Hiker Trash Radio - "Rachel Was My Shoulder, Kevin Was My Foot" - Dr. Caroline "Earthcake" Himbert (Part I)

Dr. Caroline "Earthcake" Himbert set the unsupported women's John Muir Trail FKT in 2025 and then took more than 12 hours off her own record in 2026. She is also a cancer researcher at the University of Utah, a German expat who got her trail name by mispronouncing "earthquake," and, at the time of this recording, days away from her first 200-mile race, the Moab 240.

Part 2 drops in 10 minutes.

Show Notes

About the Guest

Dr. Caroline Himbert, trail name Earthcake, is a German expat and cancer researcher on the faculty at the University of Utah's cancer center in Salt Lake City, following a postdoc at Harvard and Massachusetts General Hospital. Her research focuses on cancer survivorship, mainly colorectal and prostate cancer, and how exercise can improve survival and quality of life. She moved to the United States in October 2015 and thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail in 2016, followed by the Colorado Trail and the Continental Divide Trail. She then moved into ultrarunning, finishing her first 100-miler, the Wasatch 100, in 29 hours and 45 minutes for a top-ten finish and a sub-30 buckle. On the John Muir Trail, she set the unsupported women's FKT (by eight minutes!) in August 2025 in 4 days, 4 hours, and 58 minutes, edging a record that had stood since 2016. In July 2026 she came back and lowered it to 3 days, 16 hours, and 36 minutes, running northbound from Whitney Portal to Yosemite Valley. She is coached by Joe "Stringbean" McConaughy, and she got her trail name from mispronouncing "earthquake" on the PCT. She is on Instagram at @im_earthcake.

What's Covered in Part 1

The Moab 240 — Her First 200-Mile Race

The Trail Name — Earthcake

Trail Blazers Toolkit — A Hairbrush (and a Watch)

Queen of Donahue

How Many People Attempt the JMT FKT?

The Hiking Poll — Score: 23

How a German Expat Ended Up on the PCT

Links & Resources