The Trail Connection
The Trail Connection
Hike The Good Hike - 025
Tim sits down with Jesse Cody of Hike the Good Hike to discuss wilderness therapy and the reality of common mental health struggles. Jesse shares his personal story of his battle with mental health and how his 2015 AT thru-hike saved his life.
Subscribe to the blog:
Mitty’s Journal – The Trail Connection (wordpress.com)
It's ever every now and then, uh, you know, since I, I filtered by, since I had my first, my first child, which his daughter, um, it completely broken me. Like I can't talk about anything emotional without losing it. I blame her for that, but it's real, you know, real emotion and so willing.
Speaker 2:I'm Tim Garlin and this is the trail connection podcast, exploring, learning, connecting through love for the outdoors. I'm talking everything from hiking, camping, just plain living. This is the trail connection podcast. Everybody welcome back to the trail connection podcast. This week. My guest is Jesse Cody of hike, the good hike. And, uh, Jesse is, uh, a guy who's been really advocating for mental health over the past few years. Uh, did an 80 through hike back in 2015 and ever since then has been really trying to create a movement and awareness for mental health and how nature can benefit that. Uh, it's got some exciting things coming up in the next few months and, uh, I was lucky to lucky enough to connect with him on social media. And he jumped out as someone that I really wanted to bring on the show and talk to for a few minutes to just bring awareness and highlight that mental health has a real thing and a real struggle for a lot of people. And nature is the best medicine or some really great medicine for that. So without further ado, here's Jesse. Hey Jesse, how's it going, man? Good, Tim, how you doing brother? I'm doing great. Doing great. I, uh, I'm really happy that we could connect and not can have you on the show this week. Um, I've been following your account for a little while now and, uh, I find it very inspiring. Um, it's kind of focused around the mental health and benefiting from the outdoors, um, and that's near and dear to my heart. So I definitely want to talk to another advocate for that and, um, get a different perspective because I think yours is probably a little bit, a little bit different than my angle that I've been going for. So, um, first thing I wanted to throw out here is, uh, what qualifies as a good height for you?
Speaker 1:Wow, man. I mean, that's a, that's a good first question you got gotta right away, right off the bat. What qualifies for a good hike? Um, honestly, man, you know, it's not about where I'm hiking or the distance that I'm hiking or, you know, the journey that I'm taking. Um, it can be anywhere from a day hike out here in Santa Fe to, you know, when I was back home in Cambridge, Massachusetts kind of going out to Lincoln woods where Thoreau did all his hiking years and years and years ago. Um, if I can get out there for a couple hours and process and things that are on my mind and come out of that hike, you know, with some resolve, you know, some understanding of like what I was trying to tackle, um, then that's a good hike, but also man, you know, even when you're taken on a hike, if you have to really kind of tackle some difficult things and maybe you don't have some resolve, but at least you're facing those things as scary as they can be. Um, just the fact that you're, you're facing those things, um, dead on, that's a good hike as well. So, you know, it's, again, it's, it's not really about where I'm going, what I'm doing, the distance and such, it's just about kind of taken on each of those steps in and processing, uh, while you're taking those steps forward.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, that's, that's a great explanation. I, I find the same thing, you know, I, I haven't done any long distance hiking. I've, I've definitely want to, I'm just not in a position of life where I can do through hike, but a long section hikes is kind of where I'm at right now. And, um, that's, that's kind of the same definition that I have. Uh, even if it's just a little walk in the woods behind the house or it's section hike on 80 or, you know, when I get it out or the chance to get out West here in the next few months and do some hikes out there, it's just focusing on, on nature and seeing what, what it can benefit me and how I can clear my mind, clear my head and just focus on the world around me and what's going on and kind of declutter a little bit, you know, it's, it's nice and quiet out there and it's a good way to clear your head. And um, if I can go into the woods with a heavy heart and walk out with a clear mind, that's a good hike for me. So I like that definition. That's good, man. That's good. So, um, what I, I've done a little bit of research on, uh, kind of what you've been up to. Um, I saw that you did, uh, an 80 through hike back in 2015. Do you want to talk about that a little bit?
Speaker 1:Sure. Yeah, of course, man, that defines me. So
Speaker 2:Yeah. Yeah. So what, uh, what pushed you to the 80 and what made you decide to do that? That Trek?
Speaker 1:Oh, well what pushed me to the 80 was, you know, um, geez, probably roughly five, six months prior. Like I knew nothing about hiking. I was, I was a city guy, man. You know, I spent most of my time in the Boston area, uh, and a little bit of time in New York city and I was in restaurant management, bar management. Um, so, you know, before I took on the 80, I had no clear understanding of what wilderness hiking or any of that stuff was. Um, for me, I was just in a really bad dark place. Um, I was struggling with my mental, mental health, um, and just having far too many thoughts about taking my own life. Um, and these thoughts obviously were really scary to me, you know, I mean there were just far too many close co-owners where I truly thought it through and, um, you know, to be in that place, um, obviously is difficult. Um, but I had a lot of love around me still do, you know, a lot of good friends. Um, my family, I have a really big family that we're really close knit. Um, and I just, I was able to have kind of a flash and awakening that, you know, if I took my own life, I was going to let a lot of people down. I was going to hurt a lot of people and I couldn't, I couldn't deal with that. I couldn't face with, I couldn't face that devastation that I could put on so many people. So, um, I made, I made a decision that I wanted, I wanted to figure out how to live, um, and to do so with purpose. You know, I wanted to make sure if I was going to keep myself around man, that there was something that I had to do to really say to myself, life is worth living. Um, and I got lucky, you know, like not only like did that love hit me, but as I started trying to figure out what I wanted to do with the rest of my life, and I started making decisions that were shifts is terrifying. I knew I had to get out of this career restaurant management because it, it wasn't good. It wasn't good for my mental health. And it was feeding into my insecurities and allowing me to do things as far as the I'm a real narcissist and take advantage of staff and just all the things that were piling up on me. Um, so when I was thinking this through and making this decision of what I was going to do next in life, um, Robert Redford had made an announcement that he was making bill Bryson's book a walk into the woods, uh, into a movie. Um, and that was a book that I had read it in my early twenties, a good friend of mine had given, given to me. So that kind of, that kind of lit a light bulb in me, um, not to hike, but just to go pick the book back up and give it a read. Cause I didn't remember that. I, I enjoyed that book. Um, so I did so, and, um, as soon as I started reading that book, it wasn't too soon after that I made this decision. I need a long walk man, you know, and as crazy as it sounded, because I had no experience, um, one, I needed a long walk and two, you know, I figured, I figured to myself that if I am having such dark thoughts about making some bad decisions for myself, maybe going out and trying to conquer 2200 miles is not as daunting as it seems compared to what I was going through. Um, so I made a decision I'm, I'm gonna, I'm gonna focus and I'm gonna study all I can on the Appalachian trail and research and talk to people that have done it. Um, and as I was doing that, I was getting more excited and here I wasn't a place in my life where I hadn't really felt a whole lot of excitement, um, about myself and my journey. Um, but this was triggering that. And, um, before you knew it, man, I was, I was all in all onboarded and, um, you know, I picked the date being March 15th of 2015 and I got myself to spring or mountain and I started walking and that's, that's how I got to trail.
Speaker 2:That's awesome. That, that's a, that's a really great story. And I just got to save me. I'm so glad that you didn't make that other decision years ago because there's some, there's so much good that come, that comes from when you choose to pursue life and, uh, you can choose to make an impact. And, um, I mean, I, I don't know you, I don't know you very well at all. I'm looking forward to this conversation and get to know you a bit more, but I respect that a lot. I know I've got a lot of, a lot of, a lot of empathy for what, what you've got going on. So I'm really thank you. I'm thankful. Yeah, I appreciate that.
Speaker 1:Um, I think that those words, man, that means a lot to me as well. I appreciate it.
Speaker 2:Yeah. And, and, you know, mental health is kind of a thing it's a little bit taboo. Most people aren't really interested in talking about it and um, you know, it hits, it hits home for me. My wife is going through some stuff right now. And um, so it's very real, you know, I can't, uh, I can't sit here and say that I understand, but I definitely can empathize to, you know, what's going on. And um, so any kind of awareness or any kind of, um, you know, spotlight that I can bring to that, you know, I'm happy to do it because I think that it's important now. I've seen, I've seen her in some pretty dark places too, so you know, it, uh, it means a lot. So anyway, we can, uh, we can keep going here. I'm sorry, I'm getting a little, a little emotional. It's just, uh,
Speaker 1:And then he'd come home and said, you know, brother, I mean, like I have these conversations so often now, um, and myself, I get very emotional when I tell my own story, but you know, I have a lot of conversations with people that are going through difficult things, you know? Um, yeah. You know, I get emotional when I, when I hear them, you know, but the beauty of it is in, then you keep using a word that I just love, man, empathy, empathy, empathy, empathy. And as two guys sitting here talking, that's not a conversation most guys have right now. No, not at all. Right. So let the emotions flow. I'm all, I'm all about it.
Speaker 2:Yeah. Yeah. So that, that's kind of a good segue into another question. I'll ask you. I wanted to ask you is what about the trail brings you empathy? What about these hikes instills that in you?
Speaker 1:Yeah, so, you know, I talk about this often mom, you know, but I, I see the trail, any trail that I walk in, um, the wilderness it's mother nature. Right. You know, and like I am a firm believer that mother nature had been watching and kind of knew, um, at some point I was going to need help. And when I made that decision not to take my own life, I, I honestly feel like you, the universe and mother nature together said, okay, let's go get them. And let's, let's bring them out, out into the wilderness and let's start hailing this guy, you know? So, um, I look at it all almost as a female presence in my life who she came in and she said, I'm not just going to hand you this, you know, I'm going to make you work for it, but I'm gonna promise you if you work for it, you're gonna come out of this. The man you've always meant to be. Um, I talk about narcissism because I was a narcissist, you know, I was, uh, I was very much so a narcissist in the way that you could think, um, I guess the way to put it as the think, what you don't want to see in a man and certainly treatment in women, women that you date. Um, this, this hurt me even when I was, when I was behaving like that. I didn't want to be this way, but I didn't know how to change. I just more so, a little more so far myself kind of letting those walls close in instead of seeking help. Um, so when I started hiking and I just started feeling this overwhelming presence of, um, a woman trying to try to help me, it made me really say, man, look, you know, this is, this is all about making sure that you show empathy for all people, but you know, you, you kind of going to have to pay, pay this woman back for what she's giving you. Um, and that's truly how I feel about the presence and being out in wilderness and nature is that by doing what I'm doing now and, and being open and honest and telling my story, which isn't always easy. It's my way of saying two things. Thank you for what you've given me, mother nature and universe. And to, in a way for me to say, sorry, for some of my actions or a lot of my actions in the past, you know, this is I think the best way for me to, to show anybody that I treated poorly, I treated wrong. I'm taking steps every day to be the best human I can be. And now without word, once again, you know, I, I, I'm driven off of empathy, you know, um, to the point I'm, I'm just started school to be a life coach. Uh, and my whole focus is really try to be to work with men that are battling narcissistic behavior, but want to change, you know? And they just don't know how to like, that's my goal is just show dudes, man, we, we can be better, man. Like we can be better. So, um, that's really truly what nature has given me. And it's just this complete overwhelming feeling of empathy and how to share it with the rest of the world.
Speaker 2:That's awesome. And, uh, you know, that's a very admirable, uh, task. You have a hand, you know, to try to help help other men and another guys that are dealing the same stuff. You know, a lot of us we're real proud and we're, we're, we're too, we're too proud to admit that we're screwed up and uh, you know, yeah, we all need some help. So that's great, man. Good luck with that. I hope that, uh, you're able to touch a lot of people with that. So
Speaker 1:I think
Speaker 2:So, uh, talking about talking about, um, you know, things that kind of draw you to the trail. I was kicking around some different thoughts whenever I was preparing for this and, um, something that really was glaring to me. And it was kind of something that came out of left field, but hit me right between the eyes. You know, it's, it's such a cool thing that like a trail like the 80, you know, it has this draw, it has natural pole that pulls people to, to it to try to find something either. You know, a lot of people that go on this trail are lost. They didn't know to be Frank. They're just, they're trying to find themselves. They're trying to find clarity. They're trying to find, you know, balance with their life, mental health, you name it. People are drawn to it. And, you know, I had that same draw several years ago, but it wasn't for, you know, I, I wasn't in the position that you were in, but I was in a position where I was overwhelmed and I was, I was trying to find balance, you know, I had dove into a career and, and completely engulfed myself in this one job, you know, trying to achieve a status. And you know, it, it came back to bite me a little bit and I had to kind of a reality check that, Hey man, I'm putting all my eggs in one basket and this isn't the right basket. And so, you know, I, I started pushing things out, pushing things away, and I had this draw to go do a section hike, to clear my head, you know, to, to find balance. And so that I use the Appalachian trail to, for selfish reasons, you know, to kind of get out and get away from everybody and clear my own mind, clear my own head. And you're you and I kind of, you, you went to that route first completely different reasons and, and probably way more serious reasons. Um, but you know, we both walked away from that with getting what we needed, you know, it was like, it's, it's a, it's a good prescription, you know? And, um, I think that that is such an awesome thing that, you know, a trail like that, not just the 80 there's like there's trails like that all over the country and all over the world. But I just think that nature itself has this draw, has this pole to cleanse us and to heal us. And I just, that hit me the other day when we were talking about this. I mean, cause we had totally different perspectives on why we did it, but we both walked away from it better. And so, um, I just, I kind of want to talk about that for a second. Get your opinion on it. What, what you think about it?
Speaker 1:Sure. I mean, there's layers to that, right? I mean the first being, um, pretty obvious is that peaceful, man. I mean, it is, it is a place that you can go where it is very quiet and when it's that quiet, because it gives you a place to like get into your own head and have conversations. Right? So for me, it's like, yeah, prior to hiking those conversations, I was having with myself, my surroundings were always chaotic, right? I'm a city guy and like I'm running bars, man. I'm a die hard sports fan. Like it's like, it is like, you're trying to, you're trying to face some things or maybe you're not even trying to face them, but they're, they're, they're, they're always kind of in your head yelling at you, but your, your surroundings a chaotic, whereas when you hit trail and you get out to nature and man, it's just nature that you hear and it's a peaceful, beautiful sound. Um, and so you're able then once again, conquer these voices in your head, but instead of laying letting the chaos, you know, dictate how you're going to have that conversation, you kind of have some peace that allows you to face them and, and, and take time you walk in, right? Like you're, you know, you're out there all day going into the early evening. And instead of letting them win, you kind of negotiate with them, man. Like you, you start making deals, you
Speaker 3:Know, I always say it, the voices don't go away
Speaker 1:And they're not gone, you know, but you kinda know how to like put them in their place a bit now. Um, I always, I always really truly say that, like, I even think the voices that they were affected by the chaos. So when you bring the voices out into nature, they're almost in awe. Like they're like, Oh wait a minute. You know, it was dark in as angry as we want to be, man. Like where you have us right now is a tremendous place. Um, so there's that. And it's like, and it kind of goes into the second point or what I, what I'm talking about is like, is the solitude of it all. And again, you know, the peace and the solitude, it is just the stage for you to truly start facing yourself. Um, and while you're doing that, you're giving yourself a little bit of a challenge by, by hiking. So, you know, everybody feels good. You know, I love these conversations that I have with people sometimes who reach out to me. And I say, I went out for a two mile walk today and I'm so proud of myself, they're hiking, the good height. Right? Like, and so they just did something that they felt accomplished. Like they hadn't done it often. Now they went out and they said, I'm going to go walk two miles. You know, it's impossible not to feel good about yourself when you achieve something, especially when it's like personal goals, right. Like to get out and go swimming. I always say like hiking doesn't actually have to be hiking. It just has to be something, you know, that's kind of active and, and getting your body moving and, you know, preferably outdoors. So you can breathe in some of that fresh air and listen to the birds and listen to the winds and the trees. Um, I just find it to be almost impossible to not put yourself in a, in a better frame of mind when you, when you make that your surrounding. So I even love, I mean, like people will say, do you like to hike in the rain? I love I can MRA, you know, the sounds and the smell of wet Moss and the pot. Like, again, it just feeds you, right? It's like eaten. Well, man, you know what I mean? It's like fruits and vegetables. It's the same thing. So when you put yourself out there, it you're setting yourself up for success when it comes to your mental health, you know, that's why you see it growing. That's why you see it becoming so much of a larger thing in our country, wilderness therapy and such, just because people understand the connection and how good it is for you to so no brainer, you know, when I read a walk in the woods for a second time and listened to bill Bryson stories, you could feel it. You know what I mean? You were, you were inspired by it. Um, in the same sense, I'm trying to do the same thing, right. I'm just trying to say to people, go outside, guarantee it, just get out for a little day. If you have a park near you go out there, man, like, and then get back to me and tell me, you didn't have a great experience. I challenge you because it's just no way that they can, right?
Speaker 2:Yeah. Yeah. For me, you know, I, I'm a, I'm a man of faith I believe in God and I'm a Christian and I, I find a lot of connection to God when I'm out in nature as well. Um, and for me, it's, you know, you get out to a mountain scape, you get out to this magnificent view or you see these magnificent trees that you're out there walking around it to me, I feel close to him because he created both of us right there. And so for me, you know, that's, that's a good way for me to connect to, to my God. And, and so I, I get that benefit, you know, from going outside as well. But, but going back to your point about just like goal setting, you know, um, that ATM the first 82nd hike that I did, um, prior to that, the deciding I was going to do it, I was a quitter. I was one of these guys with big plans, big aspirations, and like very little follow through to where, you know, I, I lay it all out, you know, this is how it's going to go. It's going to be great. And then when it came down to putting in the work, you know, it was just like, ah, this is tougher than I thought it was going to be. Yeah. Maybe I'll, I'll move on kind of thing. This was one of those things that I didn't, I wasn't going to let that happen. I wanted to do a part of the at T and I had zero experience backpacking zero experience on the at T, but I was going to set a goal and I was going to accomplish it. And for me, that was life-changing just to, to set a tangible goal and do it. And so your advice to others about, you know, just getting out and doing it, hiking is a great way to start with small, tangible goals, because you can walk a quarter mile, you can walk a half a mile, you can walk three miles, you know, you start small and kind of get used to the area and get the, get all the benefit without all of the pain, you know, and you can kind of work your way into it. And so there's a lot of folks who like bite out of a huge Apple that are just like, I'm going to go hike the through hike on the at T with zero experience and zero prep and all that kind of stuff. And that's, that's probably not the wisest decision from a safety perspective, but, you know, there's, there's better ways to kind of work your way into it and to, um, prepare yourself and you can still get the benefits of hiking, but, um, you know, obviously jumping into a large, large, uh, goal like that is going to be a little bit harder to accomplish, but I, I, a hundred percent agree with what you're saying, man, encouraging people to get out and just challenging them to, to try to walk away from nature without any kind of benefit or any kind of, uh, you know, gain personal gain from it. Because, uh, I've had several episodes where I've talked to people about my bad experiences and things that didn't go well, but you know, I have this drive and this, this draw to, to nature, like I've been talking about that. Like, it doesn't matter if it's bad because it's still an experience it's still, it's still a lesson learned. It doesn't matter if it's uncomfortable or cold or wet or whatever. I learn something from it each time I go. And so if you want to learn and you want to grow, you keep going. And, and for me, that's, that's a good, that's a good height.
Speaker 1:Yeah. I mean, what's, what's life without lessons, right? Absolutely. You, you need to experience things that are challenging and daunting and make you question yourself. Um, because yeah, that's, that's life man. Like that's like, you know, everything you just said, there's a lot of things there that are similar between you and us as far as quitting, you know, like I became a quitter myself at an early age. Um, I was a really successful runner through high school. Um, I got a full scholarship to Providence college for cross country track and field. I flunked out of school less than a year later. Um, because I started partying, you know, I started doing the college thing, but I wasn't disciplined enough to balance doing that and making sure that I was studying and still training. So, uh, when I flunked out, it was just kind of a domino effect of saying to myself, I don't only want to try things anymore. I want to find the easiest things that I can do because I'm not good with challenge, you know? Um, and so in the same sense that you're talking, you know, like hiking, the Appalachian trail was the first time that I took on a challenge and said, I can do this. You know, and it's a good point to make. I don't tell everybody, Hey, you should quit your job and go hike the Appalachian trail. You know, you really gotta be in a, in a dark place to have an understanding that you need, you need something like that. So I always make sure, like, I'm not telling people to do that when I'm telling people to do is, you know, if you, for whatever reason you want to try hiking. Yeah. Let's, let's, baby-step it first and make sure you know, what you're doing. And, you know, um, even though I had never done it before, I really like, you know, it was four or five months of really trying to get an understanding. Once I made the decision, I was going up to New Hampshire, the white mountains in Maine and hiking, and just trying to get an understanding of what I was getting myself into. So it wasn't like, I was like, okay, I'm gonna hike the Appalachian trail. And then, you know, a week later I went and jumped on the trail. Like I made sure I put myself in the best position to, to be successful, you know, whether it was getting a week for the whole thing. So luckily it was the whole thing.
Speaker 2:Yeah. Yeah. No, that's, that's great. That's great. Um, what's, um, what's one of the biggest takeaways that you, you brought away from that experience and coming off the trail, what, what's something that's probably your biggest lesson learned from that experience
Speaker 1:That I was meant to live, you know, that I was meant to be alive, um, that I was making meant to make sure that I saw my life through. Um, and I was giving, given something on that trail that basically I didn't have a complete understanding of what I wanted to do, but it's the first time I ever said hike. The good hike was, you know, just a few weeks until the 80. I actually had like a small video that I put on Facebook. And at the end I just said, all right, everybody, you know, I'm going to keep going, but I, the good hikes, um, when I came off that hike, I knew that hiking was going to be a massive part of my life moving forward. But, um, I also knew that I had to do something with it that could leave its Mark on the planet as well. Right. But I consider my calling and that was turning it into this, you know, message slash mantra and moving forward with it, to use it as, um, a journey and a tool. And, um, my, you know, specifically my story to say, we all have a reason to live man. And sometimes it's really, really difficult to figure out what that is, but you know, if we're lucky enough to be put on this planet, there's a reason behind that. And I came out of that, understanding, you know, that I'm supposed to be here and I'm supposed to, I'm supposed to start screaming loud from mountain tops, you know, hike the good hiking and to tell people what that's all about. So, you know, I, now I don't quit, you know, and there's a lot of, I wouldn't say failure in, in the work that I'm doing, you know, but there are roadblocks, there are mountains in front of me. There are things that don't pan out, but instead of just shying away and quitting, because it's too hard or I'm frustrated that I say, okay, keep moving forward, man. It's, it's going to gonna make sense. At some point, it's going to start panning out. At some point it will it'll will evolve into what it's supposed to evolve into. Um, and that's, that's really cool, man. I, I really like I can look back on the last five years now and think about all the things that I thought I wanted to do with hike, the good hike and how all that's changed, but progress is cool, no matter how small it is.
Speaker 2:And that that's something that I've learned too with this podcast over the last couple of years is just kind of letting it go where it wants to go and, and having kind of a direction, but to just kind of going organically. And it's, uh, it's gotten me to a point I'm really happy with. So I, I, a hundred percent agree. That's that's good.
Speaker 1:Think about it, reinventing yourself. You can't, you can't do it overnight. Right. So I almost like, yeah, I remember when I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do, uh, before hiking, but I knew I wanted to live. I like I was starting to look. I was like, well, maybe I could go back to school and do four years of college, you know? And I was like, man, that's going to be a lot of work, but I didn't end up doing that obviously. But in a sense, what I have been doing for the last four or five years in a way of school, I'm trying to figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life and how I want to build hikes the good hike. And, you know, I'm actually in school to be a life coach. So to me, it was like to think that if you're going to reinvent your whole entire life, that you can do it and a day, a week, a month, it's crazy. So you gotta be patient and have understandings, uh, that that's going to take some time and work. Um, so that's kinda how I feel about the last few years I've been in school building it all. So yeah,
Speaker 2:Street-smart skin that life experience. That's good. That's good. Well, uh, I definitely want to give you a, give you a platform to talk a little bit about hike, the good hike. So if you want to take a couple minutes and just share with my audience, what it's all about, and maybe how we've kind of talked some about how it got started, but if there's some key points you really want to emphasize and go ahead or take this time to do it.
Speaker 1:I mean, I, you know, as again, just kind of saying that it's a, it's a mantra, a movement is probably a great way to put it. Um, I've seen it as a movement now because I'm just getting a lot of great responses from people all around the world, wild to hear from people from all around the world, you know, Australia, Europe, South America, Canada, I've heard from, uh, from people from all over. So people are listening. And so my goal, um, ultimately, and it's something that I'm absolutely working towards. Um, I won't put the details out there right away, cause I'm a little bit superstitious. Sometimes you should not talk about things until everything's in place, but, um, I am starting a 1300 mile hike, the last 1300 miles of the Pacific crest trail, uh, this July and I'm using those 1300 miles to help raise money for a program. Um, um, here in the United States that focuses on wilderness therapy with youth and young adults. Um, and that's kind of what I want to do moving forward with all my hiking. I brought a lot of hiking that I still want to do over the next three, four years. Um, and I'd like to use all those steps that I take to race raise funds and bring awareness to all types of programs and organizations and nonprofits, uh, that focus on getting people out into wilderness. Um, so in a sense, you know, the work is being put in to become a phone, uh, charitable foundation. Um, and I've got a lot of help, a lot of good people that are on board that are guiding me in that direction to do things the right way. Um, what I hope in the big picture of it is is that more people would like to hike under hike, the good hike and do the same thing, raise money, especially, especially if people who have actually come through those kinds of programs, want to do something to give back, you know, they can hike under good, a hike, a hike under hike, hike, uh, and just kind of grow what we're doing and keep doing things to bring awareness in, to help these programs, get people, to look in and help fund them so they can do more with people that are struggling. Um, so that's really what I want to do. That's, that's my ultimate goal with hike, the good hike and you know, and again, uh, going to school as a life coach, it fits pretty well together because that way I'm just using my tools and the things that I understand about life now, uh, every way I can just to give back, you know, I've been given life, man, all I really want to do is turn around and pass the torch, you know, and just say, listen, that we are, uh, we're lucky to be a human being man. Let's, let's try to make the best of it and find what's right within ourselves that we can use moving forward to be happier and be more productive. And just having an understanding what your purpose is.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, that's great, man. And it just, uh, it's really impacting me. I have to say, like, it's really impacting me, kinda hitting me right. In, in the, in the face with, uh, the stark contrast between you and I, when it comes to what we're, why we hype, because for me, like I said, it has been, it's been selfish, you know, it's kinda been something to recenter, refocus myself, you know, to bring me clarity. And from what it sounds like, you know, it seems like your, your focus has shifted from that to others, to how you can help them and benefit them. And that's, that's admirable and much respect. I mean, I think that's a, that's a great cause and something that I definitely come back, uh, for sure. And, um, you know, I'll be, I'll be excited to kind of see how your, uh, your program develops and, and, uh, how the movement gets going. Um, I mean, it's you got, what about 10,000 followers or something like that so far on Instagram?
Speaker 1:Yeah. I just, I just got over that a couple months ago, I think, which was pretty cool. It gives me the ability to do a lot, a lot of things on there and, you know, continue to find ways to get a larger audience. Um, so that's great. You know, social media is a funny thing for me, you know, you know, it's, it's a, it's a valuable tool, but I'm also trying to tell people to put it away for awhile and get outside and, uh, you know, turn it all on necessary evil.
Speaker 2:Yeah. It's a necessary evil cause. Uh, I I'm the same way. I, you know, encouraging people to, to go outside and disconnect. And if I tell him I'm telling him to do that and told him to turn off my thing, turn off my page. Don't, don't listen to my podcast, you know, get out and just listen to nature, you know, which is fine because, you know, at the end of the day, if that's what it takes to get somebody to, to disconnect from all the distraction and put away all the noise, then I did my job. So, um, yeah, it's, it's, it's all about just encouraging people to, to get outside and, and seek the benefit of the world around us. Cause it's beautiful and, uh, it it's healing. So, um, uh, I'm on board with that. Yeah. Yeah. The good thing is,
Speaker 1:I mean, again, like the next, the next couple of months, be, you know, I'll be putting some stuff out to, out to the world about what I'm doing again with the hike coming up in July, but also, um, there's two different pieces that I've been writing that I've been working really hard on with my editor writing coach. Um, and we're all, I'm just trying to blast it out all around the same time. Um, hopefully one, if not both of those pieces will be picked up by some publication for, um, sorry for what, what am I, I lost my train of thought there for a second. Uh, basically we're trying to get something from you and try to get them out to get published, um, which would really go well with making an announcement, um, with what I'm doing with this 1300 mile hike. So, you know, um, soon enough I'll be blasting stuff out on my social media and my, and my website. That'll, that'll give more specific information on the upcoming things with like a good hike.
Speaker 2:Okay. Well, good. Well, uh, I'll definitely keep an eye out for that and I'm happy to help however I can spread the word I'll, uh, I'll start using your hashtag throwing it on there. Uh, it's a good, it's a good brand, you know, it's a good brand. It's a good, a good message. And I think that the more that, um, the more that we can branch out and build this network of support and just encouragement, you know, break the break, the stigma of the social media, you know, I, I mentioned that it's kind of a necessary evil. It's a, it's a pretty dark place, you know, there for a lot of people. And unfortunately, you know, I, I think that it's really benefiting a lot of people negatively. Um, it's a good tool, but just like anything, you know, it can be abused. And I think we're kind of to that point where there's just a lot of nasty things out there that are, that are hurting people. And, um, you know, I'm, I'm thankful that my kids aren't old enough yet and we've kind of kept them disconnected as much as we can to where they're not seeing, um, you know, the negative impacts on that. But, you know, you mentioned the youth is going to be part of your target audience. And I think that that's absolutely the right market. You know, our, our young people are really, really getting hit hard, so,
Speaker 1:Right, right. Yeah. I look at it this way, the obvious, you know, stating the obvious here, but the last few years have been hard and specifically the last year and a half. Um, and it's been very damaging to mental health. Um, and there's been a lot of narcism thrown out there, um, within, in a way that it seems like it should be okay to be a narcissistic. And so I almost feel like this was like prep, you know, finding, finding my footing and finding hiking and, and the work that I want to do. And there's a lot of other people out there doing very similar work that this is our time, you know what I mean? This is our time to kind of step up and be advocates and, and lend our ways to, to support and inspire and to show people, you know, we can be better as a human race and we have to figure that out and we have to work together and, you know, it's not always going to be, you know, rainbows and unicorns. That's just the way, that's the way the world rotates, man. Um, but if we can just make a difference for some we're doing all right, you know, and that's, that's what it's all about. You know, being an advocate growing as an advocate, speaking what you speak, not being afraid to speak, what you speak, not being afraid to be judged. Um, just coming out and talking about who you really are and why you are the way you are. You'll people will follow a man. People will get on board. Um, and you just got to stay that course, you know, the only thing stage stand in your way, especially mountains.
Speaker 2:Sure. Absolutely. All right. Well, uh, I definitely appreciate you taking the time to, to come on and talk a little bit on the show. And, um, if, uh, if there's one thing that you want to leave with my audience, what, uh, what would that be? Or if that's too broad of a question or too heavy of a question, um, what's a, what's a place that you've, you've visited recently that you would highly recommend, uh, to go get a good hike in,
Speaker 1:Oh man. Well, I just spent the bar. You
Speaker 2:Can answer both if you want to answer, but whatever
Speaker 1:I can do this, um, I just recently spent about five and a half weeks down in big bend national park in West Texas. That's a special place like no other, um, you really truly can feel the history of our country and you can feel the spirits all around you, of native Americans. Um, that place is just incredible. It's almost prehistoric in a sense. So, um, it's not the easiest place to get to for sure, but you're willing to rent a car from El Paso, Dallas. It's absolutely worth, worth the ride. There are incredible towns around the park that are just really great people, really cool people. Um, you know, it's, it's not always just about the places that I get to hike and see, and the beauty, but it's about the people that I get to meet along the way, regardless of our differences. Um, you'd be surprised how many people are out there just wanting to do, do good and feel good and, and bring something to the table. That's right. You know, um, I learned a lot of that in West Texas because we weren't the same, you know, I'm a, I'm a guy from the Northeast, Cambridge, Massachusetts, that's a far away from, you know, marathon or, or Marfa, Texas. So, you know, when I say hike, the good hikes, you know, yes. Certainly get out, walk, see the lands, if you can do that, the beauty of the United States, but meet the people, you know, because connection is just as important, you know, and that you can learn a lot from folks for sure. So don't be so closed minded. Um, that's one of the things that I really appreciate about what I've been able to see while I have been hiking is being able to talk to people who I probably would never have talked to before hiking, that I probably would have judged right off the bat from the way they looked or the way they acted. But instead, now I don't do that. I kind of say to myself, give everybody a chance. That doesn't mean everybody's going to be right. You may still walk away, but, um, a lot of good people out here, man. So in that sense, man, get out there and hike a good hike, but you know, be open to everything that, that you're going to experience while you're doing so.
Speaker 2:Yeah, well, that's great. Uh, I really admire that and, uh, that's, uh, that's a good philosophy to have. Um, it's kind of what this show's about. You know, I'm looking to, to introduce myself to folks who I would not have before, you know, and, and learn from their experiences. And, you know, nature's the common theme, the common denominator between everybody, uh, on, on this platform. But, uh, you know, there's a lot about life that we can learn from one another with nature as that little common denominator, you know? And so that's, that's what my goal is, is just to, to get connected with different folks, learn about things that I don't really know about and, um, you know, really find a way to, to bridge that gap and make connections. And it's all about, you know, just getting to know one another with a common love for the outdoors. So that's, that's where we're at.
Speaker 1:Well, keep, keep it up brother. You know what I mean? Cause we definitely need more people like you. So keep those conversations going and you know, like I said, man looks like us. We'll we'll rise above to the cream will be the cream of the top there and uh, we're needed so good job, man. Keep it rolling.
Speaker 4:Okay. All right. Appreciate it. Thanks for tuning in everybody. If you're listening to us on your favorite podcast app, be sure to hit that subscribe button and leave me a nice review there. I greatly appreciate that if you're watching this on YouTube also hit that subscribe button and turn on those alerts. Drop me a comment and let me know what you think of the show. Looking for us on social media. You can find us at the trail connection on Instagram and Facebook. We share lots of cool photos of nature and some nice, deep thoughts about those photos and be sure to give us a follow, give us the like check out what we got going on on a daily basis. So thanks for tuning in everybody. My name's Tim Garland, AKA middy, and you're listening to the trail connection podcast.