{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/65d4c2118c285e00169f7ef6/6a54fe907987e974eae6214b?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"E13 – Colin Friars | Happy Trails & A Southbound Appalachian Trail Journey","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/65d4c2118c285e00169f7ef6/1783956799645-c80992c8-df5e-44d5-998a-08ad1b449b79.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>What does it take to walk over 2,000 miles… southbound?</p><ul><li>In Episode 13 of <strong>Time to Xplore</strong>, I sit down with author and long-distance hiker <strong>Colin Friars</strong> to talk about his incredible 2018 southbound thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. While most hikers travel north, Colin chose the less-traveled SOBO route, taking on one of the world’s most iconic long-distance trails from Maine to Georgia. The Appalachian Trail stretches roughly <strong>2,197 miles (3,536 km)</strong> through 14 states and is one of the world’s best-known thru-hiking routes.</li></ul><p>We dive into the challenges, unforgettable moments, the trail community, and the lessons learned over months of living one step at a time. Colin also shares the story behind his book, <strong>Happy Trails</strong>, and why the journey became so much more than simply reaching the finish.</p><p>Whether you’re an experienced backpacker, dreaming of your first thru-hike, or simply love hearing stories of adventure and resilience, this episode is packed with inspiration.</p><p><strong>In this episode:</strong></p><p>• Why Colin chose to hike southbound</p><p>• The realities of life on the Appalachian Trail</p><p>• Trail friendships and unexpected challenges</p><p>• The story behind <em>Happy Trails</em></p><p>• Colin’s answer to the question… <strong>How do you adventure?</strong></p><p><br></p><p>Check out his book on Amazon: <a href=\"https://www.amazon.ca/Trail-Tales-Canadians-Southbound-Appalachian/dp/1738135209\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.amazon.ca/Trail-Tales-Canadians-Southbound-Appalachian/dp/1738135209</a></p><p><br></p><p>Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):</p><p>https://uppbeat.io/t/hey-pluto/the-creator</p><p>License code: ABIMQYYQUGULY9SP</p>","author_name":"Richard Stinson"}