The Trail Dames Podcast

In this month's lagniappe, Anna shares her favorite hiking and outdoor podcasts with you all. As you'd imagine, The Hiking Radio Network is featured fairly heavily, but there is plenty of other great stuff to listen to. Try a few of them out! Links- All the best podcasts - https://www.hikingradionetwork.com/ Mighty Blue's show - https://www.hikingradionetwork.com/show/mighty-blue-on-the-appalachia...

Anna shares how a chance meeting on a rainy AT day changed her whole perspective......on hiking and on life! It is amazing what you can learn from a pair of wet socks! Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at info@traildames.com You can find the Trail Dames at: Our website: www.traildames.com The Summit: www.traildamessummit.com The Trail Dames Foundation: www.tdcharitablefoundation.org Instagram: http...

Kim Starr, aka Kool Aid, is a 64-year-old woman with a thirst for life and an energy that knows no bounds!! She lives in Ohio and, upon falling in love with the Appalachian Trail, decided that she wanted to section hike it. Join us as she shares stories of the ups, the downs, and the magic that she found along the way. Kim on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/kim.starr.148   Connect with Anna, a...

Melissa's first backpacking trip holds some important lessons on the value of FUD's, the importance of practicing first, and the cost of enjoying the outdoors. Melissa Zimmerman is an architectural consultant who stumbled into hiking three years ago. (Literally. She really needs to watch for those troublesome tree roots!) Since then, she has widened her experience to include backpacking, car campi...

When we left Tami two weeks ago, she was about to head down into the Canyon. Let's find out how it turned out. In 2016, with zero outdoor experience, Tami Brooks decided to hike the Grand Canyon. Aided by a Google search bar and a glass of Cabernet, she made reservations and embarked on a life-changing year reclaiming her life one step at a time. Brooks now works as a freelance travel and lifestyl...

Kris Van Handel shares her love of the Ice Age Trail by reading an excerpt from her book Hiking with a Hair Tie - Section Hiking the Ice Age Trail Hiking with Hair Tie: Section Hiking the Ice Age Trail - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085RTM4TX Ice Age Trail Through the Seasons - https://www.blurb.com/b/10009633-ice-age-trail-through-the-seasons Ice Age Trail - www.iceagetrail.org . Connect with Anna,...

In 2016, with zero outdoor experience, Tami Brooks decided to hike the Grand Canyon. Aided by a Google search bar and a glass of Cabernet, she made reservations and embarked on a life-changing year reclaiming her life one step at a time! Brooks now works as a freelance travel and lifestyle writer, and is currently writing a book about her experience. She is also the creator of the 52 Weeks 52 Hike...

Dana Ballard is a musician, teacher, and thanks to a childhood full of family outings to the Smokies, a lover of the outdoors. Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at info@traildames.com You can find the Trail Dames at: Our website: www.traildames.com The Summit: www.traildamessummit.com The Trail Dames Foundation: www.tdcharitablefoundation.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traildames/ Faceboo...

Have you ever been reading a hiking book and gotten a little lost? Or perusing a Facebook group only to find that everyone is using a language that you have never heard? Here is a quick guide to some of the more common trail terms and lingo out there. Give us a quick listen and you will be 'talking trail' before you know it! https://www.litesmith.com/trail-lingo/ https://nuttyhiker.com/hiking101/h...

Melissa's first backpacking trip holds some important lessons on the value of maps, preparation, and earplugs! And it reminds us all that the very best stories come from some of the less-pleasant hikes! Melissa Zimmerman is an architectural consultant who stumbled into hiking three years ago. (Literally. She really needs to watch for those troublesome tree roots!) Since then, she has widened her e...

Ever since seeing a play named Brigadoon during high school, Judyth had searched for her own Brigadoon. She grew up spending time out of doors through wild adventures with her vast network of cousins - 54 by blood! Judyth was also a member of the same Girl Scout troop for eleven years and they were known as the camping troop. In 1965 she spent three weeks participating in the Girl Scout Senior Int...

Hiking and camping weren't something El was introduced to as a child but, as an adult, she feels that it has helped her relax. She says, "Hiking feeds my body, mind, and soul". Some of her favorite trails are the Goldmine and Section A of the Billy Goat Trail @ Great Falls in Potomac, MD. and she also enjoys Pine Grove Furnace State Park in Gardners, PA. In general, she says, "I appreciate any tra...

Dana Ballard is a lifelong teacher, nature lover, and trail hiker. She teaches high school orchestra during the day and on the weekends, can be found exploring the parks of Georgia with her best friend, Husky Sura.   Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at info@traildames.com You can find the Trail Dames at: Our website: www.traildames.com The Summit: www.traildamessummit.com The Trail Dames Foundatio...

Want to clear your mind, lower your blood pressure, and just find a bit more peace in your day? Join us on today's Lagniappe podcast as we talk about Meditation Hikes and how you can make your next walk a deeper one. Stephanie Wright co-hosts Incremental Steps Podcast along with Christine Gautreaux and is co-president of the Gwinnett County chapter of the League of Women Voters. Stephanie is a pra...

Anna shares her story of a hike through the hills, ridgelines, and ravines of the Arusha National Park in Tanzania, Africa. Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at info@traildames.com You can find the Trail Dames at: Our website: www.traildames.com The Summit: www.traildamessummit.com The Trail Dames Foundation: www.tdcharitablefoundation.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traildames/ Facebook:...

Ever since she was a small girl growing up in Ohio, Julie has been intrigued by the Appalachian Trail. She and her Dad would have many conversations and dreams about hiking the AT and without her knowing it, the AT climbed into her heart. Julie ended up in Charlotte, NC, and realized that, as an educator with summers off, she could begin work on pursuing her AT dream. So, in 2006, Jester loaded up...

Marie is one of those trail fixtures in the Southeast. Gatherings, Rucks, Festivals....you will always see her there, hanging out with the 'we have all hiked a million miles' hikers. She has a zillion trail miles under her belt and spends her free time helping teenaged girls learn about hiking and backpacking. Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at info@traildames.com You can find the Trail Dames at:...

Today's Lagniappe is all about making a difference. Malala, Jane Goodall, Lek Chailert, and Oprah all changed the world with giant, broad strokes.... dedicating their lives to making the planet better. But what about those of us that don't have that platform? What if we have families, jobs, responsibilities?? Can we make a difference? Can we make the world a better place? The answer is a resoundin...

For the milestone of our 50th episode, Anna wants to share one of her very favorite stories. So join Mud Butt as she shares her tale of a wet, magical hike on the Appalachian Trail at Thanksgiving. And yes, the story is absolutely true!!! Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at info@traildames.com You can find the Trail Dames at: Our website: www.traildames.com The Summit: www.traildamessummit.com The...

"Hike More-Worry Less" - That is the tee shirt Katherine wore while we did this interview and those words couldn't be more apt. Katherine has spent her life living and traveling all over the globe. Her studies in biological anthropology led to fieldwork all over Africa, and her work in this field solidified a lifelong love for this earth and the communities that inhabit it. Katherine later went on...

Ever since she was a small girl growing up in Ohio, Julie has been intrigued by the Appalachian Trail. She and her Dad would have many conversations and dreams about hiking the AT and, without her knowing it, the AT climbed into her heart. Jester is currently in the process of completing her second section hike of the Appalachian Trail with about 700 miles left to go. She has also hiked the Art Lo...

Note: This Lagniappe was recorded before all of the COVID-19 craziness hit our country and with so many trails closed it might seem strange to be talking about trail magic!! But what better way to pass some time than to plan your future trail magic. Before you know it, hikers will be out there again, ready for some love, care and Little Debbie's! Have you ever stumbled up a trail sweating, exhaust...

No danger, no drama....just a beautiful day on the Appalachian Trail. Join Anna, aka Mud Butt, as she tells the story of a simple hike in the mountains. Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at info@traildames.com You can find the Trail Dames at: Our website: www.traildames.com The Summit: www.traildamessummit.com The Trail Dames Foundation: www.tdcharitablefoundation.org Instagram: https://www.instagr...

Today's episode is a special one!!! To celebrate the 5th Tuesday of the month, we are doing a panel discussion about hiking with kids!!! If you ever wanted to take your little ones out on the trail, this is the discussion for you. Join us as we talk about boys and girls of all ages and the fun of getting them outdoors. Participants, along with Anna: Stacey Brazier is an educational administrator i...

Dr. Diohn Brancaleoni, psychologist and life coach, joins us today to talk about the outdoors, walk-and-talk therapy, and using nature to achieve mind-body-spirit wellness. Dr. Diohn is the author of the Happy Life Toolkit and a lover of all things nature. When she isn't doing life coaching sessions outdoors, she enjoys hiking and horseback riding. Learn more about Dr. Diohn at https://diohn.net/...