Favorite Trails: Peaks of the Balkans

In this episode, I sit down with Krista, winner of the Jeffrey Award for Most Tragic FKT, to talk about what might be the happiest tragic FKT of all time. We start with the infamous double Tahoe Rim Trail effort, an adventure that was never officially recognized, never really meant to be an FKT, and somehow still earned an award. From there, the conversation spirals in the best possible way.

We get into thru-hiking origins, trail names, COVID-era Appalachian Trail chaos, living in vehicles, selling bikes in Poland, walking across Europe, scary moments on trail, bear encounters, ultra running detours, and the strange emotional comedown that follows big goals. Krista is thoughtful, honest, funny, and self-aware in a way that makes this episode feel less like an interview and more like two people trying to understand why we keep choosing hard, inconvenient adventures.

We also accidentally pitch a thru-hiker assisted living facility, question the economics of adventure, and agree that sometimes the process matters more than the recognition. This is one of those conversations that reminds me why I love long trails, long runs, and talking to people who are willing to build unconventional lives around curiosity and movement.

Follow Krista on Instagra: https://www.instagram.com/kristafas/

Chapters

00:00 The Tragic FKT Award

01:54 The Tahoe Rim Trail Experience

03:50 Travel Adventures and Countries Visited

06:52 Biking vs. Hiking: A Personal Preference

09:52 The European Adventure: From Biking to Hiking

12:44 Challenges and Changes in Travel Plans

15:32 Scary Moments on the Trail

18:29 The Journey of Thru-Hiking

21:51 COVID-19 and the AT Experience

25:45 The PCT and CDT: A New Chapter

29:35 Post-Triple Crown Adventures

31:35 Transitioning to Ultra Running

32:56 The Journey into Ultra Running

35:02 The Draw to Challenging Adventures

37:12 Coping with Post-Trail Depression

39:00 Living the Adventure Lifestyle

42:01 Making Sacrifices for Adventure

45:01 Life Lessons from Thru-Hiking

50:33 Transformative Experiences in Nature

53:38 Wildlife Encounters and Their Impact

57:03 Innovative Ideas for the Future of Adventure

01:02:59 Introduction to Outdoor Adventures

01:03:28 Sponsorships and Support for the Show

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