Why We Hike

Melanie Stone is an actor, film producer, rock and roll goddess and passionate nature lover. In this episode Mel talks about her recent backpacking trip to Paria Canyon in Southern Utah which at one point caused her to seriously wonder if she might actually die in that Canyon. We have an incredible conversation about the benefits of being humbled by nature and whole bunch of other stuff. I played in Deep Love: A Ghostly Rock Opera with Mel for nearly 10 years. Listen to the end of the episode to hear a lil' snippet of Mel killing it at a live Deep Love performance. Follow Melanie! @MelanieSt0ne Watch ALL of Melanie's movies: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5752523/ He's Dead & So Am IV/H/S/99DeadstreamCupid for ChristmasLove, Lost & FoundScarlettRetreat to ParadiseGone HollywoodShattered MemoriesWe're Alive: FrontierChristmas WonderlandMy Christmas InnDevil's Got My BackLittle WomenChasing ShadowsExtinctThe Killing PactGruntSlingersLunchtime Battle: A Mobile Strike StoryMythica: The GodslayerNocturneIn the End: Sketch ComedyMythica: The Iron CrownMythica: The NecromancerRiotMiracle MakerWaffle StreetMythica: The DarksporeHe Knows My NameBe My FrankensteinWildlifeMythica: A Quest for HeroesThe Christmas DragonOne ShotSurvivorChronologicChristmas for a DollarNo Precedence --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ford-erickson/support

Bob Donoho is an incredible human lifeform. He has had all kinds of wild experiences in the backcountry as a wilderness therapy guide for many years. He is an, in my opinion, expert woodworker and crafter of all kinds of things from nature. But beyond all those things, Bob has a golden heart and the wisdom of an ancient Greek philosopher. And he really likes bengal spice tea. Follow Bob! @GoodPeopleFanClub Follow Bob's Dog! @My.Dog.Pancho --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ford-erickson/support

Lauren "Lala" Pedersen has the unique perspective of experiencing wilderness therapy as a struggling teen client not only once but TWICE (a combined 4 months), AND she has been a backcountry wilderness therapy guide on and off for the last 6 years with the Anasazi Foundation. This is a ultra unique perspective I had been wanting to dive into for many moons! Over the course of this interview Lauren also makes the most delicious biscuits and chili I have ever eaten in my life. Someday I hope to hire her as my personal chef. FOLLOW LAUREN! @lala_pedersen --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ford-erickson/support

Paul Bird is a fan favorite. Maybe THE fan favorite. I had Paul on the podcast earlier in 2022 right before he was about to leave on his first through hike on the Arizona Trail, an 800ish mile wilderness trail spanning from the Mexican border to Utah. So on this episode we talk about how he survived being all alone for so long as an extremely extroverted person as well as his change of heart toward "spiritual journeys." All hail Paul Bird! Want a shirt/coffee mug/shower curtain with Paul Bird's face on it? https://fordthunder.threadless.com/ Follow Paul! Insta: @PostModernPastoral Facebook: Paul Bird --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ford-erickson/support

This episode is an excerpt from a live talk I recently gave at church. I talk about ways I believe I have seen God working with me and others in the wilderness. I recognize that a lot of you may have had difficult experiences with religion and I don't want this podcast to be a specifically religious or Christian podcast at all. I just want to hear about all people's meaningful experiences in the outdoors, however they interpret them. I just hope that these experiences I share in this episode do not offend or trigger anyone, and if they do I am very sorry. I love you all! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ford-erickson/support

Cary Judd co-produced an award winning documentary called 828 that follows Cary Judd as he attempts to ride his e-skateboard around the ring road of Iceland - 828 miles. Ultimately it’s a story about mental health and coping with grief. Like a lot of us, Cary Judd had a rough 2020. On top of the global pandemic and civil unrest, Cary dealt with the deaths of his mother, father, aunt and close friend, as well as losing his job. Cary has had a lifelong battle with depression but in 2020 it became crippling. The only thing that would get him out of the house was hopping on his electric skateboard and going for a ride. Gradually he started doing more and more miles until he was doing 100 mile days on remote mountain roads in Idaho. Then he got an idea about being the first person to ride an e-skateboard 828 miles on the Ring Road around Iceland. Follow Cary and the 828 Documentary! Facebook/Instagram: @828Documentary 828 Trailer: https://vimeo.com/643232947 Listen to Cary's Music! https://open.spotify.com/artist/7B1WIks0LyZNF8mNh4GqH2?si=cLn2YQNQTQOf_lDfIkS_CQ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ford-erickson/support

Benjamin Pete Allred is a mad scientist that loves pushing himself in the outdoors. We talk about his trip to climb the tallest peak in North America -Denali Peak- , which was formerly known as Mt. Mckinley. It is only fitting he climbed a mountain with 2 names while he is a man with 2 names. It is very confusing. Benjamin Pete has climbed and hiked all over the world now while also having some wilderness therapy experience. He also is currently hiding symbolic artifacts in the Wasatch Mountains for an upcoming riddle-filled treasure hunt. Like I said this man is a mad scientist. Seriously. He scientifically figured out which tortilla chip is the consensus best tortilla chip of all. For real. It was the greatest thing I have ever witnessed. This has nothing to do with the outdoors but man oh man is it great. Join Benjamin Pete's Treasure Hunt! https://sixsilversaturns.space/ Watch Ben's Scientific Tortilla Chip Experiment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbJ8tUQW9E4 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ford-erickson/support

Sheesh where do I start? Jessie Krebs runs an outdoor survival school specifically for women (OwlsSkills.com), was an Air Force SERE instructor for many years, is THE ONLY wilderness survival instructor on Masterclass , yes you read that right. Take a breather because we are only getting started here... Jessie has also been featured on many survival TV shows such as: National Geographic's Mygrations, Kicking and Screaming, and the upcoming Season 9 of History Channel's Alone show! Jessie has also spent over 10ish years working in the wilderness therapy industry. Jessie has a contagious passion for the wild and bringing the wilderness healing she has experienced to women and other underrepresented demographics in the outdoor survival scene. Jessie changed my life in this conversation. Be careful, because she is about to change yours. Follow Jessie! OWLS Survival School for women! https://www.owlsskills.com/ Take Jessie's Masterclass on wilderness survival! https://www.masterclass.com/classes/jessie-krebs-teaches-wilderness-survival/chapters/meet-your-instructor-jessie-krebs Instagram: @Owls.Skills Facebook: Jessie Krebs --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ford-erickson/support

Shanae Foster is a wilderness therapy veteran, wilderness EMT, avid rock climber, ancestral living skills enthusiast, incredible sour dough bread baker, and hopeful marathon runner, ultra marathon runner and through hiker. Shanae recently signed for her first marathon ever and we dig deep to understand why the heck she paid 100+ dollars to suffer. We also delve into a life altering conversation about the lessons she has learned from seeking to perfect sour dough bread baking. You may say bread baking has nothing to do with hiking...and you might be right...but actually you are wrong. Follow SHANAE! Insta: @ShanaeFoster Buy a shirt with Shanae's face on it: https://fordthunder.threadless.com/designs/shanae --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ford-erickson/support

Paul Bird is a fascinating human specimen. He spent 32 months IN A ROW working rigorous wilderness therapy at the Anasazi Foundation and he is now about to start an 800 mile trek, on foot from the Mexican border to Utah, known as the Arizona Trail. Paul talks about how coming out as gay has led him to pursue other new experiences AKA adventure. Paul was also worked with dead bodies as a mortician for several years before he started working at Anasazi. Death is still one of his favorite things. Behold Mr. Tuscon Arizona himself, Paul Bird. FOLLOW PAUL BIRD! Insta: @PostModernPastoral Facebook: Paul Bird PAUL BIRD T SHIRTS: https://fordthunder.threadless.com/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ford-erickson/support

Nathan Donnelly is best known for surviving 72 days in the Northern Canada wilderness on Season 6 of History Channel's Alone Show. Nathan is the only person in the history of the Alone Show to choose NOT to bring a modern fire starting device, and chose instead to rely on his expert friction fire building skills. This is what initially drew me to Nathan! Nathan is a man of great wisdom and deep experience living in harmony with and in wild places. In the past, he has been a wildlife biologist, backcountry park ranger, wildland firefighter, search and rescue team member, builder, outfitter, and homestead caretaker. Follow Nathan! Insta: @Northwest.Resilience Email: NWresilience@gmail.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ford-erickson/support

Callie Russell is a long time outdoor "surTHRIVAL" practitioner and instructor as well as nomadic goat herder, and wilderness therapy backcountry guide, but is perhaps best known for her appearance on season 7 of History Channel's Alone show, where she survived and thrived for 89 days completely alone in the Arctic. In this interview Callie talks about her journey from a typical middle class angsty teen from the city to a full time nomadic goat herder living almost entirely off of goats milk! Follow Callie! Instagram: @CapraKhan --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ford-erickson/support

Abi Ayres is a REAL LIFE Instagram influencer (@AbiAyres) and draws people in with her genuine, bright, goofy personality. She recently took it upon herself to train for and attempt to hike 24 miles from Rim to Rim in the Grand Canyon in one day. Abi says this was WAAAY out of her comfort zone. Abi talks about why the heck she felt compelled to do this and what the incredibly hard trek taught her about taking the power back in her life. Abi is the greatest. Follow Abi! Instagram: @AbiAyres --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ford-erickson/support

Growing up in foster care, Sam Smith had a confusing and challenging childhood. He explains how engaging with the wilderness has helped him overcome and heal from the past and how it continues to do so for him. He once found himself stranded in the Mountains and decided to live out there alone for 2 months. He now lives outside in a Wikiup (AKA primitive living shelter made of sticks) full-time while attending a primitive skills university in Montana called Green University. What a guy!!!! Follow Sam! Facebook: Sam Smith Instagram: @Backcountry_Runaway --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ford-erickson/support

In this episode you will join my comrades and I as we venture, for the first time, into the ominous Wind River Mountains in Wyoming. In addition, toward the end of the episode there is an interview with Alex, who we stumbled upon out there. He was severely sick with altitude sickness and couldn't stop throwing up. Fun times! Join my Patreon cult to help keep this podcast ad-free!: https://www.patreon.com/FordThunderErickson --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ford-erickson/support

In this episode Elizabeth Baird demands to interview the normal podcast host, Ford Thunder Erickson. She prevails. Ford talks about his most meaningful wild places he's been, a powerful experience he had on the John Muir Trail annnnd why he hikes. What else would he talk about? Ford's Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/FordThunderErickson Instantgraham: @Ford_Thunder_Erickson --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ford-erickson/support

Elisabeth Baird is an experienced wilderness therapy guide as well as a middle school art teacher. She once did an internship combining art therapy and wilderness therapy together, which I have never heard of anyone else doing before. Elizabeth is one of the most thoughtful people on earth and every human being would benefit from hearing the insights and experiences she shares in this episode. Follow Elisabeth! @Elisabeth_Ruth_Baird --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ford-erickson/support

Good ol' Clutch Lambert was on the 2nd episode ever on this podcast but it was definitely the worst interview I have ever done....not because of him but because of my crappy interviewing skillz. In this episode Clutch and I discuss the ethics of killing animals as well as the sacredness we will exists on ancient ruins of all kinds. FOLLOW CLUTCH: Thunderstone Wilderness Ventures @Thunderstone86 @ClutchFootSnakeHands --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ford-erickson/support

In this episode, Ford takes you with him on his solo backpacking trip in the High Uintas Wilderness where he experiences the scariest night he has ever spent in the backcountry. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ford-erickson/support

Dana Anderson is a lifelong outdoor survival skill practitioner and is an especially expert flint knapper AKA arrowhead maker. Dana estimates that he has made over 50,000 arrowheads in his life and can bust out a beautifully crafted and useful arrowhead in 1 minute. Maybe a world record? Dana is one the wildest, kookiest and warmest people I have ever met. He has a DEEP knowledge and connection to nature and a nearly unparalleled zest for life and love of people. Come hither and meet the man once known as "Dangerous Dan the Mountain Man"! Follow Dana! Facebook: Dana Anderson --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ford-erickson/support