Trail Correspondents 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 body largely adjusts to the rigors of walking all day, every day.  As the physical element gets easier, for many, the psychological struggle only grows in magnitude.  And that’s the subject for today’s show.

Our hikers share what mental struggles they’ve encountered (if any), how it’s differed relative to their expectations, what tools they use to stay sane, and much more.

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In today’s episode we hear from:

  • Cal “Starburst” Dobbs
  • Jeff “Link” Podmayer
  • Lara Waltrous
  • Monica “Moss” Aguilar
  • Henri “Rooster” de la Vega

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Editing and music courtesy of David Zitney. Follow him on Instagram @dzitneyaudio.

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