Freeman for 7 years, but have only been home twice to celebrate our anniversary! Usually I'm out hiking. I am 57 years old (birthday in a few weeks!). I have 2 children, Andrew and Kaytlyn and 2 step-sons, Jonathan and Eric. My kids are married; my son has 3 children (2 girls and a boy) while my daughter has one son (4 grandbabies total--2 girls and 2 boys). I lived in I...

Anna is the host of the Trail Dames Podcast and when not interviewing amazing women for the podcast, can be found running her family violins shop, Huthmaker Violins, in Atlanta, GA, as well as running Trail Dames, Inc, and the Trail Dames Charitable Foundation. Special thanks to Dame Gayle Snyder for her shoe pics! Guest Links: Wright Socks- https://www.wrightsock.com/ Smart Wool- https://www.smar...

Anna is the host of the Trail Dames Podcast and when not interviewing amazing women for the podcast, can be found running her family violins shop, Huthmaker Violins, in Atlanta, GA, as well as running Trail Dames, Inc, and the Trail Dames Charitable Foundation. Guest Links: Unicoi State Park - https://www.unicoilodge.com/ Helen, Georgia - https://www.helenga.org/ Unicoi State Park Trail Map - http...

Ada In 2000, I retired from the telephone company in Chicago, Illinois where I worked as a computer programmer and business systems analyst. In the ensuing years, I've developed a passion for painting and drawing (who knew!); herb and flower gardening and, of course, hiking. I find spending time in the mountains with the Trail Dames or on my own in nature to be rejuvenating and creatively inspirin...

My name is Jessica Mills, but in the hiking world, people call me "Dixie." Although I was born in Florida, I 'grew up' in Opelika, AL. I spent the majority of my summers with my grandparents, who were backyard gardeners that grew up on farms. At a young age, I developed a love for the outdoors. Watching TV is never a desire of mine, unless it is football season–War Eagle! I graduated from Auburn U...

K. Jamila Minnifield, MA, LAPC, NCC, Primary Therapist Jamila earned her undergraduate degree at Georgia Southern University and her master's degree in counseling at Argosy University. She has extensive experience working with complex mental health diagnoses, family reunification and adoption. She entered the field of wilderness therapy out of a desire to increase impact and family engagement. Jam...

Ada- In 2000, I retired from the telephone company in Chicago, Illinois, where I worked as a computer programmer and business systems analyst. In the ensuing years, I've developed a passion for painting and drawing (who knew!); herb and flower gardening and, of course, hiking. I find spending time in the mountains with the Trail Dames or on my own in nature to be rejuvenating and creatively inspir...

Jessica Mills, better known in the hiking world, as "Dixie," was born in Florida. She 'grew up' in Opelika, AL, spending the majority of her summers with my grandparents, who were backyard gardeners that grew up on farms. At a young age, she developed a love for the outdoors. She's not a big TV fan, unless it is football season–Go War Eagles! She graduated from Auburn University in 2012 with a deg...

As a young kid, Paula Martin enjoyed exploring the outdoors, especially at her grandparents' cabin in the deep woods of Tioga State Forest. Much to her grandparents dismay, she would find injured animals and bring them back to help them. This included a fox and baby skunks. This didn't change as an adult. She still loves animals and trained dogs for a few decades, all the while still wandering thr...

Anna is the host of the Trail Dames Podcast and when not interviewing amazing women for the podcast, can be found running her family violins shop, Huthmaker Violins, in Atlanta, GA, as well as running Trail Dames, Inc, and the Trail Dames Charitable Foundation. Guest Links: https://www.elachee.org/ Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at info@traildames.com You can find the Trail Dames at: Our website...

2021 has been full of adventures for Shannon Fisher! In February, she purchased "Beaulah", a 2006 retired ambulance that she is converting into a campulance. On her 45th birthday in May, she celebrated with her sister by hiking and backpacking 45 miles on the Georgia section of the Appalachian Trail. July included a week-long family trip to South Dakota. Shannon loved introducing her nieces and ne...

Mary's story is about a chance bear encounter in the Alaskan wilderness, involving some adrenaline, a barking dog, and a whole lot of appreciation for the beauty that can be found in a mother grizzly and her cubs. Mary Emerick is an author and a wilderness planner with the Forest Service, but her real love is long distance hiking. She began her backpacking career at age 5, carrying a pack with a s...

Mary Emerick is an author and a wilderness planner with the Forest Service, but her real love is long distance hiking. She began her backpacking career at age 5, carrying a pack with a sweatshirt and a stuffed animal. Working as a seasonal wilderness ranger in Idaho and a wilderness kayak ranger in Alaska were highlights of her life. She has section hiked the entire Pacific Crest Trail and a few s...

Michelle Pettitt has been a teacher for almost 15 years. For the past 9 years, she has taught at Berkmar High School in Lilburn, Georgia, currently teaching American Government. She grew up in Florida, so the beach has always been her happy place, where she returns to relax and regroup. In January of 2020, Michelle's mom passed away, then Covid sent everybody into quarantine in March. She started...

Crystal Willett is a 55 years old, single mom of 2 wonderful boys (men) 32 and 17 years old. She works in medical records for a mental health facility. Crystal is currently building a van into a house to travel across America as soon as her youngest heads to college. In the meantime, she is knocking out all the trails around NC that she can before traveling. Crystal also volunteers at Troop 900 sc...

Kim Weiler is, in her own words, a 'motor-city, Detroit girl'. She has a wide range of passions from music to travel, but it was a move to Georgia several years ago that woke up her love for the outdoors. She jumped into hiking and camping, and within a few months of joining Trail Dames, she became a Hike Leader, and then soon a Head Dame for the Georgia Chapter. It wasn't much later that she beca...

Ann Leahy was born and raised in the seacoast area of NH. She spent her childhood summers on Lake Winnipesaukee and learned how to water ski and fish (thanks dad!!) She played sports all through high school (field hockey, basketball and softball) and then went on to college at UNH to study Occupational Therapy. Ann is married to Mike, who has hiked with her, even though he isn't a fan of hiking. T...

As a young kid, Paula Martin enjoyed exploring the outdoors, especially at her grandparents' cabin in the deep woods of Tioga State Forest. Much to her grandparents dismay, she would find injured animals and bring them back to help them. This included a fox and baby skunks. This didn't change as an adult. She still loves animals and trained dogs for a few decades, all the while still wandering thr...

Audrey Scanlan serves as the Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Central Pennsylvania - an elected position that gives her oversight of 60 churches and 11,000 folks who belong to the Episcopal Church in the region. Conveniently, the AT runs right through the middle of the area that she oversees! She lives just 4 miles from a trailhead in the middle of the Cumberland Valley (PA) which is one of the m...

Growing up in the northwest in a family that camped every summer, Colleen Drake, also known as Teacup, has been hiking since she was old enough to walk, well over sixty years. Her hiking accomplishments include the Wonderland Trail around Mt. Rainier, the Washington section of the PCT, most of the Washington section of the PNT, the southern Oregon section of the PCT, the Wind River Mountains and B...

Lauralee Bliss–trail name "Blissful"–is a two-time Appalachian Trail long distance hiker, both north and south, including a thru-hike with her teen son. She is currently section hiking the trail for a third time. She has completed other long distance trails in multiple states, including the Florida Trail, the Colorado Trail, the Foothills Trail, the Long Trail, and the Allegheny Trail. She also se...