The Trail Dames Podcast Anna Huthmaker

Did you ever wonder what it was like to eat an elephant one bite at a time???

That is exactly what Debbie Wroten did with the Appalachian Trail. She was a day hiker who, in her own words 'never hiked far from a bathroom,' decided one day that she was going to hike the entire AT. Join us as we talk about watermelon season, hiking far from bathrooms and big, giant goals!!!

Debbie is a retired teacher. She taught Culinary Arts and nutrition at the high school level and her husband is her biggest supporter and cheerleader. She has a son, a daughter and 5 grandsons. She loves being outdoors and helping her grandsons discover the wonders of nature. Debbie completed the Appalachian Trail in 2018, citing it as one of the hardest things she has ever done. But also saying that it was "so much fun—a huge learning experience!" Along with her husband Al, Debbie has completed the Coast to Coast in England in August and tries to include hiking in every vacation she takes. Her ongoing goal is to log a hike in all 50 of the United States.
Want to hear more about section hiking the AT? Check out Jesters Section Hiking podcast at https://hikingradionetwork.com/jester-section-hiker/
Information on the AT- http://www.appalachiantrail.org/

Carla Robertson shares a compilation of stories, with her first night in a shelter on the Appalachian Trail and other backpacking lessons learned.

Join Anna, aka Mud Butt, for a quick discussion of some of the things to throw in your backpack!!  Being prepared is the name of the game, so you not only survive on the trail, but you thrive!!

Kim Weiler tells us of a funny encounter she had while on her first solo hike.

Margaret Webster grew up in Connecticut. She has had a lifelong love of science, the outdoors, travel, and exploration. As a child, she aspired to be a cross between Jacques Cousteau and Robert Ripley of Ripley’s Believe It or Not.

After raising her two sons, she decided to embark on a solo cross-country odyssey that essentially lasted eight years. She had been working in a job that enabled her to work anywhere she could get an Internet connection. She loaded up her pickup truck with her laptop, tent, camping gear, bicycle, and kayak and went in pursuit of adventure and discovery. She wrote and published a book on her travels titled “Lessons from the Road: USA.” She decided that everyone deserves to live the life of their dreams.

She became a transformational life coach, specializing in overcoming fear, so people can live their desires and pursue their passions. She is also a travel consultant, small group tour guide, and a retreat leader specializing in retreats for women.
Margaret's website - https://www.odysseyjunction.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pg/odysseyjunction/about/?ref=page_internal
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromtheroadus/
Meetup - https://www.meetup.com/Northeast-Solo-Travelers-group/
Quapital - https://www.qapital.com/
Lessons from the Road - https://www.lftrus.com/product/lessons-road-us/

Gifts for $10-50
1.  Give the Gift of Trees -  (Global) Trees for the Future.org   https://trees.org/
     (US-based) American Forests.org https://www.americanforests.org/ways-to-give/gift-of-trees/

2.  State Parks Pass
3.  Hiking notebook/journal  
4.  Lightheart Gear Backpacking Dress - https://lightheartgear.com/collections/womens-clothing/products/dress

5.  Membership to a Hiking Organization -
American Hiking Association-https://americanhiking.org/
Appalachian Trail Conservancy-http://appalachiantrail.org/
Great Old Broads-https://www.greatoldbroads.org/
Trail Dames- https://traildames.com/

6.  Harmony House Backpacking Kit - 18 different dehydrated veggies and beans to up your backpacking food game! https://www.rei.com/product/756809/harmony-house-backpacking-kit?sku=7568090018&store=164&cm_mmc=PLA_Google_LIA%7C404_197038%7C7568090018%7Cnone%7C3343f6c1-3494-4e19-bdc8-96ea0b114770%7Cpla-479899540044&lsft=cm_mmc:PLA_Google_LIA%7C404_197038%7C7568090018%7Cnone%7C3343f6c1-3494-4e19-bdc8-96ea0b114770&kclid=3343f6c1-3494-4e19-bdc8-96ea0b114770&gclid=CjwKCAiA8ejuBRAaEiwAn-iJ3q3emOgY_3EQqeCaV-0PJCCzU2M4Oucysj9zqyoo0-RAag9leOs9uRoCUnEQAvD_BwE
7.  Gossamer Gear Hiking Umbrella - this one is for our friend Carla from Living Wild and Precious https://www.gossamergear.com/collections/featured/products/liteflex-hiking-chrome-umbrella
8.  Cool hiking stickers - WildSliceDesigns - Etsy https://www.etsy.com/listing/531309376/hiker-girl-4-weatherproof-and-durable?ref=related-1&frs=1

 
Gifts for $51-100
1.  National Parks Pass- https://www.usparkpass.com/
 
Gifts for $101+
https://obozfootwear.com/
2.  Attendance at the 2020 Trail Dames Summit!!  http://www.traildamessummit.com/
 
Finally- The best gift you can give the hiker in your life is to FEED THEIR DREAM
Give the gift of your belief to someone……