I'd like to welcome back a good friend of the podcast,

fellow hiker and outdoor enthusiast,

Ben Cox, known on the trail as Paladin.

Ben, welcome back.

It is wonderful to be back. As always, it is a true honor to be here, sir. Ben, you always, I'm always interested to hear what you're doing, because I know

you're out there on different trails. And that's what I like the, you know, we all know about the big

three trails, as they say, right, the Continental Divide, PCT, AT. One of the, I mean, we all know about the big three trails, as they say, right? The continental divide, PCT, AT.

One of the, I mean, besides being an enjoyable person to speak with, you talk about these

smaller trails, these lesser known trails.

And today, we're going to talk a little bit about what you did in 2025 and what you

have coming up in 2006.

So why don't we start off by talking about some of what you did in 2025?

You would mention, and there's a funny story I'm going to share with everybody.

I was on my way to go on my rafting trip out in Idaho with my son.

And I think I received a message from Ben.

And I said, Ben, believe it or not,

I am heading to the river right now. I might not have cell phone signal much longer, but yes, I'm going to be in the river for eight straight days. And so we texted a little bit and he was telling

me about his, I think at that that point you had already been out on the

tusker rora trail so i said yeah we got to get you back on and talk about that well a lot of times passed

ben why don't we start off by talking about the tuscar rora trail sure so tuscar rora's had been on my

radar for a little bit um i'd never been on it and you know. I like to go pretty far and pretty wide.

I've actually been to 25 other countries now, 46 states.

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