Trails Worth Hiking

Listener Allison Richter joins Jeremy to talk about her hike across Zion National Park in southern Utah.  The Zion Traverse takes hikers across one of America's finest national parks through a magnificent desert landscape of towers and plateaus, as well as valleys filled with pine and juniper.  Before the conversation with Allison, Jeremy tells us some of the geologic history of this magnific...

Listener Sam Peck joins Jeremy to talk about his hike with his wife of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trail on the Kii Peninsula of Japan.  Sam tells us about the trail, shrines, and beauty on this multi-day trek through temperate rain forest on a trail that was hiked by multiple emperors.  Did I mention that you should bring bug spray?  And listen to the end to hear Sam give detailed instructions on...

Morgan and Sage Fielder, the mother and daughter team behind Crave the Planet, a travel and adventure blog focused on Europe, join Jeremy to talk about their two adventures on the Alta Via 1 in the Dolomites of Italy.  This trek makes an epic family adventure through one of the most beautiful mountain ranges on earth and is punctuated by good food, amazing rifugios, and fantastic vistas.  And list...

Max DesMarais of Hiking and Fishing.com joins Jeremy to talk about the Pemigewasset Loop in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.  Max, a New Hampshire native, has a lot of experience on the Pemi Loop.  In this episode, he takes listeners through the many ups and downs of this amazing experience in the wilderness of New England.  And before the conversation with Max, Jeremy brings us a good old-fa...

Dawn Kinsel joins Jeremy to talk about their 2017 trek together with their families on the Tour du Mont Blanc in France, Italy, and Switzerland.  Traveling more than 100 miles, this impressive trail circumnavigates Mont Blanc, the tallest peak in the Alps.  In addition to impressive peaks, glaciers, and wildflowers, the trek takes hikers through quaint villages and to fantastic mountain refuges. ...

Jeremy's French teacher Mia joins him to talk about her adventure in the Himalayas on the Kashmir Great Lakes Trek.  Although Kashmir has a history of conflict that continues to this day, it is also a region with a rich multicultural history and unparalleled beauty.  Although the hike is in what is today India, Kashmir remains a land disputed and divided.  And hear from Mia about why you shou...

Back in episode 7, Jeremy interviewed Road Trip Ryan (Ryan Cornia) about his hike of the Ruby Crest Trail in the Ruby Mountains of Nevada.  Jeremy had previously tried to hike the trail in 2018, but had been thwarted first by snow and then forest fires.  But in 2021, Jeremy finally hiked the trail, along with his son Justin and hiking buddy Tony Wong.  In this special update episode, Jeremy, with...

Taryn Eyton of Happiest Outdoors joins Jeremy to talk about the West Coast Trail on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.  This coastal trail off the west coast of Canada takes hikers through temperate rainforest and along beaches, and features ladders, hand-operated cable cars, and ferries as part of the adventure.  Taryn also talks about Happiest Outdoors and her recent guide book for backpacking...

Jeremy describes the route his family traveled in summer 2021 on their adventure in Yosemite National Park where they visited two of the park's two most iconic features, Half Dome and Cloud's Rest.  The episode even includes audio recorded during the trip.  And of course Jeremy brings us the history of Yosemite Valley and Yosemite National Park, as well as a discussion about Yosemite&apo...

Listener Dan Koehne joins Jeremy to talk about the Overland Track in Tasmania, Australia.  After Jeremy gives us some of the history of Tasmania, including one pretty grim prison escape story, Dan tells us about his 2016 solo hike of the Overland Track, which traverses the wilds of Cradle Mountain - Lake St. Clair National Park.  Dan also talks about what it was like growing up in Papua New Guinea...

Nancy East of the Hope and Feather Travels blog joins Jeremy to talk about the Foothills Trail in upstate South Carolina and western North Carolina.  This adventure takes hikers through some of the most beautiful hiking scenery in the southeastern United States, including by some pretty amazing waterfalls.  Nancy also talks about her record-setting month-long hike of every single mile of trail in...

After Jeremy introduces us to Nepal and the Himalayas, Jeremy and Tony recount their 2019 adventure hiking the Manaslu Circuit in Nepal.  This trip had everything:  chaotic Kathmandu, wild jeep rides, deep river gorges, monkeys, remote villages, monasteries, high waterfalls, momos (Nepali dumplings), teahouses, suspension bridges, yaks, a snowy mountain pass, views of one of the tallest mountains...

Rajan Simkhada of Earthbound Expeditions joins Jeremy on this bonus episode to talk about trekking in Nepal, the country that contains many of the highest mountains on earth.  Rajan and Jeremy discuss what trekking in Nepal entails and how you can do it.  Rajan gives listeners lots of great tips for planning their first trek in Nepal, including how to choose a trekking company and what you can exp...

Katie Cook of Trees and Tents joins Jeremy to talk about the Three Sisters Loop hike through the wonderful volcanic Three Sisters Wilderness in the Cascades of central Oregon.  Jeremy gives us some of the geologic history of this colorful and awe-inspiring wilderness, and riffs a bit about two of his own trips to the area.  Katie also tells us about Trees and Tents, her inspiring website that seek...

Deep in a remote corner of Yosemite National Park in California's Sierra Nevada mountains, there is a rather unusual lake.  Many lakes in the Sierra Nevada may have a small strip of shoreline where a tired hiker can sit and soak their feet, but Benson Lake has much more than that.  It has a full beach like you would expect to find at any ocean shore.  On this episode, Jeremy's daughter S...

Jack Witt of Active World Journeys joins Jeremy to talk about his trek on the Hadrian's Wall Path.  This trek goes coast to coast across northern England alongside the wall that Emperor Hadrian built in the second century A.D. to mark the northern boundary of the Roman Empire.  Today trekkers can spend a week enjoying the walk through the English countryside, staying in quaint inns along the...

Sabrina Brett of  Moon & Honey Travel joins Jeremy to talk about the Rota Vicentina Fisherman's Trail in southwest Portugal.  This trail takes trekkers through one of the last wild coasts of Europe.  Sabrina and Jeremy also chat about hidden gem treks in the Alps.  And don't miss Sabrina's advice about what question never to ask a Slovenian. Moon & Honey Travel:  https://www...

Tony Wong is back on the show to talk with Jeremy about their hike of the Diablo Trail on their home turf in Northern California.  Jeremy tells some of the history of the area, including the legend about how Mount Diablo became named California's "Devil Mountain."  And don't miss Tony's advice about how to repurpose leftover takeout food as your go-to backpacking meal. Sav...

Andy Kermode from the Hiking Thru Life podcast joins Jeremy to talk about the Superior Hiking Trail in Minnesota.  The Superior Hiking Trail follows the North Shore of Lake Superior, the largest body of fresh water on earth by surface area.  Andy thru hiked all 300 plus miles of the trail in 2019.  Also, Jeremy recounts some of the history of the North Shore of Lake Superior, including its darker...

Ryan Cornia of Road Trip Ryan joins Jeremy to discuss the remote and beautiful Ruby Crest Trail in the Ruby Mountains of Nevada.  Jeremy shares some of the old west history of the area, which included wagon routes, the Pony Express, and even a cavalry fort.  Jeremy's dad Rusty also joins him on the show to talk about the Ruby Valley, the wildlife oasis below the Ruby Mountains. From the show:...

Jeremy's son Justin joins him on this bonus episode to talk about their amazing hike of this alternate route of the High Sierra Trail.  Instead of just hiking the High Sierra Trail from west to east, this extended version of the hike loops back west and turns the hike into a grand circuit of several high sierra canyons and passes.  And don't miss the special treat at the end of the episo...

Jeremy's hiking buddy Tony Wong is back on the show to talk with Jeremy about Joshua Tree National Park and their 2018 hike on the California Riding and Hiking Trail through this high desert wonderland.  Jeremy and Tony talk about the history of Joshua trees themselves and Joshua Tree National Park before telling you how you can hike this fantastic trail and giving you a possible itinerary fo...

Jeremy's daughter Sonya joins him on this episode to talk about her adventure on the Kalalau Trail on the island of Kauai in Hawaii.  In the first part of the show, they recount a bit of Hawaii's history, explain why Kauai doesn't have tall buildings (except one), and talk about the largest canyon of the Pacific.  Then they bring us to the Na Pali coast and its ancient footpath, the...

Jeremy's son Justin joins him to talk about Ecuador and the Quilotoa Loop (spoiler alert:  it's not actually a loop).  They discuss visiting Ecuador's two rival equator theme parks, the capital city Quito, studying Spanish in the beautiful and friendly city Cuenca, visiting the crest of the Andes in El Cajas National Park, the Inca ruins at Ingapirca, the possibility of climbing the...

Special guest Tony Wong joins Jeremy to talk about the High Sierra Trail in Sequoia National Park.  Jeremy and Tony talk about the bizarre history of the creation of Sequoia National Park and the giant trees that give the park its name.  They also recount the history of the building of the High Sierra Trail itself, some key information on hiking in the high Sierra, logistics for hiking the trail,...