This week it's the story of a guy who hiked the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada, inspired by a classic midlife crisis and fueled by what he could carry in a knapsack. Hiker and journalist David Plotnikoff joins us for a look at the philosophical side of hiking and living on a diet that could kill a goat. He leaves us hisguide to food and lodging on the Pacific Crest Trail.

Jane and Michael Stern are eating planked white fish, pea salad and Thunderclouds at Juilleret's, a classic Great Lakes summer eatery in Charlevoix.

Sculptor Kiko Denzer says there's no need to shell out ten grand for a wood-fired bread oven. You can build one yourself—from your own dirt and for nearly free. Then you can make the Sourdough Bread from Kiko's book, Build Your Own Earth Oven.

We have summer reads from food folks, starting off with picks from Ruth Reichl, editor-in-chief of Gourmet magazine.

Russ Parsons, food and wine columnist for the Los Angeles Times, has advice about produce that should not be refrigerated. He shares his recipe for New Potato and Green Bean Salad with Green Goddess Dressing from his latest book, How to Pick a Peach: The Search for Flavor from Farm to Table.

Sasha Wizansky, co-editor and co-creator of Meatpaper, talks about the first issue of this journal of meat culture; and, as always, Lynne takes your calls.