What happens when you trade a four-decade career in business for the mountains, the trails, and the life you almost left behind? In this episode, I sit down with Tom French, author of The Gap Years: Climbing, Skiing, and the Journey Back, to talk about adventure, reinvention, and what it truly means to reconnect with the outdoors at any age. Tom's story is a powerful reminder that the call of the wild doesn't have an expiration date; some of the most meaningful journeys begin exactly when you think the adventure is over.

Whether you're an avid hiker, a weekend adventurer, or simply someone who has ever felt the pull of wild places, this conversation will inspire you to lace up your boots and get back out there.

🎧 Enjoy this episode? Pick up a copy of The Gap Years: Climbing, Skiing, and the Journey Back by Tom French on Amazon or your favorite independent bookseller!

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Connect with Hike:
Instagram: @thehikepodcast @shenandoahexplorer
Facebook: @thehikepodcast
Email: [email protected] 

When was the last time you actually stopped on a trail, not because you needed water, but because something made you pause? In this episode, Lori invites you to slow way down and experience the trail through all five senses. From the lichen-covered boulders of Blackrock Summit to the quiet of the southern AT, she shares what spring in Shenandoah National Park sounds, smells, feels, and even tastes like, and how bringing that same attention to your own local trail will change everything.

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Connect with Hike:
Instagram: @thehikepodcast @shenandoahexplorer
Facebook: @thehikepodcast
Email: [email protected] 

Scott Little of Green Cove Collective comes on the show to discuss the Virginia Creeper Trail as it exists post-Helene and what the impact the hurricane had on the trail and it's close knit community of shops, restaurants and outdoor enthusiasts. In this episode we chat about how Scott started his online shop and then the brick and mortar store in Green Cove during Covid as a way to both support and be an essential part of the biking and outdoors community that has been created around the Creeper Trail. 

The Virginia Creeper Trail is a 35-mile (56 km) multi-purpose rail trail. Located in southwestern Virginia, the trail runs from Abingdon to Whitetop, near Mount Rogers National Recreation Area and the North Carolina border. 

The trail accomodates hikers, cyclists and equestrians on its descent from Abingdon to Damascus. 

18 miles of the 34-mile mile Creeper Trail, from Damascus to Whitetop, have been devastated. To date, 18 trestles have been lost – destroyed or washed away. In extended sections, the trail itself no longer exists… reclaimed by the rushing, flooded creeks. Trailheads, access points, amenities and signage have been destroyed as well (Credit: Virginia Creeper Trail Conservancy). 

To connect with Scott/Green Cove Collective and learn more: 

Instagram: @virginiacreepertrail, @greencovecollective

Web: greencovecollective.com 

Music clip credit:
"Whiskey on the Mississippi" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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Connect with Hike:
Instagram: @thehikepodcast @shenandoahexplorer
Facebook: @thehikepodcast
Email: [email protected] 

Maria Wishart aka Wheezy-Pee chats with Lori about hiking with your dog and as a hiker how to interact with dogs on trail. 

Some of the things we chat about:

• What makes your dog a candidate to accompany you on your hike
• Reactive dogs
• Town food and dog caloric needs on trail for a thru hike
• Considerations for backpacking and section hiking with dogs
• Your dog's gear set up based on season and care needs

Companies mentioned:

Down Dog Bags

Alpha Pak

Red Paw Packs

Sea to Summit

Connect with Maria:

Instagram: @hike_woof_wiggle_repeat

Facebook: Maria Wishart

Support the show

Connect with Hike:
Instagram: @thehikepodcast @shenandoahexplorer
Facebook: @thehikepodcast
Email: [email protected] 

In this premiere episode of the Explore Virginia Podcast, host Lori Prima brings on guest Bill Henry of the Blue Ridge Heritage Project. 

The project's vision is:

• Develop a memorial site in each of the eight counties where land was acquired to create the Shenandoah National Park; and
• Educate visitors about the lives and culture of the people who lived in the mountains through living history presentations, exhibits, and demonstrations.

In this informative episode you will learn more about the history of the project, the families who were removed from the land that is now Shenandoah National Park and how the chimney memorials came to be placed in eight counties where families called the mountains home. 

You can learn more by visiting:

https://www.blueridgeheritageproject.com/

List of recommended books and other resources can be found here

Reach out to the podcast:

[email protected] 

Subscribe to the podcast at: 

https://explorevirginia.buzzsprout.com/

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Connect with Hike:
Instagram: @thehikepodcast @shenandoahexplorer
Facebook: @thehikepodcast
Email: [email protected] 

Jen and Jess went on a Spring section hike on the Appalachian Trail in Shenandoah National Park with their friend Ziplock. 

In this episode we cover each day in the park. We discuss hiking amongst the wildflowers, camping at the huts/shelters/campgrounds and resupply advice. We cover shuttles, meeting thru hikers on trail and some of their favorite views and moments together. 

The waysides are a big part of the AT experience in Shenandoah. Jess highly recommends the Shenandoah turkey gobbler sandwich at the Big Meadows wayside and I can't help but recommend getting one of the famous blackberry shakes. If you find yourself hiking in Shenandoah National Park, give me a shout and I'll treat you to one. 

Follow Jen:

@Jennythetrailhead &  @trashcantableclub (Disney/Universal)

Follow Jess:

@pagecats

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Connect with Hike:
Instagram: @thehikepodcast @shenandoahexplorer
Facebook: @thehikepodcast
Email: [email protected] 

Tomcat shares three shorter thru-hikes that you can do in about 2 or 3 weeks. We chat about the Ouachita, Benton MacKaye and Allegheny Trails. 

He goes over trail logistics, camp sites and set up, gear, resupply options, water carries, trail angels and trail magic and favorite parts of each thru-hike. 

Listeners can find out more about these trails and more by visiting Tomcat's blog and Facebook page

You can also check out our episode on The Colorado Trail here and our interview about completing the Northeast 115 here.

Trail Info/Trail Associations:

Ouachita Trail 

Benton MacKaye Trail

Allegheny Trail

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Connect with Hike:
Instagram: @thehikepodcast @shenandoahexplorer
Facebook: @thehikepodcast
Email: [email protected] 

Pippa chats with Hike about her first big backpacking trip on the John Muir Trail and how that experience started her on the path that led her to hike in the North Carolina mountains. Pippa is also a singer-songwriter who gets a lot of inspiration from hiking in the outdoors. 

We specifically touch on the Roan Highlands and the AT from Carver Gap to Route 19e, Black Mountain Crest Trail / Mt. Mitchell and her upcoming Art Loeb thru-hike. It's important to note that the Black Mountain Crest Trail has some closures due to being impacted by Hurricane Helene last year. Make sure to check out the most recent information by visiting the state park and forest service info and you can also learn more about North Carolina peaks via the High Peaks Trail Association: https://nchighpeaks.org/

You can find out more about her upcoming shows and follow her hikes by checking out the links below:

Connect with Pippa:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pippahoover

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pippahoovermusic/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1Z7Qs2TAekHLIZ3D02XT35?si=8aa8xZScRqyOtObiZqHZBQ

Pippa’s band's Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1opTfiIaSKLhG2v6BM5kUq?si=w0kyyqD7QTKvirN0BNhCiQ

Her band's 10-year anniversary show: https://catscradle.com/event/honey-magpie-2/cats-cradle-back-room/carrboro-north-carolina/

Support the show

Connect with Hike:
Instagram: @thehikepodcast @shenandoahexplorer
Facebook: @thehikepodcast
Email: [email protected] 

Explore Virginia is a new podcast coming Summer 2025 brought to you by the creator of Hike. 

Virginia has 43 state parks with more than 700 miles of trails, 24 wilderness areas, 22 national park sites and over 100,000 miles of streams and rivers. Whether you hike, bike, camp, paddle or are looking for a day trip itinerary, this podcast will highlight the best of what Virginia has to offer the outdoor adventure seeker. 

Subscribe here

Follow on Instagram or Facebook

Music clip credit:
"Whiskey on the Mississippi" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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Connect with Hike:
Instagram: @thehikepodcast @shenandoahexplorer
Facebook: @thehikepodcast
Email: [email protected] 

Emma of the Hudson Bay Girls chats with Lori about their Boundary Waters expedition. 

Abby, Olivia, Emma, and Helena will be paddling the Boundary Waters from Grand Portage on Lake Superior to York Factory on Hudson Bay over the summer. They hope to call attention to women and girls in paddling and also the protection of the Boundary Waters. 

In this episode Emma describes how the trip came about, the planning that went into it, and how friends, family and the outdoor community are supporting their journey. 

Go follow their journey:

Hudson Bay Girls website

Find out how to Save the Boundary Waters 

Support the show

Connect with Hike:
Instagram: @thehikepodcast @shenandoahexplorer
Facebook: @thehikepodcast
Email: [email protected] 

Chris Powers hiked from the Northern Terminus to the Natural Bridge area as part of attempting a longer thru hike of the Sheltowee Trace Trail. We talk about what led to him deciding to leave the trail and lessons he learned along the way. 

We get into planning and logistics (gear, camping, food and water), the hard reality of road walking and its impact on his hike, and the joy found in photography along the trail. We also discuss some of the ways being a climber can help with both planning and executing a hike. 

Connect with Chris:

Instagram

Photography

Find Hike at the Virginia Black Bear Festival on June 7th; come say hi and pick up free stickers and I'll have a few new and exclusive Hike items for purchase. 

Support the show

Connect with Hike:
Instagram: @thehikepodcast @shenandoahexplorer
Facebook: @thehikepodcast
Email: [email protected]