Episode #287 - Lite Shoes Tales of the AT (August 1-2)
Release Date: 12/10/2024
The Trail Dames Podcast
Bio- Jan Leitschuh was bitten by the AT bug in 2002. With no real backpacking experience, she threw herself into learning, training and stomping down fears and questions that swirled around her preparations. She joined the infamous Pack 31- a group of hikers that met online and named themselves after the date they started, March 1, 2003. This community, built on meetings at the ALDHA Gathering and a thousand online hours, still remain friends to this day and Lite Shoe, along with many of those original Pack 31 folks can often be found at the Gathering, sharing their stories and knowledge with...
info_outlineThe Trail Dames Podcast
Red Squirrels, fir scales and Moonstone jackets….Liteshoe is preparing for the 100-Mile Wilderness. Bio- Jan Leitschuh was bitten by the AT bug in 2002. With no real backpacking experience, she threw herself into learning, training and stomping down fears and questions that swirled around her preparations. She joined the infamous Pack 31- a group of hikers that met online and named themselves after the date they started, March 1, 2003. This community, built on meetings at the ALDHA Gathering and a thousand online hours, still remain friends to this day and Lite Shoe, along with many of...
info_outlineThe Trail Dames Podcast
Finding it hard to make friends as an adult? All you need is to find your tribe…your hiking tribe! Part 2 of this 2-part series lists some of the things you can look for and some of the groups that are out there! Guest Links- Trail Dames – Women Who Hike - Unlikely Hikers - Outdoor Afro - Native Women’s Wilderness - LatinXHikers - Latino Outdoors - Outgrown - Great Old Broads - Sierra Club - Venture Out - OutThere Adventures - Hikers of Faith - Christian Hikers and Backpackers - Wilderness Trek - Great Old Broads – Earth Guardians - Hike My Feelings - HBCUs Outside -...
info_outlineThe Trail Dames Podcast
Orange kites, dogs with rocks and lots of moose scat…. Maine does NOT disappoint! Bio- Jan Leitschuh was bitten by the AT bug in 2002. With no real backpacking experience, she threw herself into learning, training and stomping down fears and questions that swirled around her preparations. She joined the infamous Pack 31- a group of hikers that met online and named themselves after the date they started, March 1, 2003. This community, built on meetings at the ALDHA Gathering and a thousand online hours, still remain friends to this day and Lite Shoe, along with many of those original Pack 31...
info_outlineThe Trail Dames Podcast
Finding it hard to make friends as an adult? All you need is to find your tribe…your hiking tribe! Part 1 of this 2-part series lists some of the things you can look for and some of the groups that are out there! Guest Links- Trail Dames – Women Who Hike - Unlikely Hikers - Outdoor Afro - Native Women’s Wilderness - LatinXHikers - Latino Outdoors - Outgrown - Great Old Broads - Sierra Club - Venture Out - OutThere Adventures - Hikers of Faith - Christian Hikers and Backpackers - Wilderness Trek - Great Old Broads – Earth Guardians - Hike My Feelings - HBCUs Outside -...
info_outlineThe Trail Dames Podcast
Struggles with time, ‘putting up’ grouse and signing next to legends…… Liteshoe hikes on. Bio- Jan Leitschuh was bitten by the AT bug in 2002. With no real backpacking experience, she threw herself into learning, training and stomping down fears and questions that swirled around her preparations. She joined the infamous Pack 31- a group of hikers that met online and named themselves after the date they started, March 1, 2003. This community, built on meetings at the ALDHA Gathering and a thousand online hours, still remain friends to this day and Lite Shoe, along with many of those...
info_outlineThe Trail Dames Podcast
What better music to listen to than music inspired by the beauty surrounding us on the trail? Enjoy these three hiking songwriters on your next trek! Guest Links- Adam Ruzzo Website - Adam Ruzzo Fireside Chat on YouTube - James Bishop on NHNPR - James Bishop Website - Will Overman Website - Will Overman Article - Will Overman - Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at You can find the Trail Dames at: Our website: The Summit: The Trail Dames Foundation: Instagram: Facebook: Hiking Radio Network: Hiking Radio Network on Instagram: Music provided for this Podcast by The Burns...
info_outlineThe Trail Dames Podcast
Bio- Jan Leitschuh was bitten by the AT bug in 2002. With no real backpacking experience, she threw herself into learning, training and stomping down fears and questions that swirled around her preparations. She joined the infamous Pack 31- a group of hikers that met online and named themselves after the date they started, March 1, 2003. This community, built on meetings at the ALDHA Gathering and a thousand online hours, still remain friends to this day and Lite Shoe, along with many of those original Pack 31 folks can often be found at the Gathering, sharing their stories and knowledge with...
info_outlineThe Trail Dames Podcast
Whether you are a seasoned hiker or fresh and new to the trail, we could all use a little brush up on good manners on the trail. Links- Hiking Etiquitte from the NPS - Hiking Etiquette from the US Forest Service - Leave No Trace - Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at You can find the Trail Dames at: Our website: The Summit: The Trail Dames Foundation: Instagram: Facebook: Hiking Radio Network: Hiking Radio Network on Instagram: Music provided for this Podcast by The Burns Sisters "Dance Upon This Earth"
info_outlineThe Trail Dames Podcast
Laura M Clark grew up in Southern California. She moved to Colorado in her 20s, and has enjoyed hiking there ever since. She has summited over 600 peaks above 13,000′ solo, including being the first woman to solo summit all the Colorado 14ers, as well as the centennials. After each hike, she writes trip reports for each one and publishes them on her blog, which is read by fans all over the world. She has been a Girl Scout since she was 6 years old, and a Girl Scout Volunteer for over 20 years, leading multiple Troops from Kindergarten through High School in outdoor survival skills, cookie...
info_outlineBio- Jan Leitschuh was bitten by the AT bug in 2002. With no real backpacking experience, she threw herself into learning, training and stomping down fears and questions that swirled around her preparations. She joined the infamous Pack 31- a group of hikers that met online and named themselves after the date they started, March 1, 2003. This community, built on meetings at the ALDHA Gathering and a thousand online hours, still remain friends to this day and Lite Shoe, along with many of those original Pack 31 folks can often be found at the Gathering, sharing their stories and knowledge with a new class of hikers.
Guest Links-
The Ordinary Adventurer- The Ordinary Adventurer: Hiking Vermont's Long Trail: A Primer for Baby Adventurers and Other Musings on the Nature of the Journey
Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at [email protected]
You can find the Trail Dames at:
Our website: Trail Dames
The Summit: The Summit 2022 - Presented by the Trail Dames
The Trail Dames Foundation: Trail Dames Charitable Foundation | Home
Instagram: Instagram (@traildames)
Facebook: Trail Dames | Facebook
Hiking Radio Network: Hiking Radio Network
Hiking Radio Network on Instagram: Instagram (@hikingradionetwork)
Music provided for this Podcast by The Burns Sisters
"Dance Upon This Earth"
https://www.theburnssisters.com
Finally, as promised, the coveted recipe for:
Homemade Hiker's Halvah
(Halvah a la Alli!):
3/4 cup sesame tahini
1/2 cup raw honey
1/4 - 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 - 1/2 tsp. pure chocolate extract (could use vanilla instead)
1/4 cup powdered milk (or 10 Tb powdered milk if not using whey and egg white powders)
3 Tb. powdered whey (milk protein)
3 Tb. egg white powder
Note: amounts are approximate; what you want at the end is a reasonably dry, solid mass.
Instructions:
Mix together sesame tahini, honey and extracts until smooth. Gradually add powdered milk, whey and egg white powder. Mixture will become thick; mix well. You want to get it to point where can't be stirred and you have to mix/knead it with your hands; otherwise, the halvah will be too soft and gooey.
Press finished mixture into a container or make a flat disk (1/2" high) on a plate. Cover with plastic wrap and chill. Then cut into whatever size you like. Pack in ziplock baggies for the trail and you have a high-calorie, high-protein, high-carb, high-(good)fat power snack! Yum!
P.S. from Alli: "The following are the brands I use. They're expensive, but make a superior halvah:
*Joyva Sesame Tahini (a must! available in cans; cheaper in bulk);
*Dawes Hill Raw Tupelo Honey (Tupelo honey apparently has a different chemical structure than other honeys and has a less dramatic effect on blood sugar; apparently can be used -- in moderation -- by those who are diabetic and hypoglycemic. I have a friend who's severely hypoglycemic and it's the only honey he can tolerate);
*Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract (a kick-ass vanilla extract!);
*Flavorganics organic Pure Chocolate Extract (amazing!);
*I get the whey and egg white powder in bulk at my local food coop; are also available packaged.
Jan Lite Shoe, AT Class of '03