EPISODE 1: Welcome to Social Adventures — Conversations from the Trail

????️ Watch or Listen to the Episode

???? Episode Overview

Welcome to the very first episode of Social Adventures — Conversations from the Trail, a podcast that celebrates the stories, motivations, and experiences that connect us through the outdoors.

In this opening episode, host Jeff Hester—founder of Social Adventures, Social Hiker, and the Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge—shares the origins of the community, the inspiration behind the podcast, and what listeners can expect in future episodes.

Whether you’re training for your next peak, planning a big adventure, or simply love hearing real stories from real hikers, this episode sets the stage for what’s to come.

???? What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• How the Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge began in 2015 as training for the John Muir Trail
• How a simple idea grew into a nationwide community of thousands of hikers
• Why Social Adventures exists and how it connects to SocialHiker.net
• What “Conversations from the Trail” is all about
• The kinds of guests and stories you can expect in upcoming episodes
• Why the outdoors is such a powerful catalyst for connection, challenge, and transformation

????‍????‍???? About the Host

Jeff Hester is an outdoor enthusiast, long-distance hiker, adventure traveler, and community builder. He’s the founder of the Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge and the Social Hikers community, and he leads group adventure trips around the world—including Patagonia, New Zealand, Iceland, and Mount Kilimanjaro.

Jeff is passionate about connecting people through shared adventure, creativity, and storytelling.
Learn more at socialhiker.net and jeffhester.net.

????️ Key Themes from this Episode

Why We Climb

Jeff explores the deeper motivations behind hiking and adventure—challenge, meaning, growth, and connection.

The Power of Community

How a simple idea became an opportunity for thousands of hikers to connect through shared peak-bagging goals.

Transformation Through Adventure

Stories of how outdoor experiences—from local trails to international expeditions—can shape who we are.

What’s Coming in Future Episodes

Expect long-time Six-Pack finishers, group trip participants, guides, and everyday hikers sharing heartfelt, funny, and inspiring trail stories.

???? Call to Action

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to:

• Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen
• Share your story at: https://socialhiker.net/podcast
• Reach out if you’d like to be a guest
• Join the Social Hikers community
• Explore the Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge in your region

???? Full Episode Transcript

Hey adventurers, I'm Jeff Hester. Welcome to Social Adventures, Conversations from the Trail.

If you've ever found yourself on a hike somewhere between catching your breath and soaking in the view, thinking, this is why I do it — this is what it's all about, you're in the right place.

This podcast is all about stories that connect us—the hikers, the travelers, and everyday adventurers who find meaning, challenge, and community out on the trail.

So what is Social Adventures all about? You might know me from SoCal Hiker or the Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge, a hiking series that started back in 2015 as a way for my partner and I to train for the John Muir Trail and connect with other hikers.

What began as a personal challenge quickly grew into a nationwide community. Today, thousands of people take on the challenge each year—discovering new trails, new friends, and pretty often, a new sense of what they're capable of.

And Social Hiker grew out of that same spirit: connecting people through shared experiences, whether it's summiting your first peak, hiking across New Zealand or Patagonia, or climbing big mountains like Kilimanjaro.

In this podcast, I'm going to be sitting down with hikers, travelers, and explorers—some of whom you already know from our community and others you might be meeting for the first time—to talk about their journeys.

We're going to dive into the funny moments, the failures, the breakthroughs, and the lessons that stick with you long after you're off the trail. This is casual, unedited, and real—just like the conversations that happen around the campfire at the end of a long day.

In the coming episodes, you'll hear from long-time Six-Pack of Peaks finishers, guides, and fellow adventurers who turned simple hikes into life-changing experiences. It's really transformative, what these hikes can do for you.

We'll talk about why we climb, what keeps us coming back to the trail, and how adventure connects us across miles and even continents.

So whether you're listening on your morning commute, training for your next peak, or just dreaming about your next adventure, I'm glad you're here.

Subscribe and join us on Social Adventures—Conversations from the Trail—wherever you listen to podcasts.

And if you've got a story of your own, head over to socialhiker.net/podcast to share it. You might just be our next guest.

Thank you for being a part of this community.