PODCAST · sports
Trail Correspondents
by The Trek
Trail Correspondents is a teleportation machine to the trail- in audio form. Every other week, a select handful of thru-hikers on the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and the American Discovery Trail, give us a glimpse into the world of long distance backpacking. Through their eyes and vocal cords, we learn all about the highs, lows, and nitty gritty details that go into a half-year, cross-country trek. Trail Correspondents is the next best thing to being on trail yourself.
Episodes
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Lessons Learned | S5 E13
Months on trail have a way of teaching lessons that no guidebook can prepare you for. Our 2026 Trail Correspondents reflect on the moments, mistakes, surprises, and hard-earned wisdom that have changed how they see the AT, PCT, and CDT—and themselves. From things they got completely wrong to…
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The Mental Game | S5 E12
The miles can wear down your legs, but sometimes it's your mind that takes the biggest hit. Our 2026 Trail Correspondents open up about the mental side of life on the AT, PCT, and CDT, from stretches of doubt and thoughts of quitting to the people, routines, and small victories that keep them...
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Your Diet | S5 E11
Hiker hunger has officially entered the chat. Our 2026 Trail Correspondents dig into the realities of eating their way along the AT, PCT, and CDT, from relentless cravings and questionable trail snacks to discovering exactly what keeps their bodies fueled mile after mile. What sounded like a good...
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The Physical Adjustment | S5 E10
By now, the trail has changed our 2026 Trail Correspondents—and their bodies are starting to tell the story. In this episode, hikers from the AT, PCT, and CDT reflect on what's gotten stronger, what's gotten sorer, and the aches, adjustments, and unexpected physical challenges that have shaped...
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Wildcard II | S5 E9
Another Wild Card, another chance for anything to happen. With the prompts set aside once again, our 2026 Trail Correspondents share the stories they feel need telling most at this point in their journeys. These unscripted, unfiltered dispatches from the AT, PCT, and CDT capture life on trail in...
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The Social Experience | S5 E8
Every thru-hike finds its own social rhythm—tramily, shelter mates, or long solo stretches. Our 2026 Trail Correspondents reflect on the people who've shaped their hikes, the friendships that formed faster than expected, and the solitude that proved just as meaningful. These stories from the AT,...
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My Worst Day on Trail | S5 E7
Every thru-hike has a breaking point. In this episode, our 2026 Trail Correspondents revisit the toughest day they've faced so far, sharing the moments that pushed them to their physical and emotional limits. From relentless weather, painful miles, and rough social encounters to self-doubt and...
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What's Working, What's Not | S5 E6
Every thru-hike becomes a gear test sooner or later. Our 2026 Trail Correspondents take stock of what's earned a permanent place in their packs, what's headed for the next post office, and which pieces of gear have surprised them—for better or worse. From luxury items to costly mistakes, these...
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Expectations vs Reality | S5 E5
Every hike begins with a story we tell ourselves about what the trail will be. Now several weeks into their journeys, our 2026 Trail Correspondents reflect on where expectation has collided with reality. From romanticized visions and unexpected hardships to surprising joys and…
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Wildcard: A Raw $24k Budget Breakdown & Escaping 'Joyless Urgency' | S5 E4
Wild Card time! No prompts, no script, and no rules! Expect the unexpected as this jam-packed episode swings from the bizarre to the profound. You'll hear wild field updates featuring a 1:37 AM wake-up call by sheriff deputies in a cemetery, a chaotic mid-day standoff between a coyote and a…
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The Trail Begins | S5 E3
One week down, and the honeymoon phase now officially collides with reality. Our 2026 Trail Correspondents check in from the AT, PCT, and CDT after their first week on trail, sharing sore bodies, emotional highs and lows, unexpected surprises, and the early signs of who's settling into trail…
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Preparing for the AT, PCT, and CDT | S5 E2
Every thru-hike starts long before the first step. Our 2026 Trail Correspondents share how they've been preparing for their AT, PCT, and CDT thru-hikes, physically, logistically, mentally, and emotionally. From deliberate zero-prep approaches to 123-sheet resupply spreadsheets, the range of...
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Meet Your 2026 Correspondents | S5 E1
Every thru-hike starts with a "why." In our Season 5 premiere, ten Trail Correspondents introduce themselves before stepping onto the AT, PCT, and CDT. A retired cop. A stand-up comic. A welder down 180 pounds. A guy chasing his trail buddy onto the PCT. Ten people, ten origin stories, and the...
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S4 Episode #15 | Interview With Your Former Self
Welcome back to Trail Correspondents! This is the final episode of season 4: an interview with your former self. Traditionally, this episode is formatted such that we pan back and forth between the present and the past as the Correspondents ask and answer questions they posed to themselves prior…
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S4 Episode #14 | The Finish
Welcome back to Trail Correspondents! We've finally come to it: the finish. Send us your questions about anything and everything here: https://www.speakpipe.com/TrailCorrespondents In today's episode we hear from: Abbey Turnbull Harking from the South Coast of the UK, Abbey, aged 26, is swapping...
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S4 Episode #13 | Last Week On Trail
Welcome back to Trail Correspondents! I am your host moron and this is episode 13 all about the last week on trail. There are a lot of complex, possibly mutually exclusive and contradicting feelings that can arise on the last week of trail. You've found a groove, have your gear and resupply…
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S4 Episode #12 | Lessons Learned
Welcome back to Trail Correspondents! You'll certainly find a noticeable theme throughout these clips - especially with those who are completing their first long trail, that it's difficult to sum up in words what's been learned. The duration of time a thru hike requires is definitely enough to...
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S4 Episode #11 | The Mental Game
Welcome back to Trail Correspondents! This is Episode 11 which is all about the mental game required to attempt a thru-hike. Denial is not just a river in Africa and it's the stories we tell ourselves that frame our experience as heavenly or hellish. Now some relevant quotes: Henry Ford, "Whether...
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S4 Episode #10 | Wild Card 3
Welcome back to Trail Correspondents! I am your host moron and this is the last installment of the wildcard episodes for this season of the show. No real need for introductions here as we all know the drill by now. So, settle in and prepare to hear a little of this, a little of that, and a whole...
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S4 Episode #9 | Trail Diet
Welcome back to Trail Correspondents! Though many of us eat more so out of pleasure, schedule, routine or the like, a hiker's relationship to food evolves during the course of a thru-hike and it's an interesting change to take note of. Wherever you fall in the dietary spectrum it's somewhat...
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S4 Episode #8 | The Physical Adjustment
Welcome back to Trail Correspondents! Today we're talking about the physical adjustment our correspondents have endured on trail. When it comes to staying on trail, you have to listen to your body. You ignore its cries and protests at your peril. If there's one piece of advice I can give with...
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S4 Episode #7 | Wildcard 2
Welcome back to Trail Correspondents! Today we're looking at another wildcard edition of the show. In case you don't know, wildcard episodes give our correspondents free reign to talk about whatever they'd like. So strap in for some wholesome rambling regarding this, that, and the other! Let's…
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S4 Episode #6 | The Social Experience
Welcome back to Trail Correspondents! This is episode 6: the social experience. This episode isn't just about the "tramily" most hikers will invariably and organically find themselves a part of - it's about the trail angels, the people who give you rides to town, the clerks at the grocery stores,...
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S4 Episode #5 | Expectations Vs. Reality
Welcome back to Trail Correspondents! This is episode 5: expectations vs. reality. Picture in your mind's eye, an ideal version of time spent in nature. It's likely not raining and warm but not hot. Perhaps the perfect cooling breeze supportively buffets your face while you climb a challenging…
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S4 Episode #4 | Wildcard 1
Welcome back to Trail Correspondents! I am your host moron. This is episode 4 of Trail Correspondents - the first wild card edition, wherein each of our contributors get to relay whatever is on their mind. This episode is a fun exposé highlighting everyone's unique taste and what they…
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S4 Episode #3 | First Night On Trail
Welcome back to Trail Correspondents! This is the moment we've all been waiting for: hitting the trail. While 11 members of this group have boots on the ground and are headed in their chosen direction toward their trail's terminus, today we also hear from one correspondent who has yet to depart...
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S4 Episode #2 | Thru-Hike Preparation
It's said that proper preparation prevents poor performance. That being so, though there is a high level of inescapable serendipity and general chaos that has to be accepted and even embraced during a thru-hike, equally important is the forethought that goes into this kind of endurance endeavor....
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S4 Episode #1 | Introducing the Class of 2023
Hello and welcome back to the much anticipated, 4th season of Trail Correspondents! This season features a great group of hopeful hiker who will be sharing their journeys with us all. Beyond just getting to know this new batch of folks, there is also the passing of the host-torch from Zach…
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S3 Episode #15 | An Interview With Your Pre-Trail Self
Today marks the final episode of our third season. At the beginning of this year, before embarking on their SOBO thru-hikes, I asked our Correspondents to interview themselves. Specifically, their future selves. We wanted a way to demonstrate the metamorphosis a hiker goes through during their...
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S3 Episode #14 | The End
The finish. We are here. Not days, not weeks, but months of blood, sweat, and tears, all with the remote hope that the journey will conclude at the intended destination- the southern terminus. A goal that at one point feels too big to conceptualize, and today, this goal is realized. Our hikers…
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S3 Episode #13 | The Last Week on Trail
Today brings us to our hikers last week on trail. Here, we asked our hikers to reflect on their journey overall. Although this isn't technically a wildcard episode, we gave our Correspondents free rein to focus in on whatever they felt most passionate about in the process of looking back on their...
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S3 Episode #12 | Lessons Learned
The trail is my teacher. Perhaps one of the most underrated aspects of a long distance backpacking trip is the time it allows someone to be with their thoughts. It's not uncommon for the time and space to allow for a breakthrough, or even just seeing old problems in a new light. Today we learn…
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S3 Episode #11 | The Mental Grind
It is said that the mental component is the most challenging aspect of a thru-hike. I am one of those making this claim, in fact, I wrote two books on this very subject. Although the physical element of a cross country trek can't be understated in terms of difficulty, after a few weeks, a hiker's...
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S3 Episode #10 | Wildcard III
We're back at it today with this season's third edition of our wildcard episode. Instead of giving our hikers a specific prompt, they are given the freedom to report on whatever subject they find most pressing. We get some very moving entries, including an emotional take on what it feels like to...
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S3 Episode #9 | The Thru-Hiker's Diet
What does one eat on a backpacking trip? It may seem like a simple question with an equally simple answer. But dig a bit beneath the surface and, you'll quickly learn there's more nuance than you might originally think. Not only do we get a taste of what goes into a day's menu for our hiker…
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S3 Episode #8 | The Physical Adjustment
Obvious statement of the year award- walking the length of the country will do a number on one's body. Just how severe is the impact...well, that's what our trekkers will share with us today. In addition to the physical adjustment, our hikers will detail exactly how they manage their pain and…
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S3 Episode #7 | Wildcard II
Because our prompts can often leave the juiciest trail stories uncovered, this season, we have built in even more wildcard episodes, where our correspondents muse on whatever is most inspiring to them about their recent trail experience. Today's show covers quite a bit of ground, everything to a...
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S3 Episode #6 | The Social Dynamic
Today we explore the social dynamic of a thru-hike. If you've listened to previous seasons shows on this subject, you might think that you already know the answer to this question. However, let us not forget, our trekkers are hiking against the current. Whereas the vast majority of thru-hikers-...
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Season 3 Episode 5 | Surprises
Roughly one month into their journey, our correspondents are now at the point of learning about just how much they don't know about their trail, themselves, and thru-hiking as a whole. After all, even the most experienced thru-hikers have gaps in their research, preparation, and occasionally fail...
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Season 3 Episode 4 | Wildcard I
It's Wildcard time! A few times a season, we challenge our correspondents' to be creative and discuss whatever they want to! Our trail correspondents lived up to the challenge that the wildcard presents. They regal us with a variety of stores, give us topics to ponder, and provide us an insight…
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Season 3 Episode 3 | The First Night on Trail
The episodes leading up to this one introduced us to our 2021 hikers, taught us about their prep, and gave us insights as to why they decided to plan a thru-hike. However, planning a thru-hike and actually taking those first few steps are two very different things. In this episode, we learn all...
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Season 3 Episode 2 | Thru-Hike Preparation
Preparing for a thru-hike is no easy feat. After all, hikers have to completely overhaul their life. This often involves quitting their job, storing all of their belongings somewhere, saying goodbye to loved ones/partners, and make a strict budget - and we haven't even gotten into all the…
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Season 3 Episode 1 | Introductions
We are beyond thrilled to finally unveil our third season of Trail Correspondents presented by The Trek. For those new to the show, Trail Correspondents is a teleportation machine to the trail - in audio form. Every other week (or so), host Zach Davis and a select handful of thru-hikers on the...
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#24 | An Interview with Your Former Self
Today marks the final episode of our second season. Although this news is melancholy, this episode is too good to be down. At the beginning of this year, before embarking on their thru-hikes, I asked our Correspondents to interview themselves. Specifically, their future selves. I wanted a way to...
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#23 | Readjusting After a Thru-Hike
When prepping for a thru-hike, aspiring trekkers spend countless hours stressing the transition to their new existence, one spent on the other side of walls. Within just a few days, the adjustment to living amongst the trees, on mountains, and under stars is all but complete. If only the…
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#22 | The End
Today is the end of the trail. For this one, we hear from our hikers twice, both the day before the northern terminus and at the finish line itself, with one exception. As you can imagine, this is an emotional update. Although the journey is the destination, there is likely no more exciting part…
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#21 | Wild Card III: Sober Hiking, Relationship Advice, and Trail Etiquette
Today's show brings us our final wildcard episode. Given the timing of this episode, near the end of our correspondents' journeys, there's a lot of reflection on the miles in their rearview mirrors. We also hear some advice about maintaining a relationship on the trail, sober hiking, hiking with…
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#20 | Revelations
An extended period in the great outdoors is medicine for the soul. Breaking free from our routines in a natural setting is a recipe for happiness, clarity, and a fresh perspective. Having done it myself multiple times, I believe this with an unwavering conviction. That is the subject of today's...
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#19 | The Mental Grind
Although a half year backpacking trip is a physical grind, this is not the most challenging part of a thru-hike. Apologies for sounding like a broken record, but as you might likely guess, this title belongs to the psychological side of this journey. Our hikers chime in on whether they agree with...
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#18 | Stories from the Trail
Grab a seat next to the rocking chair because today's show will feature some stories from the backcountry. We instructed our hikers to share a standout tale from their journey. It can be a highlight, lowlight, or something in between. The submissions are a delightful mix. We hear about one of our...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Trail Correspondents is a teleportation machine to the trail- in audio form. Every other week, a select handful of thru-hikers on the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and the American Discovery Trail, give us a glimpse into the world of long distance backpacking. Through their eyes and vocal cords, we learn all about the highs, lows, and nitty gritty details that go into a half-year, cross-country trek. Trail Correspondents is the next best thing to being on trail yourself.
HOSTED BY
The Trek
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Trail Correspondents have?
Trail Correspondents currently has 54 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Trail Correspondents about?
Trail Correspondents is a teleportation machine to the trail- in audio form. Every other week, a select handful of thru-hikers on the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and the American Discovery Trail, give us a glimpse into the world of long distance backpacking....
How often does Trail Correspondents release new episodes?
Trail Correspondents has 54 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Trail Correspondents?
You can listen to Trail Correspondents on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Trail Correspondents?
Trail Correspondents is created and hosted by The Trek.
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