Interviews with Female New Hampshire Hikers
Two teenage all-season White Mountain hikers interview the women who hike New Hampshire's most rugged and beautiful peaks.
This episode features Katie Callahan, the GIS coordinator for New Hampshire Fish and Game. Katie talks to the girls about the wonderful variety of experiences she enjoys within the realm of her work, her love of the outdoors, interesting animal encounters, and more.
We had a great time interviewing 11-year-old Ella Ronci, a hiker who is almost finished her first round of the NH48. Ella is homeschooled, like us, and, in addition to being an avid hiker, Ella loves to ski. Listen as we discuss hiking, homeschooling, books all three of us love, and more.
Alex (left) and Sage (right) with Ella Ronci (middle)
Hiking legend Anish just finished her record-breaking hike of the Triple Crown (the Appalachian Trail, the Continental Divide Trail, and the Pacific Crest Trail) in less than one calendar year (close to eight months!). In this conversation, Anish talks to us about hiking in general, reflections on her most recent feat, being stalked by a mountain lion, her favorite trail foods and non-trail foods, getting too close to a momma grizzly, and more. Look for her upcoming memoir THIRST (coming this spring).
We used a new recording device for this telephone conversation; unfortunately, our voices don't have the best quality, but Anish's voice is loud and clear.
We had a wonderful conversation with Donna Dearborn, author of the book Every Sunday: A Father and Daughter’s Enduring Connection and avid all-season hiker of the northeast and beyond. Donna talks about how she began hiking, the many lists and peaks she’s hiked, her love of winter hiking, encounters with wildlife, and more. Donna is as experienced as they come with hiking all over the nation and the world. We learned a lot from this interview, and we’re sure you will too. Get a copy of her book on Amazon; it’s a great read.
We had the pleasure of interviewing Katie Bernard (middle in the photo) on September 2. Katie is a talented writer who keeps a blog of her hiking adventures called “Girl in the Woods” (48summits.com). Check it out! She is tracking her progress of her first round of the Four Thousand Footers.
Arlette Laan ("Apple Pie") is a hiking legend who has completed many of the National Scenic Trails, including the Triple Crown. In this episode, Arlette speaks with Alex and Sage about some of her experiences on the trails, her doll-making business, her love of hiking in general, some animal encounters, and much more. You can learn more about Arlette (and see some of the wonderful hiking dolls she makes!) at arlettelaan.com.
NOTE: This episode was edited by Trish Herr, since both Alex and Sage are now away for a few weeks.
Arlette Laan ("Apple Pie") with her niece, Rosalie.
This week, we had the pleasure of interviewing Karen Washington, a high school teacher and hiker extraordinaire. Karen has finished the NH48 and is almost finished the New England 67. We interviewed Karen at her high school; many thanks to Karen for her time and the good conversation!
In this episode, we (Sage and Alex) speak with Carol Gardner about her love of the outdoors and of hiking in the Whites. Carol is a security and computer expert/engineer. We had a wonderful time talking with Carol and enjoyed listening to her stories of close moose and bear encounters, her love of sushi, the different types of experiences she's had with various people on the trails, and more.
NOTE: This episode was supposed to have been released a couple weeks ago. Unfortunately, the laptop on which we usually edit suffered a fatal accident. We normally back up everything as we work on it, but in this particular instance, I hadn't...I (Sage) therefore had to re-edit the podcast from scratch, which is why this episode's publication was delayed.
Also note: We have been releasing one episode a month instead of the usual two lately. This is because I had pneumonia, then Alex and I both had/are still having final exams. In June, we will resume publishing two episodes a month.
We had the pleasure of hiking with and being interviewed by Gale Straub of the popular and female-empowering She Explores podcast...and then we got to interview Gale for GraniteGals! It was a fun (though tiring) day on the Wildcat Ridge.
Our interview took place in our car immediately after our hike, so this episode sounds a bit more casual than usual. We were simultaneously worn out and exhilarated from our day. This is a fun interview and we thank Gale for sharing her time with us. (Look for our Gale's interview of us on She Explores later this week).
We were fortunate to be able to interview Whitney "Tip Toe" for this episode. Tip Toe talks about her adventures on the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail, and of her love of hiking the Northeast. Tip Toe has done the Four Thousand Footers multiple times (including winter), she has done the New England 67, and she is one of the few who has done a White Mountain Hut-to-Hut in a single 24-period. She is also almost finished redlining the trails in the White Mountain Guidebook. We enjoyed talking to this strong female explorer and hearing about her animal encounters, her people encounters, and her enthusiasm for hiking in general.
Alex had the pleasure of interviewing "Monk," more formally known as Bella Dalzell, for this episode of GraniteGals. Monk is a nine-year-old four-season hiker who hikes the Whites with her mom, Jen Lemire. Monk currently has 15 Four Thousand Footers under her belt and looks forward to finishing the 4K list over the next couple of years.
Alex's interview with Monk's mom, Jen Lemire, can be found on your GraniteGals iTunes subscription (or the GraniteGals website, www.granitegals.org), immediately before this interview.
Sage will be back with Alex for GraniteGals in February.
Bella Dalzell, her mom Jen, and Alex
Monk and her mom, MurdaPanda (Jen Lemire)
In this delightful interview, Alex speaks with Jen Lemire, aka MurdaPanda. Jen is a four-season White Mountain hiker currently pursuing the Grid, and she enjoys summit jumping and wearing a scary panda mask on the trails. Jen also enjoys hiking with her daughter, Bella (aka Monk). Alex also interviewed Monk; that interview will immediately follow this one.
Check out Jen's photos on Instagram -- thesummitjumper and pandamoniumonthetrails (XPandaX).
(Sage will be back with GraniteGals in February.)
Jen, Bella, and Alex
MurdaPanda, Monk, and Alex
Sage interviews Jen Adams, one of her Girl Scout Leaders. Jen is an avid outdoorswoman who recently completed her first round of the NH Four Thousand Footers, and who enjoys sharing her love of the outdoors with the next generation.
NOTE: Alex is away from the podcast this week due to having to study for five imminent midterm examinations. Trish (Mom and producer) edited this episode so Sage would also have time to study for her imminent-but-not-as-numerous-as-Alex's midterm exams. Both girls look forward to rejoining forces for the next episode of GraniteGals, which will come out after the holidays.
Alex and Sage interview Nancy Griswold, a professional artist who depicts scenes of and from the White Mountains in her beautiful oil paintings. Nancy talks about the outdoors as inspiration, and she describes the process that goes into her work.
Alex and Sage first met Alexandra (Alex) Garcia a couple months ago in the parking lot of Mt. Washington's Cog Railway, after everyone had done various long hikes in the Presidentials. Alex is originally from Puerto Rico and now lives in Virginia; she hikes all over the world and recently discovered a love of the White Mountains. In this interview, Alex G. talks about her various hikes, her love of difficult pursuits, how Puerto Rican food is the best on the planet, and more.
Alex and Sage had the pleasure of speaking with Professor Mary Ann McGarry last Monday. Professor McGarry is the Chair of Plymouth State University's Department of Environmental Science and Policy. In this episode of GraniteGals, Professor McGarry discusses hiking the Four Thousand Footers, hiking with her daughter, the importance of Bicknell's Thrush, environmental science education, and much more.
(Note -- much of New Hampshire lost power last Sunday evening, including us. The power was just turned on in our home last night, and both Alex and Sage are trying to catch up on their schoolwork since most of their work is done over the internet. Therefore, in an effort to help out the girls, I, Trish Herr, edited this episode of GraniteGals and posted it to this website).
Dr. Linda French, astronomer, Program Director at the National Science Foundation, and Professor of Physics, discusses hiking the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
Professor Linda French with Alex and Sage, and Prof. French's husband Ron Emmons
77-year-old Allmuth "Curly" Perzel, Triple Crowner (she has hiked the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail), world trekker, and recent redline finisher (she has hiked all the trails in the White Mountain Guide) discusses her love of hiking, the adventures of redlining, the time she was benighted on Caps Ridge Trail, and much more. We were honored to have her with us and she was a joy to interview.
On this episode, hear seven-year-old Zoey Ceriello-sachetta talk about why she likes hiking the Four Thousand Footers, when she plans on finishing her first round of the NH48, scary snake encounters, and much more.
Rachel Kowalsky and her intrepid dog, Isis, are avid four-season White Mountain hikers who have hiked New Hampshire's Four Thousand Footers, Vermont's Long Trail, and sections of the Appalachian Trail. Her hiking continues in spite and because of her diagnosis with Hashimoto's Disease and, more recently, rheumatoid arthritis. In this episode, Rachel discusses her love of hiking, her experiences hiking in NH and Vermont, her adorable and trail-hardy dog Isis, and her decision to hike another round of the Four Thousand Footers for rheumatoid arthritis.
