Mighty Blue on the Appalachian Trail
April 17, 2025
Anna McKinney Smith, a 2021 thru-hiker, is our guest today. Anna found her people out on trail and, more significantly, she also found her person, who became her husband. Anna referred to having a “common purpose of forward momentum” that appealed to her, and she has since been a writer for the Trek and opened her own blog about hiking, called Magic in the Mountains. Here’s the link. Magic in the Mountains. You can also follow Anna on the Trek at Anna McKinney Smith, Author at The Trek and on Instagram at Instagram (@annamckinney22) . She’ll be hiking the PCT with her husband this year, so follow along.
Hiker Trash Radio
April 12, 2025
Thru hiker and yoga instructor Anna “Magic” McKinney Smith drops into the studio to talk trail and Type II Fun with Doc. Settle in and buckle up as Magic covers some serious ground, including the corpse pose, the importance of being nice and pitiful, the extra wide Nmo Tensor, blow up sacks, duct tape & beer, Truffles, Standing Bear, Bug Bite, Ranger, Jake the Donkey, taking the dream off the shelf, and a discussion about whether or not social media is ruining thru hiking. Epic!
Hikes and Mics
April 7, 2025
Season 3 fan-favorite Anna, aka Magic, is back—and this time, she’s gearing up for another adventure of a lifetime!
The week this episode drops, Magic will be taking her first steps on the Pacific Crest Trail, a 2,650-mile journey from Mexico to Canada. We dive into her training, gear choices, and what she’s most excited about as she embarks on this epic thru-hike.
She shares how her past hikes have shaped her, the mental prep needed for months on the trail, and the unexpected challenges of planning a PCT trek. We also talk trail magic, resupply strategies, and the emotional rollercoaster of long-distance hiking.
Tune in and send some good vibes her way as she sets out on this life-changing journey!
Hikes and Mics
June 26, 2023
And on today’s Season 3 Premiere, folks, we have a truly exciting guest. Get ready to be inspired as we welcome the incredible Anna, known to many as Magic on the AT. If you want to keep up with her inspiring journey, make sure to follow her on Instagram @annamckinney22.
During our conversation, I had the absolute pleasure of delving into Anna’s transformative journey, from day hiking to backpacking, and ultimately conquering the mighty Appalachian Trail. She also shares tales of her outdoor experiences in the picturesque landscapes of Wisconsin. And to top it all off, we dive deep into the intriguing topic of striking a balance between social media and the great outdoors.
Backpacker Radio
May 22, 2023
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Anna McKinney. Anna is an AT thru-hiker (where she met her fiancé), a hiking guide in the Smokies, a Trek Writer, and an all around giver of good vibes. We get the full scoop on how her budding trail romance evolved to impending wedding bells- and Chaunce gives us a detailed breakdown on the stages of love on trail, we learn about some of the more interesting flora and fauna in the Smokies, battling imposter syndrome, and her recent LASH on the Arizona Trail.
Hike
March 23, 2023
Anna McKinney shares her journey from being an Appalachian Trail thru hiker to Backpacking Guide in the Great Smoky Mountains. She provides her insightful experiences and advice for those newer to long distance hiking.
Anna is currently hiking the AZT with her partner. She also is blogging her hike for The Trek.
Magic in the Mountains 
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