About this episode
Send us a text Start in city gravel, end on a knife-edge ridge. That’s the arc of Kyle Richardson’s 1,300-mile Northeast Summits Tour—fifteen days, 84,000 feet, and six peaks stitched together by a bivy, a bike, and a refusal to overplan. We talk about why he treats endurance like an art form, how loosening timelines kept motivation high, and what it means to curate routes that flow from Catskill roots to Adirondack slabs, across the Whites, and onto Katahdin’s cathedral spine. We get tactical without killing the magic. Kyle breaks down mapping with Gaia GPS, weaving the Empire State Trail, Eastern Divide, and local connectors, plus the on-the-fly decisions that save you from interstates and dead ends. He shares stealth bivvy habits, smart resupply strategy in the Maine woods, and the gear that actually works: hydrophobic, big-lug trail shoes that drain fast in boggy terrain and a tidy kit that looks presentable from diner to trailhead. We dig into recovery while moving daily, the mental cadence of silence vs. sound, and why his east coast takeaway is simple: technical, steep, and slept-on can be world-class. There’s more beyond the Northeast. Kyle unpacks his Boulder–Steamboat ride for Moots’ 40th anniversary—crossing divides, tagging Longs Peak, and dropping Rollins Pass—plus the South Platte Twirl, a two-night Colorado loop that blends singletrack, OHV roads, gravel, and quiet pavement. We revisit his pre-tour dawn linkup on Longs with Kilian Jornet and the lessons in communication, safety, and community that came with it. If you’re hungry for routes that balance beauty, efficiency, and honest difficulty, this one’s a map you can trust. If this conversation sparked ideas for your next ride or run, tap follow, leave a quick review, and share it with a friend who needs a nudge to plan less and move more. Follow Kyle on IG - @kylerichardson Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_pod Use code steepstuffpod for 25% off your cart at UltimateDirection.com ! Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_pod Use code steepstuffpod for 25% off your cart at UltimateDirection.com !