The Dirtbag Diaries

Andy Cochrane hails from a Park Service cabin in Minnesota and has lived the life many dirtbags dream of. He spent years on the road, funding his travel through skillful storytelling and photography. While out on a long trail run, he realized something was missing, and decided to create it. As he brought friends and community members on board, he discovered someone else had the same idea.

It quickly starts to look like Andy, Ian MacLellan and Rickey Gates are in a race to complete the 50 Classic Trails of North America, and the result will undoubtedly shape...

 As a high school teacher in Santa Maria, CA, Taylor Mihelic understands the power of a field trip. Whether it’s plant identification hikes through the forests, or habitat restoration projects on the coast, Taylor gets the best out of her students when there’s adventure in the air. During her summer break this year, Taylor took her own field trip on the tour divide bike race, exploring the edge of her limits and teaching herself a lesson in optimism along the way.

Support comes from

Kuat Racks 

Oboz

Ka’Ch...

Time spent outside as kids can extend into our adult lives in incredible ways. Jay Inslee’s passion for being outside shaped his path from his three terms as governor of Washington all the way to the national level. His pioneering policy work is having an impact in Washington state and proving that change is possible if we bring our determination to the world’s biggest problems. 

Support comes from

Oboz Through Dec 19th, nominate your favorite trail org⁠ for a chance to win $1000 donation from Oboz

Ka’Chava Go to https://kachava.com and u...

Loss can create an emotional cocktail when something or someone is unceremoniously ripped from our life. Amie Renaud and Joanna Henry invite us along through their circuitous roads through grief. 

After the sudden end of a relationship, Amie embarks on a grand bikepacking trip. Right as she’s finally settling in, she finds herself picking up the pieces again. Joanna hadn’t reconciled the loss of her brother. But a visit from an uninvited, and surprisingly tenacious, guest, forces her to reckon with those unresolved feelings.

Support comes from

Kuat Racks 

Oboz...

Shane Schieffer just swam the entire length of Lake Powell self-supported in 11 days. He also just turned 50 years old and had no previous experience in long distance swimming. Shane talks about following through on personal challenges, no matter how far-fetched they seem at the moment.    

Check out ⁠Shane's Instagram for his videos that documented his swim.

Support comes from

Kuat Racks 

Oboz Through Dec 19th, nominate your favorite trail org⁠ for a chance to win $1000 donation from Oboz

Ka’Chava Go to https://kachava.co...

What do we want and what do we need? Sara Holzknecht started skiing every month of the year as a way to shake off the unexpected upheavals of life and the pandemic. Then her kids wanted in. Gabby Markel was living a dirtbag dream, but something was missing. She confronts the less glamorous aspects of vanlife and grapples with feeling untethered from community. 

Support comes from

Kuat Racks 

Oboz

Washington Discover Pass: Get your Pass at discoverpass.wa.gov

Ka’Chava Go to https://kachava.com and...

Mount Bachelor, one of America’s largest and beloved ski resorts, was put up for sale in August of 2024 after two decades of contentious corporate ownership. Sensing a sliver of opportunity, a high school teacher, a housing appraiser and local home builder launched a community campaign to put this ski hill back in the hands of locals. What started as a Facebook thread, snowballed into a legitimate would-be buyer with $100 million in local backing that collided into Wall Street players, the specter of climate change and the looming reality that the joy of skiing is no longer a simple bu...

Mount Bachelor, one of America’s largest and beloved ski resorts, was put up for sale in August of 2024 after two decades of contentious corporate ownership. Sensing a sliver of opportunity, a high school teacher, a housing appraiser and local home builder launched a community campaign to put this ski hill back in the hands of locals. What started as a Facebook thread, snowballed into a legitimate would-be buyer with $100 million in local backing that collided into Wall Street players, the specter of climate change and the looming reality that the joy of skiing is no longer a simple bu...

We seek solitude. We find that place a little further out to camp, a couple of extra miles down trail. Sometimes curiosity pulls us farther off the beaten path. Maybe the late afternoon feels just a little more perfect in an isolated basin. But what happens when the darkness closes in, leaving us with only a bubble of tepid light from a headlamp?

Welcome to our annual Tales of Terror.

Support comes from

⁠Oboz⁠ 

Kuat Racks 

Washington Discover Pass: Get your Pass at discoverpass.wa.gov

...

Some people look at ranges and imagine lines. Kílian Jornet looks at continents. Last week, Kílian completed a truly incredible adventure that was hiding in plain sight. Over the course of 31 days, the renowned mountain athlete climbed 72 fourteeners in the lower, 48 connecting them all by bike. Before he left Washington, we had a chance to sit down and talk about how he approaches projects like States of Elevation. 

Want to write a Short for the Diaries? We’re accepting submissions through Nov 16, 2025. More info 

Support comes from

...

The bonds we forge during mountain adventures and shared experiences, especially with family, can profoundly shape us. Explorer and author Mark Jenkins reflects on learning to rock climb in Vedauwoo from his swim Coach, and how those lessons permeated his life and eventually into teaching his own daughters how to climb. 

Oak Jones's childhood was defined by keeping pace with his two older brothers. Though their paths have diverged, Oak organized a raft trip, because, he writes, “Relationships, like plants, need fresh water to grow.” Would their flimsy paddles be enough to navigate the Arkansas river?

Duration: 00:29:51

The Mississippi River. The Big Muddy. The Great River. When musician JW Francis left the river’s source in northern Minnesota and started heading for the sea, he’d had about two hours in canoeing to his name and little idea of what to expect. What he learned and the people he met left a mark on his creativity and perspective. 

Support comes from

Oboz 

Washington Discover Pass: Get your Pass at discoverpass.wa.gov

Ka’Chava Go to https://kachava.com and use code DIARIES for 15% off your nex...

Five days, 231.82 miles, 85,967 vertical feet, nearly 94 hours of moving time - this is the White Mountain Direttissima as experienced by ultra-athlete Andrew Drummond. A rugged DIY run that connects all 48 of the White Mountains’ 4,000ft peaks in New Hampshire, the Direttissima has developed a lore of its own. Andrew shares his multi-year journey through the spectrum of microclimates, peaks, valleys, and stages of exhaustion.

Support comes from

Kuat Racks 

Oboz 

Washington Discover Pass: Get your Pass at discoverpass.wa.gov

Diaries+ Members-- Their support is powering the...

When big transitional moments occur in our lives, the way we navigate them and what helps shift our perspective can often come from unexpected places. After graduation and a summer of feeling melancholy, Carol Doyle challenged herself to a 50 mile bike ride hoping it would remove the figurative goggles that obscured the world around her. Heartbroken and seeking solitude at his family’s cabin, Ben Burke is unexpectedly joined by his dad. 

Submit your Tale of Terror HERE by Sept 30th

Support comes from

Oboz 

Kuat...

 Growing up as identical twins in England, Poppy and Thea Wardley were practically attached at the hip. Their lives finally diverged when Poppy enrolled in medical school and Thea attended university a few hours away. After a few years of burnout from the unrelenting pace of school, Poppy pitches Thea on a bold adventure thousands of miles away to reconnect their twinship– hiking the PCT. 

Support comes from

Oboz 

Terns Use code DIRTBAG to save 25% off your first order 

Washington Discover Pass: Get your Pass at discoverpass.wa.govKuat...

For  Sam Webster, public lands have been interwoven with life from the earliest age. He followed a path into public service with the Park and Forest Service, choosing stability and the ability to contribute to the great good. Until Feb 14th changed that course forever. What happens when the foundation you've built a life on begins to crumble? 

Support comes from

⁠Oboz⁠ 

Kuat Racks 

Terns Use code DIRTBAG to save 25% off your first order

Diaries+ Members-- Their support is powering the Diaries- thank you! You can join...

Every July, nearly 20,000 cyclists from around the world swarm the roads of Iowa for one week to ride across the state. It’s hot. It’s humid. And it’s not as flat as one may think. Iowa resident Caleb Smith shares his RAGBRAI journey, complete with a buffet of midwestern charm: homemade pies, barn parties, sunsets over fields of corn. But he doesn’t ride a bike, he inline skates. s.

Thanks to our sponsors

Oboz

Terns Use code DIRTBAG to save 25% off your first order

Ka’Chava Go t...

Runner, writer, illustrator and all around human Brendan Leonard made a career of doing what he loves. Yes it’s passion and wild creativity, but it’s also the unheralded traits of persistence, thoughtful compromise and perspective that keeps him doing what he loves. 

Support comes from

Kuat Racks 

Oboz 

Terns Use code DIRTBAG to save 25% off your first order 

Diaries+ Members-- Their support is powering the Diaries- thank you! You can join today.

Our book, States of Adventure, 30 stories adapted from The Diaries, is out in the w...

Growth happens outside your comfort zone. Sometimes this comes by choice, like committing to guiding rafts on a new river and trading out your nimble kayak for the biggest barge in the fleet as Jessie Longe did. Sometimes you step out not even knowing it, like Lili Mitchell did when she showed up to a trailhead to an unexpected surprise. Either way, you must push through the rough waters ahead to walk away wiser.

Support comes from

Kuat Racks 

Oboz

Terns Use code DIRTBAG to s...

To escape record breaking crowds in Zion National Park, Marco Siler-Gonzales decides to take his girlfriend, Lena Ohlson, on an unmarked and seldom hiked trail. Heading back towards the car, Marco leads Lena around a wrong turn, leaving them in a dangerous situation. Years later he struggles to come to terms with his actions.    

Support comes from

Oboz

Terns Use code DIRTBAG to save 25% off your first order

Ka’Chava Go to https://kachava.com and use code DIARIES for 15% off your next order.
Diaries+ Members-- Their suppo...

In March of 2025, Emily Ford lined up at the starting line of one of the world’s most difficult races – The Iditarod. To race this iconic event hadn’t been a lifelong dream but rather the next step on Emily’s pursuit of her passions – cold quiet places and four legged friends.

Support comes from

Kuat Racks 

Oboz

Terns Use code DIRTBAG to save 25% off your first order

Diaries+ Members-- Their support is powering the Diaries- thank you! You can join today.

Finding out what we’re capable of takes trial and error and a whole lot of trust. For Meg Morris and Emmye Vernet, they each had a guide who helped them see another side of the outdoors. 

For Meg, her dad fostered her love of fishing, from Maine to Alaska to Tijuana, and helped her navigate through an unexpected challenge. Though Emmye didn’t grow up feeling at home outside, her best friend Rose helps her revel in the outdoors, partnership and love. 

Support comes from

Kuat Racks ...

In the fall of 2015, photographer Pete McBride and writer Kevin Fedarko embarked on a journey to rally support to protect one of our most awe-inspiring national treasures: the Grand Canyon. Their method? A 700+ mile sectional thru-hike of the wilderness that lies between the rim and the river. They knew the trek would challenge them, but they had no idea how quickly and completely the canyon would leave them demoralized and physically destroyed.

The two of them were contemplating giving up, when, as Kevin puts it, ‘A miracle happened’.

Today, a story about three people who have...

In 1994, Forrest Gump took the box-office by storm and became a staple of cable TV reruns in the following decades. Its feel good message about a simple man who lived life heart first struck a chord, but hidden inside a six minute montage was a grueling test of the human limits -- a 15,000 mile ultrarun across the US almost five times. In 2018, Rob Pope became the first to complete this superhuman run, and became fascinated with others who push their limits.  

Listen to Rob talk with other superhuman folks on How To Be Superhuman

Mild-mannered, elementary school teacher Jason Hardrath may be a superhero. After competing in college as a cross country athlete, he turned to triathlons and then Iron Mans to push the limits of his endurance. Simultaneously, he developed his skills in the mountains and soon sought to combine the two, setting an audacious goal-- the first person to complete 100 Fastest Known Time (FKT). Jason's endurance and commitment seemed unending. That is, until he got COVID.

Cascade Trifecta FKT

Long COVID resources

Support comes from

Kuat Racks  Duration: 00:41:08

Over the last few years, students at Utah State University built a weekly ritual at their school gym to grow the climbing community on campus. When Utah’s legislature passed a contentious bill last year, that routine was stripped away after. Students rallied to raise awareness, fighting to keep their weekly meet-up alive.     

Support comes from

Kuat Racks 

Terns Use code DIRTBAG to save 25% off your first order

Oboz

Diaries+ Members-- Their support is powering the Diaries- thank you! You can join today.

An...

Shifting paradigms is hard work, but sometimes it can be a whole heap of Type II Fun as well. In 2019, Stratton Matteson sought to find out if he could get away with only human powered mountain access for a whole year. Five years into his quest, he shares what he’s learned.

Support comes from

Kuat Racks 

Terns Use code DIRTBAG to save 25% off your first order

Oboz

Diaries+ Members-- Their support is powering the Diaries- thank you! You can join today.

A...

What does it take to run an ultramarathon? Or top out a boulder that makes you stretch what you think you're capable of? Tenacity. From our seat, we see it happen all the time in our community. Today, Coleman Wood and Brian Laidlaw bring us two stories about rising up and meeting the challenge that they laid out for themselves. 

Support comes from

Kuat Racks 

Terns Use code DIRTBAG to save 25% off your first order

Oboz

Diaries+ Members-- Their support is powering the Diaries- thank you! Yo...

Just 10 years ago, the director of the Barkley Marathons declared that the race was too tough for any woman to complete it. Meanwhile, Jasmin Paris, a mild-mannered veterinarian from Scotland was smashing records in the ultramarathon world. It wasn’t too long before Jasmin set her sights on the Barkley. 

It’s not everyday you make history. For Jasmin, breaking barriers comes naturally. 

Support comes from

Kuat Racks 

Terns Use code DIRTBAG to save 25% off your first order 

Oboz Register for Trails For Trees by...

Erik Grams has been taking trips to the Boundary Waters in Minnesota for over 30 years. It's his favorite place in the world. But last year, a fatal accident on a fishing trip that Erik was leading changed his life.

On this episode from our friends at Points North, we hear Erik's harrowing story and how he has wrestled with his feelings about a place he’s loved for decades.

Support comes from

Kuat Racks 

Terns Use code DIRTBAG to save 25% off your first order

O...

After his personal life takes a surprise turn, Luis Alonzo dares to reinvent himself by trying something far outside his comfort zone– climbing Mt. Rainier. With a crew of other novice climbers, Luis spends six months prepping for summit day. Will the climb move him closer to being the person he wants to be?

Support comes from

Kuat Racks 

Terns Use code DIRTBAG to save 25% off your first order 

Oboz 

Diaries+ Members-- Their support is powering the Diaries- thank you! You c...

Loss. Grief. Healing. It’s part of being human. The emotions that almost tear us apart have the power to bring us together. Today, we bring you two powerful stories from Alison Kaplan and Monica Nigon. 

Support comes from

Kuat Racks 

Terns Use code DIRTBAG to save 25% off your first order

Diaries+ Members-- Their support is powering the Diaries- thank you! You can join today.

Our book, States of Adventure, 30 stories adapted from The Diaries, is out in the wild. See if it's avai...

It started so harmlessly. Four years ago, professional skier Brody Leven embarked on a simple challenge – exercise outdoors everyday. In a complicated moment in time and life, it was a way to exert some control over his day to day. It was never supposed to last forever. 

Support comes from

Kuat Racks 

Terns Use code DIRTBAG to save 25% off your first order

Diaries+ Members-- Their support is powering the Diaries- thank you! You can join today.

Our book, States of Adve...

Matt Martin and his fiancé, Hannah, were just starting out on their shared life, when a breast cancer diagnosis rewrote the script they’d imagined for life. Matt stepped into a new role – caregiver. Life became a blur of treatment, worry and existing with unknown outcomes. After a year of caring for Hannah, Matt received the chance to attend one of First Descent's week-long trips down the famed Rogue River. Under the guidance of legendary kayaker and cancer survivor Willie Kern, Matt’s week on the river left him with a lasting understanding of the difference between reacting and respondi...

Raised in the hollers of West Virginia, coal ran deep in Corey Lilly’s family, but it was the local ski hill with 600 feet of vertical that sparked his imagination and started an improbable run into professional skiing. After a head injury permanently impacted his vision and ended his career, Corey returned home to a struggling economy and the depths of the opioid epidemic. It takes a certain kind of person to see opportunity where others miss it and Corey went to work building a new future for himself and his community.

Learn more ab...

Welcome to Good Good Bad, our series kickstarted by our Diaries+ Members. Every adventure has its good parts, even better bits and its difficult moments. These memories create rich experiences, friendships and learning. Today, we tackle the Cape Loop, a rugged, but rewarding bikepacking loop around the southern tip of Baja. 

Support comes from

Kuat Racks 

Diaries+ Members-- Their support is powering the Diaries- thank you! You can join today.

Our book, States of Adventure, 30 stories adapted from The Diaries, is out in the wild. Se...

To celebrate a new year and new ideas, we bring you a conversation with Alastair Humphreys, adventurer, writer, and connoisseur of the microadventure. His new book, Local, flips the idea of what it means to explore on its head. Sometimes, you can go bigger by going smaller.

Submissions for The Shorts are open through January 19, 2025. Learn more or submit your essay today.

Support comes from

Kuat Racks 

Diaries+ Members-- Their support is powering the Diaries- thank you! You can join today.

As the year comes to a close, two beautiful stories about stepping back, reflecting and moving forward from Phil Herbert and N.S. David. “I had one roll of film for the whole trip, which gave me eight frames. Nine if I was lucky,” begins Phil. 

“I’ve done my fair share of wishing I was warm in my bed while strapped to the side of a granite monolith at 12,000 feet. I’ve torn holes in my clothes and my skin, I’ve broken bones,” writes N.S. as she explores the complexities of sharing her joy...

In late October, Fitz headed to Duluth, MN for a live Dirtbag Diaries in front of a packed house. Joined by professional skier and Lakota activist Connor Ryan, indie rock legend and avid runner Alan Sparhawk and adaptive advocate and adventurer Quinn Brett, it was a night to remember with stories about trying hard, healing and growth. Thanks to the Minnesota Land Trust for making it possible. 

Submissions for The Shorts are open through January 19, 2025. Learn more or submit your essay today.

Support comes from

Kuat Racks 

In 2020, partners Niki Choo and Jared Gentz started dreaming of an epic canoeing adventure. Two years later, they started paddling on the Pacific Ocean, embarking on a thousand-mile journey towards the Arctic that would test their skills, grit, and adaptability. 

Support comes from

Kuat Racks 

Duer Through Dec 2, 2024, save 50% off your first order at shopduer.com/Diaries

Diaries+ Members-- Their support is powering the Diaries- thank you! You can join today.

Our book, States of Adventure, 30 stories adapted from The Diaries, is out in the wild. Se...

“I didn’t expect to get to the top, let alone send. I merely wanted to push the limits of what I believed was capable for myself,” writes Shara Zaia. With climbing, Shara found a space to push herself as she strove to climb harder routes and created a community of friends. Yet, even while flourishing, one question continued to arise for Shara– did she belong?

A version of this essay first appeared in The Climbing Zine in Spring 2024.

Support comes from

Kuat Racks 

Duer shopduer...

In our annual Tales of Terror, we bring you three terrifying tales. Disembodied voices. Eyes in the alder. An enchanted clearing in the forest. Grab a friend (and maybe their hand) as these tales will have you peering over your shoulder. Happy Halloween!

Support comes from

Kuat Racks 

Duer shopduer.com/Diaries to save 20% off your first order

Diaries+ Members-- Their support is powering the Diaries- thank you! You can join today.

Our book, States of Adventure, 30 stories adapted from The Diaries, is out in the w...

Tucked away in a corner of Chilean Patagonia, Valle Cochamó wasn’t going to stay hidden forever. The soaring unclimbed granite walls instilled dreams of first ascents in climbers. Industrialists eyed its free flowing rivers with their potential for hydroelectric power. Conservationists hoped it could provide a final puzzle piece of an incredible protected wildlife corridor. To the families who live there, it was simply home where they ranched amidst the 3,000-year-old Alerce trees. This is the story of how a coalition of Chilean gauchos, climbers and activists fought off development efforts for two decades. Now there is an opp...

While most people curled up on the couch with a mug of hot cocoa, Emily Ford set out in the frigid winter to thru-hike Wisconsin’s 1200 mile Ice Age Trail. Over the course of their two and a half month winter vacation, Emily and her borrowed sled dog, Diggins, tested their endurance and found solitude, friendship, and beauty to last a lifetime.

Keep up with Emily as she trains for the Iditarod at Emily on Trail: https://www.emilyontrail.com/support

Emily's story is one that we adapted into a short essay for States of Ad...

Wyn Wiley, often better known as Pattie Gonia, went out on a backpacking trip with an inkling of an idea and emerged walking a path. Today, Pattie Gonia’s feed is filled with joy– making music with famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity, headlining pride festivals, gravel biking– and most of the time it looks fun. But it’s what Wyn and Pattie have done with the decidedly less fun and hard parts of life that have profoundly shaped them. In this interview, Wyn and Fitz go deep on the birth of Pattie, nature as...

Graham Zimmerman knows how to make decisions under pressure. As a professional mountain athlete, his life depends on it. Nearly a decade ago, Protect Our Winters saw this and brought him and his skillset into the political sphere to advocate for climate change legislation. In today’s episode he shares some tools from his kit to help you make your own tough decisions at the ballot box this November.

Check your voter registration

CO + MT voting guides coming Oct 1: https://powactionfund.org/

Support comes from

Di...

Some of the most powerful learning can happen outside the classroom. In the summer of 1975, public school teacher Mr. Hodges took 22 of his students on an unforgettable bike trip that would impact the rest of their lives. Grab your cut-off shorts, a 10-speed bike, and a sense of humor, and you’ll be along for the ride.

Submit your story for the 15th annual Tales of Terror episode

Support comes from

Kuat Racks 

Duer shopduer.com/Diaries to save 20% off your first order

Diaries+ Members-- Their sup...

Luke, Job, and Jonah have been best friends since childhood, and with the end of high school looming, they set out on their biggest adventure yet. During a month-long quest to canoe from Job’s backyard in Franklin, Tennessee, to the Gulf of Mexico, they encounter storms, venomous spiders, and alligators putting their skills and stoke are put to the test.

Submit your story for the 15th annual Tales of Terror episode

Support comes from

Kuat Racks 

Diaries+ Members-- Their support is powering the Diaries- thank you! You can...

Jim Donini has been a climber for over 50 years– since well before Tad McCrea was born. As the two developed an unlikely intergenerational friendship during an epic trip in the mountains of Patagonia, both climbers realize that mentorship isn’t just about showing someone the ropes on your way to the summit. It’s about reflecting on the joys, regrets, and lessons learned along the way. 

Support comes from

Kuat Racks 

Diaries+ Members-- Your support is powering the Diaries- thank you! Join today.

Our book, States o...

Love is a journey full of twists and turns. RC Shaw and Scott Johnson each found this out on their romps in the wild. Both barely made it, and their stories warn weary listeners of the dangers that lurk when falling too fast.

Support Comes From

Diaries+ Subscribers-- Thank you! Want more episodes? Become a member today.

Incogni

States of Adventure– 30 stories adapted from The Diaries into a book– is available now for order: geni.us/StatesofAdventure

In the last few years, Alexandera Houchin has become a force in the world of ultra endurance mountain bike racing. As a Native kid growing up in Wisconsin, she never could have predicted the ways that racing her single speed would prove healing to both her mind and her body. In 2023, she set out to complete the Triple Crown Challenge– racing the Tour Divide, the Colorado Trail, and the Arizona Trail– all on a single gear. 

Support comes from

Kuat Racks 

AeroPress Use code DIARIES to save 20%

Incogni Learn mo...

When their lives felt out of their control, both Cindy Hong and Dierdre Wolownick turned to running for solace. Each of their stories is a reminder of the value of putting one foot in front of the other, no matter the speed or destination. 

Want more episodes? Join Dirtbag Diaries+ today

Support comes from

Kuat Racks 

AeroPress Use code DIARIES to save 20%

Incogni Learn more at https://incogni.com/dirtbagdiaries

Pre-Order States of Adventure– 30 stories adapted from The Diaries into a book...

Two people step outside their comfort zones to take action on the things that matter to them in the hopes of making their communities, and the world, a better place. For Caroline Gleich, that means running for a Senate seat in Utah. For Alex Haraus, that means advocating and mobilizing support for environmental protections using social media. 

Support comes from

Kuat Racks

AeroPress Use code DIARIES to save 20%

Incogni: Learn more at https://incogni.com/dirtbagdiaries

Want more episodes? Join Dirtbag Diaries+ today  an...

We're sharing an episode from our friends at Outside/In. Their team of reporters combine solid reporting and long-form narrative storytelling that sits at the crossroads of the outdoors, science and the environment and how those themes interact with the rest of our world.

Til the landslide brings it down explores what happens when a growing threat of landslides collides with a housing crisis. Host Nate Hegyi visits Juneau to see one example of why, across the country, even the most progressive Americans are rejecting tough truths about climate change when it comes knocking...

Beth Rodden first started climbing in 1995, and it wasn’t long before she radically changed the sport. Within three years, she’d become the first woman to climb 5.14; within five, she’d established a still unrepeated free route on Yosemite’s El Capitan. Today, Beth is making waves in a different way: by leading the climbing community in difficult, vulnerable conversations. Fitz chats with Beth about her new book, A Light Through the Cracks, and what it means to live a big life.

Support comes from

Ketone.com/DirtbagDiaries Get 30% off your first su...

We made a book! For the last year, Fitz and Becca have been working on adapting 30 episodes into essays and pairing them with incredible imagery. And we are really excited to be able to (nearly) share it with you.

You can pre-order States of Adventure: 30 Outdoor Adventure Stories About Finding Yourself By Getting Lost now through July 22nd. The book will hit shelves worldwide July 23rd.

Pre-order States of Adventure: geni.us/StatesofAdventure

Thirteen years ago Fitz got talked into doing our first live Dirtbag Diaries at 5Point Film Festival. So, we were thrilled to to return again for the 2024 festival and talk with Dr. John Francis, Taylor Rees and Renan Ozturk. 

In 1971, John gave up motorized transportation after seeing the effects of an oil spill on wildlife. Months later he took a vow of silence that lasted 17 years. A forerunner in the intersectional environmentalist movement, we talked about the influence of the Beatles, loneliness, and finding home. 

In the last 15 years, the creative lights of Taylor and Ren...

“With no roads to this wave, we had hiked in a dozen or so miles along the beach from the nearest town as a huge swell raged next to us,” writes Tyler Homen. A weekend of surfing with buddies turns epic when everyone’s favorite pup, Lyle, goes missing.

In partnership with

1% For The Planet 

Want more episodes? Join Dirtbag Diaries+ today

Creciendo en Michigan, Vanessa Chavarriaga Posada no creía que el esquí era cosa de ella, y no fue hasta que se mudo a Wyoming que descubrió la alegría que le podía traer. El año pasado, decidió esquiar el pico más alto de México, el Pico de Orizaba, con una meta significativa: incluir a sus papás, que nunca habían entendido completamente las actividades que hacía su hija, en el paseo. Durante este viaje, Vanessa reflexiona sobre qué significa pertenecer, crear acceso, y descubrir alegría. 

In partnership wit...

Growing up undocumented in Michigan, Vanessa Chavarriaga Posada didn't think skiing was for her, and it wasn't until she moved to Wyoming that she found how much joy it brought her. Last year, she set her sights on skiing Mexico's tallest peak, Pico de Orizaba, with a meaningful twist: her parents, who have never quite understood why skiing was so important to their daughter, would join her at basecamp. On this trip, Vanessa reflects on belonging, creating access, and finding joy.

In partnership with

Kuat Racks

1% Percent For the Planet

<...

Natalie Brechtel joined the U.S. Antarctic Program at the South Pole for a supposed dream gig, but instead it was the start of a year marked by harassment, a toxic work environment and loss. Despite losing the ability to trust both her colleagues and herself, she kept going back, redefining what it means to feel safe. A decade later, she faced one final exit challenge: to lead her team on a 26-day traverse to the South Pole. 

Support comes from

One Percent For the Planet

At different points in their lives, both Brice Ruiz and Ashley Lose found themselves at a crossroads. Brice wanted to run his first ultramarathon, but wouldn’t call himself a “runner.” Ashley and her partner had just hit the road when she found out she was pregnant, pushing them to reconsider their definition of home. In each of their essays, Brice and Ashley find a path to creating the lives they wanted to lead. 

Support comes from

Kuat Racks 

Want more episodes? Join Dirtbag Diaries+ today 

Chances are at some point you’ve signed up for an organized race or event. Maybe you’ve participated in a local turkey trot or maybe you’ve run Western States. You register, pay the entry fee, train, show up and try hard. Race day can almost feel like magic. This is a story about the people behind the scenes making all that magic happen.

Support comes from

HMNV.com/DirtbagDiaries Get 30% off your first subscription

Want more episodes? Join Dirtbag Diaries+ today 

During their twelve winters as winter rangers in Yosemite National Park, Rob and Laura Pilewski have learned a thing or two about what it means to love a place– and a person. 

Support comes from

HMNV.com/DirtbagDiaries Get 30% off your first subscription

Kuat Racks 

Want more episodes? Join Dirtbag Diaries+ today

Both Julia Hoer and Josie McKee suffered traumatic experiences that forced them to reckon with their identities and priorities. But through time in the mountains, each learned that they had within them everything they needed. 

Support comes from

HMNV.com/DirtbagDiaries Get 30% off your first subscription

Want more episodes? Join Dirtbag Diaries+ today

This year to celebrate the new year, Fitz sat down with professional skier Cody Townsend about his goal of skiing all of the Fifty Classic Ski Descents in North America. We might just have to call this episode the Many Years of a Big Audacious Idea.

Support comes from

HMNV.com/DirtbagDiaries Get 30% off your first subscription

Kuat Racks 

AG1

Alpenglow Speaker Series

Want more episodes? Join Dirtbag Diaries+ today

The Grand Traverse is a ski race like no other: skiers begin at midnight and navigate 40 miles through the dark and they often face blizzards, frostbite, and gear failures. The race follows old postal routes through Colorado’s high mountains connecting the iconic ski towns of Crested Butte and Aspen– racers trudge over mountain passes topping out at over 12,000 feet. Needless to say, the event is reserved for hearty and adventurous folks – like Pat O’Neill. Pat is the only person who has participated in the race every year since it began in 1997, and he’s come to realize the race i...

As a kid, Lauren DeLaunay Miller desperately wanted to see a shooting star. Years later, in the vastness of the Utah desert, she finally got her wish. 

Support comes from

Patagonia

Athletic Greens

Kuat Racks

Rumpl

A crisp sunny morning with tacky stone. The spring flush of desert sun and good dirt. Long summer days that tangle with night. What’s best?

Armed with facts, waxing poetic prose, and a touch of emotional heat, our staff goes toe to toe to determine which region has the best season. It’s tournament time!

Today’s episode is from our Dirtbag Diaries+ channel. Want more episodes? Join Dirtbag Diaries+ today 

Support comes from

Patagonia

AG1

Kuat Racks

Rumpl Duration: 00:54:05

Alpinist and labradoodle devotee Graham Zimmerman has poured his heart into climate change activism after witnessing its effects in the world's great ranges. His new book, "A Fine Line" reflects on his incredible climbing career. In the sometimes overly macho, deeply risky pursuit of alpine climbing, his book offers a welcomed counterpoint to the narrative we often hear. Fitz sat down with Graham for a live Q&A at The Mountaineers in Seattle earlier this month.

Read A Fine Line: Searching for Balance Among Mountains

Want to hear the full conversation? Subscribe...

When Arlene Gonzalez started running eleven years ago, she quickly discovered its ability to mend a broken heart, inspire confidence, and bring people together. Today, she finds her passion in uniting a binational community across the U.S.-Mexico border around a shared love of movement.

Support comes from

Patagonia

AG1

Kuat Racks

Rumpl

Want more episodes? Join Dirtbag Diaries+ today

Cuando Arlene Gonzalez empezó a correr hace once años, descubrió cómo el deporte puede reparar un corazón roto, inspirar confianza, y crear comunidad. Hoy, Arlene encuentra pasión en unir la comunidad binacional entre EE.UU. y México a través de un amor compartido por correr. 

Support comes from

Patagonia

AG1

Kuat Racks

Rumpl

Want more episodes? Join Dirtbag Diaries+ today

In our annual Tales of Terror episode, we’ve got dark caves, unsettling landscapes, and unexplainable figures in the night. Mua ha ha.

Support comes from

Patagonia

AG1

Kuat Racks

AeroPress

Want more episodes? Join Dirtbag Diaries+ today

Fifteen years ago, Tim Irvin went on a solo trip to the Arctic with the hope of seeing the annual caribou migration. Despite mobs of blackflies and an unpleasant encounter with poop, Tim soon found his stride and connected with the natural world in a new way. 

Support comes from

Patagonia

Athletic Greens

Kuat Racks

AeroPress

A crisp sunny morning with tacky stone. The spring flush of desert sun and good dirt. Long summer days that tangle with night. What's best?

Armed with facts, waxing poetic prose, and a touch of emotional heat, our staff goes toe to toe to determine which region has the best season. It's tournament time!

Got a favorite season in a region to share? Call us at 206-705-3006. You just might hear your voice on a future episode.

Want to hear more? Subscribe to Dirtbag Diaries+

Gabaccia Moreno is our guide to one of our newest National Monuments– The Castner Range in El Paso, Texas. She talks with some of the people who worked over decades to make the designation a reality, gives us a window into the biological and cultural significance of the area, and describes a coalition that can be a model for 21st century conservation.  

Learn More

Frontera Land Alliance

Support comes from

Patagonia

AG1

Kuat Racks

YETI 

Wan...

A Campfire Chat about the silly things we've done and that we would never do again. (Well, almost never.)

Got a story you want to share? Call the Dirtbag Hotline at 206- 705-3006

Want to hear more? Join Dirtbag Diaries+ today

Lance Garland and Eileen Hall grappled with their identities in different ways and at different stages of their lives. In this episode, we hear how they started to how to walk tall and embrace who they are at sea and on the trail. 

Support comes from

Patagonia

Athletic Greens

Kuat Racks

YETI

When Aubrey Runyon first climbed in Colorado’s Eldorado Canyon State Park, it was for fun. When she returned several years later, Aubrey was needing a place to call home. Over the years, her relationship with Eldo has weaved between recreation and survival, and eventually healing and love. When Aubrey faced a new big challenge, she leaned on Eldo for strength by way of a big goal– to reach 10,000 pitches in the park. 

American Alpine Club’s Climbing Grief Fund

Support comes from

Patagonia

AG1

Kuat Racks<...

You ask, we answer with anecdotes, stories and advice. Today's Q-- If you could be part of any historical expedition, which would it be and why?

Want to hear more? Join the Diaries+ community.

When Laura Buchan’s cycling partner bails a month before their bikepacking trip along the West Coast, she decides to go anyway. In that 1500-mile journey, she learns that she has everything she needs within her. 

Support comes from

Patagonia

Athletic Greens

Kuat Racks

YETI

Want more episodes? Join Dirtbag Diaries+ today

Talking to people makes Shelby Stanger sparkle. As the host of the podcast, Wild Ideas Worth Living, Shelby dives into her guests motivations for making and taking the leap to try something unexpected. She stopped by to talk about the leaps she's made in her own life and that she shares in her new book, Will to Wild.

Will To Wild — Shelby Stanger

Want to hear more? Subscribe to Dirtbag Diaries+

California’s legacy of gold mining goes back generations, but as the world of mining has evolved, so too have our ideas about public lands. Today’s mining projects are still dictated by the 1872 Mining Law, leaving land managers little recourse to say no to environmentally damaging projects. Last spring, environmental advocates and cycling enthusiasts Emily Markstein and Amber Rassler organized a bike tour along the Eastern Sierra to see firsthand the spaces under imminent threat from mining projects– and to learn that some things are worth more than gold. 

Friends of the Inyo

Outdoor Allianc...

Producer Andrew Burton brings us the story of his wild hunt for a wedding ring he lost while climbing Forbidden Peak. And, we have our first Ask Me Anything, from a listener submitted question.

Want to hear more? Subscribe to Dirtbag Diaries+

When Jayme Vance and her husband set out on a packrafting honeymoon deep in Denali National Park, her worries about the trip were exacerbated by her father’s illness at home. As she welcomes Luke’s new role in her life, she grapples with the knowledge that soon, she’ll need to say goodbye to her first adventure partner.

Support comes from

Patagonia

AG1

Kuat Racks

YETI 

Want more episodes? Join Dirtbag Diaries+ today

We put out a call for your best bonk stories, and you answered. Stories from listeners who miscalculated just how many calories they needed to get through the day. Thanks to everyone who called in!

Want to hear more? Subscribe to Dirtbag Diaries+

Drew and Sarah embark on a once-in-a-lifetime roadtrip across the country to see the places they’ve always dreamed of seeing. In doing so, they pave a path for other people who, like them, haven’t always seen themselves represented in the outdoors.

Support comes from

Patagonia

AG1

Kuat Racks

YETI

Want more episodes? Join Dirtbag Diaries+ today

Chandra Brown, a veteran river guide, led a five day writers retreat for a group of authors along the U.S Mexico border. While canoeing the Rio Grande they navigate physical challenges, and see the effects of government policies first hand. On their final night, Mother Nature erupts and reinforces the lessons they have learned over the course of the trip. 

Support comes from

Patagonia

AG1

Kuat Racks

Aura Frames

Want more episodes? Join Dirtbag Diaries+ today

We've all been down that odd, potentially hallucinogenic path of calorie miscalculation. A campfire conversation about the moments when we bonked.

Got a bonk story? Leave us a message at 206-705-3006 and your story might be included in one of our next episodes.

Want to hear more? Subscribe to Dirtbag Diaries+

After years of turning to nature for relief from his inner turmoil, Andrew Shults finally reached his breaking point and faced it head-on. This decision forced him to reckon with identity, spirituality, and relationship to the outdoors.

Support comes from

Patagonia

Athletic Greens

Kuat Racks

Rumpl

Want more episodes? Join Dirtbag Diaries+ today

A young man hungry to learn how to recreate in the mountains, and a veteran guide leading the NOLS course in the Waddington Range of British Columbia. Their recollections of the trip, the challenges they face and the moments they find memorable, do not always line up. 

Support comes from

Patagonia

Athletic Greens

Kuat Racks

Rumpl  

Want more episodes? Join Dirtbag Diaries+ today

How has being an adaptive athlete changed and evolved over the years? Fitz talks with climber Craig DeMartino, a leader not just in the adaptive sports community, but the greater outdoor community.

Want to hear more? Subscribe to Dirtbag Diaries+

Kate and Ani Williams have been adventuring together for more than two decades. Last year, they leveled up on a backpacking trip to Argentine Patagonia, where a challenging river crossing marked a shift in their relationship as mother and daughter. 

Support comes from

Patagonia

Athletic Greens

Kuat Racks

Rumpl 

Want more episodes? Join Dirtbag Diaries+ today

When Kari Hedin’s life is turned upside down, she found solace on her habitual lunchtime trail runs in the wooded eskers of Minnesota.

Support comes from

Patagonia

Athletic Greens

Kuat Racks

Global Rescue

How many things can you balance being really good at in your life? Fitz and Majka Burhardt discuss ice climbing, entrepreneurship, risk, parenting twins and her new book More: Life on the Edge of Motherhood and Adventure.

Want to hear more? Subscribe to Dirtbag Diaries+

For 12-year-old Rory Rielly and 77-year-old James Niehues, the ski map is an object of wonder and a portal to adventure. Their love for depicting mountain landscapes enriches their passion for skiing and demonstrates the importance of having someone to show us the way. 

Check out more of James’ art and his recently published book, The Man Behind The Maps, with over 200 ski maps. 

Support comes from

Patagonia

Athletic Greens

Kuat Racks

Want more episodes? Join Dirtbag Diaries+ toda...

In 2018, backcountry skier Kjell Redal decided he wanted to try his hand at bowhunting for elk. The only trouble is, he had no prior experience or mentors and was living in Miami, FL. Over the course of four years Kjell goes from a newbie, thrashing his way off trail and never seeing an elk, to a once in a lifetime experience.

Support comes from

Patagonia

Athletic Greens

Kuat Racks

Want more episodes? Join Dirtbag Diaries+ today

What if we invested more in the things that brought us joy? The outdoors. Community. Creativity. This is what gets us out of bed in the morning. For years, you’ve been asking for more – more stories and more ways to support our show. Today, we introduce Dirtbag Diaries+. Exclusive episodes. Community collaboration. Ad free. Where we go from here depends on you. 

Join Dirtbag Diaries+ today.

When Amanda Hayley set out on her first solo travel adventure in Olympic National Park, she felt ready to take on whatever challenges could come her way. But when she loses her way on an audacious day hike, she needs to rely on the help of some very interesting strangers.

Support comes from

Patagonia

Athletic Greens

Kuat Racks

Global Rescue

After two decades of drought, the Colorado River, which supplies water for drinking, power, and agriculture to over 40 million people, was named America’s most endangered river. In 2018, river advocates and paddlers Mike and Jenny Fiebig spent five months paddling the Colorado from its source in the Wind River mountains to the Gulf of Mexico to understand the river’s challenges firsthand – while collecting stories about change from the people who depend on it most. Today, as the river faces unprecedented shortages from climate change and overconsumption – activists, indigenous leaders, water managers and scientists are working to find solutions to creat...