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Trail Correspondents: Daily Summaries Delivered
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.
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- 1 weeks ago1h 4m
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 idea before the hike doesn't always survive contact with the trail—and sometimes, nothing tastes better than whatever you can get your hands on next. Correspondent Roster In this episode, we hear from: Logan Hannah - Instagram Parrish "Quip" McWhorter - Instagram Scott Anderson - Facebook Sorrel "Big Dawg" Perka- Instagram Danny "Noco" Nelson - Instagram MacKenzie "Wilt" Wieder - Instagram Jessica "Hellman" Bagnell - Instagram Sponsor Trail Correspondents is presented by Altra. Use code "TREK10" for 10% off at checkout at altrarunning.com Connect Questions, comments, or just want to say hi? Email us at podcast@thetrek.co. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review. Subscribe on Spotify and leave us a review. Follow on Instagram: Trail Correspondents · The Trek Sign up for The Trek newsletter: thetrek.co/newsletter Credits Hosted, produced, and edited by Andrew "Shanty" Baldwin (Instagram). Trail Correspondents is a production of The Trek.
- 3 weeks ago56 min
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 their journeys so far. After thousands of miles and countless footsteps, the question is simple: are their bodies adapting, or just holding on? Correspondent Roster In this episode, we hear from: Logan "Pipsqueek" Hannah - Instagram Parrish "Quip" McWhorter - Instagram Jessica "Hellman" Bagnell - Instagram Scott "Steady" Anderson - Facebook Sorrel "Big Dawg" Perka- Instagram Danny "Noco" Nelson - Instagram MacKenzie "Wilt" Wieder - Instagram Sponsor Trail Correspondents is presented by Altra. Use code "TREK10" for 10% off at checkout at altrarunning.com Connect Questions, comments, or just want to say hi? Email us at podcast@thetrek.co. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review. Subscribe on Spotify and leave us a review. Follow on Instagram: Trail Correspondents · The Trek Sign up for The Trek newsletter: thetrek.co/newsletter Credits Hosted, produced, and edited by Andrew "Shanty" Baldwin (Instagram). Trail Correspondents is a production of The Trek.
- Aug 12, 202659 min
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 its most authentic and unpredictable form. Correspondent Roster In this episode, we hear from: Logan "Pipsqueek" Hannah - Instagram Parrish "Quip" McWhorter - Instagram Jessica "Hellman" Bagnell - Instagram Scott "Steady" Anderson - Facebook Sorrel "Team Ultraheavy" Perka- Instagram Danny "Noco" Nelson - Instagram MacKenzie "Wilt" Wieder - Instagram Sponsor Trail Correspondents is presented by Altra. Use code "TREK10" for 10% off at checkout at altrarunning.com Connect Questions, comments, or just want to say hi? Email us at podcast@thetrek.co. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review. Subscribe on Spotify and leave us a review. Follow on Instagram: Trail Correspondents · The Trek Sign up for The Trek newsletter: thetrek.co/newsletter Credits Hosted, produced, and edited by Andrew "Shanty" Baldwin (Instagram). Trail Correspondents is a production of The Trek.
- Jul 29, 20261h 12m
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, PCT, and CDT show the social side of the trail is as unpredictable as the miles themselves. Correspondent Roster In this episode, we hear from: Logan "Pipsqueek" Hannah - Instagram Parrish "Quip" McWhorter - Instagram Jessica "Hellman" Bagnell - Instagram Scott "Steady" Anderson - Facebook Sorrel "Big Dawg" Perka- Instagram Danny "NoCo" Nelson - Instagram MacKenzie "Wilt" Wieder - Instagram TJ "Gimli" McQuiston - Instagram Chris "Vibes" Becraft - Instagram Sponsor Trail Correspondents is presented by Altra. Use code "TREK10" for 10% off at checkout at altrarunning.com Connect Questions, comments, or just want to say hi? Email us at podcast@thetrek.co. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review. Subscribe on Spotify and leave us a review. Follow on Instagram: Trail Correspondents · The Trek Sign up for The Trek newsletter: thetrek.co/newsletter Credits Hosted, produced, and edited by Andrew "Shanty" Baldwin (Instagram). Trail Correspondents is a production of The Trek.
- Jul 15, 20261h 3m
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 near-breaking points, these stories from the AT, PCT, and CDT reveal why the hardest days often become the ones hikers remember most. Correspondent Roster In this episode, we hear from: Logan Hannah - Instagram Parrish "Quip" McWhorter - Instagram TJ McQuiston - Instagram Chris Becraft - Instagram Jessica "Hellman" Bagnell - Instagram Sorrel "Team Ultraheavy" Perka- Instagram Danny Nelson - Instagram MacKenzie "Wilt" Wieder - Instagram Sponsor Trail Correspondents is presented by Altra. Use code "TREK10" for 10% off at checkout at altrarunning.com Connect Questions, comments, or just want to say hi? Email us at podcast@thetrek.co. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review. Subscribe on Spotify and leave us a review. Follow on Instagram: Trail Correspondents · The Trek Sign up for The Trek newsletter: thetrek.co/newsletter Credits Hosted, produced, and edited by Andrew "Shanty" Baldwin (Instagram). Trail Correspondents is a production of The Trek.
- Jul 1, 20261h 13m
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 stories from the AT, PCT, and CDT prove that the right gear can make all the difference... until it doesn't. Correspondent Roster In this episode, we hear from: Logan Hannah - Instagram Parrish "Quip" McWhorter - Instagram TJ McQuiston - Instagram Chris Becraft - Instagram Jessica "Hellman" Bagnell - Instagram J Michael Shaw, II - Instagram Scott Anderson - Facebook Sorrel "Team Ultraheavy" Perka- Instagram Danny Nelson - Instagram MacKenzie "Wilt" Wieder - Instagram Sponsor Trail Correspondents is presented by Altra. Use code "TREK10" for 10% off at checkout at altrarunning.com Connect Questions, comments, or just want to say hi? Email us at podcast@thetrek.co. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review. Subscribe on Spotify and leave us a review. Follow on Instagram: Trail Correspondents · The Trek Sign up for The Trek newsletter: thetrek.co/newsletter Credits Hosted, produced, and edited by Andrew "Shanty" Baldwin (Instagram). Trail Correspondents is a production of The Trek.
- Jun 17, 20261h 14m
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 perspective-shifting moments, these stories from the AT, PCT, and CDT reveal what the trail is really like once the dream meets the dirt. Correspondent Roster In this episode, we hear from: Logan Hannah - Instagram Parrish "Quip" McWhorter - Instagram TJ McQuiston - Instagram Chris Becraft - Instagram Jessica "Hellman" Bagnell - Instagram J Michael Shaw, II - Instagram Scott Anderson - Facebook Sorrel "Team Ultraheavy" Perka- Instagram Danny Nelson - Instagram MacKenzie "Wilt" Wieder - Instagram Sponsor Trail Correspondents is presented by Altra. Use code "TREK10" for 10% off at checkout at altrarunning.com Connect Questions, comments, or just want to say hi? Email us at podcast@thetrek.co. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review. Subscribe on Spotify and leave us a review. Follow on Instagram: Trail Correspondents · The Trek Sign up for The Trek newsletter: thetrek.co/newsletter Credits Hosted, produced, and edited by Andrew "Shanty" Baldwin (Instagram). Trail Correspondents is a production of The Trek.
- Jun 3, 20261h 13m
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 turkey, and the pure joy of a trail angel loaning out a truck packed with ice cream. But it's not all crazy stories; the crew gets incredibly vulnerable about the logistics and psychology of thru-hiking, tackling everything from heavy pack weights and physical conditioning to the therapeutic escape from corporate "joyless urgency," the beauty of forming an all-female "girl band" trail family, and a completely transparent financial breakdown of a $24,000 thru-hiking budget. Correspondent Roster In this episode, we hear from: Logan Hannah - Instagram Parrish "Quip" McWhorter - Instagram TJ McQuiston - Instagram Chris Becraft - Instagram Jessica "Hellman" Bagnell - Instagram J Michael Shaw, II - Instagram Scott Anderson - Facebook Sorrel "Team Ultraheavy" Perka- Instagram Danny Nelson - Instagram MacKenzie "Wilt" Wieder - Instagram Sponsor Trail Correspondents is presented by Altra. Use code "TREK10" for 10% off at checkout at altrarunning.com Connect Questions, comments, or just want to say hi? Email us at podcast@thetrek.co. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review. Subscribe on Spotify and leave us a review. Follow on Instagram: Trail Correspondents · The Trek Sign up for The Trek newsletter: thetrek.co/newsletter Credits Hosted, produced, and edited by Andrew "Shanty" Baldwin (Instagram). Trail Correspondents is a production of The Trek.
About Trail Correspondents
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Trail Correspondents covers topics including Sports, Wilderness. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
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