Cascade Hiker Podcast - Backpacking and Hiking

Sherry Winslow is fresh off the West Coast Trail and I was very curious to hear a hikers perspective of the hike. She describes the trail on the second half of this shorter episode, talking about the tides, the trees and the camping details. To start out the episode, I asked Sherry to tell the story about her trail name Night Rider. Also, she had just finished through hiking the Enchantments while the trail was mostly covered in snow. We talked about the dangers and need for hiker awareness descending steep grades covered with snowpack. Check out Night Rider on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sher_nanigaans/ Shop:  REI Amazon My Trail Company (GoLite) Join Me at Patreon to get exclusive content! Click HERE @N_CascadeHiking Like our Facebook Page CLICK HERE On Instagram Cascade Hiker Podcast Check out Whiskey Fever: https://www.reverbnation.com/whiskeyfever The song used in the intro is 'Tall Grass' from their album Gonna Wake Up This Whole Town.

Brian Barker, a local expert on Portland-area trails, is the author of Take A Walk Portland, a hiking guide that covers the city and the outlying hikes within a short drive. They are mostly accessible year round with the exception of a couple of seasonally closed trails. This book will take hikers from the city to wild flower walks and waterfall walks as well. If you are from Portland or taking a trip there, I highly recommend picking up this guide to "walk" you through the town. I always try to find a good hike or walk on our trips and this is a great guide to pick a few around town. Brian has also been a contributor to Portland Monthly, writing about the area in and around Portland. Pick up Take A Walk Portland or other books by Sasquatch Books. Don't forget to shop our Cascade Hiker Hats and Bumper Stickers! Join Me at Patreon to get exclusive content! Click HERE @N_CascadeHiking Like our Facebook Page CLICK HERE On Instagram Cascade Hiker Podcast Check out Whiskey Fever: https://www.reverbnation.com/whiskeyfever The song used in the intro is 'Tall Grass' from their album Gonna Wake Up This Whole Town.

Jessi Owens came to the Pacific Northwest about 13 years ago. She started out enjoying the mountains, hiking her way through some novice spots and working her way into climbing.  She is now focused heavily on Paddling, though she still climbs. She has a goal to circumnavigate every island in the San Juan Islands that has a name. When we recorded the show, she had paddled around 62 of the 120 islands. She also talks about women in the wilderness by themselves. It is a big subject, especially for me to talk about, since I am not a woman. Jessi would like to encourage women to get out on the trail! Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessiplaysoutside/

062 Rambles: My Youngest Daughters First Backpacking Trip

Sherry Winslow is known on the trail as Knight Rider! She hiked the Pacific Crest Trail last summer from Mexico to Canada and is now prepping for a summer of adventure on four different trails. She is an inspiration for those that need a nudge in the direction of Mother Nature!  Her family has not been favorable to her explorations, but she goes anyway. Sherry describes showing up at the Mexican border with the whole summer ahead of her as she hiked north to Canada. Her biggest trail this summer will be a thru hike of the Pacific Northwest Trail. Her time on the PCT in the Pasayten Wilderness, sparked the interest for this long trail. Check out her Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/sher_nanigaans/ Don't forget to shop our Cascade Hiker Hats and Bumper Stickers! Join Me at Patreon to get exclusive content! Click HERE @N_CascadeHiking Like our Facebook Page CLICK HERE On Instagram Cascade Hiker Podcast Check out Whiskey Fever: https://www.reverbnation.com/whiskeyfever The song used in the intro is 'Tall Grass' from their album Gonna Wake Up This Whole Town.

Join Me at Patreon to get exclusive content! Click HERE Analeise Dowd blogs at Hikes for Dad. Her blog says, "I am hiking for me and for my dad who’s soul lived in the wilderness. My dad has taught me almost everything I know about being outside and making my own adventure, living my own life, and truly letting me be me." Every Mother and Father can relate to this amazing, continued relationship through and after life. Her respect for her parents show what an amazing job they did in raising their kids. She is planning to hike the Pacific Northwest Trail this summer and we talk a lot about her family connection to the trail and the woods in general! Don't forget to shop our Cascade Hiker Hats and Bumper Stickers! Join Me at Patreon to get exclusive content! Click HERE @N_CascadeHiking Like our Facebook Page CLICK HERE On Instagram Cascade Hiker Podcast Check out Whiskey Fever: https://www.reverbnation.com/whiskeyfever The song used in the intro is 'Tall Grass' from their album Gonna Wake Up This Whole Town.

Mark Pearson has been running Trek for Treasure for quite a few years now, starting as a way to encourage employees of United General of Sedro Woolley to get out and hike. When he opened it to the public, he was excited to see so much interest. The idea of Trek for Treasure: Teams signup and receive an email every other Friday morning. There are 6 hikes to complete in 12 weeks. To complete a hike, trekkers need to find the treasure box with clues inside. All team members must be present and take a photo at the treasure box as proof. There is no rush and teams have 2 weeks to complete each hike. There is a rush for those wanting to be placed in the top rankings on the final hike. Be the first teams to complete the hike and answer the riddle and you win! This years theme is titled The Search for Sasquatch! From the website: Is “Sasquatch” more than a myth? For years people have attempted to answer this age old question. Countless individuals have searched the vast wilderness of the great American Northwest in search of theses legendary creatures. In spite of their efforts, Sasquatch has eluded man still today. Over the years, there have been many stories or legends of sightings of Sasquatch within the state of Washington. Despite some strong evidence, most of these sightings have never been definitively confirmed. No one knows for sure if Sasquatch really exists or if the stories are just fabricated legend…word-of-mouth is often the only proof of their existence. After years of investigating, Mark Pearson has found evidence of the legendary Sasquatch! He is very close to locating the whereabouts of one of these elusive creatures and he needs your help! It is up to you and your team to travel the trails of the great Northwest, collect the clues in your Sasquatch Research Manual, and find the mysterious Sasquatch creature! Also on the website is an informative "rules" of the trail to check out: http://www.trekfortreasure.org/another-page/ In 2016, more than 650hikers participated in the Trek for Treasure challenge, and had a great time getting fit with their family and friends! Trek for Treasure is sponsored by the Fitness Center at United General District 304, which also provides fitness classes, personal training and other healthy programs and services. How to sign up Questions about getting started Email- mark.pearson@unitedgeneral.org Website- http://www.trekfortreasure.org Or call- 360-854-0247

Thanks for listening to my show - I really appreciate you as a listener!  This episode is a rambling episode where I mention the past 20 or so podcasts and what they include. I then switch gears chatting about my hiking plans for this summer. I don't use my normal ending on this episode, I included a rare version of Whiskey Fever's Jack Mattingly playing the song Tall Grass live at the Birdsview Brewery about 5-6 years ago! See the band at: https://www.reverbnation.com/whiskeyfever I finish up by mentioning all the different ways to support the show- Patreon is the best and easiest way to support: https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=5262583 Shop REI from this link and I get a kickback: https://www.rei.com/?cm_mmc=aff_AL-_-156474-_-195158-_-103473&avad=195158_ee7d3b05 Shop Amazon from this link and I get a kickback: https://www.amazon.com/?&tag=caschike-20&camp=216797&creative=493977&linkCode=ur1&adid=136BHP4AH6Z7J9Q881X5& Sign up for Audible by using this link: http://www.audibletrial.com/CascadeHikerPodcast @N_CascadeHiking Like our Facebook Page CLICK HERE On Instagram Cascade Hiker Podcast Patreon

Kindra Ramos is the Director of Communication at Washington Trails Association (WTA). With ten years under her belt working for WTA, she was a great person to interview! I asked her about the beginning of WTA and also how they originally started getting involved with trail work. She splashes in some great facts about the first magazine, Signpost Magazine, and the increase in hours of trail work over the years. We talk about the difference between WTA and Land Managers. WTA tries its best to educate hikers on issues like federal funding and the overuse of popular hikes, despite the fact that they are not in control of these concerns. Donations are welcomed to help support our trails: wta.org Also go to wta.org for all things hiking in Washington! Don't forget to shop our Cascade Hiker Hats and Bumper Stickers! Join Me at Patreon to get exclusive content! Click HERE @N_CascadeHiking Like our Facebook Page CLICK HERE On Instagram Cascade Hiker Podcast Check out Whiskey Fever: https://www.reverbnation.com/whiskeyfever The song used in the intro is 'Tall Grass' from their album Gonna Wake Up This Whole Town.

Henry Shires created a tarp style tent for his Pacific Crest Trail thru hike in 1999 and this was the beginning of what would become his company Tarptent.  He mentions how his products have changed from single walled tarps to a multitude of double wall styles. Even the name Tarptent is not very accurate because of this transition. The videos will show you how a tent can have only one pole and two stakes... It was an eye opener for me! If you haven't been, I highly recommend checking out their website: https://www.tarptent.com  When you find a style that you like, enter CASCADE HIKER PODCAST on the line for "how did you hear about us" at checkout and let Henry know that his time was well spent here. Don't forget to shop our Cascade Hiker Hats and Bumper Stickers! Join Me at Patreon to get exclusive content! Click HERE @N_CascadeHiking Like our Facebook Page CLICK HERE On Instagram Cascade Hiker Podcast Check out Whiskey Fever: https://www.reverbnation.com/whiskeyfever The song used in the intro is 'Tall Grass' from their album Gonna Wake Up This Whole Town.

Are you familiar with Noxious Weeds? Sasha Shaw works with King County Noxious Weed Control Program. I didn't know much about the weeds, so she filled me in on some varieties and talked about how they can get into the Wilderness.  How can hikers help in limiting Noxious Weeds n hiking trails? It is as simple as washing off your boots! Sasha talks about keeping your hiking footwear brushed off before heading out. If you know the species of some weeds, you can also alert them on locations. To volunteer CLICK HERE. To take a class CLICK HERE. Join Me at Patreon to get exclusive content! Click HERE @N_CascadeHiking Like our Facebook Page CLICK HERE On Instagram Cascade Hiker Podcast Check out Whiskey Fever: https://www.reverbnation.com/whiskeyfever The song used in the intro is 'Tall Grass' from their album Gonna Wake Up This Whole Town.

For many years now, Kelly Kate Warren has been working in the deep wilderness as a camp cook with California Conservation Corps’ Backcountry Trails Program (CCC). We talk about her role and some of the projects they work on.  Kelly Kate started hiking the Pacific Crest Trail on April 10th, though we recorded this conversation a few weeks before she started. She explains her planning and a unique goal to teach some classes with different trail crews along the way.  She also started the website The Trail Speaks (Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/thetrailspeaks Instagram: https://instagram.com/thetrailspeaks) where she will be interviewing other people in the community of Trail work, giving them a voice where they may not currently have one. I was excited to hear that she was also chosen to be an advocate for Responsible use of the Pacific Crest Trail. See her bio: https://www.pcta.org/2017/introducing-p3-ten-hikers-helping-promote-responsible-use-pacific-crest-trail-46812/

Ray Cwiertniewicz lives in New Orleans and had never been to the Pacific Northwest... So what better to do than come up and hike the Pacific Northwest Trail (PNT)? He and his friend Michael started in Glacier National park. Ray describes their hike westward to the Pacific Ocean. I ask him to describe in detail some of the different areas they passed through. I also reference Episode 40 with Jeff Kish quite a bit.

Grizzly reintroduction has been a hot topic amongst those that frequent the outdoors. Chase Gunnell works with Conservation Northwest, which he describes is a "cheerleader" for the Grizzlies that may be reintroduced into the North Cascades. Gunnell gives some factual answers to frequent questions about Grizzly Bears. Where would these bears come from and how will they be captured or transported? What will the feed on? Hikers? How often are Grizzly attacks on humans? How do the local towns feel about the possibility of reintroduction? Just how big is the area that they might be reintroduced to? We also talk briefly about Wolverines, Fishers and some bear safety tips. Go check out:  http://www.northcascadesgrizzly.org http://www.conservationnw.org

Eli Smith started his journey in Florida, skipping Key West where his ambitious plan will end after walking to the other three corners of the continental United States. His plan is to reach as any people that he can and spread the awareness for PTSD. His fellow veterans, including some very close to him, have ended their lives because of this mental issue. He keeps his exact location a bit private because of an attempted abduction in Texas (which he explains in the interview) and he talks about all of the wonderful people he has encountered. Many have provided meals and a place to either put up his tent or a bed to use for the night. "I look for houses that have an American Flag on them and I tell them my story... They usually let me in for dinner even though I ask to just use a spot in their yard for my tent!" He has not yet conquered his first "corner", though he is making his way toward San Diego where he plans to get all the way down to the most southwestern location and then head north to Washington State. He knows this will be a long hike, but the amount of media, colleges and military connections he has already made are making it well worth while. His original plan was to connect as many of our National Scenic Trails on his way around, but as he explains, "I just wouldn't be able to reach enough people from the middle of the mountain on the say the Pacific Crest Trail. I want to go to as many towns as I can." To check out his pictures and progress visit: http://4cornershike.org Also, check out his Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/4CornersHike Don't forget to shop our Cascade Hiker Hats and Bumper Stickers! @N_CascadeHiking Like our Facebook Page CLICK HERE On Instagram Cascade Hiker Podcast Check out Whiskey Fever: https://www.reverbnation.com/whiskeyfever The song used in the intro is 'Tall Grass' from their album Gonna Wake Up This Whole Town.