Tim Stroeks is an avid thru hiker, adventurer, and outdoorsman who currently resides in the Netherlands. He comes from a family of travel enthusiasts who enjoy hiking, climbing and cycling. This wanderlust that runs through his blood, has been a prevalent theme throughout his life. Tim has cycled Southern Sweden, completed the coast to coast walk in England, hiked the King’s Trail in the Arctic Circle, Finished the Inca Trail to Macchu Picchu, the W trek in Patagonia, to name a few. And finally, in 2019, his long-desired dream to hike the Pacific Crest Trail was fulfilled…

Show Notes

0:00 Tim Stroek’s reads from one of his instagram entries when he climbed the Sierras during his Pacific Crest Trail thru hike in 2019. 

1:07 Who is Tim Stroeks? Drea shares his extensive adventure bio with us

2:31 25 years old and 32 countries. Tim shares his love for travel and where he found this passion. 

4:41 How did Drea find Tim Stroeks? Instagram!

5:17 Tim shares how much he loves to rough it and how he likes to

8:08 Tim gets his love for travel from his parents and family. He started traveling adventurously very young and that love for the outdoors has stayed with him as an adult

8:17 Tim shares with us his favorite trails and why he chose these trails. 

Spoiler Alert - the PCT

8:41 The King’s Trail in Sweden - The Arctic Circle and camping under the midnight sun - Tim shares with us some an experience with the locals that give you rides across the many lakes on this trail.  

10:35 Tim shares with us what a TRAIL ANGEL is on the PCT - The volunteers who provide their time, food, rides and supplies for hikers along the PCT

14:01 What is the PCT - Tim explains what the Pacific Crest Trail - The whole hike is 2650 but changes from year to year. Tim shares the changes that happens in PCT that may increase the mileage

16:14 Tim shares his Mt Whitney detour off of his PCT hike, the craziness of mountain weather, and what it’s like to stand on top of it. 

20:41 Drea asks Tim the average mileage of a PCT hiker, the importance of keeping up your mileage to meet your window of hiking, and he shares his highest mileage count - 40!

23:41 Tim discusses the excerpt at the very beginning

28:35 Tim has always challenged himself and the PCT pushed his boundaries. This is what drove him to attempt this trail. 

30:51 Drea asks Tim how he prepared for the long journey on the PCT - Permits, Getting a Visa as a foreigner, organizing the gear that works for you, the importance of planning and also not planning, delivering packages to resupply. 

38:05 Talking to other hikers to figure out a plan, where to send packages, and planning on the actual trail. 

39:20 Tim used a very helpful app - Guthooks, that aided in helping plan where to resupply! Very important

40:42 Tim shares with us some of his fears in hiking the PCT. Tim was really afraid of failing and also getting injured early in the hike. 

42:19 Tim tell us why he was unable to complete the PCT. He was only 150 miles short from the Canadian border. 

44:37 The dangers on the PCT include some animals - Here is Tim and his rattlesnake story, a Black Bear and her cubs and a mountain lion! 

46:50 Tim shares the challenges of crossing the Sierras during the high snow season - Having to break trail, The Snow Bridges, then the Higher River Crossings, etc. 

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