Hello, welcome to another episode of Papa Bear Heights.

I'm very excited to introduce today's guest.

We have with us a professional hiker, speaker, an outdoor writer,

who from 2011 to 2015 held the women's self-supported speed record for the Appalachian Trail.

Call the Thruhiker Legend by Outdoor, I'm sorry, Outside Magazine, she has has had 20 plus long distance trails including the

triple crown and for you those of you who may not be familiar with the triple crown

that's the Appalachian Trail the Pacific Crest Trail and the Continental Devai Trail.

Her innovative urban hiking has led the guardian to call her the Queen of Urban Hiking.

A former staff writer for the New York Times, Wirecutter, and current editor-in-chief

for the Outdoor at Gear Review website Tree Review,

as well as a contributing editor and columnist

for Backpacker magazine with their feature of Ask the Through Hiker.

In 2017 she was awarded the best instructional book. Her book meant long trails. Best Instructional Book, her book, Long Trails, Mastering the Art of Through Hiking.

She received an award for Best Instructional Book, and they said that it was destined to become the Bible of the sport.

Liz, Snorkel Thomas, welcome to Papa

Hikes.

Thanks so much for having me on Papa Bear.

So yeah, this is exciting and it's quite a bio you have. I'm familiar with your writing. I've read a lot of your articles and I've been a subscriber to Backpacker magazine for years, but your accomplishments are far beyond what I initially thought they were.

So why don't we start by you telling us a little bit about yourself?

I love two things and actually three things.

I love hiking and I love hiking in all sorts of places from the wilderness to the front country to the city and I love writing about it and sharing my experience with being outdoors.

Hoping to inspire folks to go out there and take their first step, whether it's a first step going out into a

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