{"podcast":{"title":"Free Outside","slug":"free-outside-6909507","podcast_index_feed_id":6909507,"rss_url":"https://anchor.fm/s/eaf7016c/podcast/rss","website_url":"http://freeoutside.com","image_url":"https://d3t3ozftmdmh3i.cloudfront.net/staging/podcast_uploaded_nologo/39320563/39320563-1714852015826-072db93862556.jpg","author":"Jeff Garmire","episode_count":240,"summary":"Welcome to \"Free Outside,\" the ultimate podcast for outdoor enthusiasts! Join me, Jeff Garmire, as I blur the lines between trail running, Fastest Known Times (FKTs), thru-hiking, backpacking, and all endurance. With 20 FKTs under my belt, a book, a movie, and plenty of unconventional experiences, I'm here to share my adventures and insights. Expect engaging interviews and fun interactions with guests who excel in various ways. Whether we're discussing the art of slowly running through forests, the thrill of a challenging hike, or simply an appreciator of beauty and comedy, here we are.","last_synced_at":"2026-07-31T20:18:39.803790+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/free-outside-6909507"},"episode":{"title":"Hardest Trail in Europe? The GR 20","slug":"hardest-trail-in-europe-the-gr-20","published_at":"2026-07-13T10:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/free-outside-6909507/hardest-trail-in-europe-the-gr-20","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/free-outside-6909507","url":"https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/freeoutside/episodes/Hardest-Trail-in-Europe--The-GR-20-e3lvs0e","audio_url":"https://anchor.fm/s/eaf7016c/podcast/play/122727886/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-6-12%2F427816765-44100-2-98497a77fcc94.mp3","summary":"After hiking the Tour du Mont Blanc and racing the Zugspitz 100K, I flew to Corsica for one final adventure: the GR20, often called the hardest long-distance trail in Europe. I expected another scenic alpine trek. Instead, I found endless scrambling, brutal climbs, snowfields, technical descents, and some of the most rewarding mountain scenery I've ever experienced. Along the way I hitchhiked across Corsica, swam in alpine pools during a European heat wave, got sick halfway through the hike, learned why everyone fears this trail, and discovered that sometimes the biggest challenge isn't the terrain—it's stepping into the unknown. In this episode I share what makes the GR20 so difficult, what surprised me most about Corsica, how I completed the route in 4½ days, and why this month of solo travel has been about much more than backpacking. Topics include: * What makes the GR20 so infamous * Backpacking through Corsica's mountains * Refugios, bivouacs, and trail logistics * Hiking northbound instead of southbound * Technical terrain, snowfields, and massive climbs * Hitchhiking, language barriers, and travel lessons * Why doing uncomfortable things builds confidence If you've ever wondered whether the GR20 deserves its reputation—or you've been looking for your next big adventure—this episode is for you. Support our Sponsors: Sawyer: https://sawyerdirect.net/ Janji (code: Freeoutside): https://snp.link/a0bfb726 CS Coffee: CSinstant.coffee Garage Grown Gear: https://snp.link/db1ba8ab Subscribe to Substack: http://freeoutside.substack.com Support this content on patreon: HTTP://patreon.com/freeoutside Buy my book \"Free Outside\" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39LpoSF Email me to buy a signed copy of my book, \"Free Outside\" at jeff@freeoutside.com Watch the movie about setting the…","meta_description":"After hiking the Tour du Mont Blanc and racing the Zugspitz 100K, I flew to Corsica for one final adventure: the GR20, often called the hardest long-dista…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2717,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/free-outside-6909507/episodes/hardest-trail-in-europe-the-gr-20/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/free-outside-6909507/hardest-trail-in-europe-the-gr-20.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}