By Land Podcast

#149 - Backpacking 1300 Miles of the PCT with 3 Kids with Marketa Daley

Emory Wanger Episode 149

Text the show!

Marketa and David Daley backpacked 1300 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail in 2022 with their 3 kids and proved to themselves that yes, it was possible to hike the PCT as a family.  At times they moved at a snail's pace, questioned their own sanity, and were forced to find creative ways to motivate their kids to continue moving down the trail.  Together as a family, they experienced the highs and lows of trail life, strengthened their family bonds, and in the end, found what they were looking for.  

This is part 1 of a 2 part episode series where I interview Marketa and David separately to learn about them as people, their background, their motivations, and finally their hiking story.  

I’m sincerely honored and humbled to have them on this podcast and grateful that they’re willing to share their experiences in such a real and transparent way.   

Show Notes

  • Introductions
  • Initial expectations for the PCT
  • Emory’s internal conflict with kids on long trails
  • How Marketa and her family decided to hike  
  • Maketa’s personal outdoor backstory 
  • Previous hikes with kids leading up to the PCT
  • Why the PCT was so daunting as a hike  
  • How the kids transitioned to the trail
  • The first 20 miles
  • Anticipating the struggle of a thru-hike with kids
  • How parenting changed on the PCT
  • How outdoor activities changed with more kids
  • How to break the barriers and remove excuses
  • Lessons learned with gear
  • Choosing kid’s clothes for backpacking
  • The importance of just starting
  • Motivating kids to keep moving
  • How parenting on the trail differs from parenting on the trail 
  • How the trail bonded the kids
  • The transition from trail to home
  • Audience question: Thoughts and advice for taking a 4-year-old hiking and backpacking as a single parent
  • How to follow up with Marketa 
  • https://www.instagram.com/daleywalk

Support the show

Thanks for listening! Check out the links below to learn more, connect, and support the show.










People on this episode