The Trail Dames Podcast

Jan Leitschuh was bitten by the AT bug in 2002. With no real backpacking experience, she threw herself into learning, training, and stomping down fears and questions that swirled around her preparations. She joined the infamous Pack 31- a group of hikers that met online and named themselves after the date they started, March 1, 2003. This community, built on meetings at the ALDHA Gathering and a t...

Celeste Queen is, in her own words, "a retiree loving the hiking life, especially the slow and steady part!" She took up hiking at the young age of 67, finding it to be her happy place. She sets goals and completes them, including a goal of completing 100 hikes in a year. She completed this goal in December last year! Celeste on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hiker_girlnc/?hl=en Connect wit...

Jan Leitschuh was bitten by the AT bug in 2002. With no real backpacking experience, she threw herself into learning, training, and stomping down fears and questions that swirled around her preparations. She joined the infamous Pack 31- a group of hikers that met online and named themselves after the date they started, March 1, 2003. This community, built on meetings at the ALDHA Gathering and a t...

IPPY-award winner and #1 Amazon bestselling author, Amy Edelstein has a unique perspective on the relationship between the inner journey and outer change. Having begun her own meditation practice in 1978, and spending the better part of four decades practicing, studying, researching, writing about, and ultimately teaching a variety of contemplative methodologies, Edelstein established and directs...

Jan Leitschuh was bitten by the AT bug in 2002. With no real backpacking experience, she threw herself into learning, training, and stomping down fears and questions that swirled around her preparations. She joined the infamous Pack 31- a group of hikers that met online and named themselves after the date they started, March 1, 2003. This community, built on meetings at the ALDHA Gathering and a t...

Jan Leitschuh was bitten by the AT bug in 2002. With no real backpacking experience, she threw herself into learning, training and stomping down fears and questions that swirled around her preparations. She joined the infamous Pack 31- a group of hikers that met online and named themselves after the date they started, March 1, 2003. This community, built on meetings at the ALDHA Gathering and a th...

Diane "Sticks" Harsha is the author of the recently published (and now also available on Audible) Sticks and Stones: How to Hike the AT in 13 Years. This is the memoir of a Tennessee wife, mother, and FBI agent who section hikes from Georgia to Maine when she can spare the time away from the demands of her career and the responsibilities to her family. From 2005 to 2017, Sticks lived her life with...

Jan Leitschuh was bitten by the AT bug in 2002. With no real backpacking experience, she threw herself into learning, training, and stomping down fears and questions that swirled around her preparations. She joined the infamous Pack 31- a group of hikers that met online and named themselves after the date they started, March 1, 2003. This community, built on meetings at the ALDHA Gathering and a t...

Kim is the Co-Head Dame of the Georgia Chapter of Trail Dames and a member of the Trail Dames Board of Directors. Between her fantastic sense of humor and her tenacious strength, it is no coincidence that her trail name is Tough Cookie. She leads with heart and humor and we are so lucky that she has agreed to do some Guest Hosting on the Trail Dames Podcast! Guest Links- Kim on Facebook - https://...

Jan Leitschuh was bitten by the AT bug in 2002. With no real backpacking experience, she threw herself into learning, training, and stomping down fears and questions that swirled around her preparations. She joined the infamous Pack 31- a group of hikers that met online and named themselves after the date they started, March 1, 2003. This community, built on meetings at the ALDHA Gathering and a t...

We have a panel discussion for you today about spirituality on the trail. Who better than these three ladies to talk with on this fascinating subject? Anne Gardner Writer. Minister. Adventurer. After spending twenty-five years working at two of Boston's premier educational institutions, Harvard University and Phillips Academy, Andover, the author currently leads the chaplaincy program at Harvard-W...

My name is Em, trail name, In Tune. I'm into a lot of outdoor adventure-type activities and also all things music. I'm 24 years old, from Canada, and currently attempting to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail! Guest Links- Em on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/Em%E2%80%99sOutdoors Em on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/em_aroundtheworld/ Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at info@traildames.co...

Jan Leitschuh was bitten by the AT bug in 2002. With no real backpacking experience, she threw herself into learning, training, and stomping down fears and questions that swirled around her preparations. She joined the infamous Pack 31- a group of hikers that met online and named themselves after the date they started, March 1, 2003. This community, built on meetings at the ALDHA Gathering and a t...

Writer. Minister. Adventurer. After spending twenty-five years working at two of Boston's premier educational institutions, Harvard University and Phillips Academy, Andover, the author currently leads the chaplaincy program at Harvard-Westlake, a private secondary school in Los Angeles. An Episcopal minister by day, Reverend Gardner also finds time to work as a freelance writer. Her essays and col...

More trail lessons as my friend, LiteShoe, tests out her gear, and pushes out of her comfort zone, getting closer to hitting the AT! Jan Leitschuh was bitten by the AT bug in 2002. With no real backpacking experience, she threw herself into learning, training and stomping down fears and questions that swirled around her preparations. She joined the infamous Pack 31- a group of hikers that met onli...

Courtney has had an on-again/off-again relationship with mountains, hiking and primitive camping, starting in Alaska in her very 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...

Jan Leitschuh was bitten by the AT bug in 2002. With no real backpacking experience, she threw herself into learning, training and stomping down fears and questions that swirled around her preparations. She joined the infamous Pack 31- a group of hikers that met online and named themselves after the date they started, March 1, 2003. This community, built on meetings at the ALDHA Gathering and a th...

Chelsea McCurdy is a queer plus-sized hiker who advocates for body positivity, health at every size, and joyful movement. She believes that nature is healing, and that everyone deserves to enjoy the outdoors, regardless of their body type or fitness level. She lives in Arkansas and owns a business (Hobbit Hikers) dedicated to hikers who love to take their time, enjoy the view, snack a little along...

Jan Leitschuh was bitten by the AT bug in 2002. With no real backpacking experience, she threw herself into learning, training and stomping down fears and questions that swirled around her preparations. She joined the infamous Pack 31–a group of hikers that met online and named themselves after the date they started, March 1, 2003. This community, built on meetings at the ALDHA Gathering and a tho...

I am a mom to three amazing kids, a wife to the love of my life, a retired veterinarian, a team member of our local search and rescue squad, a certified naturalist, and an active adventurer whose second home is in the Great Outdoors (and a chronic insomniac, which is why I can pack so much into one life). Guest Links- Nancy's Blog- https://www.hopeandfeathertravels.com/ Nancy's Facebook Group- htt...

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 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 International...

Jan Leitschuh was bitten by the AT bug in 2002. With no real backpacking experience, she threw herself into learning, training, and stomping down fears and questions that swirled around her preparations. She joined the infamous Pack 31- a group of hikers who met online and named themselves after the date they started, March 1, 2003. This community, built on meetings at the ALDHA Gathering and a th...

Megan Militello | Founder + CEO at Elevated Oats | Army Staff Sergeant | MS, Embry-Riddle | Mountaineer As an Army air traffic controller, Megan held key leadership and trainer positions, learned first-hand how to run a highly coordinated operation, and received a bronze star during her second Iraq deployment. She continued air traffic in the DOD and FAA, but ultimately felt unfulfilled, and follo...

Nancy is a mom to three amazing kids, a wife to the love of her life, a retired veterinarian, a team member of her local search and rescue squad, a certified naturalist, and an active adventurer whose second home is in the Great Outdoors (and a chronic insomniac, which is why she can pack so much into one life). Guest Links- Nancy's Blog- https://www.hopeandfeathertravels.com/ Nancy's Facebook Gro...

Kelly Howard is the Fitness Consistency Coach with a touch of adventure! She helps busy women prioritize their fitness so they can feel great and have more time and energy for the things they love. When we feel strong, confident, and empowered, we can do anything. Kelly loves adding fun and a little adventure into life with outdoor activities like hiking, biking, backpacking, SUP, and kayaking. He...