Lessons Learned | S5 E13

Every great journey starts with questions, but not all of them get answered until the very end. In our Season 5 finale, the 2026 Trail Correspondents look back at a time capsule they created before hitting the AT, PCT, and CDT, revisiting the questions they once asked their future selves. From expectations and unanswered curiosities to hard-earned perspective and personal transformation, these final reflections bring the season full circle and reveal just how much can change between the trailhead and the finish line. Correspondent Roster In this episode, we hear from: Parrish "Quip" McWhorter - Instagram Jessica "Hellman" Bagnell - Instagram Scott "Steady" Anderson - Facebook Sorrel "Big Dawg" Perka- Instagram Danny "NoCo" Nelson - Instagram MacKenzie "Wilt" Wieder - Instagram Sponsor Trail Correspondents is presented by Altra. Use code "TREK10" for 10% off at checkout at altrarunning.com Connect Questions, comments, or just want to say hi? Email us at [email protected]. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review. Subscribe on Spotify and leave us a review. Follow on Instagram: Trail Correspondents · The Trek Sign up for The Trek newsletter: thetrek.co/newsletter Credits Hosted, produced, and edited by Andrew "Shanty" Baldwin (Instagram). Trail Correspondents is a production of The Trek.

The finish line is finally in sight—and then, suddenly, it's behind you. Our 2026 Trail Correspondents share two sides of the final stretch on the AT, PCT, and CDT: the anticipation, mixed emotions, and countdown to the end, followed by the highs, exhaustion, and reflections of reaching the finish. After months and thousands of miles, they look back on what the journey has taught them, how it's changed them, and what comes next. Correspondent Roster In this episode, we hear from: Logan "Pipsqueek" Hannah - Instagram Parrish "Quip" McWhorter - Instagram Scott "Steady" Anderson - Facebook Sorrel "Big Dawg" Perka- Instagram MacKenzie "Wilt" Wieder - Instagram Sponsor Trail Correspondents is presented by Altra. Use code "TREK10" for 10% off at checkout at altrarunning.com Connect Questions, comments, or just want to say hi? Email us at [email protected]. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review. Subscribe on Spotify and leave us a review. Follow on Instagram: Trail Correspondents · The Trek Sign up for The Trek newsletter: thetrek.co/newsletter Credits Hosted, produced, and edited by Andrew "Shanty" Baldwin (Instagram). Trail Correspondents is a production of The Trek.

Months on trail have a way of teaching lessons that no guidebook can prepare you for. Our 2026 Trail Correspondents reflect on the moments, mistakes, surprises, and hard-earned wisdom that have changed how they see the AT, PCT, and CDT—and themselves. From things they got completely wrong to advice they wish they could have given themselves on day one, these are the lessons that only thousands of miles can teach. Correspondent Roster In this episode, we hear from: Logan "Pipsqueek" Hannah - Instagram Parrish "Quip" McWhorter - Instagram Scott "Steady" Anderson - Facebook Sorrel "Big Dawg" Perka- Instagram MacKenzie "Wilt" Wieder - Instagram Sponsor Trail Correspondents is presented by Altra. Use code "TREK10" for 10% off at checkout at altrarunning.com Connect Questions, comments, or just want to say hi? Email us at [email protected]. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review. Subscribe on Spotify and leave us a review. Follow on Instagram: Trail Correspondents · The Trek Sign up for The Trek newsletter: thetrek.co/newsletter Credits Hosted, produced, and edited by Andrew "Shanty" Baldwin (Instagram). Trail Correspondents is a production of The Trek.

The miles can wear down your legs, but sometimes it's your mind that takes the biggest hit. Our 2026 Trail Correspondents open up about the mental side of life on the AT, PCT, and CDT, from stretches of doubt and thoughts of quitting to the people, routines, and small victories that keep them moving forward. After months on trail, their perspectives have changed—and so has the way they think about what it takes to keep going. Correspondent Roster In this episode, we hear from: Logan "Pipsqueek" Hannah - Instagram Parrish "Quip" McWhorter - Instagram Scott "Steady" Anderson - Facebook Sorrel "Big Dawg" Perka- Instagram MacKenzie "Wilt" Wieder - Instagram Danny "Noco" Nelson - Instagram Sponsor Trail Correspondents is presented by Altra. Use code "TREK10" for 10% off at checkout at altrarunning.com Connect Questions, comments, or just want to say hi? Email us at [email protected]. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review. Subscribe on Spotify and leave us a review. Follow on Instagram: Trail Correspondents · The Trek Sign up for The Trek newsletter: thetrek.co/newsletter Credits Hosted, produced, and edited by Andrew "Shanty" Baldwin (Instagram). Trail Correspondents is a production of The Trek.

Hiker hunger has officially entered the chat. Our 2026 Trail Correspondents dig into the realities of eating their way along the AT, PCT, and CDT, from relentless cravings and questionable trail snacks to discovering exactly what keeps their bodies fueled mile after mile. What sounded like a good idea before the hike doesn't always survive contact with the trail—and sometimes, nothing tastes better than whatever you can get your hands on next. Correspondent Roster In this episode, we hear from: Logan Hannah - Instagram Parrish "Quip" McWhorter - Instagram Scott Anderson - Facebook Sorrel "Big Dawg" Perka- Instagram Danny "Noco" Nelson - Instagram MacKenzie "Wilt" Wieder - Instagram Jessica "Hellman" Bagnell - Instagram Sponsor Trail Correspondents is presented by Altra. Use code "TREK10" for 10% off at checkout at altrarunning.com Connect Questions, comments, or just want to say hi? Email us at [email protected]. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review. Subscribe on Spotify and leave us a review. Follow on Instagram: Trail Correspondents · The Trek Sign up for The Trek newsletter: thetrek.co/newsletter Credits Hosted, produced, and edited by Andrew "Shanty" Baldwin (Instagram). Trail Correspondents is a production of The Trek.

By now, the trail has changed our 2026 Trail Correspondents—and their bodies are starting to tell the story. In this episode, hikers from the AT, PCT, and CDT reflect on what's gotten stronger, what's gotten sorer, and the aches, adjustments, and unexpected physical challenges that have shaped their journeys so far. After thousands of miles and countless footsteps, the question is simple: are their bodies adapting, or just holding on? Correspondent Roster In this episode, we hear from: Logan "Pipsqueek" Hannah - Instagram Parrish "Quip" McWhorter - Instagram Jessica "Hellman" Bagnell - Instagram Scott "Steady" Anderson - Facebook Sorrel "Big Dawg" Perka- Instagram Danny "Noco" Nelson - Instagram MacKenzie "Wilt" Wieder - Instagram Sponsor Trail Correspondents is presented by Altra. Use code "TREK10" for 10% off at checkout at altrarunning.com Connect Questions, comments, or just want to say hi? Email us at [email protected]. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review. Subscribe on Spotify and leave us a review. Follow on Instagram: Trail Correspondents · The Trek Sign up for The Trek newsletter: thetrek.co/newsletter Credits Hosted, produced, and edited by Andrew "Shanty" Baldwin (Instagram). Trail Correspondents is a production of The Trek.

Another Wild Card, another chance for anything to happen. With the prompts set aside once again, our 2026 Trail Correspondents share the stories they feel need telling most at this point in their journeys. These unscripted, unfiltered dispatches from the AT, PCT, and CDT capture life on trail in its most authentic and unpredictable form. Correspondent Roster In this episode, we hear from: Logan "Pipsqueek" Hannah - Instagram Parrish "Quip" McWhorter - Instagram Jessica "Hellman" Bagnell - Instagram Scott "Steady" Anderson - Facebook Sorrel "Team Ultraheavy" Perka- Instagram Danny "Noco" Nelson - Instagram MacKenzie "Wilt" Wieder - Instagram Sponsor Trail Correspondents is presented by Altra. Use code "TREK10" for 10% off at checkout at altrarunning.com Connect Questions, comments, or just want to say hi? Email us at [email protected]. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review. Subscribe on Spotify and leave us a review. Follow on Instagram: Trail Correspondents · The Trek Sign up for The Trek newsletter: thetrek.co/newsletter Credits Hosted, produced, and edited by Andrew "Shanty" Baldwin (Instagram). Trail Correspondents is a production of The Trek.

Every thru-hike finds its own social rhythm—tramily, shelter mates, or long solo stretches. Our 2026 Trail Correspondents reflect on the people who've shaped their hikes, the friendships that formed faster than expected, and the solitude that proved just as meaningful. These stories from the AT, PCT, and CDT show the social side of the trail is as unpredictable as the miles themselves. Correspondent Roster In this episode, we hear from: Logan "Pipsqueek" Hannah - Instagram Parrish "Quip" McWhorter - Instagram Jessica "Hellman" Bagnell - Instagram Scott "Steady" Anderson - Facebook Sorrel "Big Dawg" Perka- Instagram Danny "NoCo" Nelson - Instagram MacKenzie "Wilt" Wieder - Instagram TJ "Gimli" McQuiston - Instagram Chris "Vibes" Becraft - Instagram Sponsor Trail Correspondents is presented by Altra. Use code "TREK10" for 10% off at checkout at altrarunning.com Connect Questions, comments, or just want to say hi? Email us at [email protected]. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review. Subscribe on Spotify and leave us a review. Follow on Instagram: Trail Correspondents · The Trek Sign up for The Trek newsletter: thetrek.co/newsletter Credits Hosted, produced, and edited by Andrew "Shanty" Baldwin (Instagram). Trail Correspondents is a production of The Trek.

Every thru-hike has a breaking point. In this episode, our 2026 Trail Correspondents revisit the toughest day they've faced so far, sharing the moments that pushed them to their physical and emotional limits. From relentless weather, painful miles, and rough social encounters to self-doubt and near-breaking points, these stories from the AT, PCT, and CDT reveal why the hardest days often become the ones hikers remember most. Correspondent Roster In this episode, we hear from: Logan Hannah - Instagram Parrish "Quip" McWhorter - Instagram TJ McQuiston - Instagram Chris Becraft - Instagram Jessica "Hellman" Bagnell - Instagram Sorrel "Team Ultraheavy" Perka- Instagram Danny Nelson - Instagram MacKenzie "Wilt" Wieder - Instagram Sponsor Trail Correspondents is presented by Altra. Use code "TREK10" for 10% off at checkout at altrarunning.com Connect Questions, comments, or just want to say hi? Email us at [email protected]. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review. Subscribe on Spotify and leave us a review. Follow on Instagram: Trail Correspondents · The Trek Sign up for The Trek newsletter: thetrek.co/newsletter Credits Hosted, produced, and edited by Andrew "Shanty" Baldwin (Instagram). Trail Correspondents is a production of The Trek.

Every thru-hike becomes a gear test sooner or later. Our 2026 Trail Correspondents take stock of what's earned a permanent place in their packs, what's headed for the next post office, and which pieces of gear have surprised them—for better or worse. From luxury items to costly mistakes, these stories from the AT, PCT, and CDT prove that the right gear can make all the difference... until it doesn't. Correspondent Roster In this episode, we hear from: Logan Hannah - Instagram Parrish "Quip" McWhorter - Instagram TJ McQuiston - Instagram Chris Becraft - Instagram Jessica "Hellman" Bagnell - Instagram Scott Anderson - Facebook Sorrel "Team Ultraheavy" Perka- Instagram Danny Nelson - Instagram MacKenzie "Wilt" Wieder - Instagram Sponsor Trail Correspondents is presented by Altra. Use code "TREK10" for 10% off at checkout at altrarunning.com Connect Questions, comments, or just want to say hi? Email us at [email protected]. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review. Subscribe on Spotify and leave us a review. Follow on Instagram: Trail Correspondents · The Trek Sign up for The Trek newsletter: thetrek.co/newsletter Credits Hosted, produced, and edited by Andrew "Shanty" Baldwin (Instagram). Trail Correspondents is a production of The Trek.