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...

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. ...

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 Cre...

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 hikeReactive dogsTown food and dog caloric needs on trail for a thru hikeConsiderations for backpacking and section hiking with dogsYour 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 Ma...

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; andEducate 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 t...

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 turke...

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 abo...

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 Cre...

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...

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 ...