How to Start Thru Hiking and Do Hard Things Before You Feel Ready with Lauren Roerick
Zero To Travel Podcast
From no experience to Pacific Crest Trail
Lauren recounts breaking thru-hiking into small steps, her first solo backpacking test, and deciding to attempt the PCT.
Have you ever felt the pull to do something BIG, but weren’t sure if you were “that kind of person?” What if the bravest thing you could do is take the first step before you feel ready?
Lauren Roerick is a long-distance hiker who has traveled more than 12,000 kilometers on foot across countries and continents. Since 2019, she has completed trails like the Pacific Crest Trail, the Colorado Trail, the Hexatrek in France, Te Araroa in New Zealand, and sections of the Transcaucasian Trail. Through her solo journeys and films, she shares stories about resilience, self-trust, and choosing a life shaped by curiosity and courage.
Co-host Dianni Hall talks with Lauren about how to start thru-hiking, what solo trail life actually feels like, and how to move through fear, discomfort, and self-doubt one step at a time.
You’ll hear how Lauren went from zero backpacking experience to long-distance trails by breaking intimidating goals into smaller, doable pieces. She shares what training really matters, what gear is actually worth prioritizing, how trail community works, and why thru-hiking can build self-trust in a way few other experiences can. If you’ve been curious about how to start thru-hiking but feel intimidated, this episode will give you a realistic way in.
What’s one uncomfortable thing you’ve been wanting to try, and what would your version of the first step look like? I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you'll share by sending me an audio message.
Co-host Dianni Hall is a queer, second-generation Latina, solo budget backpacker, freelancer, and host of the While She’s Away podcast, where she interviews women on their travel experience and expertise to help women live their best lives exploring the world. Learn more about her work here.
Tune In To Learn:
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How doing a 100K with only six weeks of training (and despite hating running) changed her confidence
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Why Lauren often takes a “how hard can it be” approach to new challenges
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How she went from having no backpacking experience to taking on the Pacific Crest Trail
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Why breaking big goals into smaller steps makes thru-hiking feel possible
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What the mental challenges of solo hiking really look like, and how she works through them
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How thru-hiking builds self-trust and strengthens your intuition
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What role fear plays on the trail, and how to move through it instead of avoiding it
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How to start small, even if it’s just sleeping outside for one night
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How to choose your first trail based on your goals, time, and experience
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What kind of training and gear actually matter, and what you can skip
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How Lauren approaches content creation on trail without losing presence in the moment
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And so much more
Resources:
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