Following two friends hiking the Pacific Crest Trail!
Here you can find some pictures and videos of our experience, and if you're looking for more...head over to Spotify or Apple Podcasts to follow along our podcast Walking Towards Fear.
Meet Cody “Gameboy” Geib!
Another hiker who I met on the PCT last year, who had a perspective on life well worth sharing.
This weeks episode launches in how to turn your life into a game, have more fun, and accomplish more as you do it.
You don’t have to make things into a game, and you don’t have to make things more fun. AND if you’re interested in that type of living experience…you gotta listen in.
Meet Michelle!
Imagine a world where you get to redefine success as often as you want. THAT is the world that she lives in and talked to us about.
This was an amazing conversation that really helped me to deepen my own understanding of the power of choice and choosing within our own lives.
We talked about everything from leaving comfortable jobs and the grieving past work-place lives, to allowing ourselves to daydream and believe bigger for ourselves.
Michelle's moment of standing in the kitchen after making breakfast for her kids and getting them on the bus is the moment thats available to anyone willing to walk towards fear!
Imagine having a comfortable career in the tech world, and suddenly finding yourself teaching kids in another country a language they do not speak with no help to do it.
That was a CHOICE Amanda Burton made that’s shaped so much of her perspective. She’s been both Chief of Staff AND Chief of Snacks!
She’s so quick in her decision making she doesn’t allow fear to leak in, something we could all learn from.
If you don’t have the time to listen, create the time to ask yourself “What’s the story I want to tell about this chapter of my life”?” and you’ll see magic unfold.
Amanda is warm, easy to connect with. She’s a risk-taker and an explorer and someone who will never stop growing.
Meet Melissa!!
You guys are in for a TREAT with this one. We talk about all the details of wanting to fight what’s happening in your life…trying REALLY hard to make it all work.
Many of my guests have non-linear and non-traditional paths, and Melissa is no exception. She beautifully reflects on her journey and how she was able to navigate even the biggest challenges along the way.
Meet Ash!
Holy smokes I loved this conversation so much.
As a fellow adventurous business owner we talk about the real details of behind the scenes.
It’s a conversation that I’ve revisited a number of times in the last few months and just knew this was the time to share it with the world.
I hope you find as much value in it as I did.
Meet Katie!!
Imagine traveling all over the world, falling in love with the lifestyle AND doing it all with an infant in tow. THAT's what Katie Bustos is doing right now.
To be honest, I'm not even sure where she is in the world right now, but I know that shes having a blast wherever she is!
Katie takes the concept of following your dreams and your heart to the next level. We could all use a little more of her energy in our lives.
Go listen to this weeks episode and enjoy the inspiration!
Imagine having a brilliant business idea that you choose to go ALL-IN for.
One that excites the hell out of you, and terrifies you at the same time.
Big dreams aren’t easy to claim when they’re “reasonable” and “make sense”!
Nevermind when at first listen, they seem a little “out there” “wild” or “different”.
THAT didn’t stop Anastasia Allison. Her big idea? To make a reusable p*e-cloth for women in the wilderness.
Try telling that one to your family! “Hi family, I’m leaving my job behind to go make p*e cloths”. 😅
Most entrepreneurs know the fear of trying to enroll other people in the possiblity of what you have to offer, and her story is no different.
Except that for Anastasia, not knowing anything about the textiles industry was her biggest gift.
Go listen in and learn how she’s made it all happen!
Meet Layne!
Layne’s story starts with two pedals and ends with some saddle sores. He is an unbelievable coach who started his journey by listening to himself first.
Even when it made no sense at all.
Come listen to Layne talk about sharing your goals with the world, feeling enticed and pulled towards certain challenges, and really becoming your own hero in the process.
I learned so much from Layne and how he sees the world. I hope you to do!!
Imagine being 24 years old and having traveled to 35 countries and then settling down to live for a while in Bali...just because you can.
THAT is exactly what Ava Haag is doing right now.
You can feel just how free her soul is in not just this picture, but in this weeks episode of the WTF pod.
We talk about how solo traveling really forces you to be with yourself. It's a tool to help you take radical ownership of your own life experience, and even if you're nervous at first....it creates an amazing sense of confidence.
While there can be things to fear, choosing to find the good and use each experience to grow is exactly what Ava talks about. From communicating with a language barrier, to building community, we covered it all.
It feels appropriate to launch this episode this week as I'm getting ready for my first solo adventure over to Europe in just over a week!! I'm nervous and excited, and I know I'll be channeling my inner Ava.
Meet Morgan!!
Morgan is a unique season 3 guest since she has also hiked the PCT and is still well connected to the trail.
Learning more about her story was a total blast. She exemplifies the idea “if you can think it, you can do it”.
Come listen to how Morgan created the life of her dreams by taking a chance and believing in herself first.
Meet Unfiltered!
This weeks guest is a 2-time thru hiker who is quite….unfiltered. True to himself, he spends months at a time outside walking long distances.
We talk about the challenges, hurdles, and best parts of hiking on this weeks episode of WTF.
Meet Aquaman!
This weeks episode dives into the details of how he created the journey of stepping onto the PCT, his integration back home, and what’s next for him.
Hint: it’s BIG. Go listen in and follow along for his next adventure!
Meet Eagle Eye!
After meeting on night one, I didn’t see him again until Cascade Locks OR.
He talks about his experience before, during and after the trail.
Listen in for an awesome perspective!
Meet Jurassic Park and Nitro!
These two go together like dinosaurs and fart jokes. Nothing better. 😂
This weeks episode of the podcast talked about how they navigated the trail as a married couple, how it enhanced their experience, upleveled their communication, and brought comfort to each other when returning home with a built-in buddy.
I loved this episode. A lot. ❤️❤️
Meet Machine!
A thru-hiking veteran who hikes FTLOH (for the love of hiking).
He’s grounded in what he wants out of life and has spent a lot of his time outdoors, alternating between 6 months of hiking and 6 months of working.
Note the rain jacket and F***y pack!
Come listen in to his episode on WTF!
Meet Chef Broccoli!
A Japan native who took on the PCT.
Take a listen and look at the visual here for the Seiad Valley Pancake challenge.
Meet Passport!
After a few other thru-hikes under her belt, she chose to take on the PCT in 2022.
We sat down to talk about her experience of the trail, and how it compared and contrasted to other hikes she’s done before.
Episode available at the link in bio!
Meet Jumbo!! (Previous Daddy Long Toes, or DLT)
This episode is extra special because it launches today, which is his BIRTHDAY! And if you know me, you know I absolutely LOVE birthdays.
We sit down and talk about how the experience of hiking the PCT is shaping his current decision making and what’s changed since being off the trail. Tune in!
Meet JiveTurkey! This weeks guest on the WTF podcast.
He was a veteran thru-hiker from completing the Appalachian Trail, and yet the PCT still pushed his limited.
Come listen in to learn more. Link in bio!!
Meet Weatherman!
After meeting in NorCal and quickly scattering due to fires, we only had a few conversations on trail but continued them on this weeks episode of WTF.
Listen in as we talk about the various contrasts life throws at you when stepping off the trail.
So you just finished a life altering experience, where you were working towards a goal (walking to Canada)and making tangible progress every👏🏼 single👏🏼 day👏🏼.
Now you’re navigating post-trail life. And it’s harder than you thought it’d be.
Partly because you’re still integrating your new perspectives, lessons, and priorities into your front-country life.
Partly because you’re not surrounded by the people who “get it” anymore.
Partly because the trail changed you in ways you didn’t expect.
And partly because of a million small reasons you’re still trying to make sense of (like why I cried when I had too many clothes in my closet…hello overwhelm👋🏼).
What to do when it feels hard being home:
1. remind yourself it’s okay to be sad (cause it is)
2. remind yourself that there’s still plenty of future adventures to be had (cause there are)
3. avoid toxic positivity at all costs (this is a good general rule of thumb)
4. allow yourself to feel frustrated when other people try to “fix it” for you (they probably just love you)
5. don’t judge yourself for struggling (it doesn’t help)
6. go for a walk (you’ve gotten really good at this)
7. talk to trail friends (they still rock)
8. create some small, achievable goals (feeling stagnant exacerbates the struggle)
9. eat some ramen (this can’t hurt, right?)
10. give yourself a hug (you’re doing your best!)
I’m not crying. You’re crying.
These have been my people for thousands of miles and I don’t have the words to express how much they all mean to me.
Trail family, or “tramily” has been such an important part of this hike for me. Finishing with these fools is something I’ll never forget. Even if I did have to chase two of them for nearly 6 miles to keep up.
✔️PCT hiked.
✔️Memories made.
✔️Hearts full.
✔️Dream come true.
Starting with a shoutout to my OG exit buddy!!
We did it. We hiked from Mexico to Canada.
Through the desert sun, Sierra snow, NorCal heatwaves, Washington rain and everything in between.
Couldn’t be more glad to have a pal crazy enough to undertake this journey with me.
Friendship turned tramily is something I’ll always cherish.
Making decisions around the ongoing fire situation in Oregon has been challenging. Things change SO quickly. Including the wind. Which means the areas with dangerous smoke levels (based on air quality index numbers) also shift quickly.
In the last week we spent some time at Callahan’s Lodge, Hyatt Lake Resort, took a pit stop at Crater Lake and are now in Bend.
Tomorrow we get back on trail for our final miles of the Pacific Crest Trail. 🥲
Washington has so many TREES. Walking in the forest all day is so soothing. It’s still really hot out here, but much better than the NorCal exposed trail and burn zones.
We’re currently in Trout Lake and getting ready to head off to White Pass!
Whoaaa we’re halfway there!!!! We finally hit the midway point on trail at mile marker 1325. We celebrated big and had a total blast.
It also happened to be Milk’s birthday, so we headed into town afterwards to throes on party hats and throw down at a little local bar.
Before getting back on trail, we recorded a new podcast with which should be up in just a few days!
We went through Lassen Volcanic National Park during this last stretch too. We got to explore some lava tubes which was fun, but the small volcanic rock everywhere really does a number on the feet.
And yesterday we hit 1400 miles on our 3 month trail-aversary! The heat has been brutal, with little to no shade because of the burn zones.
We’re ready to be back in some forested areas and looking forward to getting closer to crossing our first state line. California is a BIG state.
Everyone says that after the Sierra its common to experience “the NorCal blues”.
So far Northern California has been just as beautiful as any other part of this trail!!
The elevation is still challenging us physically, but the wildflowers go on forever which feels like an appropriate reward.
For a while part of our tramily fell apart too. One with a medical issue that had to be taken care of, one with an infection that had to be treated, and one got sick and fell behind.
Now we’re leaving Quincy, CA all back together and can’t wait for the next few days and some exciting milestones!!
The journey continues! We made it to South Lake Tahoe and are letting our bodies rest for a few days. It’s been 10 days since our last day off and we were all feeling pretty tired. The last few nights we camped with a bunch of new faces too. One of the coolest parts of the trail is still meeting new people 1000 miles in. The terrain is shifting too as we leave the Sierras behind. We’re excited to see what’s ahead, and everyone’s hoping there will still be enough lakes to swim, jump and play in. The trees out here still amaze me regularly. The last picture has PowerPlant in it for scale!
The views and the people out here are just unbelievably cool. There’s always something we’re grateful to be experiencing. Hitting 1000 miles felt surreal. That day we got stormed on, hailed on, and nearly died from mosquitos. And yet I’m positive there’s no place any of us would rather be. Cheers to the next 1000🎉
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We interrupt the continued PCT content to bring you a little bit of mars. I’m convinced Utah isn’t real. It’s just one big green screen. #hiking #explore #adventure #canyoneer #canyoneering #canyoneeringutah #utahrocks #zionnationalpark #zionnationalparkutah #utahexplored #backpackinglife #optoutside #hikertrashforlife #canyoning #getoutandexplore #nomadlifestyle #redrocks #sandstone #desertlandscape #desertlove
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