

What's it like to hike and live in the backcountry for 5 months? Host and thru-hiker Kyle O'Grady, who has completed every last step of the Appalachian Trail, interviews other thru-hikers, peak-baggers, and backpackers who are almost as crazy as him. Is life while thru-hiking really as glamorous as the social media stars make it out to be? Is pooping in the woods really that big of a deal? Find out these answers and more on Trail Tales.
Episodes

Wednesday Jan 18, 2023
#129 | The Goofiest Hiker on the PCT with Tristen Steele
Wednesday Jan 18, 2023
Wednesday Jan 18, 2023
Tristen Steele thru hiked all over the country this year, completing large sections of the Pacific Crest Trail and Oregon Coast Trail, as well as a yo-yo hike of the Ouachita Trail. This is all impressive as it is, but even more so since he is only 18 years old! And of course... he's a huge goofball, in the best way possible.
Tristen's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tristensteele060/
If you're really into Trail Tales, please consider supporting my content on Patreon (best way to support the show): https://www.patreon.com/kylehateshiking/
Check out my YouTube for the Pacific Crest Trail vlogs: https://www.youtube.com/c/KyleHatesHiking/
Like what you hear? Want to talk some smack? You can contact me on Instagram (@kylehateshiking), or send me an email: trailtalespod@gmail.com

Wednesday Jan 04, 2023
#127 | The Most Inspiring Hiker I met on the Pacific Crest Trail with CJ Cosby
Wednesday Jan 04, 2023
Wednesday Jan 04, 2023
Colton "CJ" Cosby is working towards the goal of being the first Triple Crowner with cystic fibrosis. I had the pleasure of meeting CJ during my Pacific Crest Trail hike this summer, and wanted him to come on the show to share his inspiring story.
CJ's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coltoncosby
CJ's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coltonjcosby/
If you're really into Trail Tales, please consider supporting my content on Patreon (best way to support the show): https://www.patreon.com/kylehateshiking/
Check out my YouTube for the Pacific Crest Trail vlogs: https://www.youtube.com/c/KyleHatesHiking/
Like what you hear? Want to talk some smack? You can contact me on Instagram (@kylehateshiking), or send me an email: trailtalespod@gmail.com

Tuesday Jun 25, 2019
#33 | Evacuated by a Helicopter on the Great Divide Trail with Jake Pickering
Tuesday Jun 25, 2019
Tuesday Jun 25, 2019
Jake Pickering thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail in 2016, and headed back into the woods again in 2018. The second time around he thru-hiked the Great Divide Trail in Western Canada, which is a relatively unknown trail compared to more popular hikes like the Appalachian Trail and PCT. In this episode we learn about how a Wikipedia article exposed him to the world of long-distance hiking, and all about the logistics of hiking the Great Divide Trail. Make sure you stay tuned until the end of the episode to hear his crazy story about being evacuated from the GDT by helicopter, a good reminder for everyone to renew their SPOT subscriptions!
If you are interested in learning more about the Great Divide Trail, head to http://www.greatdividetrail.com/.
Like what you hear? Want to talk some smack? You can contact me on Twitter, Instagram, or send me an email: trailtalespod@gmail.com
If you're really into Trail Tales and want to receive some bonus content, please consider supporting the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/trailtales.
Feel free to leave me a five-star review on iTunes (I read every one at the beginning of the next episode), and subscribe if you like the show! My personal Instagram is @kylehateshiking, so feel free to follow me on there as well.
Subscribe on iTunes, and listen on Google Play and Stitcher!

Tuesday May 28, 2019
Tuesday May 28, 2019
Austin Davis caught the hiking bug in 2018, completing a yo-yo hike of the Pacific Crest Trail, before heading to South America in an effort to continue his adventures. In 2019, he thru-hiked the Te Araroa in New Zealand, and the Arizona Trail. That's a ton of hiking.
In our chat, we talk in depth about his PCT yo-yo, water sources on the Arizona Trail (which still disgust me), and do an info-session on the Te Araroa. I bet it won't be long before Austin continues his adventures and moves on the Appalachian Trail, and beyond. Go check out his website: http://notabadplacetopee.com/
Like what you hear? Want to talk some smack? You can contact me on Twitter, Instagram, or send me an email: trailtalespod@gmail.com
If you're really into Trail Tales and want to receive some bonus content, please consider supporting the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/trailtales.
Feel free to leave me a five-star review on iTunes (I read every one at the beginning of the next episode), and subscribe if you like the show! My personal Instagram is @kylehateshiking, so feel free to follow me on there as well.
Subscribe on iTunes, and listen on Google Play and Stitcher!

Tuesday May 21, 2019
Tuesday May 21, 2019
Effie Drew joins Trail Tales to talk about two main topics: her thru-paddle (you read that correctly) of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, and hiking with dogs! She has done the Appalachian Trail, the Continental Divide Trail, and much of the Pacific Crest Trail, and in 2018 her partner and her decided to give their legs a quick break and take to the water. They paddled the entire 740-mile Northern Forest Canoe Trail at the end of 2018.
Towards the end of the episode, I get the chance to pick Effie's brain on the subject of backpacking and hiking with dogs. Her dog Luna has hiked over 7,000 miles which is insanity, so she is able to give plenty of advice on how to manage your dog on the trail.
Check out her website: http://www.babygotbackwoods.com/
Like what you hear? Want to talk some smack? You can contact me on Twitter, Instagram, or send me an email: trailtalespod@gmail.com
If you're really into Trail Tales and want to receive some bonus content, please consider supporting the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/trailtales.
Feel free to leave me a five-star review on iTunes (I read every one at the beginning of the next episode), and subscribe if you like the show! My personal Instagram is @kylehateshiking, so feel free to follow me on there as well.
Subscribe on iTunes, and listen on Google Play and Stitcher!

Wednesday May 08, 2019
#27 | Thru-Hiking the Carolina's Foothills Trail with Mitchell Larby
Wednesday May 08, 2019
Wednesday May 08, 2019
On this episode, my good buddy from the Appalachian Trail and former guest Mitchell Larby and I basically run through our entire thru hike of the Foothills Trail. We break down each day and definitely go into some side rants as well. The Foothills Trail is a fantastic trail for somebody to hike in preparation for the Appalachian Trail, with tons of great waterfalls, rivers, and beautiful campsites.
Like what you hear? Want to talk some smack? You can contact me on Twitter, Instagram, or send me an email: trailtalespod@gmail.com
If you're really into Trail Tales and want to receive some bonus content, please consider supporting the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/trailtales.
Feel free to leave me a five-star review on iTunes (I read every one at the beginning of the next episode), and subscribe if you like the show! My personal Instagram is @kylehateshiking, so feel free to follow me on there as well.
Subscribe on iTunes, and listen on Google Play and Stitcher!

Wednesday May 01, 2019
Wednesday May 01, 2019
Kristen Gardella has hiked a ton of long distance trails, including the Appalachian Trail and the North South Trail in Rhode Island. In this episode we chat about what it was like to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail in 1999, and how the gear and trail culture has changed since then. She also shares the basic information about the North South Trail, and sheds some light on this relatively unknown trail.
Like what you hear? Want to talk some smack? You can contact me on Twitter, Instagram, or send me an email: trailtalespod@gmail.com
If you're really into Trail Tales and want to receive some bonus content, please consider supporting the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/trailtales.
Feel free to leave me a five-star review on iTunes (I read every one at the beginning of the next episode), and subscribe if you like the show! My personal Instagram is @kylehateshiking, so feel free to follow me on there as well.
Subscribe on iTunes, and listen on Google Play and Stitcher!

Tuesday Apr 23, 2019
Tuesday Apr 23, 2019
Sarah Williams joins Trail Tales to talk about her 2017 thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail and her podcast Tough Girl Challenges. We get into the logistics that non-U.S-Citizens must deal with in order to do a safe, successful thru-hike, and we also talk at length about Sarah's choice to quit her corporate job and become a full-time influencer and content creator.
Like what you hear? Want to talk some smack? You can contact me on Twitter, Instagram, or send me an email: trailtalespod@gmail.com
If you're really into Trail Tales and want to receive some bonus content, please consider supporting the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/trailtales.
Feel free to leave me a five-star review on iTunes (I read every one at the beginning of the next episode), and subscribe if you like the show! My personal Instagram is @kylehateshiking, so feel free to follow me on there as well.
Subscribe on iTunes, and listen on Google Play and Stitcher!

Tuesday Apr 09, 2019
Tuesday Apr 09, 2019
Philip Carcia is attempting to beat the fastest-known-time to complete the White Mountain Grid- hiking all 48 four thousand foot peaks in a single year. We talk all about what made him decide to commit to this insane project, and many of the struggles and successes he has had along the way. Philip has also completed the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, and many other trails around the country.
Like what you hear? Want to talk some smack? You can contact me on Twitter, Instagram, or send me an email: trailtalespod@gmail.com
If you're really into Trail Tales and want to receive some bonus content, please consider supporting the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/trailtales.
Feel free to leave me a five-star review on iTunes (I read every one at the beginning of the next episode), and subscribe if you like the show! My personal Instagram is @kylehateshiking, so feel free to follow me on there as well.
Subscribe on iTunes, and listen on Google Play and Stitcher!

Tuesday Apr 02, 2019
Tuesday Apr 02, 2019
Keith Wingad joins the show this week to talk about his thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2017! He is a veteran of the United States Military and talks about how his experience affected his thru-hike, and how he made it his mission to hike as an inspiration to veterans and doctors who treat them. We also talk about what it's like to thru-hike as an older hiker.
Like what you hear? Want to talk some smack? You can contact me on Twitter, Instagram, or send me an email: trailtalespod@gmail.com
If you're really into Trail Tales and want to receive some bonus content, please consider supporting the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/trailtales.
Feel free to leave me a five-star review on iTunes (I read every one at the beginning of the next episode), and subscribe if you like the show! My personal Instagram is @kylehateshiking, so feel free to follow me on there as well.
Subscribe on iTunes, and listen on Google Play and Stitcher!