Hiker Trash Radio Pretty Good at Walking - Vince Strawbridge (Part I)
Nov 8, 2025
Vince Strawbridge, an author and Triple Crown thru-hiker, shares the thrilling adventures of hiking the PCT, CDT, and AT with his wife and four kids. He reveals the ups and downs of family hiking, including surprising public reactions. Vince discusses essential gear, like his newfound love for umbrellas, and recounts humorous hitchhiking encounters. He reflects on the parenting lessons learned from long-distance hiking and how those journeys have shaped his family's resilience and confidence.
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Trails Build Generational Resilience
- Shared hardship on long trails creates a durable family narrative and emotional resilience.
- Vince notes kids reference those experiences to handle future difficulties with confidence.
Bring A Trekking Umbrella
- Carry a trekking umbrella on long routes for sun, wind, hail, and insulation benefits.
- Vince found umbrellas transformed comfort across deserts and high exposed sections on the CDT.
Eight-Hour Boulder Crawl On CDT
- Vince chose an alternate CDT route after a windstorm and spent eight hours to cover two miles across stacked blowdowns.
- The family later evacuated after a whiteout on Arapahoe Pass and were reunited at a parking lot ride out.
