Dig a Hole and Ping Your Mom: Mikayla Clarke, AT and PCT Thru-Hiker

Most Americans are lucky if they hit 4,000 steps most days. And then there’s Mikayla Clarke, who took on over 4,500 miles - successfully thru-hiking both the Appalachian Trail and Pacific Crest Trail.

Mikayla is my first guest on a new segment I’m calling ‘Real Womxn on Real Adventures’, which I’m hoping to experiment with more in some of the episodes going forward.  

 As I’ve been getting more into this, I’ve realized that when I, personally, am thinking about trying new things, before I seek out an official guide to help me, I’m inclined to start asking around to see if anyone I know has done the adventure I’m considering, or knows anyone else who has. Kind of like adventure Yelp, but without all the anonymous internet trolls.

Thru-hiking has always intrigued me; I love a good logistical puzzle, embrace solitude, and find gratification in challenging myself and testing my ‘grit’ once in a while. But then I think about how much I hate car camping in the rain, never mind slogging through the back country for the fifth straight hot and humid Appalachian monsoon day, and I settle right the F down.

So I live vicariously through the pictures and stories that Mikayla has shared, first about the AT hike she did in her early 20s, and more recently, her completion of the Pacific Crest Trail. That’s 4,843 miles of self-reliance, mental and physical challenges, epic views and social experimentation for those of you keeping score at home. And a lot of pooping in the woods.

I hope you enjoy this conversation with a real womxn doing some real adventuring - drop me a line at guidesgonewildpodcast@gmail.com and let me know what you think!

And finally, here’s some more good stuff Mikayla shared:

• Spot Gen Tracker
• Deuce of Spades travel trowel
• Diva Cup
• Sea to Summit pillow

More info about Appalachian Trail thru-hiking

More info about Pacific Crest Trail thru-hiking

Fun post by Mikayla’s friend and frequent hiking partner Katelyn about some of their winter (mis)adventuring - there are always new lessons to be learned!