What happens when a simple hiking challenge becomes the starting point for something bigger?

In this episode, I’m joined by Carolina Montero and Nikki Taylor from Way Out Wild, a community focused on helping women build confidence, connect with others, and grow through outdoor adventure.

We talk about how they’ve used the Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge as more than just a hiking goal—it’s become a powerful tool for building momentum, creating accountability, and helping people realize they’re capable of more than they thought.

From first hikes to bigger adventures, this conversation is all about the role community plays in turning “maybe someday” into “I did it.”

In this episode, we cover:

• The story behind Way Out Wild
• Why community matters in the outdoors
• How structured challenges create momentum
• The mindset shift that comes with completing a goal
• Advice for getting started (even if you’re unsure)

Learn more:

• Way Out Wild: https://www.wayoutwild.org
• Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge: https://socialhiker.net

Follow the Social Adventures Podcast for more conversations from the trail.

🎵 Music Credit:
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!)
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License code: 3EVZHM9WW6NBQH9B

Rob and Kristin DeCou made a decision before their first child was born: adventure would be a family value, not just a vacation. They're now at 56 of 63 U.S. National Parks, with just the remote Alaska parks standing between them and completing the mission.

Host Jeff Hester sits down with these longtime Six-Pack of Peaks community members to talk raising outdoor kids, managing screens on the road, the Junior Ranger program, and what it really means to design a life around adventure — including blowing two tires at 11,000 feet and turning it into one of the family's best stories.

Whether you're a parent wanting to get outside more, a national park fan, or just someone who needs a reminder that adventure is possible at any stage of life — this one's for you.

Wild Parks Family: wildparksfamily.com | @wildparksfamily Social Hikers: socialhiker.net | @socialhiker

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/track/roo-walker/flight-mode?rt=uc-referral

License code: 3EVZHM9WW6NBQH9B

Since 2018, Brandi Rubin has been climbing peaks, facing fears, and discovering what the mountains reveal about strength, patience, and self-trust.

In this episode of the Social Adventures Podcast, Brandi joins Jeff Hester to share her journey through the Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge, a standout 2025 season completing four regions, and how an unexpected injury changed—but didn’t end—her relationship with hiking.

This is a conversation about resilience, recovery, and why climbing is about far more than summits.

“I climb because I want to see this beautiful world for myself—not through pictures.”

🎧 Listen in if you’ve ever:

• Wanted to try your first big peak

• Been sidelined by injury

• Questioned your hiking motivation

• Needed a reminder of why you climb

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/track/roo-walker/flight-mode?rt=uc-referralLicense code: 3EVZHM9WW6NBQH9B

In this episode of the Social Adventures Podcast, Jeff Hester sits down with ultra-runner, author, and barefoot peak bagger to explore the powerful intersection of endurance, mindfulness, and the mountains.

Kenneth is the author of , a deeply personal account of completing the legendary Catskills Grid—climbing all 35 Catskills high peaks in every month of the year. Along the way, he discovered something unexpected: stripping away comfort, gear, and even shoes led to a deeper connection with nature—and himself.

We talk about:
• What the Catskills Grid really is (and why it matters)
• Barefoot hiking as “original human mindfulness”
• Minimalism, aging, and movement in the mountains
• Standout moments from the Six-Pack of Peaks Challenges
• Why big, long-term outdoor projects can be life-changing

If you’ve ever felt called to the mountains for something deeper than miles or metrics, this conversation will resonate.

🎧 Listen now and subscribe for more conversations from the trail.

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/track/roo-walker/flight-mode?rt=uc-referral

License code: 3EVZHM9WW6NBQH9B

What happens when a simple hiking challenge turns into a life-altering journey?

In this episode of the Social Adventures Podcast, Jeff Hester talks with Carol “Cheer” Coyne, a thru-hiker who went from the Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge to completing hiking’s Triple Crown—the Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and Appalachian Trail.

Carol shares how long-distance hiking transformed her mindset, helped her navigate post-trail depression, and inspired her to create Thru-r, a nonprofit community supporting thru-hikers before, during, and after trail.

This conversation is about resilience, community, and trusting yourself to take the first step—even when you’re scared.

🎧 Listen now and don’t forget to subscribe

💬 Share your story or apply to be a guest: ⁠https://socialhiker.net/podcast⁠

👉 Learn more about the Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge: ⁠https://sixpackofpeaks.com/

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/track/roo-walker/flight-mode?rt=uc-referral

License code: 3EVZHM9WW6NBQH9B

San Diego’s hiking scene goes far beyond beaches and popular summit trails.

In this episode of the Social Adventures Podcast, Jeff Hester talks with Chris Griffith and Susie Kara Slater, two hikers who have explored nearly every corner of San Diego County. Both are finishers of the demanding San Diego 100 Peaks Challenge and the Sierra Club 100 Peaks List, and they’re the co-authors of the upcoming guidebook Urban Trails: San Diego.

We dive into what it takes to complete 100 peaks in a single year, how trail-less navigation builds confidence, and why urban hiking is one of the most powerful—and overlooked—ways to connect with the outdoors. Chris and Susie also share underrated trails, lessons learned from years of peak bagging, and how San Diego’s hiking culture has evolved over the past decade.

If you’re curious about urban trails, hidden canyons, desert peaks, or finding adventure close to home, this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen now and don’t forget to subscribe

💬 Share your story or apply to be a guest: https://socialhiker.net/podcast

👉 Learn more about the Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge: https://sixpackofpeaks.com/

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/track/roo-walker/flight-mode?rt=uc-referral

License code: 3EVZHM9WW6NBQH9B

Trail magic is one of hiking’s most powerful traditions — unexpected kindness when you need it most.

In this roundtable episode, Jeff Hester is joined by Derek Loranger, Curt Cragg, and Neenah Spellman to tell the story of the legendary Muir Taco Hut — a multi-year trail magic tradition serving fresh tacos and cold beer deep in the Sierra Nevada.

They share origin stories, logistics, mishaps, emotional moments, and how trail magic turns tough days into unforgettable ones — plus how anyone can pay it forward on the trail.

🎧 Listen now and don’t forget to subscribe

💬 Share your story or apply to be a guest: https://socialhiker.net/podcast

👉 Learn more about the Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge: https://sixpackofpeaks.com/

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/roo-walker/fligh...

License code: 3EVZHM9WW6NBQH9B

On this episode, we head deep into Patagonia with longtime friends and Social Hikers community members Carisa and Janice—two hikers whose chemistry, courage, and curiosity made this adventure unforgettable.

Together we relive our week in El Chaltén, exploring world-class trails, tackling a Via Ferrata for the first time, braving late-summer snowfall, walking on the Perito Moreno Glacier, and sharing trail-magic moments with a group of 18 hikers who quickly bonded like family.

This episode is about more than mountains—it’s about saying yes to adventure, embracing the unknown, and discovering what’s possible when you surround yourself with people who lift you up along the way.

⛰️ What We Talk About

• Why Patagonia is a bucket-list destination
• How a simple “yes” turned into a life-changing adventure
• Condors, snowstorms, glacier hikes & unforgettable views
• The challenge and thrill of a first-time Via Ferrata
• How traveling with a group deepens connection and community
• The beauty of stepping outside your comfort zone

🎒 Sponsored by the 2026 Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge Series

One membership. Access to all 17 regional challenges—with more on the way.
Commit to adventure. Join the community.
Learn more at SocialHikers.com

🌏 Join Me on an International Adventure

I’m leading two incredible group trips in 2026:

🇳🇿 New Zealand Adventure – Deadline to join: December 20
🇵🇪 Peru: Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu – October 2026

Trip details:
https://trovatrip.com/host/profiles/jeff-yreee
Prefer personal follow-up? Reach out—I’d love to connect.

📌 Stay Connected

Follow the podcast for more stories about hiking, travel, and finding meaning in the mountains.

If this episode inspired you, share it with a friend who loves adventure.

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/roo-walker/fligh...
License code: 3EVZHM9WW6NBQH9B