Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS
Thru-hikes are a hugely physical undertaking that take a lot of time and a lot of money – or at least the ability to forego earning money. A lot of people ask – how do you make a thru-hike happen? We have no magical secrets to share – but we do have some thru-hikers share stories about their own journeys on the Appalachian Trail. Young, old, and in-between, the trail is for everybody. Special guests Spicy Guy, Bluebird, Hakuna Matata, and Sock Ninja. We delve dangerously close to “overly inspirational” territory in this podcast, but I don’t care. You need to listen to this.
Check out Kimchi’s photographic work (and maybe even buy a print) HERE.
I am going out of the country for about a month for work. I’m going to try to keep the podcast going while I’m gone, but I can’t make any promises. I’m packing my microphone just in case.
-Gizmo
Music, as always, provided courtesy of the inimitable Baby Gramps
Judi
October 8, 2015 at 4:06 amI am one of those folks that read a book and was inspired by it. Then I watched a Hollywood movie based upon the book, and parts of the movie, still inspired me. But what inspired me more was the allure of accomplishing something that I don’t believe I am capable of.
I grew up in Mojave California and saw many hikers over my childhood and adolescent years. At the time I had no understanding of who these folks were or what they were doing. All I knew was that I admired them somehow.
My father was very protective and thankfully so. He scrutinized every interaction I would have with anyone.
I lost two friends to horrific violence. Their bodies were found near the PCT in the Cameron Canyon area of California. My parents strongly encouraged me to believe that any interest in hitchhikers, hikers or any stranger, at all, should be held as suspect. Since that time of the loss of my friends, I had zero trust in folks passing through our little town of Mojave.
I am 47 now and that horrific crime lingers in my memory as I plan my hike. If it takes a book or a movie interpretation of a book that inspires one person…..super cool then….right?!?
So, there is a journey that a person needs to take. I mean NEEDS to take. Regardless of it’s goal. Weather it is to come to terms with a childhood loss, cancer, rape, the loss of ones parents, sibling or a dear friend who took their own life or all of the above. If it is a section hike or a through hike that inspires a person to come to terms with their losses or to prove their strengths or whatever. Use that inspiration and freaking thrive with the healing of the hike. That oneness with nature provides us with the solitude needed to heal, forgive and to move on.
Totally went off on a tangent, but Bluebird and Hakuna Matata have further inspired me and I would love to, someday, thank them on a trail somewhere.
Thank you, Gizmo, for your interview. I loved how real and honest and emotional you got during the interview. Thank you for your realism and honesty. It brought me to tears. Very touching.
Thank you,
Judi
Gizmo
November 5, 2015 at 8:21 pmThanks Judi. I have to give the credit to Kimchi for the stellar interview with Bluebird and Hakuna Matata, but she definitely nailed it.
Barb
November 22, 2015 at 1:43 pmI love this episode!
Deborah
November 26, 2015 at 10:27 pmI have been on a full binge podcast listen for a few weeks of sounds of the trail. I have been interested in hiking and spent some time on my local trails in metrodetroit (we have a ton of “rails to trails” in my area). I have been inspired to do a longer trail in Michigan (we have two paths in michigan that go from coast to coast, about 250 miles as well as part of the north country trail) this summer, which is something I thought I would never actually do, but think about often. Thanks for the inspiration and direction. I made my family listen to this episode with me…. You made my mom cry.
alexmdodge
February 4, 2016 at 5:30 pmHey Gizmo!
Thank you SO much for this episode! love it 🙂
Also I think the link for Kimchi’s photo website is broken..or she took it down? not sure. I would love to check it out if it still exists.
Happy Hiking!
Mook
May 2, 2016 at 11:01 amHi Gizmo,
I just recently discovered your podcast and have been working my way through the back catalog. I started with the introduction episode and have been listening to episodes chronologically while at work.
I just finished listening to Kimchi’s interview with Bluebird and Hakuna Matata, and I am in love with these women! I am jealous of the relationship this mother/daughter duo has. And Kimchi did a masterful job of drawing stories out of them. I found myself getting a lump in my throat and felt my eyes well up as I listened to their campfire chat. I guess I suffer from the same infirmity my mom always said she had….that her bladder was located too close to her tear ducts.
I love the podcast and will continue listening until catch up with the most recent episode. Keep up the good work!
Kiki
May 21, 2016 at 7:47 pmGizmo-
Just wanted to say “hello!” from out on the Pacific Ocean. I am a sailor in the US Navy, currently out on a 7 month deployment. I downloaded your podcast in port because I’ve been missing the outdoors so so much- so much it hurts! Being locked in a metal ship for months can really get old. I just wanted to tell you how inspiring your podcast is- I share all the hiker’s stories with the people in my shop daily. I never knew, until I was in the military and started going on hikes when I was stationed in San Diego, how much I LOVED hiking. I just didn’t grow up in an outdoorsy family… Now that I’m stationed in Washington State my love for it has grown exponentially. I turned 30 this year and I feel like I’m JUST really understanding myself. I’ve made it a goal when I get out of the military and I finish paying of my art school loans within the next two years to do a thru hike on the PCT. I never thought I would be THAT person- it seemed like something only “certain type” of person could do, but hearing your podcast- the diversity of ages and stories and joys and challenges makes me feel like there are so many amazing adventures waiting for me too out there!
Just know your show is a light in my life right now in a really tough place. Funny side note: ship food is pretty horrible, so I stock up on a lot of food myself. The food episode made me laugh because so much of what you guys pack and eat on the trail(noodles, oatmeal, kind bars and larabars,etc.) is what I’m eating too!
Thanks for being so inclusive with your experiences. Its great that you are engaging life and its infectious 🙂
You’re wonderful!!!