In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Julia Sheehan, known on trail, as Rocket. Julia is a thru-hiker, former Trek Vlogger, social media sensation, nurse, and now a published author. Julia details how impulsive decision-making lead her to the wonderful world that is thru-hiking, inspired in part by everyone’s favorite Hiking Viking. Rocket also shares how health issues ultimately forced her off-trail, the unsavory response she’s gotten from some in the social media sphere in light of “quitting” and subsequently posting non-hiking content. Julia also shares the process in self-publishing her brand new book, Hiking is the Easy Part, a memoir of her thru-hike on the AT.

We wrap the show with some news about Trail Correspondents 2026 edition, the story of a hiker that was found alive at a popular PCT pitstop after being lost in the backcountry for weeks, how much weight people lose during an AT thru-hike (and why it's generally not a good long term weight loss strategy), Chaunce and I have a borderline-impossible coincidence during today's QOTD, and the triple crown of albums.

Topo Athletic: Use code “TREKSPRING15” at topoathletic.com.

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Betterment: Learn more at betterment.com/trek.

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Interview with Julia “Rocket” Sheehan

Time stamps & Questions

00:05:30 - Reminders: Sign up for the Trek’s newsletter, listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon and apply to blog for the Trek!

00:07:45 - Introducing Rocket

00:08:20 - Tell us about your social media journey

00:15:30 - Did you ever feel like you could make a living from social media?

00:17:10 - Tell us about your background in the military

00:19:30 - How did you transition from the military to nursing?

00:21:15 - Can you talk about running from things prior to thru-hiking?

00:23:00 - Discussion about Rocket’s eating disorder

00:27:50 - What got you to the AT?

00:32:00 - What was the beginning of the AT like?

00:34:45 - At what point did thru-hiking click for you?

00:38:57 - What’s the hard part of thru-hiking?

00:43:00 - Tell us about the half gallon challenge

00:45:15 - How did you get your trail name?

00:48:00 - What did you think of the AZT?

00:50:20 - How did covid impact your hike?

00:52:35 - Did you encounter rattlesnakes or other creatures?

00:53:40 - What was the water situation like early in the season?

00:54:14 - Tell us about starting the CDT SOBO?

00:57:45 - What was the commentary like when you got off trail?

01:00:50 - How did you end up on the PCT?

01:02:10 - Tell us the story about getting off the PCT

01:06:50 - Did your nursing background help you diagnose anything?

01:07:50 - What was the backlash after getting off the PCT?

01:12:40 - What yoga poses would you recommend to thru-hikers?

01:14:14 - How is your health now?

01:16:40 - Tell us about writing your book

01:20:25 - What’s the most revealing thing you put in the book?

01:22:42 - How’s the early response been for the book?

01:25:10 - What’s next for you?

01:27:01 - Peak Performance Question: What is your top performance-enhancing or backpacking hack?

Segments

Trek Propaganda:

Missing Sierra Hiker Found Alive at Popular PCT Pitstop After Weeks Lost in the Backcountry by Katie Jackson
AT Thru-Hikers Are Losing a Shocking Amount of Weight On-Trail: Here’s How To Not Lose Too Much by Katie Jackson

QOTD: What’s something you learned embarrassingly late in life?

Triple Crown of albums

Mail Bag

5 Star Review

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Julia "Rocket" Sheehan on Her Social Media Fall from Grace, Quitting on a Thru-Hike, and Her New Book (BPR #311)