243. Birds Of The Pacific Crest Trail, Thru-Hiking Gear Favorites, Norovirus, Burn Scars & Trail Magic With Kiley "Bluebird" Voss

In this episode of The Thru-Hiking Podcast, Cheer talks with Kylie “Bluebird,” a seasonal park ranger, birder, and 2025 Pacific Crest Trail section hiker.Bluebird hiked northbound on the PCT with her husband, “TripAdvisor,” starting at Campo and making it to around Burney Falls. She shares the highs, lows, and unexpected moments from her hike—from an incredible stretch through the Sierra to norovirus, rattlesnakes, injuries, burn scars, and unforgettable trail magic.As a self-described bird nerd, Bluebird also kept a daily species list and identified 120 birds along the Pacific Crest Trail. She shares how birding became part of her hike, how she earned her trail name, and some of the species and moments that stood out most.We also talk about favorite PCT gear, gluten-free backpacking food, resupply strategies, budgeting for a long-distance hike, journaling, injury lessons, and town food. Plus, Bluebird shares adventure book recommendations and how her PCT photography inspired her handmade earrings.Whether you're planning a Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike or section hike, looking for backpacking gear and food ideas, or just love hearing real stories from long trails, this episode is packed with practical tips and memorable PCT moments.Episode Timestamps:00:00 Welcome to the Podcast00:40 Meet Kylie “Bluebird”04:00 Rapid Fire Trail Moments05:10 This or That Gear Picks08:12 How Bluebird Got Named10:07 Why She Chose the PCT13:07 Favorite Gear Breakdown15:07 Best, Worst &amp; Scariest Memories20:22 Town Food Highlights21:42 Gluten-Free Trail Meals23:32 Outdoor Herbivore Meals24:34 Maah Daah Hey Prep26:08 Budgeting for Thru-Hikes28:43 Trail Angel Hitch Miracle32:38 Lessons From Injury36:05 Journaling Advice37:27 Birding on the PCT41:17 Adventure Book Picks44:08 PCT Earrings &amp; Wrap-UpFollow along with "Bluebird":Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/topo.wanders/Website: https://www.topophotos.com/Connect With The Host "Cheer":⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/CheerOnTheTrail⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/carollcoyne/⁠⁠Connect With THRU-r:⁠⁠⁠Subscribe To The THRU-r Newsletter!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join The Trail Family⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THRU-r Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THRU-r Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THRU-r Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THRU-r TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THRU-r Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THRU-r Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Did you love this episode? If so, please help fellow hikers find the show by following, rating, and reviewing the podcast on <a href="https://