Backpacker Radio (The Trek)
Explore every episode of Backpacker Radio
| Pub. Date | Title | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Dec 2022 | #179 | Niki Choo on Canoeing 1,000+ Miles from the Pacific Ocean to the Arctic Ocean | 02:40:45 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Niki Choo. Niki, alongside her partner, recently completed an expedition across Canada from ocean to ocean (Pacific Ocean in Alaska to the Arctic circle) via canoe. We learn quite a bit about what goes into this style of adventure, as this is our first interview foray into extended paddle adventures, including the challenges of canoeing upstream, through waterways with limited and sometimes inaccurate intel, doing so in such remote country, and much more. Whether you're interested in paddle adventure sports or not, we think you'll get a kick out of Niki's insane stories from this adventure. We wrap the show with a preview of the 2023 Badger Sponsorship, a triple crown of hikes not on our bucket list, we have a couple of listener voicemails, including a Chaunce pat on the back for her improved comfort with poop talk, and more! RTIC Outdoors: Shop at rticoutdoors.com. Good To-Go: Use code “BF30” for 30% off at goodto-go.com. Enlightened Equipment: Use code “ULTRALIGHT10” for 10% off Enlightened Equipment’s Stock Revelation Quilt or Torrid Jacket at enlightenedequipment.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code “TAKELESSTREKMORE” for 15% off at gossamergear.com. [divider] Interview with Niki Choo Time stamps & Questions 00:04:45 - QOTD: Do you feel like you’re doing something incredibly naughty when you venture into the bakery section of the grocery store? 00:10:01 - Reminders: Badger Sponsorship launches on January 30, 2023 - subscribe to our newsletter! 00:11:12 - Introducing Niki 00:11:49 - How does someone get into whitewater kayaking at 14 years old? 00:13:38 - Tell us more about your background growing up. 00:15:50 - What makes Whistler such a special destination? 00:17:50 - Give us the basic plan of your trip and discussion about leaving Niki’s dog behind. 00:22:17 - How did you move if you didn’t ski? 00:23:42 - What were the weather windows and the mileage you did? 00:25:20 - Were you the first ones to do this trip? 00:27:48 - What was the inspiration for the trip? 00:30:25 - Did you have experience doing pioneering trips like this before? 00:31:42 - Discussion about the length of days in the Arctic and sleeping in the light 00:33:30 - Discussion about wildlife 00:36:00 - Tell us about your gear and canoe modifications. 00:39:38 - What would you do if your canoe breaks? 00:42:53 - How did you go about finding emergency contacts in small towns? 00:45:35 - What is the culture like where you were? 00:51:37 - Tell us about the upstream section and returning to Dawson. 00:56:16 - What were some of the high consequence moves you had to make? 01:05:46 - How do you portage a 1,000 pound boat? 01:07:45 - Discussion about muskeg 01:10:24 - How did you ultimately get out of that situation? 01:11:22 - What did the route look like from there forward? 01:12:40 - Discussion about upstream paddling 01:17:50 - What did your diet look like on this adventure? 01:20:37 - What were some of your treat-yourself meals? 01:22:30 - Did you send a lump of coal to the person who gave you bad beta? 01:23:56 - Tell us about the scariest night of the trip. 01:33:04 - How well did you sleep that night? 01:35:17 - What were the redeeming qualities of the trip? 01:38:54 - How did your relationship fare during the stressful parts of the trip? 01:41:40 - The proposal story! 01:44:55 - Tell us about your startup. 01:47:48 - Do you have any ambitions to bring it back sometime in the future? 01:49:28 - Tell us about pingos and the effects of climate change you saw on your trip. 01:51:07 - Discussion about human behavior and helping the environment 01:54:17 - Any parting words? SEGMENTS MG Check-In Stupid Thing of the Week Trek Propaganda
Triple Crown of hikes NOT on our bucket list Listener Voicemails (and leave us your own!) Mail Bag 5 Star Reviews [divider] Check out our sound guy @paulyboyshallcross. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Jason Lawrence, Christopher Marshburn, Sawyer Products, Brad and Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Patrick Cianciolo, Paul Packman Sealy, Matt Soukup, Jason Snailer, Greg Mac, Tracy “Trigger” Fawns, Mike Poisel, and Kristina Diaz. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Liz Seger, Cynthia Voth, Emily Brown, Dcnerdlet, Jeff LaFranier, Peter Ellenberg, Jacob Northrup, Peter Leven. | |||
| 31 Oct 2022 | #173 | Q&A: Thru-Hiking Food Prep, Bear Containers, Trail Recommendations, and More | 03:35:10 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are answering your burning backpacking questions! Chaunce and I tackle a wide array of Backpacker Radio listener questions - everything from how we plan our nutrition for a backpacking trip, to how we deal with the fading of trail friends after a thru-hike, when and where we recommend using a bear canister and what our go-to bear prevention strategies are, what qualities you should look for in a tent if you're backpacking with your dog, what innovations we foresee happening in the world of backpacking, and much much more. We also catch up with Backpacker Radio team members Leah and Rachel on their recent backpacking trips of the Colorado Trail and the Four Pass Loop, respectively. Also, if you get far enough into the episode, you'll be blessed with a BIG SURPRISE. This is a marathon show fueled on beer, strap in. Gossamer Gear: Use code “backpackerradio” for 15% off at gossamergear.com. RTIC Outdoors: Shop at rticoutdoors.com. Enlightened Equipment: Use code “trekit20” for a 2 day head start to 20% off and free shipping on November 3 and November 17 at enlightenedequipment.com. Green Chef: Use code “backpacker599” for free shipping on your first $5.99 meal at greenchef.com/backpacker599. [divider] Drunk Q&A! Time stamps & Questions 00:04:50 - QOTD: How drunk are you? 00:06:24 - Reminders: Apply to join the Trek! 00:08:44 - What is the best beginner east coast trail and beginner west coast trail? @sduugs 00:15:37 - Have you made your own dehydrated meals? If so, which ones? 00:19:35 - What is the best trail for learning navigational skills and off-trail hiking? @tales_on_trail 00:24:25 - Do you have a favorite electrolyte powder? @jacob_neary_ 00:30:30 - Zach, tell us more about how you plan meals and caloric intake before a long hike? 00:33:28 - What do your meals look like for a typical day on trail? 00:43:43 - How do you cope with post-trail friendships fading? @imhikinghere 00:51:19 - Is it challenging to find full-time work with a thru-hiking gap on your resume? 00:59:18 - Is a bear bag or bear canister better? Pros and cons of each? @wyatthart_9b 01:06:24 - How do you hang an Ursack? 01:07:21 - Thoughts on the DIY ultralight community? Have you built anything for hiking in a DIY spirit? @balkenbrij_ 01:12:18 - What tents are best when bringing a dog? @hunter_clark_4 01:23:40 - What will the next big leap forward in backpacking innovation/technology be? @jasonhikedsunedited 01:26:55 - Drone resupply in the backcountry: good or evil? @reedinthewind 01:29:39 - What do you look for when picking a spot to pitch a tent? @guerrero403 01:33:09 - What’s a reasonable water carry for the southern terminus of the CDT? I always bring too much. @bryce.294 01:37:10 - Can you talk about how different thru-hiking would be without trail magic or trail angels, specifically in reference to the AT? 01:46:30 - If you had to fuel your hike with PBR, how many miles per PBR would you average? Would it change once you blacked out? 01:55:15 - Triple Crown of hikers/previous podcast guests who you would want to be with you during a zombie apocalypse @trinitymarie.b 01:58:55 - While thru-hiking, what’s the craziest and most desperate fantasy you’ve had? @steven__cannon 02:01:49 - What is the most disgusting, hiker trash thing you’ve done on trail that would be totally unacceptable off trail? @chandlersam_ 02:06:24 - What is the weirdest/spookiest thing you’ve encountered hiking or backpacking at night? @jerry.ellsworth 02:17:35 - What’s your worst hiking fear? @staticmuscial 02:22:04 - Triple Crown of what you put in your fanny pack @riley.seeholzer 02:25:06 - Who is having the next kid, Zach or Chaunce? @jameswashburn 02:28:14 - What’s your tattoo? @mr_siewruk 02:28:37 - It’s okay to kind of hate hiking alone, right? @russelltee SEGMENTS Leah’s Colorado Trail Hike Rachel’s Four Pass Loop Hike [divider] Check out our sound guy @headnodculture. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Jason Lawrence, Christopher Marshburn, Sawyer Products, Brad and Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Patrick Cianciolo, Paul Packman Sealy, Matt Soukup, Jason Snailer, Greg Mac, Tracy “Trigger” Fawns, Mike Poisel, and Kristina Diaz. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Liz Seger, Cynthia Voth, Emily Brown, Dcnerdlet, Jeff LaFranier, Peter Ellenberg, Jacob Northrup, Peter Leven. | |||
| 19 Apr 2018 | Trail Correspondents #4: The First Week on Trail (Part I) | 01:13:11 | |
Episode number 4 of our Trail Correspondents series comes directly from the trail! Our hikers were tasked with interviewing a fellow thru-hiker about their first impressions of their journey. Today we hear from
You can support the show through our Patreon page, which helps us to publish episodes more frequently. Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio? Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Download this podcast. Find us on Stitcher and Google Play. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek, Chaunce, and Badger on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube Follow The Trek on Facebook, Twitter and sign up for our newsletter. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Kate Hurley Music for this episode via. | |||
| 21 Oct 2024 | Northville Placid Trail: 138 miles Through New York’s Adirondack Park | 02:30:13 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to by LMNT, we are breaking down our recent hike of the Northville Placid Trail. Chaunce, Elise, and yours truly recently set out south from Lake Placid to trek as much of the trail as we could in a 5-day period. Spoiler alert- I was forced off trail first, Chaunce did the full thing, Elise split the difference between the two of us. We give you a day by day breakdown of our trek, including a not so fun first day, a family fight on day two featuring a midday meltdown, our favorite moments from the trail (like an epic campsite off Long Lake) and much more. We also give you the rough and dirty on the NPT, including the distance, elevation gain, resupply options, terrain, water, etc yatta yatta. We wrap the show with the triple crown of John Travolta movies, whether we'd prefer the perfect stick or the perfect rock, and a one-minute gear review! LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. Gossamer Gear: Use code “SNUGGLEBUG” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com. Hikerkind: Use code “BPR15” for 15% off at hikerkind.com. [divider] Panel with Zach, Chaunce, and Elise Time stamps & Questions 00:05:00 - Reminders: Support us on Patreon for exclusive bonus content, join us in Denver on December 7th and apply to be a 2025 blogger! 00:09:40 - Introducing the NPT Panel 00:11:30 - Northville Placid Trail basics 00:13:30 - Hiking direction 00:15:05 - Day 1 of hiking 00:27:00 - Night 1 00:32:55 - Bugs, darkness, and mileage 00:42:30 - Day 2 00:47:45 - The family fight 00:58:00 - Night 2 01:02:15 - Day 3 01:06:40 - Zach’s incident 01:11:05 - Odds games 01:22:02 - Zach’s second incident 01:23:40 - Getting off trail 01:27:05 - Night 3 01:32:13 - Day 4 01:51:25 - Zach’s day 4 01:54:00 - Day 5 01:59:55 - Elise’s weird encounters 02:08:20 - Zach’s day 5 02:10:45 - Stay Salty: If you could turn any everyday activity into an Olympic sport, what would you win gold in? Segments QOTD: Would you rather find the perfect stick or the perfect rock? Triple Crown of John Travolta Movies One Minute Gear Reviews Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Ben Love, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Liz Seger, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger’ Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bonnie Ackerman, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Joann Menzer, Katharine Rudzitis, Lauren Cain, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, and Ruth S. | |||
| 14 Feb 2022 | #136 | Ryan "Constantine" Bunting | 02:02:29 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Ryan Bunting, known on trail as Constantine. Constantine may already be a familiar name, as he was recently featured on a Trek Propaganda segment about becoming the youngest person to hike all 11 National Scenic Trails at the age of 27 years. He put a bow on the achievement by setting the Fastest Known Time on the North Country Trail alongside his girlfriend, Magpie. Seeing that this is a Valentine's Day episode, we go deep into the origin story of Constantine and Magpie's relationship, we get a rundown on which were his favorite and least favorite National Scenic Trails and why, and a hilariously awkward poop story. We wrap the show with an almost announcement of the winner of the Backpacker Radio Sponsorship winner, the triple crown of national scenic trails, and the odd ways in which Chaunce and I are attempting to stay fit. Gossamer Gear discount code: Use code “littledonkeygirl” for 15% off at Gossamergear.com. Good To-Go: Use code “BPR25” HERE to save 25% on your next order. [divider] Interview with Ryan “Constantine” Bunting Time stamps & Questions 00:07:33 - QOTD: Are you training for hiking season yet? 00:19:08 - Reminders: The BPR Sponsorship recipient has been chosen & internship opportunity reminder 00:24:10 - Welcome Constantine! 00:24:52 - Do you know how many miles you’ve accrued? 00:25:20 - When did you get started hiking? 00:26:00 - What are the National Scenic Trails? 00:27:28 - When did you fall in love with the long trails? 00:28:37 - Did you hike them in the traditional order? 00:28:45 - Did you know you wanted to do all 11? 00:30:25 - Did you know you could become the youngest to complete them all? 00:31:18 - How many people have completed them all? 00:33:20 - Tell us about the Potomac Trail 00:35:45 - Fuck, Marry, Kill: PCT, AT, or CDT 00:36:00 - What 3 scenic trails would you get rid of? 00:37:33 - What’s the rest of the chronology? 00:39:37 - How many miles was that in 2021? 00:41:44 - What’s your take on the Florida Trail? 00:42:50 - How many alligators did you see? 00:44:08 - What made you swear off the state of Alabama in 2019? 00:45:28 - Any other details on the Potamac hike? 00:46:45 - Did you end up doing 35s on these trails? 00:47:40 - What food issues did you have on trail? 00:47:46 - What did you change with your food strategy? 00:51:05 - Given you experience, how did the transition to the NCT go? 00:52:07 - Did you hike the trail westbound? 00:52:23 - When did you start the NCT? 00:53:17 - Does snow deter you? 00:55:52 - Did you have a satellite communicator with you during the hypothermia scare? 00:56:40 - Do you recall what you were wearing? 00:56:56 - Walk us through the hypothermic experience 01:00:08 - The Magpie love story 01:12:55 - Can you compare your relationship on trail vs. off trail? 01:14:47 - What were the highlights of the NCT? 01:17:39 - Have you been able to pinpoint the timeframe between hiking and getting the bug to hike again? 01:18:36 - What do you enjoy about the non-stop hiking? 01:20:30 - Do you go out of your way to talk to locals? 01:21:44 - How are you able to fund these hikes? 01:22:50 - What’s your company? ElevenSkys 01:23:45 - How do you go about starting an apparel company? 01:26:26 - What’s your go-to pair of shorts? 01:26:38 - Tell us your 2022 hiking plans 01:29:30 - The Donut Story 01:31:48 - Constantine’s Poop Story 01:33:58 - Find Constantine here: ElevenSkys, Instagram SEGMENTS Trek Propaganda:
Triple Crown of National Scenic Trails Mail Bag 5 Star Reviews [divider] Check out our sound guy @Paulybooyshallcross. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Jason Lawrence, Christopher Marshburn, Sawyer Products, Brad and Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Patrick Cianciolo, and Matt Soukup. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Liz Seger, Cynthia Voth, Emily Brown, Dcnerdlet, Jeff LaFranier, Peter Ellenberg, Jacob Northrup, Peter Leven. | |||
| 30 Mar 2025 | A 3,600 Mile Triathlon, International Kidnapping, and A Truck-Pulling Marathon with Justin True (BPR #299) | 04:17:42 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Justin True. Justin's story is truly remarkable. From growing up in a home with intense physical and emotional abuse, to becoming a professional MMA fighter, to pulling a 1.5 vehicle for a full-marathon, to completing a 24hr Hero Crossfit WODathon, to being kidnapped in Egypt and deported for being accused of spying for the government, getting attacked by a shark, and most recently completing the "True Triathlon" a country wide endurance feat, including a 50-mile swim, 3,000-mile bike ride, and a 600-mile run. Given that Justin does everything to the extreme, following suit, this interview is also a marathon, but we promise you the time will fly by. Warning: This episode discusses suicide. If this topic is triggering, we encourage you to skip this interview. Help is available, call or text 988 for support. We wrap the show with the reality TV shows we want to see come to fruition, the triple crown of things that give us unreasonable anxiety, and our brutally honest opinion about New York's Northville Placid Trail. Gossamer Gear: Use code “BACKPACKER20” for 20% off packs at gossamergear.com. Purple Rain Skirts: Use code “BACKPACKER20” for 20% off at purplerainskirts.com. Ombraz: Use code “BACKPACKER30” for $30 off at ombraz.com/discount/backpacker30. [divider] Interview with Justin True Time stamps & Questions 00:04:52 - Reminders: Join us for our live show in Austin, listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon, and apply to blog for the Trek! And sign up for the Trek’s newsletter! 00:09:30 - Introducing Justin 00:10:17 - Why are you flying out to Florida? 00:14:15 - How long did the marathon take you when you were pulling a truck? 00:18:10 - Where do you get these crazy ideas? 00:23:50 - Tell us about your challenging upbringing 00:28:00 - Where do you think their anger came from? 00:31:30 - Was your mom aware of what was happening? 00:32:30 - When did you pick up fighting? 00:35:00 - Discussion about Justin’s parents 00:42:20 - Did your brother’s behavior change towards you after that? 00:43:25 - Have you thought about choosing a different path than your family? 00:46:30 - Did you work as an engineer? 00:47:40 - Tell us about fighting full time 00:53:25 - Were you ever afraid while fighting? 00:54:37 - At what point did you shift into more endurance related sports? 00:57:13 - How much cardio did you do while fighting? 01:00:00 - Do you have Type 1 fun while you’re struggling? 01:02:20 - Do you ever miss adrenaline while on long runs? 01:05:30 - Tell us the background of Cycle4Gaza 01:08:00 - Tell us about getting kidnapped in Africa 01:27:30 - Were you afraid at any point during this ordeal? 01:29:25 - Did you see anything you shouldn’t have seen? 01:30:35 - Tell us about setting the single person record for the Three National Peaks 01:37:00 - How were you working all this financially? 01:39:40 - Tell us about doing the Olympic Triathlon with a 90 pound hammer 01:42:45 - When did the kilt come into play? 01:50:58 - Did you fight a shark? 01:58:20 - What’s the heaviest you’ve deadlifted? 02:02:05 - Tell us about your 500-mile walk across Madagascar 02:16:34 - What were the highlights of Madagascar? 02:21:50 - Tell us about the 24hr Hero Crossfit WODathon 02:28:04 - Where did the idea for the True Triathlon come from? 02:31:00 - Discussion about the swim portion 02:34:30 - How big was your team? 02:39:00 - How are you so hard on yourself but see other people differently? 02:43:10 - Where does the poop go? 02:44:30 - Where do you start biking? 02:50:20 - Why did the swim coach stay until Houston? 02:53:00 - What does your mom think about all your adventures? 02:53:40 - What standout stories do you have from the biking portion? 02:59:40 - Justin’s plans for next year 03:01:25 - Discussion about falling asleep while swimming 03:05:30 - Discussion about the triathlon 03:22:00 - What’s the takeaway of being inspired by other people? 03:23:30 - What’d you feel when you finally finished? 03:27:00 - Tell us about Naked & Afraid 03:30:30 - Were you shy about being naked on tv? 03:33:00 - What were your takeaways from the show? 03:36:25 - What was the duration and the prize? 03:41:00 - Have you considered any more traditional endurance events like FKTs or the Barkley? 03:42:35 - Tell us about the runs you do while drinking beer 03:45:15 - Do you have any plans on slowing down? 03:48:00 - Where should people go to keep up with you? Segments QOTD: What’s a reality TV show you want to see brought into existence? Triple Crown of things that give you unreasonable anxiety Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek’s newsletter Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Ben Love, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Greg McDaniel, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Liz Seger, Mud Tom, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger’ Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Bonnie Ackerman, Chris Pyle, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Katharine Rudzitis, Lauren Cain, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Ruth S, and Spencer Hinson. | |||
| 28 Mar 2018 | #7 - Jeffrey "Legend" Garmire on Hiking the Triple Crown in a Calendar Year | 01:15:39 | |
Many a'hiker trash dream of completing the triple crown of backpacking, to hike the Appalachian, Pacific Crest, and Continental Divide Trail. To do so over the course of one's life is a notable feat. Doing this in a single year is bananas, which is exactly what episode 7's guest, Jeffrey "Legend" Garmire, accomplished. In this episode, we go down the rabbit hole learning everything that went into Legend's Calendar Triple including daily mileage, toughest days on trail, gear used, and best stories from the adventure. He also talks about his Pacific Northwest Trail thru-hike and conquering all of the 14,000 foot peaks in Colorado. Topics discussed in this episode include:
You can support the show by donating to our Patreon page. Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio? Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Follow Legend, Backpacker Radio, The Trek, Chaunce, and Badger on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube Follow The Trek on Facebook, Twitter and sign up for our newsletter. | |||
| 29 May 2023 | #203 | Darwin Returns to Talk Evolved Supply Co., Documenting Sawyer's Philanthropy in Fiji, and Hosting a Travel Show | 02:08:44 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Sawyer Products, we are joined once again by Darwin Rakestraw, of Darwin on the Trail YouTube fame. We catch up on the past year of Darwin's adventures, including learning all about his new gear company, Evolved Supply Co., the inspiration for how he builds products, which products he chooses, what offerings might be in the pipeline, and more. We also learn about a brand new documentary featuring Brew and Jennifer Pharr Davis and their kiddos, which chronicles Sawyer's initiative to bring clean water to the non-resort portions of Fiji. We wrap the chat with a preview of the forthcoming chapter in Darwin's thriving media career, one all fans of adventure should be excited to learn more about. We wrap the show with a triple crown of "you might be a new hiker if...", an overview of a new inclusive product line from REI, and quite possibly the most off the rails ad read of all time at the end of the episode. Sawyer Products: Check out Sawyer’s Permethrin Pump at REI. Backpacker’s Pantry: Use code “TWINSFORWINS” for 25% off at backpackerspantry.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code “TAKELESSTREKMORE” for 15% off at gossamergear.com. RTIC Outdoors: Shop at rticoutdoors.com. OnX Backcountry: Use code “BACKPACKERRADIO20” for 20% off a Premium or Elite Membership at onxmaps.com. [divider] Interview with Darwin Time stamps & Questions 00:05:20 - QOTD: If you could redo your bachelor party, where would you have it? 00:13:06 - Reminders: Support us on Patreon! 00:16:14 - Introducing Darwin 00:18:33 - Fill us in on what you’ve been up to for the past year! 00:21:08 - Tell us about your gear company 00:23:12 - What about your gear separates you from the other products available? 00:28:20 - Walk us through your backpack design 00:32:04 - What have you learned about gear that you didn’t know while hiking? 00:36:12 - Are there concerns about people trying to steal your business information? 00:39:57 - Tell us more about your sun hoodie 00:46:00 - Give us the full rundown on your project with Jennifer Pharr Davis 00:53:30 - Discussion about Sawyer’s philanthropy work 00:55:50 - What is your role in the project? 00:58:10 - What is Jenn and her family’s role in the project? 01:01:05 - Do Fijians know it’s Sawyer providing the filter? 01:04:45 - Where can people watch the film? 01:10:35 - How do you manage your busy schedule? 01:12:40 - Fuck Marry Kill: Thru-hiking, your media company, and your gear company 01:14:38 - What else are you up to that you want people to know about? 01:19:30 - Discussion about Darwin’s travels to Nepal 01:20:52 - Are you going to start adding more travel content to your Youtube? 01:25:40 - Thank you! SEGMENTS Trek Propaganda
Stupid Thing of the Week Triple Crown of you might be a new hiker if… Leave No Trace Ne-ne-nes Listener Voicemail (and leave us your own!) 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @paulyboyshallcross. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex & Misty with Navigators Crafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Christopher Marshburn, Dayne, DoGoodPantry, Greg McDaniel, Liz Seger, Matt Soukup, Mike Poisel, Morgan Luke, Patrick Cianciolo, Sawyer Products, Timothy Hahn, and Tracy “Trigger” Fawns. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jake Landgraf, Jeanne Latshaw, Jeff LaFranier, Joann Menzer, Keith Dobie Jr, Kelly Heikkila, and Peter. | |||
| 05 Feb 2019 | #28 | The Continental Divide Trail Episode featuring Teresa Martinez, Layering for the Appalachian Trail, and Vlogging Etiquette | 01:36:48 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, we sit down with Teresa Martinez, the executive director at the Continental Divide Trail Coalition. We talk all things CDT, including the future of the trail, the biggest threats to its continued development, Teresa's favorite stretch of trail, and way more. We also talk through some layering strategies for the Appalachian Trail, and Chaunce gives us a primer on vlogging etiquette. We close out the show by featuring your questions via Instagram. Subjects discussed in today's show include:
Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio? Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Stitcher and Google Play. Support us on Patreon!A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Sawyer Products, Travis Smith, and S11N. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Gregory Gardner, Andre Oosthuizen, Randy Harter, and Peter Leven Follow The Continental Divide Trail Coalition, Backpacker Radio, The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow The Trek on Facebook, Twitter and sign up for our newsletter. Intro music via. | |||
| 03 Dec 2018 | Trail Correspondents #17: Life After the Trail | 01:14:51 | |
This is it. The end. Our final episode of the season. A thru-hike is- typically speaking- a half year adventure. In the midst of this journey, that feels like a very long time. Certainly long enough to adapt to an entirely different way of life. In the spectrum of one's life, however, it's just a blink of an eye (God willing). Which is why I think today's episode might be my favorite yet. Today we hear from our hikers a couple weeks (or more) removed from their treks. We learn how the lessons and habits of their former lives have bled over into "the real world". Of course soaking up the adventure for what it is, while it's happening, is of utmost importance- but in my perspective, it's how these hikes alter someone's world long after they've left the trail that's of most interest. Our correspondents reflects back on their hikes and the chasm between this former world and their current. And lastly- we'll hear from Jeffrey Garmire aka Legend, who recently completed The Great Western Loop. His update is brief, but the emotion is strong, you can hear it especially in his sign-off. In today's show, we hear from:
APPLICATION FOR 2019 TRAIL CORRESPONDENTS
You can support the show through our Patreon page, which helps us to publish episodes more frequently. Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio? Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co.
Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Download this podcast. Find us on Stitcher and Google Play. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek, Chaunce, and Badger on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube Follow The Trek on Facebook, Twitter and sign up for our newsletter. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Sawyer Products and Tama Lama Ding Dong. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Gregory Gardner, Andre Oosthuizen, Randy Harter, and Peter Leven Episode produced by Pauly Boy Shallcross. Check out his coffee roaster, Old Man Murph's. Music via. | |||
| 08 Jan 2021 | #92 | Andrew Skurka Returns | 02:14:08 | |
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are once again joined by Andrew Skurka- and as you might’ve already guessed, it does not disappoint. We touch on a range of different subjects in today’s show ranging from how COVID effected his guiding business, to why wildfires have been so bad in the west over the past couple of decades (and the reason might surprise you), to Andrew’s favorite trail meals, to the intricacies of the backcountry bidet, to picking the perfect campsite, to layering in the winter, and much more. Put simply, you will enjoy this chat. We round out the show with a reminder of our impending butt tattoos, a triple crown of the worst chores, an explosive butthole patent-pending, picking death by shark or mountain lion, and some horse facts, crab edition. Gossamer Gear discount code: Use code "POOPSTORY" to save 15% off your cart at GossamerGear.com Feals.com discount code: Use code "BACKPACKER" to get 50% automatically taken off your first order with free shipping. [divider] Help us raise $100,000 for the trails and we'll get butt tattoos. Apply to be a Trail Correspondent. Check out Hikerlink. How to Get a Job In the Outdoor Industry by Kelly Floro New Podcast Seeking Research Intern (A Juliana Chauncey Project) [divider] Interview with Andre Skurka 00:04:49 - Intro to Andrew Skurka 00:06:38 - What has Andrew done since 2019? 00:07:53 - Is it usually bigger nes in the FKT world when someone breaks a record rather than setting one? 00:09:28 - Was 2019 mostly dedicated to the guiding business? 00:10:20 - How did guiding go in 2020? 00:12:15 - What was your thought process on when to pull a plug on a trip for 2020? 00:14:48 - You also dealt with a lot of fires this year correct? 00:15:14 - How many clients are usually on each trip? 00:15:40 - Did you run into any problems with the number of people? 00:17:04 - How are you feeling about trips in 2021? 00:24:41 - Are people going to have to submit whether or not they’ve been vaccinated before going on a trip? 00:25:56 - Did the 2020 fire season impact how you are scheduling trips in 2021? 00:28:09 - What is your personal threshold for hiking in smoke? 00:34:19 - Do you want to speak to what is causing wildfires? 00:37:50 - What is the solution for wildfires? 00:40:20 - Is climate change part of the causes of wildfires? 00:41:00 - The Ted Talk Andrew shared on wildfires. 00:41:19 - Do you have tips for hiking in smoke/near wildfires? 00:43:09 - Would you ever consider making plan B’s for your trips? 00:45:00 - Can you touch on some of the trips you are looking forward to in 2021? 00:49:42 - How active are you with new gear testing? 00:51:10 - Skurka uses a pillow. 00:57:10 - Is there anything else you’ve used this year that you like? 01:01:10 - You’re a hunter right? 01:02:25 - What are some of your favorite backcountry recipes? 01:04:42 - Do you put anything with the protein powder? 01:05:27 - What does Skrurka eat in normal life? 01:06:10 - So you run fasted? 01:10:19 - People want to know about the backcountry bidet? 01:12:22 - Do you bury the things you use to wipe? 01:14:00 - Do you use an accessory? Do you poke a hole in the lid? 01:14:28 - Have you ever thought of making a video that demonstrates? 01:15:48 - How do you know you’re clean at the end? 01:16:39 - Wait, so you don’t just splash the water? 01:18:00 - Do you use soap on your hands after? 01:18:33 - Out of your high route guides, what is your top recommendation for beginners? 01:19:47 - What do you look for in picking the perfect campsite? 01:22:30 - Do you have any advice for beginner winter hiking/snowshoeing/backpacking? 01:28:03 - What do you want to plug?
SegmentsHow to Get a Job In the Outdoor Industry by Kelly Floro New Podcast Seeking Research Intern (A Juliana Chauncey Project) How much money would you have to be paid to be someone’s personal bidet assistant? Triple Crown of Chores You Hate Patent Pending: A Washer and Dryer in One Machine Horse Hermit Crab Facts QOTD: Would you rather be trapped in a cage with a mountain lion or a pool with a bull shark? Mail Bag [divider] Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Jason Lawrence, Austen McDaniel, Andrew, Christopher Marshburn, S11N, and Sawyer Products A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Cynthia Voth, Brandon Spilker, Emily Brown, Jeffrey Miller, Mitchell, Zoe Jenkins, Dcnerdlet, Jeff LaFranier, Mark Snook, Peter Ellenberg, Thomas Fullmer, Jacob Northrup, Peter Leven Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. | |||
| 17 Feb 2025 | Managing Relationships while Thru-Hiking with Michele Weiner-Davis, aka Zach's Mom | 02:30:04 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by acclaimed author, marriage therapist, and speaker, Michele Weiner-Davis, known in my household simply as "mom". Being our Valentine's Day episode, this one is meant to equip you with the knowledge necessary to make your relationship flourish. We cover a range of questions, both general tips on how to improve your relationships, but also thru-hiking specific scenarios, including how to navigate when one partner is on the trail and the other is back home, encountering challenges when hiking together, and how to get buy in from nervous parents (a subject in which my mother is overqualified to speak on). Chaunce also attempts to get Badger to blush by asking embarrassing questions about his past. We wrap the show with some sobering news about how listeners can help a past guest in her fight against cancer; Chaunce and her fiance, Garrett, air out their pettiest fights; and we search for the perfect word for that post-massive dump feeling. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. Gossamer Gear: Use code “BACKPACKER20” for 20% off packs at gossamergear.com. [divider] Interview with Michele Weiner-Davis Time stamps & Questions 00:05:15 - Reminders: Join us for our live show in Austin, listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon, and apply to blog for the Trek! 00:09:00 - Introducing Michele 00:09:50 - What are you most proud of professionally? 00:12:15 - What’s the crossover between saving marriages and raising children? 00:13:27 - How does your work influence your own marriage? 00:14:35 - What is it like being mother to Zach Davis? 00:16:10 - What’s the dumbest thing you’ve ever seen Zach do? 00:19:22 - Describe why Zach is called the feral child 00:21:28 - What is something about Zach you don’t think the listeners would know? 00:22:45 - What was your advice to Zach when he was engaged and about to hike the PCT? 00:24:48 - How did you get into this work in the first place? 00:29:30 - In what other ways is your angle different from the average therapist? 00:31:00 - Should marriages always be saved? 00:33:18 - Where are the key areas where relationships go wrong? 00:36:50 - How can someone hiking make their partner at home feel valued? 00:43:50 - Discussion about parents reacting to their children's thru-hikes 00:47:30 - How long did it take you to feel comfortable with Zach being on the AT? 00:49:00 - How would you handle a situation where the person at home feels jealous? 00:54:25 - “I love hiking but my wife doesn't. She's short (under 5ft) so how big a backpack would I need to kidnap, I mean, carry her in? Seriously she hates camping and nothing I've tried works. We've been married for almost thirty years. Any suggestions?” 00:55:25 - “If a marriage is already rocky, do you think that sharing a thru-hike is more likely or less likely to help fix a relationship?” 00:58:38 - “So I’m single and not only am I getting into long distance backpacking but I also work in film where we could be hired for a project that has us traveling for months at a time within a week of being hired. I often find myself hesitant to get into a relationship with someone who has a more stable 9-5 lifestyle. How can I approach the initial conversation to set expectations of these long gaps in availability? Should I just stick to dating people in my industry/ people with less traditional lifestyles? Thanks!” 01:00:50 - How would you advise a child to get their parent’s sign off for a hike? 01:07:37 - “My partner supported me initially with my desire to do multi day backpacking trips. However, he's now made comments about how he hopes I'm not planning to make this a regular thing (I've gone away twice for ~2.5 weeks). I realize it's a lot to ask when you are a parent, even though our kids are teens, but I do want to be able to continue to enjoy these trips (he's not interested). How would you approach this situation to avoid resentment building on both sides?” 01:11:33 - “Do couples who make it through a thru-hike together really stay together?” 01:16:22 - What kind of conversations can people have prior to the end of the trail? 01:18:07 - “One of the most difficult parts of a thru hike for my wife and I is the time away from each other, but once we get over that and the trail is finished the next hardest thing for both of us is just getting used to being around each other again, we both have basically lived separate lives for the past few months and have become used to our own routines and now we’re stuck with each other again. Any tips for making that transition back into “normal” married life any easier.” 01:21:38 - “I’m considering a thru-hike during a career break. My husband doesn’t have the same time off work so I would be hiking without him. He’s very supportive of my hiking plans but I worry about what it will do to our marriage if I have this transformational experience without him. Any advice on managing this?” 01:26:55 - “How do I deal with the guilt of leaving a spouse at home while I’m hiking like a happy forest fairy?” 01:28:10 - “Do we outgrow people and stagnate our own growth, or is this a misconception?” 01:32:42 - How much of a good relationship is meeting your soulmate and how much is working towards it? 01:33:45 - Do you think anyone can make a relationship work with anyone? 01:35:45 - Stay Salty Question: What is your hottest take in the world of relationships? 01:40:40 - Is there a book you’d recommend for thru-hikers? Segments Trek Propaganda
QOTD: What word describes that sweet relieving feeling after taking a big dump? Triple Crown of petty things you’ve fought over Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Ben Love, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Greg McDaniel, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Liz Seger, Mud Tom, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger’ Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Bonnie Ackerman, Chris Pyle, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Katharine Rudzitis, Lauren Cain, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Ruth S, and Spencer Hinson. | |||
| 06 Mar 2023 | #191 | Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail 2.0: High Snow Year Considerations, Gear Changes by Section, and More | 02:17:17 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are chatting all things Pacific Crest Trail, round two. We are joined by our pal and two-time PCT thru-hiker, Michael "Grizzly" Ivey to talk through our top advice for hiking the PCT, with a special emphasis on doing so during a high snow year, which 2023 is shaping up to be. We go through suggestions for traveling through a snowy Sierra, including estimating food carries, how to approach water crossings, grouping, self-arresting skills, and more. We also chat through some more general tips including how to budget zero days, evaluating what type of hiker you are, and how to mentally approach the hike overall during a year with a large potential for chaos. We wrap the panel by breaking down how our gear changed from one section to the next during our own PCT hikes. If you like the PCT, we think you'll love this episode. Gossamer Gear: Use code “BACKPACKERRADIO” for 15% off at gossamergear.com. Organifi: Use code “BACKPACKER” for 20% off at organifi.com/backpacker. Good To-Go: Use code “TREK25” for 25% off at goodto-go.com. Goodr: Use code “BACKPACKER” for free shipping on your first order at goodr.com/backpacker. Enlightened Equipment: Use code “TREKPOD10” for 10% off Enlightened Equipment’s Stock Revelation Quilt or Torrid Jacket at enlightenedequipment.com. [divider] PCT Panel with Chaunce, Badger, and Grizzly Time stamps & Questions 00:05:04 - QOTD: If you worked in fast food, would you prioritize the drive-thru orders or the in-store orders? 00:08:20 - Reminders: Vote for BPR in the Sports Podcast Awards! Replace sweet sweet Leah and become our video person! 00:12:53 - Introducing Grizzly 00:15:33 - Zach Tip #1: Be ready for everything that comes with a high snow year 00:18:10 - Daniel’s 2017 High Snow Year Trek post 00:21:10 - Zach Tip #1a: You can’t carry too much food 00:25:38 - Zach Tip #1b: Creek crossings in swift water above your mid-thigh are dangerous 00:30:26 - Discussion about snow bridges 00:33:01 - Zach Tip #1c: Avoid hiking solo, especially at water crossings 00:39:31 - Chaunce Tip #1: Know your own limitations 00:43:27 - Grizzly’s trail resume 00:47:10 - Grizzly Tip #1: Identify what kind of hiker you are and how that will affect your hike 00:50:51 - Zach Tip #2: Go into your hike with a flexible mindset 00:59:00 - Chaunce Tip #2: Learn how to self-arrest and practice it before getting on trail 01:05:25 - Grizzly Tip #2: No matter how dialed in your gear is, you’ll learn something new 01:14:03 - Chaunce Tip #3: Budget your zero days 01:23:37 - Zach Tip #3: Sun umbrellas are the shit 01:29:03 - Shoutout to Rachel! 01:29:20 - Grizzly’s PCT gear swaps 01:36:25 - Discussion about shoes 01:39:35 - Chaunce’s PCT gear swaps 01:40:50 - Zach’s PCT gear swaps 01:46:00 - Favorite spots in the desert 01:52:00 - Discussion about trail angels near the southern terminus 01:54:44 - Favorite spots in the Sierra/NorCal 01:59:20 - Favorite spots in Oregon 02:02:40 - Favorite spots in Washington SEGMENTS 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @paulyboyshallcross. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Christopher Marshburn, Dayne, DoGoodPantry, Greg McDaniel, Kristina Diaz, Matt Soukup, Mike Poisel, Morgan Luke, Patrick Cianciolo, Sawyer Products, and Tracy “Trigger” Fawns. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Dcnerdlet, Jacob Northrup, Jeff LaFranier, Keith Dobie Jr, Liz Seger, and Peter. | |||
| 10 Jun 2024 | Taylor the Nahamsha Hiker on Hiking the AT Twice, Youtube Fame, and Running a Gift Shop | 02:26:01 | |
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Sawyer Products, we are joined by Taylor the Nahamsha Hiker. Taylor is a thru-hiker, peak bagger, prominent YouTuber, and as of the recording of this episode, exceptionally pregnant. In addition to hiking the AT in 2021 and 2023, Taylor has also hiked all 48 of New Hampshire’s 4,000 footers. We learn all about her entry into the world of thru-hiking, how she grew her YouTube following- including a friendly sibling rivalry, what the life of running a gift store is like, and her AT-themed Monopoly board game. We wrap the show with a recap of the remainder of this years AT Trail Days, including consuming butter and dead bodies (fortunately, not related), what Backpacker Radio fans shall henceforth call themselves, the triple crown of things we wish we could buy stock in, and preview a 175-mile hike that Badger is doing around Denver. Sawyer Products: Check out Sawyer’s Permethrin Pump at REI. Gossamer Gear: Use code “SNUGGLEBUG” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com. Shady Rays: Use code “TREK” for 50% off two or more pairs of sunglasses at shadyrays.com. [divider] Interview with Taylor the Nahamsha Hiker Time stamps & Questions 00:03:28 - Reminders: Suggest a guest for PCT Days and support us on Patreon for exclusive bonus content! 00:06:07 - Trail Days Recap 00:32:15 - Introducing Taylor 00:34:49 - Tell us about moving to New Hampshire 00:37:17 - Tell us about your first hikes in the Whites and how those prepared you for the AT 00:39:15 - What was it like getting off the AT in 2020? 00:42:50 - How does one get into the gift shop business and what is it like? 00:48:01 - Did you start Youtubing during your first AT attempt? 00:50:22 - Tell us about getting back on the AT in 2021 00:52:25 - Tell us about getting off trail to drive a marathon 00:56:00 - Do you prefer hiking solo over hiking with a tramily? 00:58:30 - When did you start getting judgmental comments on your channel? 01:00:27 - In what instance do the comments go too far? 01:02:50 - How do you maintain your motivation while making videos? 01:06:15 - Did you have media training prior to starting Youtube? 01:08:02 - How has your tech changed over the years? 01:09:21 - What standout stories do you have from your 2021 hike? 01:10:30 - Have you always been athletic? 01:12:30 - Tell us about the Belknap Range Redline 01:16:00 - Discussion about Taylor’s wedding and honeymoon 01:17:24 - How did you decide to hike the AT a second time? 01:19:35 - What places did you intentionally return to on your second thru-hike? 01:20:55 - Tell us about the end of your second AT trip 01:26:57 - Did you enjoy the second hike as much as the first? 01:30:30 - Did you feel compelled to stay on trail because of your audience? 01:31:40 - Discussion about Taylor’s trail videos and advice for others 01:36:25 - Do you have any good poop stories? 01:41:48 - Tell us about the Lakes Region Explorer Patch Program 01:42:25 - Tell us about camping while 8 months pregnant 01:44:50 - What videos do you have left to make before giving birth? 01:46:08 - What is the vent diagram between thru-hiker and pregnancy cravings? 01:47:50 - Where can people follow you? 01:48:36 - Sawyer Question: if you were given an unlimited budget to throw a party for any historical figure, who would it be and what would the theme be? Segments Trek Propaganda: Every Pizza on the Colorado Trail, Ranked by JT Simmons QOTD: Beyonce has the beehive, Taylor Swift has the swifties, Lady Gaga has the little monsters…what would Backpacker Radio listeners be? Triple Crown of things you wish you could buy stock in New Thing of the Week Priest Confessions Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex & Misty with Navigators Crafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Hailey Buckingham, Liz Seger, Patrick Cianciolo, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, and Tracy “Trigger” Fawns. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: 12 Trees Farms, Bonnie Ackerman, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Joann Menzer, Katharine Rudzitis, Keith Dobie Jr, Merle Watkins, Peter, and Ruth S. | |||
| 10 Mar 2025 | 10+ International Hikes and a Continuous Yo-Yo of the AT and Long Trail with Curtis Himstedt (BPR #296) | 02:33:34 | |
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Curtis Himstedt, known on trail as Easily Forgotten. Easily Forgotten’s backpacking resume is bananas. A partial list of his adventures includes the Annapurna Circuit, Pembrokeshire Coastal Path in Wales, the GR10, Tour du Mont Blanc, Yorkshire Dales High Way, South Downs Way, and Cotswold Way in England, the Triple Crown in the U.S., the Tahoe Rim Trail, and a continuous yo-yo of the Appalachian Trail and Long Trail between 2023-2024. Curtis takes us through these treks, especially the ones we haven't covered on the podcast before, shares how his first divorce inspired him to get into thru-hiking, explains why he feels more like himself on trail than in “the real world,” and gives us a preview of his upcoming adventures as he continues trekking strong into his 60s. We wrap the show with news of a major gear retailer accused of ties to forced labor, a new navigation app you’ll want on your radar for 2025, the triple crown of the worst fashion trends, a debate on how to inform someone of their LNT violation, what we’d replace our hands with if given the choice, and much more. Topo Athletic: Use code “TREKWINTER15” at topoathletic.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code “BACKPACKER20” for 20% off packs at gossamergear.com. Ombraz: Use code “BACKPACKER30” for $30 off at ombraz.com/discount/backpacker30. [divider] Interview with Curtis Himstedt aka Easily Forgotten Time stamps & Questions 00:06:10 - Reminders: Join us for our live show in Austin, listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon, and apply to blog for the Trek! 00:09:45 - Introducing Curtis 00:11:20 - What was your weight loss story? 00:12:55 - How did you get into long distance backpacking? 00:14:53 - How old were you when you were in Boy Scouts? 00:16:57 - Is there a part of you that’s grateful to your initial divorce for getting you into hiking? 00:19:00 - What learning lessons did you have on the Annapurna Circuit? 00:23:00 - What was life like on your farm? 00:24:00 - From an engineer’s perspective, what was hiking the West Highland Way like? 00:27:05 - Would you recommend the West Highland Way to others? 00:28:52 - Has it ever backfired on you to not plan too much of your hikes? 00:30:40 - Do you feel more comfortable when hiking long trails? 00:32:20 - What advice do you have for someone about to get married? 00:35:00 - Discussion about planning international hikes 00:35:44 - Tell us more about the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path 00:37:33 - Tell us about the Grey Wolf Loop 00:40:20 - Tell us more about hiking in England 00:42:56 - Tell us more about the GR10 00:49:05 - Tell us about hiking the AT in 2018 00:54:50 - Tell us about hiking the PCT in 2019 00:57:08 - How did you like the Oregon Coast Trail? 01:00:10 - At what point do you start planning future hikes? 01:01:50 - Do you feel a sense of fulfillment exploring new trails each year? 01:04:20 - Tell us about the South Downs Way 01:05:48 - What were your top 3 favorite trails in the UK? 01:08:50 - Tell us about the Kerry Way 01:10:53 - Discussion about the Portuguese Camino 01:12:15 - What does your gear look like today? 01:15:01 - Tell us about your hiking in the Azores 01:22:25 - Discussion about not planning lodging on European trails 01:23:28 - Tell us about the Cinque Terre 01:25:25 - Tell us about the Via Degli Dei 01:26:55 - Tell us about your MEGA GAME LT^2 adventure 01:33:00 - Story about Curtis’s father 01:38:25 - You don’t like FKTs but you like endurance hiking? 01:39:42 - What’s the northern section like in the winter? 01:42:50 - How many miles are you typically hiking in a day? 01:44:20 - What about the AT do you love so much? 01:46:05 - What do your next 4 years of hiking look like? 01:49:20 - Peak Performance Question: What is your top performance-enhancing or backpacking hack? Segments Trek Propaganda
QOTD: If you had to replace your hands with something else, what would you pick? Triple Crown of the worst fashion trends Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek’s newsletter Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Ben Love, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Greg McDaniel, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Liz Seger, Mud Tom, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger’ Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Bonnie Ackerman, Chris Pyle, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Katharine Rudzitis, Lauren Cain, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Ruth S, and Spencer Hinson. | |||
| 18 Mar 2020 | #64 | Erik Schlimmer on the Trans-Adirondack Route, Peak Bagging in the Northeast, Toponyms, and Being a Professional Bird Catcher | 02:59:23 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, we are joined by Erik Schlimmer. Erik might be the hiker's edition of Forest Gump, in that he's somehow squeezed five lifetimes worth of events into his four plus decades on this earth. If you're a fan of the Adirondack, you are in luck, because Erik is not only one of the most experienced hikers in this region, but also a historian of the range at large. We also learn all about toponyms, including, what that word means, and he offers some truly fascinating examples. Erik also shares about his time as a Coach on the show MTV Made, his time as a paratrooper, and his thriving career as a bird catcher. Prepare to be filled with entertainment and knowledge. We also dive into the history of peak bagging in the northeast, introduce a new segment- Fox News, learn about ultralight vibrators, how to ask an employer for time off to thru-hike, and wrap it up with a listener poop story. Also, at the top of the show, Badger offers his two cents on the latest with the Coronavirus pandemic and how it relates to thru-hikers. [divider] Listen
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[divider] Interview with Erik Schlimmer00:00:00 - Erik Schlimmer Intro 00:00:55 - Gossamer Gear discount code: ATDRINK15 for 15% off 00:02:10 - Green Belly discount code: trek2020 for 15% off 00:04:08 - Hikerlink is out! 00:05:30 - QOTD: What is something you are terrible at but wish you could do well? 00:07:09 - Erik’s Cliff Notes Background. 00:08:20 - How Erik Ended Up on His 2002 Thru-Hike of the Florida Trail (via the 100 tallest Adirondack Peaks) 00:10:45 - Erik’s Educational Background 00:11:45 - Erik’s Adirondack Expertise 00:13:05 - Erik’s Specialty: Onomastics, Specifically Toponyms 00:14:30 - The Trans-Adirondack Route (Establishment, Completion Rates, Best Seasons, etc.) 00:21:40 - Getting a Handshake Deal so Hikers Can Cross Through Private Land 00:22:30 - What keeps thru-hikers from finishing the Trans-Adirondack route? 00:24:50 - How long does a Trans-Adirondack hike take? 00:26:20 - Resupply on the Trans-Adirondack Route 00:31:07 - The Difficulties of the Trans-Adirondack Route (and How it Compares to the Long Trail/The Whites in New Hampshire) 00:32:00 - Sustainable Trail Building 00:38:30 - Becoming a BackCountry Ranger (How do you get into it? Where do you start?) 00:40:40 - Recurring Themes of Rescues by SAR 00:42:34 - Erik Wants To See a Winter Thru-Hike of the Trans-Adirondack Route 00:43:40 - Where To Get Erik’s Book ( Trans-Adirondack Route & His Publishing Company - Beechwood Books) 00:44:28 - What are the concerns of a winter thru of the Trans-Adirondack Route? 00:49:20 - The History of Peak Bagging in the North East Part 1 & Part 2 00:50:49 - What about names that came from Native Americans? 00:54:20 - Talking about Toponym Work 01:03:26 - Calamity Pond and Naming Repeats 01:05:30 - Catamount Mountain 01:07:03 - Are there mountain lions in the North East? 01:09:40 - The Northville-Placid Trail 01:12:30 - Wildlife on the Northville-Placid Trail 01:18:00 - Deer Ticks? 01:19:44 - Erik’s 2,000 Summits 01:25:55 - Erik’s First Adirondack Mountain 01:27:53 - How Erik Went From a Master’s in Social Work to Being a Professional Bird Catcher 01:34:00 - Commercial Break: Appalachian Gear Company - Use Code: BACKPACKERRADIO for 10% off 1:35:43 - Erik’s Time in the Military (Earning His Wings, Staying Awake in the Woods for Days on End, and 90 Pound Packs) 01:41:35 - Parachute Landing Falls 01:44:00 - Getting Tangled While Parachuting 01:48:30 - Why did Erik want a Masters in Social Work? 01:49:50 - Hiking and Mental Health 01:54:00 - Erik Was a MTV Made Coach 02:08:58 - Erik’s Trek Articles, Trans-Adirondack Route, Beechwood Books, Instagram accounts: @us_mountains, @transADK SEGMENTS 02:10:00 - Trek Propaganda - The History of Peak Bagging in the North East Part 1 & Part 2, Trail Correspondents Season 3 02:20:44 - FOX NEWS (News About Foxes) 02:23:29 - Mail Bag (Vibrator Suggestions, Taryns That Love Chaunce, Taking Time Off to Thru-Hike) 02:43:18 - Listener Poop Story 02:46:30 - 5 Star Reviews [divider] Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio? Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co.
Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Stitcher and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Cristopher Marshburn, S11N, Sawyer Products, Thomas Fullner, and Travis Smith. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Gregory Gardner, Jacob Northrup, Jeff LaFranier, Mark Snook, Michelle Pugh, Peter Leven, Peter Ellenberg. Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio, and Chaunce on Facebook. Follow The Trek on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter. | |||
| 11 Dec 2020 | #89 | Dr. Kristina Kiefer on Backpacking with a Dog | 02:03:00 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek we are joined by Dr. Kristina Kiefer (that's back to back doctor episodes for those keeping score at home). Dr. Kiefer is a veterinarian with a PhD in Veterinary Regenerative Medicine from the University of Minnesota. But, of greater interest to you, not only does Dr. Kiefer have the medical expertise to advise about hiking with your dog, but she also walks the walk, having done significant miles on trail with her own pup. Although we've broached the hiking with your dog subject on previous podcasts, Dr. Kiefer offers us concrete advice rooted in science. And seeing as both of your Backpacker Radio co-hosts are dog obsessed, we cover A LOT of ground in this interview ranging from how much weight a dog should carry, to what ages are appropriate for dogs to go on long distance hikes, to which breeds are best for backpacking, and more. If you hike with your dog, are planning to one day hike with a dog, or just want some juicy #dogfacts, you will enjoy this conversation. We introduce a new segment, Dad Stuff, answer some burning listener questions, and chat about winter thru-hiking the AT. Gossamer Gear discount code: Use code: POOPSTORY for 15% off your purchase at gossamergear.com. Zpacks discount code: Use code: BPRPLEX for $25 off any plex tent at zpacks.com. [divider] Thru-Hiking Coaching with Zach and Chaunce How to Save Money for a Thru-Hike by Kelly Floro discount code: Use code: IPOOPED for 15% off. [divider] Interview with Dr.Kristina Kiefer [divider] QOTD: What is something in your car’s center console that you derive too much joy from? 00:07:00 - How did you get into veterinary school and when did you know that animals, specifically dogs, were a passion of yours? 00:08:06 - How competitive is vet school? 00:08:48 - Is vet school cutthroat like law school? 00:11:03 - What is the most common procedure that you do? 00:11:38 - Are there dogs that are more likely to tear their ACL’s? 00:11:55 - Which breed is at the vet most often? 00:12:30 - What goes wrong with the dogs with smushed faces? 00:13:18 - Is it true that mutts are generally the healthiest? 00:14:47 - Where do Australian shepherds fall on the scale of health? 00:15:47 - Is there an inbreeding component to overbreeding? 00:16:52 - If you had to design the perfect trail dog, what would you pick? 00:17:49 - How do you feel about those dog genetic test kits? 00:19:04 - What are some of the key considerations people should take before bringing their dog on a thru-hike? 00:21:03 - What signs would you look for in a dog that isn’t having a good time? What cues can you look for that your dog isn’t doing well on a hike? 00:23:21 - Is it true that you shouldn’t put more than 10% of a dog’s weight in their pack? 00:24:44 - Do you have a recommendation for adjusting how much you are feeding your dog? 00:25:50 - What supplements were you giving your dog? 00:27:04 - Do you use the same food on the trail as you do at home? 00:27:47 - How big is your dog? 00:29:54 - Is there one ideal brand you would recommend? 00:30:54 - What do you feed your dog? 00:31:40 - Are there any specific ingredients you should look out for that will help or hurt? 00:34:19 - Is CBD good for dogs? 00:36:09 - Is CBD something you would consider giving your dog? 00:36:32 - Would you use CBD for anxiety for dogs? 00:37:44 - Does Harper’s nose turn pink because of allergies? 00:38:37 - Do you put sunscreen on dogs? 00:39:15 - If someone was walking with a light-skinned dog is that sunscreen something they should consider? 00:41:21 - What should someone consider before taking their dog on the PCT? 00:43:59 - Would you get your dog rattlesnake trained? 00:48:08 - Do you get special booties for your dog? 00:50:41 - How do you know when to put booties on your dog? 00:53:05 - What is Musher’s Secret? 00:53:24 - Would you put it on without the booties? 00:54:00 - Did you put anything on your dog’s paws overnight? 00:54:30 - How did you keep your dog from licking off the salve? 00:55:07 - Would you recommend someone go to the groomer throughout a thru-hike? 00:57:31 - Do all dogs need booties? And in what conditions do dogs need them? 00:58:45 - Can you do the run-through of the backpacking you’ve done with your dog? 00:59:47 - What age should dogs start backpacking? 01:02:44 - What signs should people look for that their dog might be too old for hiking or backpacking? 01:04:38 - Are there clear cut signs that a dog is having a terrible time on a hike? 01:08:07 - Would you recommend certain commands for people to learn before taking their dog on trail? 01:11:44 - Do you have tips for someone trying to train their dog for trail commands? And how do you feel with positive reinforcement being the only thing you use to train your dog? 01:13:09 - How do you train a dog (Harper) to go to your side or behind? 01:16:39 - Is there a side that’s easier to start with? 01:17:23 - Where can people keep up with Kristina? 01:18:37 - What kind of services do you offer through your website?
SEGMENTS
Trek Propaganda Use code: ihike for Patagonia Merch Is a Winter AT Thru-Hike Right For You? By Eloise Robbins Horse Ostrich Facts Dad Stuff! With Zach: Engine Lights IG Q&A
5 Star Review [divider] Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Jason Lawrence, Austen McDaniel, Andrew, Christopher Marshburn, S11N, and Sawyer Products A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Cynthia Voth, Brandon Spilker, Emily Brown, Jeffrey Miller, Mitchell, Zoe Jenkins, Dcnerdlet, Jeff LaFranier, Mark Snook, Peter Ellenberg, Thomas Fullmer, Jacob Northrup, Peter Leven Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. | |||
| 03 Jun 2024 | Brandon "Horsepower" Weis on the Calendar Year Triple Crown and Arizona Trail | 02:19:01 | |
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek brought to you by Sawyer Products, we are joined by Brandon “Horsepower” Weis. With minimal prior backpacking experience, in 2021, Brandon successfully completed the calendar year triple crown plus a thru-hike of the Arizona Trail. The next two years were not any more laid back, as he accrued more than 15,000 miles worth of backpacking over a three year span, including treks of the Benton MacKay Trail, Pinhoti, Oregon Desert Trail, Bigfoot Trail, Pacific Northwest Trail, Colorado Trail, Hayduke, and the Sheltowee Trace Trail. In addition to giving us an overview of these treks, Horsepower delights us with fun stories, including a terrifying encounter with a grizzly, sleeping in countless pit toilets, being asked to leave a restaurant due to his odor, accidentally drinking deet, and more. We wrap the show with an overview of the first half of trail days, including how Badger is the world’s biggest moron, the triple crown of our short section hike on the AT, and how many drinks constitute drinking. Sawyer Products: Check out Sawyer’s Permethrin Pump at REI. Gossamer Gear: Use code “SNUGGLEBUG” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. Shady Rays: Use code “TREK” for 50% off two or more pairs of sunglasses at shadyrays.com. [divider] Interview with Brandon “Horsepower” Weis Time stamps & Questions 00:07:30 - Reminders: Support us on Patreon for exclusive bonus content and suggest a guest for us to interview at PCT Days! 00:08:54 - Introducing Horsepower 00:09:40 - What’s your trail name origin story? 00:11:11 - What was your background in weight lifting prior to backpacking? 00:12:45 - Where did your interest in thru-hiking come from? 00:14:37 - How long were your section hikes prior to the CYTC? 00:14:55 - Tell us about being a big Lil Wayne fan 00:16:34 - Tell us about being a partier 00:18:26 - Tell us about deciding to hike the Calendar Year Triple Crown 00:20:29 - In what other ways have you gone all in on something you’re interested in? 00:22:21 - Tell us about starting the Calendar Year Triple Crown 00:24:30 - How much did your pack weigh when you started? 00:26:35 - Did you keep to a regular hiking schedule? 00:28:11 - At any point did you think it might not have been a good idea? 00:30:27 - Did you factor in zero days or town vortexes? 00:36:00 - What were your lowest points on the AT? 00:40:42 - What was your low point on the first CDT section? 00:43:47 - What drew you to The One tent? 00:44:28 - Discussion about switching over to the PCT 00:46:30 - Were you too tired to talk to other hikers? 00:47:08 - What were the high and low points on the PCT? 00:48:54 - How did you mitigate injuries? 00:50:52 - Tell us about your back injury 00:55:00 - Are you glad you have already done the Calendar Year Triple Crown? 00:56:02 - McDonalds bathroom story 00:57:44 - Too smelly to be in a restaurant story 00:58:36 - Was the AZT always the plan? 01:00:12 - Discussion about getting off the Buckeye Trail 01:01:00 - Burnt shoes story 01:03:10 - Pit toilet connoisseur 01:05:48 - Savage mice and rats 01:07:30 - Kind of maybe saved a guy’s life 01:09:10 - Held at nonthreatening knifepoint in a car 01:10:22 - Accidentally drinking DEET 01:10:53 - Accidentally holding a lovely couple hostage 01:12:26 - Hearing the song Roxanne 200 times in a night 01:15:30 - Tell us about going back to smaller trails after the CYTC 01:19:09 - Tell us about the Oregon Desert Trail 01:24:30 - Tell us about the Bigfoot Trail 01:30:48 - What’s your rationale for doing so many miles? 01:31:56 - Are you frugal when out on trail? 01:33:44 - What was your biggest pigout moment? 01:35:05 - What’s your favorite meal on trail? 01:36:37 - Eating so much peanut butter he became allergic 01:39:10 - Did you supplement at all on trail? 01:39:35 - Tell us about the Pacific Northwest Trail 01:48:15 - Plug your book! Segments Trek Propaganda: Authorities Investigating Fish Hooks Stuffed In Dog Treats Along Appalachian Trail by Ariella Nardizzi QOTD: How many drinks constitutes “drinking”? Triple Crown of moments from AT hiking One Minute Gear Reviews Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex & Misty with Navigators Crafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Hailey Buckingham, Liz Seger, Patrick Cianciolo, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, and Tracy “Trigger” Fawns. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: 12 Trees Farms, Bonnie Ackerman, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Joann Menzer, Katharine Rudzitis, Keith Dobie Jr, Merle Watkins, Peter, and Ruth S. | |||
| 26 Dec 2022 | #181 | The Real Hiking Viking's 5,000 Mile Bikepacking Tour on Great Divide Mountain Bike Route and Western Wildlands Route | 02:21:44 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined yet again by our resident yeti, Jabba aka The Real Hiking Viking aka The Hiking Viking Liking Biking. Jabba gives us the full rundown on his recent 5,000 mile bikepacking trip on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route and The Western Wildlands Route. We learn how this journey came to form due to a pair of injuries early on in the year, how bikepacking compares to thru-hiking in Jabba's eyes, legs, and heart, the biggest pros and cons of bikepacking vs. thru-hiking, a story of how Tom bunked up with a 73 year old thru-hiker for a few nights, and much more. This goes without saying anytime Jabba is on the show, but this one is wild, and doubly so today as the team was fighting a round of nasty hangovers inspired by Palooza weekend. We wrap the show with a triple crown of the worst jobs to be hungover for, we pin Mara vs. Rachel in a new game show to test their knowledge of Backpacker Radio history, people chug raw eggs, and more. Gossamer Gear: Use code “BACKPACKERRADIO” for 15% off at gossamergear.com. Casio: Shop at casio.com/us/watches. Enlightened Equipment: Use code “ULTRALIGHT10” for 10% off Enlightened Equipment’s Stock Revelation Quilt or Torrid Jacket at enlightenedequipment.com. [divider] Interview with Jabba, the Real Hiking Viking Time stamps & Questions 00:04:19 - QOTD: Did you lose any bets recently? 00:12:37 - QOTD 2: Did you have a designated popcorn/vomit bowl? 00:15:45 - Introducing Jabba, kind of 00:16:42 - Tell us about how you started your adventures in 2022. 00:18:29 - What was your injury at the start of the CDT? 00:19:18 - Jabba’s motel room bunkmate 00:24:04 - Was biking originally part of the plan? 00:27:57 - Where was the fun part of bike packing? 00:28:43 - What are your personal pros and cons of bike packing? 00:32:24 - Tell us about your bike and fixing equipment. 00:36:15 - Can you describe what a tubeless tire is? 00:38:36 - Story about the first two days of biking 00:41:19 - Would you describe your brand partnerships as a net negative or positive? 00:44:50 - Discussion about biking technique 00:47:35 - Discussion about overuse injuries and healing 00:49:35 - Do you have future hiking plans? 00:53:28 - Tell us about your Patagonia trip in 2023. 00:56:50 - Biking vs hiking: big mile days 01:00:45 - Discussion about making biking comfortable 01:05:15 - Quadzilla’s quads 01:05:57 - What did you add or upgrade during the trip for comfort or hygiene? 01:09:01 - Story about Eureka 01:12:09 - Tell us about the 9 day stretch when you weren’t alone. 01:15:38 - Biking vs hiking: being solo or with others 01:17:15 - Describe the Western Wildlands Route 01:23:29 - Did you veer off the route? 01:25:20 - Any other standout days or moments? 01:29:30 - Biking vs hiking: adrenaline rushes 01:32:38 - Biking vs hiking: budget and costs 01:34:31 - Fuck Marry Kill: thru-hiking, bike packing, college football 01:36:58 - What was your worst injury from the trip? 01:41:00 - Did you wear clip in shoes? 01:43:47 - Would you recommend thru-hiking or bikepacking to someone more? SEGMENTS Triple Crown of worst jobs to show up to hungover Trivia: Mara vs. Rachel Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @paulyboyshallcross. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Brad & Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Christopher Marshburn, Dayne, Greg McDaniel, Kristina Diaz, Matt Soukup, Mike Poisel, Patrick Cianciolo, Paul Packman Sealy, Sawyer Products, and Tracy “Trigger” Fawns. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Dcnerdlet, Jacob Northrup, Jeff LaFranier, Keith Dobie Jr, Liz Seger, and Peter. | |||
| 23 Oct 2023 | #224 | Pony 4.0: The Cape Wrath Trail, A Challenging CDT Section, and Retiring from Multi-Month Backpacking | 02:33:05 | |
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are re-re-re joined by listener favorite and our pal, Clay Bonnyman Evans, aka Pony. We catch up on all that Pony's been up to since his last appearance on the show including a thru-hike of the Cape Wrath Trail, which he refers to as the AT of the UK, his trek from Edinburgh to Glasgow, his stint as a caretaker at Woods Hole Hostel, and his latest section hike of the Continental Divide Trail, which he cites as his most psychologically challenging hike to date. In typical Pony fashion, this chat is wild- we get an extended Scottish accent, some explicit poop stories, and we are introduced to the erotic world of hedging. You might be able to guess what that is, either way, you’re soon about to find out. We wrap the show with a feature from a Trek blogger about how backpacking made her less independent, a triple crown of bummer places to be, and Chaunce triggers the internet. Vargo Outdoors: Use code “BACKPACKERRADIO” for 20% off at vargooutdoors.com. Katabatic Gear: Use code “BPR15” for 15% off at katabaticgear.com. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. [divider] Interview with Clay “Pony” Bonnyman Evans Time stamps & Questions 00:03:48 - Reminders: Check out our new merch, submit your poop story for a chance to win a BPR RTIC mug, and apply to be a blogger! 00:05:35 - Introducing Pony 00:06:02 - Tell us your poop story 00:10:20 - Tell us about caretaking at Woods Hole hostel 00:12:25 - Tell us a second poop story 00:14:38 - Discussion about the murder you got interested in 00:17:35 - Did you consider writing a book about it? 00:19:38 - Tell us about the Cape Wrath trail 00:26:46 - What are the pros and cons of going south or north? 00:28:50 - Are you planning on doing the West Highland Way? 00:29:25 - Did you notice the accent change as you got further north? 00:31:03 - What was resupplying like? 00:33:28 - What was the camping like? 00:38:00 - Anything else you want to share on this hike? 00:40:12 - Do you remember any legends? 00:42:50 - Tell us about hiking from Edinburgh to Glasgow 00:46:33 - Which city would you return to if you could only pick one? 00:47:16 - What’s the hiking culture like? 00:50:24 - Did you do anything between Scotland and going back to the CDT? 00:51:20 - Tell us about hiking alone for the most part 00:58:30 - What constitutes a bad day on the CDT? 01:02:03 - What other things did you do to make you realize you were losing your sanity? 01:05:52 - Is it surprising to you that you’re still learning a lot about yourself? 01:07:54 - Did you have any standout favorite days? 01:11:07 - Did you do any uncommon alternates that you think more people should do? 01:14:15 - What do you attribute red line fever to? 01:17:18 - What led to you still needing to mop up some miles? 01:21:32 - Tell us about recovering from giardia 01:25:02 - How does overdoing it manifest for you? 01:30:00 - Discussion about the weather 01:31:13 - Tell us about the Glacier permit system 01:35:08 - Why don’t the national parks all use the same system? 01:39:30 - Did you have any gear you loved or loathed? 01:43:30 - Do you have any hot takes for us? 01:51:40 - What’s next for you? Segments Trek Propaganda: How Thru-Hiking Made Me Less Independent by Gillian QOTD: What is something you’ve been doing recently to intentionally annoy your partner? Trigger the Internet Triple Crown of bummer places to be Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @paulyboyshallcross. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex & Misty with Navigators Crafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, DoGoodPantry, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Liz Seger, Matt Soukup, Mike Poisel, Morgan Luke, Patrick Cianciolo, Sawyer Products, Timothy Hahn, and Tracy “Trigger” Fawns. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: 12 Trees Farms, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jake Landgraf, Jeanne Latshaw, Jeff LaFranier, Joann Menzer, Keith Dobie Jr, Kelly Heikkila, Matthew Spence, and Peter. | |||
| 18 Jul 2022 | #158 | Kathryn Miles on Attempting to Solve the Shenandoah Murders | 02:08:10 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by RTIC, we are joined by Kathryn Miles. Kathryn is an award-winning journalist, science writer, and the author of five books, most recently "Trailed: One Woman's Quest to Solve the Shenandoah Murders", which is the focus of today's chat. We go deep on everything to do with this case, including the gruesome details of the murders, why this was not a random act of violence, why this case has yet to be solved, who Kathryn believes to be the perpetrator, and much more. A warning to listeners, this one goes into some pretty horrific details on the subjects of sexual assault and murder. If either of these subjects are especially triggering to you, we encourage you to skip ahead to the segments for this one. We then pivot from rape and murder to the triple crown of ice cream toppings. Typical backpacker radio stuff. RTIC Outdoors: Use code “backpacker” for 10% off your order of $50 or more at rticoutdoors.com Gossamer Gear: Use code “littledonkeygirl” for 15% off at gossamergear.com. Enlightened Equipment: Use code “ultralight10” for 10% off Enlightened Equipment’s Stock Revelation Quilt or Torrid Jacket at enlightenedequipment.com. [divider] Interview with Kathryn Miles
Time stamps & Questions 00:05:23 - QOTD: How was your day today? 00:11:37 - Introducing Kathryn Miles 00:12:12 - What’s your hiking background? 00:12:53 - Anything else you want to add about the hiker designations? 00:13:52 - Can you tell us about your journalism career? 00:15:23 - Did you always know ‘Trailed: One Woman's Quest to Solve the Shenandoah Murders’ was going to become a book? 00:17:01 - Can you give an overview of the case? 00:19:11 - What were the challenges with writing this? 00:21:36 - Do you eventually develop thicker skin towards these stories? 00:22:45 - Going into this project, were you afraid of the side effects others experienced after digging into similar stories? 00:24:08 - Did you have a background or past interest in true crime? 00:25:44 - When you’re researching something like this, where do you start? 00:27:40 - How do you focus on the killer when you don’t know the killer? 00:29:44 - Amateur sleuthing 00:30:32 - Do you worry about bringing a new potential killer into the story? 00:32:45 - Did you lose your love for the outdoors and hiking after writing the book? 00:35:12 - Did you end up viewing the photos? 00:36:40 - Could you share some more details around this being a premeditated murder? 00:39:58 - What will readers learn through the book that they wouldn’t through the police reports? 00:42:01 - What were some of the most interesting things you found in the reports? 00:47:37 - Can you speak to the general safety of the trails? 00:50:37 - Do you think there’s anything nefarious with that? 00:53:15 - Are park rangers part of a union? 00:54:01 - Tell us more about the culture clash in the involved parties 00:55:59 - Were there any thru-hiking suspects? 00:56:48 - Did you ever find out why he had a bloody knife? 00:58:18 - Can you tell us more about the second character? 01:00:24 - What were the similarities between the two murders? 01:01:01 - Was there a purpose to wrapping a body in a sleeping bag? 01:02:53 - How do they determine who’s vibrator it was? 01:03:52 - What did he do to modify it? 01:05:54 - Is there any scenario in which the murderer wants to be caught? 01:08:59 - What’s your personal opinion on who the killer is? 01:10:10 - What is Darrell Rice doing these days? 01:11:11 - Did you try to reach out to Darrell Rice? 01:12:12 - Is he still missing? 01:13:30 - What convinced them it was Darrell Rice? 01:16:28 - What do you think it will take for the FBI to pick up this case again? 01:16:53 - Where should phone calls and letters be sent? 01:17:39 - What are the odds that the person who did it, isn’t either of the two focused on in the book? 01:18:45 - How do you see the Shenandoah murders fitting into a culture of misogyny? 01:20:34 - Could you tell us more about your research into women being excluded from the outdoors? 01:22:18 - How do you instill confidence into those still out hiking near the Shenandoah? 01:24:26 - How was it hiking the AT during that time? 01:25:14 - How did it change the vibe of the trail? 01:26:49 - Do you think it would have impacted the outcome if the women were in a more public camping area? 01:28:21 - Are there other documented crimes specifically against non-binary hikers on trail? 01:30:22 - Is there any research on non-binary hiker crimes? 01:32:01 - Where should people get your book? 01:32:30 - Any projects in the pipeline we should know about? 01:33:37 - Wrap Up SEGMENTS Surprise Mail Audience Mail Bag Trek Propaganda Triple Crown Q&A Segment [divider] Check out our sound guy @Paulybooyshallcross. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Jason Lawrence, Christopher Marshburn, Sawyer Products, Brad and Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Patrick Cianciolo, Paul Packman Sealy, Matt Soukup, Jason Snailer, Greg Mac, Tracy “Trigger” Fawns, and Mike Poisel. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Liz Seger, Cynthia Voth, Emily Brown, Dcnerdlet, Jeff LaFranier, Peter Ellenberg, Jacob Northrup, Peter Leven. | |||
| 11 Dec 2023 | Ryan "Dirtmonger" Sylva on Backpacking Philosophies, the Vagabond Loop, and the Great Basin Traverse | 03:24:17 | |
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Ryan Sylva, known on trail as Dirtmonger. Let me tell you, this one is an instant classic. Dirtmonger has so many miles under his trail runners that he’s lost count, but it’s comfortably deep into the 5-digit range. We learn about all the trails and routes Dirtmonger has tackled, including the PCT, CDT, Vagabond Loop, Low to High Route, the Great Basin Traverse, Sky Island Traverse, and more. But in addition to and likely more importantly, we go deep into the inspiration and philosophy behind Dirtmonger’s backpacking career, which sheds some really interesting new perspectives into this wild world of long-distance walking. This one will eventually be a two-parter, and we’re supremely confident that you’ll enjoy this first edition. We wrap the show by learning about the marathon for cake on the AT in Virginia, where we're hiding our FBI's most wanted paperclip, and I get another vote of confidence in my highly anticipated rumble with an alien. Zoleo: Use code “BACKPACKERRADIO” for free device activation. Sawyer Products: Check out Sawyer’s Permethrin Pump at REI. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. RTIC Outdoors: Shop at rticoutdoors.com. [divider] Interview with Ryan “Dirtmonger” Sylva Watch this interview on YouTube! Time stamps & Questions 00:06:20 - Reminders: Get exclusive content on Patreon, submit your poop story, and subscribe to Backpacker Radio on YouTube! 00:12:30 - Introducing Dirtmonger 00:17:00 - What does Shitmonger mean? 00:20:55 - Dirtmonger’s poop stories 00:29:11 - The ghost poop 00:31:28 - What is your hiking origin story? 00:45:40 - How did your family struggle with you being a backpacker? 00:49:30 - What advice do you have for thru-hikers struggling to complete a trail? 00:53:54 - Discussion about intentions 00:56:12 - Did you ever contemplate giving up on the dream? 01:02:15 - Do you experience any diminishing returns with your hikes? 01:06:03 - Where did you get the first sense of chasing a nontraditional challenge? 01:11:13 - How do you feel about other people following in your footsteps? 01:16:45 - How do you finance your hikes? 01:19:15 - What guidance do you have for turning a seasonal job into a career? 01:26:30 - Have you considered trying to monetize your hiking? 01:36:46 - Tell us about the Vagabond Loop 01:42:40 - What is the attraction of social hiking? 01:48:20 - Do you experience loneliness on trail? 01:51:25 - What are you afraid of? 01:55:15 - Tell us about the Great Basin Traverse 02:02:00 - How many hours of prep do you think you did? 02:06:42 - How do you handle finding water sources in the desert? 02:13:10 - Do you have a story about getting to a water source that didn’t work out? 02:15:35 - Do you find yourself taking chances for the thrill of problem solving? 02:19:00 - What was your biggest fuckup while hiking? 02:25:30 - Have you had any regrets? 02:28:05 - What’s your typical mileage and pace? 02:31:40 - What’s in your backpack? 02:41:15 - Tell us about the Sky Island Traverse 02:45:00 - What else did you do in 2016? 02:53:40 - What do you want listeners to take away from this interview? 02:57:54 - What are your tips for people new to backpacking? Segments Trek Propaganda: What Virginia Blues? 10 Can’t-Miss Landmarks in VA by Jamie Angle QOTD: You have 20 minutes to hide a paper clip before the FBI comes to your house to look for it - where are you hiding it? You must be able to retrieve it after they leave. Triple Crown of holiday movies 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @paulyboyshallcross. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex & Misty with Navigators Crafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Greg Knight, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Ironhike endurance productions, Liz Seger, Matt Soukup, Mike Poisel, Patrick Cianciolo, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, and Tracy “Trigger” Fawns. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: 12 Trees Farms, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Hailey Buckingham, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Jeff LaFranier, Joann Menzer, Keith Dobie Jr, Peter, and Ruth S. | |||
| 29 Jan 2024 | David "Moondog" Roop on Thru-Skating the Florida Trail and Natchez Trace Trail | 01:48:48 | |
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by David “Moondog” Roop. Moondog, alongside his buddy, has done the Natchez Trace Trail, Florida Trail, and 500 miles through New Mexico, not on foot, but instead on skateboard which he refers to as a thru-skate. We learn all about what goes into such a unique adventure, including how his gear differs relative to traditional backpacking, what terrain is skateboardable and what isn’t, how sore his push muscles get over the course of a full day of skateboarding, and more. We wrap the show with the first edition of the 2023 AT thru-hiker survey results, the weirdest things we’ve brought home after a night out, and our triple crown of campaign promises. Sawyer Products: Check out Sawyer’s Permethrin Pump at REI. Gossamer Gear: Use code “DINGLEBERRY” for 20% off backpacks at gossamergear.com. Ka’Chava: Get 10% off at kachava.com/backpacker. [divider] Interview with David “Moondog” Roop Time stamps & Questions 00:03:01 - Reminders: Subscribe to the Trek’s newsletter to hear when the Tyvek wall is available, subscribe to us on YouTube, and apply to be a 2024 blogger! 00:05:35 - Introducing Moondog 00:06:00 - Tell us about Madrid, NM 00:09:21 - How did you get your trail name? 00:11:18 - How does thru-skating work? 00:16:00 - How many miles can you normally skate in a day? 00:16:44 - What was your backpacking experience prior to starting skateboarding? 00:17:50 - What muscles get sore after a full day of skateboarding? 00:19:06 - Do you factor in the weight of the board? 00:21:00 - How hard was the learning curve? 00:22:06 - How much of the trail do you need to skate to consider it a thru-skate? 00:24:38 - Tell us some wipeout stories 00:27:08 - Do wipeouts make you consider more what you wear? 00:29:20 - Compare and contrast the Florida Trail and the Natchez Trace 00:32:00 - Discussion about skating effort and strategy 00:34:03 - How was your experience doing a full trail end to end? 00:36:00 - Discussion about wildlife on the Florida Trail 00:37:05 - Do you ever have gear malfunctions with the skateboard? 00:38:23 - Discussion about ultra skating 00:40:10 - Are there any interesting things skaters do that hikers don’t? 00:42:13 - Tell us about your New Mexico thru-skate 00:45:12 - What portion was hiking versus skating? 00:46:50 - What’s a standout moment you’ve had while thru-skating? 00:49:30 - How did you land on the Natchez Trace Trail? 00:51:12 - What’s the best time of year to do it? 00:52:22 - Have you considered using a mountain board to do something more rugged? 00:53:20 - How do you protect your board? 00:55:00 - How would you design your dream board? 00:55:45 - What did you do in Puerto Rico? 00:57:26 - What thru-skates are on your bucket list? Segments Trek Propaganda: The 2023 Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker Survey: General Information Part 1 by Kate Richard QOTD: What’s the weirdest thing you’ve brought home on a night out? Triple Crown of our presidential campaign promises Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @paulyboyshallcross. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex & Misty with Navigators Crafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Greg Knight, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Ironhike endurance productions, Jason “Snail” Snailer, Liz Seger, Patrick Cianciolo, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, and Tracy “Trigger” Fawns. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: 12 Trees Farms, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Hailey Buckingham, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Jeff LaFranier, Joann Menzer, Keith Dobie Jr, Peter, and Ruth S. | |||
| 04 Apr 2022 | #143 | Sophia "Wheelz" Garber | 02:03:33 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by former Trek Vlogger, Sophia "Wheelz" Garber. Wheelz was a member of the AT NOBO turned NOGO class of 2020, due to the pandemic- duh. Her shot at redemption didn't have to wait too long, as Sophia ended up completing her mission to hike the AT the very next year. We learn what it was like to be on trail during the early days of the pandemic, how it felt to deal with social media trolls when trying to decide whether to stay or go (and the challenge of even getting off trail), the role Sophia's recently deceased friend played in her motivation to hike, and how thru-hiking compared to Sophia's 4,000-mile bikepacking trip just a couple years prior. Things fall off the rails a bit in the segments, as we answer a couple of listener voicemail questions, do a triple crown of thru-hiker no-no's, and a listener accuses Chaunce of having stinky privates.
Gossamer Gear: Use code “littledonkeygirl” for 15% off at gossamergear.com. Organifi: Use code “backpacker” for 20% off at organifi.com/backpacker. Enlightened Equipment: Use code “ultralight10” for 10% off Enlightened Equipment’s Stock Revelation Quilt or Torrid Jacket at enlightenedequipment.com. Interview with Sophia “Wheelz” Garber
Time stamps & Questions 00:04:39 - QOTD: Are there more doors or wheels in the entire world? 00:10:41 - BPR Announcements: Asheville Meetup Location May 11, 6:30pm 00:11:55 - Introducing Sophia 00:13:48 - Tell us about your cross-country bike adventure. 00:15:12 - What group did you bike with? 00:17:02 - Awkward silence. 00:17:12 - What would you pick between being on foot or being on a bike? 00:20:28 - Did you know anyone going into the bike ride? 00:21:07 - What if someone wants to quit? 00:21:57 - What kind of roads did you bike on? 00:22:15 - Was there any carryover between your biking gear and your hiking gear? 00:23:55 - Were there trail names on the bike ride? 00:24:35 - What would your next long bike ride be? 00:25:08 - Did the ride feel rushed at all? 00:26:04 - At what point did you realize you wanted to do the AT? 00:29:40 - Tell us about starting the AT on March 15, 2020. 00:30:38 - Discussion about getting off trail. 00:33:40 - Tell us about being on the receiving end of social media comments? 00:36:25 - What were the vibes on trail before you got off? 00:39:02 - Did you know right away that you’d re-attempt the trail the next year? 00:41:02 - Tell us more about Cristal and fundraising for the Ulman House. 00:46:38 - What led you to working for the Ulman House? 00:49:37 - Have you heard of the program First Descents? 00:50:18 - What was your fundraising goal? 00:53:21 - Having started the trail twice, did you prepare any differently the second time? 00:54:01 - What did it feel like to do horrible climbs twice at the start of the AT? 00:55:12 - What was your experience vlogging on trail? 00:56:40 - What was your editing practice and how long did editing take? 00:58:10 - Did you ever get weird comments? 01:00:31 - How often did you hike alone? 01:03:00 - Tell us your poop story. 01:07:30 - Tell us about aqua blazing. 01:11:55 - What’s another not boring story? 01:14:35 - Tell us about your woodburning side hustle. 01:16:14 - Where can people find your site? 01:17:49 - Did you go to school for art? 01:18:20 - Discussion about stick and poke tattoos. 01:19:40 - Tell us about your upcoming hiking plans. 01:21:10 - Thank you! SEGMENTS Shaming Chaunce Trek Propaganda Listener Voicemails Triple Crown of thru-hiker no-no’s Mail Bag 5 Star Review Check out our sound guy @Paulybooyshallcross. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Jason Lawrence, Christopher Marshburn, Sawyer Products, Brad and Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Patrick Cianciolo, Matt Soukup, and Jason Snailer. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Liz Seger, Cynthia Voth, Emily Brown, Dcnerdlet, Jeff LaFranier, Peter Ellenberg, Jacob Northrup, Peter Leven. | |||
| 23 Jul 2019 | #43 | Clay Bonnyman Evans on AT Cults, YouTube Scam Artists, and Trail Murder Statistics | 02:20:30 | |
Today we are joined by Clay Bonnyman Evans, aka Pony, who's an author, long time Trek Writer, AT and Colorado Trail thru-hiker, and someone with a deep passion for the trail and its culture. We touch on a wide array of subjects in this episode, including some controversial topics such as the Twelve Tribes and Yellow Deli, Inchworm's tragic death on the AT, bringing a gun on a thru-hike, YouTube scam artists, how privilege pertains to thru-hiking, barfing on poo and way more. Clay is a ball of energy. This episode will likely stir up some fun debate. Subjects discussed in the episode include:
Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio? Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Stitcher and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Michael W Hinkley, S11N, Todd Cartner, Sawyer Products, and Travis Smith A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Gregory Gardner and Peter Leven Follow Clare, The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio, and Chaunce on Facebook. Follow The Trek on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter. Intro music via. | |||
| 17 Jun 2024 | Katie "Oats" Houston on the Appalachian High Route, Lone Star Trail, and Breaking Out in the Outdoor Industry | 02:02:41 | |
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Sawyer Products, we are joined by Katie “Oats” Houston. Oats is a solo thru-hiker, who’s completed the AT, Colorado Trail, Lone Star Trail, and most importantly for today’s recording, the 330-mile Appalachian High Route. We dive deep into the Appalachian High Route’s details, including the standout sections, resupply strategy, the best months to hike it, standout stops in Asheville (where Katie is from), and much more. Katie also shares some tips for breaking out as a freelancer in the outdoor industry, which is especially relevant, as she is also a contributor for The Trek and formerly the head of our social media. We wrap the show by teasing our next live podcast- hint, it’s not in Denver, Badger has a hilarious and misfortunate wild animal encounter at my house, the triple crown of conversations you don’t get to on trail, and a listener voicemail / tick PSA. Sawyer Products: Check out Sawyer’s Permethrin Pump at REI. Gossamer Gear: Use code “SNUGGLEBUG” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. Shady Rays: Use code “TREK” for 50% off two or more pairs of sunglasses at shadyrays.com. [divider] Interview with Katie “Oats” Houston Time stamps & Questions 00:03:57 - Reminders: We’re coming to Austin, TX! Support us on Patreon and check out our Backpacker Radio hats in the Trek’s store! 00:08:30 - Introducing Oats 00:09:05 - How did you get into the outdoors and the Trek? 00:10:04 - How did you get your trail name? 00:13:22 - Why did you decide to hike the AT? 00:16:32 - Were you the first person to do the Appalachian High Route? 00:19:06 - Can you give us an overview of the Appalachian High Route? 00:25:22 - What’s the route like elevation-wise? 00:28:20 - What are the towns and resupplies like? 00:30:50 - What do you know about the geology of the southern Appalachians? 00:36:01 - What are the highlights of Asheville? 00:40:00 - Could a first time hiker do the Appalachian High Route? 00:41:45 - What did you use for navigation? 00:43:50 - How did you pick to go clockwise? 00:45:46 - Tell us about the hiking you did in Texas 00:46:51 - Do you have tips about thinking through things while thru-hiking? 00:50:00 - Give us your rating and elevator pitch for the Lone Star Trail 00:55:26 - Discussion about the aggressive dogs on the Lone Star Trail 00:57:00 - Discussion about Big Bend National Park 00:59:05 - What are your tips for breaking into the outdoor industry? 01:04:28 - What are different ways to find outdoor industry jobs? 01:06:40 - Walk us through a typical week at Sawyer 01:08:08 - What are your tips for pricing your skills? 01:13:00 - How much freelance work do you do now? 01:14:55 - Give us Sawyer’s background 01:20:57 - Where can people keep up with you? Segments Trek Propaganda: Why I Always Carry a Bear Canister When Thru-Hiking by Moose Juice QOTD: How long would you watch a loading screen before aborting all the info you entered/work you did/progress you made to start over? Scary Thing of the Week Pooping in the Woods Update Triple Crown of conversations you don’t get into on trail Listener Voicemail Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex & Misty with Navigators Crafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Hailey Buckingham, Liz Seger, Patrick Cianciolo, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, and Tracy “Trigger” Fawns. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: 12 Trees Farms, Bonnie Ackerman, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Joann Menzer, Katharine Rudzitis, Keith Dobie Jr, Merle Watkins, Peter, and Ruth S. | |||
| 25 Oct 2021 | #123 | Pete McBride | 01:34:57 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by world-renowned photographer and director, Pete McBride. We learn about Pete's entry into photography, including what advice he'd offer to aspiring adventure journalists, what it's like to work for NationalGeographic, the ongoing conservationist threats to the Grand Canyon and the Navajo Nation, and we learn all about his new book "Seeing Silence: The Beauty of the World’s Most Quiet Places". We wrap the show with a triple crown of our favorite sounds from nature, another gross or not gross aimed at hazing Chaunce, and we get a listener recommendation for combining the backcountry bidet with the kula cloth. Gossamer Gear discount code: Use code “gingersaregood” for 15% off at Gossamergear.com. Enlightened Equipment: Save 10% off Enlightened Equipment’s Stock Revelation Quilt or Stock Torrid Jacket with code “thetrek10” here. ZBiotics: Use code “trek10” at zbiotics.com Vital Farms: Check out vitalfarms.com to learn more about where honest food is raised Interview with Pete McBride
Time stamps & Questions 00:04:19 - QOTD: What is the single most thing you are excited about for the Wisconsin trip? 00:07:22 - Introducing Pete McBride 00:08:05 - How did you get into photography? 00:10:46 - Was this digital photography at the time? 00:11:49 - When you went digital, was it due to the wider range of error? 00:13:04 - Do you have one go-to camera or is it based on the job? 00:13:55 - Do you have a couple go-to lens’s you use? 00:14:17 - What lens did you use for your Grand Canyon hike? 00:16:41 - What is the project proposal process for National Geographic? 00:17:38 - Would you recommend photographers focus on writing skills? 00:19:30 - What are the biggest differences between a photography and videography project? 00:21:13 - How much of the story do you build out prior to the shoot? 00:23:06 - Any favorite leaf peeping spots in Colorado? 00:26:16 - How many photography projects have you done? 00:27:27 - Do you have a favorite project? 00:29:39 - How much water did you carry for that stretch? 00:31:00 - How do you deal with the emotional response to visually seeing the rivers dry up? 00:33:28 - Tell me more about the Grand Canyon project 00:36:43 - Where does the “Grand Escalade” initiative stand today? 00:38:28 - Is there a resource you’d recommend to others interested in protecting the Grand Canyon? 00:40:45 - Was the hike of the Grand Canyon a hard sell for yourself? 00:42:21 - What is hyponatremia? 00:43:16 - What happened after you fell apart on day 5? 00:44:45 - How did you segment the Grand Canyon hike? 00:45:15 - Are you taking a trail to get in and out of the canyon? 00:46:20 - What was the stat regarding the number of tourists that could go into the canyon via the tram? 00:48:00 - Give us the pitch for your new book 00:51:31 - What is the Drake Passage? 00:52:01 - What does a 70 ft. swell feel like? 00:52:22 - Is it the motion that’s upsetting or the risk? 00:54:18 - Did you know you were capturing a once-in-a-lifetime event? 00:55:51 - Did you feel excitement or fear with the whale? 00:56:38 - Do Orcas eat any fish in mass quantities? 00:57:59 - What are your favorite sounds that get overlooked by most people? 01:01:29 - Where should people buy the book? 01:01:54 - How many photos are in the book? 01:02:53 - Do you have a favorite photo? 01:03:33 - Have you ever done anything with eels? 01:04:37 - Can you tell us the story of the The Ganges photo? 01:06:09 - What is your favorite photography subject? 01:07:11 - Have you ever felt your life was in danger when photographing wildlife? 01:09:37 - Have there been other times where you’ve felt your life was in danger? 01:12:23 - Where can people listen to your NPR interview? 01:13:02 - Anything else you’d like to direct listeners to? SEGMENTS Trek Propaganda
Triple Crown of coolest nature sounds Gross or Not Gross: Re-wearing workout clothes for more than one workout Mail Bag 5 Star Reviews [divider] Check out our sound guy @Paulybooyshallcross. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Ausen McDaniel, Jason Lawrence, Christopher Marshburn, Sawyer Products, Brad and Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Patrick Cianciolo, Brandon Spilker and Matt Soukup. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Cynthia Voth,, Emily Brown, Mitchell, Dcnerdlet, Jeff LaFranier, Peter Ellenberg, Jacob Northrup, Peter Leven, TraskVT, Lindsay Sparks, Liz Seger and Lisa Douglas. | |||
| 13 Feb 2023 | #188 | Valentine's Day 3.0: Two Hiker Trash Couples Tell All | 03:06:27 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek brought to you by Good To-Go, the studio is transforming into a love lodge as we interview not one but two Hiker Trash couples. Liz and Matt (aka Chuckles and Frisky) and Nat and Matt (aka Bart and Party Tart) give us a glimpse into how their relationships came to be, the highlights and lowlights of thru-hiking with a significant other, and some of their top trail-tested advice for maintaining a relationship on trail and off. The format for today is chaotic yet fun, as we kick things off with a round of The Newlywed Game and transition into rotating sessions of seven minutes in heaven. I promise that will make sense here shortly. Gossamer Gear: Use code “BACKPACKERRADIO” for 15% off at gossamergear.com. Good To-Go: Use code “TREK25” for 25% off at goodto-go.com. Enlightened Equipment: Use code “TREKPOD10” for 10% off Enlightened Equipment’s Stock Revelation Quilt or Torrid Jacket at enlightenedequipment.com. [divider] Interview with Liz, Matt, Nat, and Matt Time stamps & Questions 00:04:45 - QOTD: How frequently do you have dreams that your relationship ends and wake up panicked? 00:09:45 - Introducing the interviewees 00:11:52 - The Newlywed Game: Nat and Matt 00:29:07 - The Newlywed Game: Liz and Matt 00:30:30 - Outa Ware pants 00:41:20 - Seven Minutes in Heaven Round 1: Nat and Matt 00:43:08 - Give us the full rundown of your PCT hike in 2019. 00:47:04 - Were you apprehensive going into the PCT? 00:48:30 - What is it like prepping for a thru-hike as a couple? 00:50:49 - Walk us through rearranging who would carry what? 00:54:26 - Seven Minutes in Heaven Round 2: Liz and Matt 00:55:02 - Tell us your trail name origin stories. 01:03:08 - Frisky and Chuckle’s origin story 01:10:22 - Seven Minutes in Heaven Round 3: Nat and Matt 01:19:33 - Seven Minutes in Heaven Round 4: Liz and Matt 01:20:20 - What’s your most embarrassing partner story from trail? 01:30:30 - Seven Minutes in Heaven Round 5: Nat and Matt 01:31:04 - What was your biggest fight on trail? 01:33:04 - How do you avoid fights on trail? 01:37:00 - What made you realize you were being competitive? 01:38:29 - Do you have a conflict resolution strategy? 01:44:08 - Seven Minutes in Heaven Round 6: Liz and Matt 01:44:56 - What was your biggest fight on the PCT? 01:50:07 - What was your biggest fight on the CDT? 01:56:57 - Seven Minutes in Heaven Round 7: Nat and Matt 01:57:10 - Guiding for Skurka 01:58:33 - What is your most R-rated trail story? 02:05:40 - When was the first time you had sex in a tent? 02:08:33 - Seven Minutes in Heaven Round 8: Liz and Matt 02:12:25 - Were there any other questions you were expecting? 02:15:38 - If you had one piece of advice for someone going on a thru-hike with a partner, who would it be? 02:24:18 - What are other things that should go on a pre-trail couple’s contract? SEGMENTS Triple Crown of bad or embarrassing date moments [divider] Check out our sound guy @paulyboyshallcross. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Christopher Marshburn, Dayne, Greg McDaniel, Kristina Diaz, Matt Soukup, Mike Poisel, Patrick Cianciolo, Paul Packman Sealy, Sawyer Products, and Tracy “Trigger” Fawns. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Dcnerdlet, Jacob Northrup, Jeff LaFranier, Keith Dobie Jr, Liz Seger, and Peter. | |||
| 15 May 2018 | Trail Correspondents #6: The First Week on Trail (Part 2) | 00:52:26 | |
Today we hear from the 2nd batch of our thru-hikers about a week into their journey. You can find the first part of this here. 2018 SOBOs: Learn how to apply HERE. Today we hear from:
You can support the show through our Patreon page, which helps us to publish episodes more frequently. Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio? Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Download this podcast. Find us on Stitcher and Google Play. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek, Chaunce, and Badger on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube Follow The Trek on Facebook, Twitter and sign up for our newsletter. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Sawyer Products A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Kate Hurley, Gregory Gardner, Susan Anderson, Terrain OfSol, and Clint "DuctTape" Sherbet! Show produced by Pauly Boy Shallcross. | |||
| 11 Mar 2020 | #63 | Courtney Dauwalter on Ultra-Running, Temporary Blindness, and Ultra Puke Culture | 02:11:03 | |
The Cinnamon Connection is joined by ultra running legend, Courtney Dauwalter. For those who might not be into the ultra-running scene, Courtney is an absolute powerhouse long distance runner, with a young race resume that's hard to fathom, including wins at the Moab 240 (which the 2nd place finisher was more than 10 hours behind her), the Javelina Jundred 100K, Run Rabbit Run 100-mile race *twice*, Western States 100, Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc- referred to as the super bowl of ultramarathons, amongst others. Courtney is incredibly humble, Chaunce and Badger had to act as her hype team throughout the episode, a blast to chat with, and a fellow Goldenite. There are some gems in this conversation, including when Chaunce told Courtney her poop story (like a good movie, it's even better the second time), how Courtney sees giraffes and flying eels on trail, that time she went blind, and how she continues to chisel away at her pain cave. Chaunce and Badger wrap up the episode with a triple crown of spring things that make us tingle, we plan a soon to be thru-hiker's going away party, and of course, another listener poop story. | |||
| 09 Mar 2021 | #97 | Ben Lawhon of Leave No Trace | 02:26:27 | |
In today's episode of backpacker radio presented by The Trek we are joined by Ben Lawhon the Director of Education and Research at Leave No Trace. Not that Leave No Trace needs any introduction, as this is a framework we've spoken about countless times on the show and I'm guessing you were familiar with it before Backpacker Radio entered your lives, but this interview is incredibly important and we think you'll find surprisingly entertaining. Not only do we go very deep on the proper way to shit in the backcountry including why poop soup is king, but we cover a range of topics including why something as seemingly small as tossing an apple core off the trail can have profound impacts, how social media interplays with Leave No Trace, and the best way to educate others who are in violation of LNT, including why saying nothing can sometimes be the best policy. We're very sincere in saying that we think you'll find a lot of very interesting tidbits in our conversation with Ben. We wrap the show with a triple crown of 90s sitcoms, how we would handle a docile zombie apocalypse of stinky people, and a mailbag featuring the cinnamon connection invading people's dreams.
Backcountry discount code: Use code "BACKPACKER15" to save 15% on your "first" purchase at Backcountry.com/backpackerradio. Gossamer Gear discount code: Use code "POOPSTORY" to save 15% off your cart at GossamerGear.com Good To-Go discount code: Use code "BACKPACKER25" to save 25% on your order and get free shipping on orders over $100 at Goodto-go.com. [divider] Interview with Ben Lawhon 00:05:00 - QOTD: What is your biggest LNT non-compliant pet peeve? 00:07:30 - Introduction to Ben Lawhon 00:07:58 - How did you get into conservation? 00:11:07 - What were some of the things you learned in your LNT master course that sparked your interest? 00:13:04 - Is there a trick to instilling LNT ethics in people? Does you notice a correlation with thru-hiking? 00:17:30 - Can you speak to the difference on the AT between the 90’s and now from an LNT standpoint? 00:20:34 - How does a Leave No Trace principle come to be? What is the process for developing them? 00:25:06 - What was the Leave No Trace principle that got cut? 00:26:32 - Are there any instances of principles or techniques being removed? 00:29:28 - Do you ever get people who are frustrated when principles change? 00:31:26 - Does anyone have any failed shitput footage? 00:31:47 - Can you elaborate on plan ahead and prepare? 00:35:14 - What would you recommend to someone who is preparing for a short backpacking trip? 00:37:51 - Can you elaborate on the principle: Travel and camp on durable surfaces? 00:41:06 - When the trail is muddy, should you walk through the mud or go around it? 00:43:41 - Are you seeing increasing issues with people stepping off trail to take the perfect Instagram photo? 00:46:35 - Can you elaborate on the principle: Dispose of waste properly? 00:53:21 - Has the guidance on packing out your toilet paper changed? And does it vary by environment? 00:56:37 - So if your hole is the depth it should be it won’t get dug up? 00:57:24 - Should people cover up the toilet paper with their poop? 00:59:25 - Fact or myth: do menstrual fluids attract bears? 01:00:45 - When should people not bury their poop? 01:03:55 - When people are hiking with their dogs should they bury their dogs poop too? 01:04:10 - Do you know of any compostable diaper liners that you could bury? 01:06:56 - Can you chuck apple cores off into the woods? What is the leave no trace policy on it? What are the biggest problems? 01:10:00 - Can you talk about the leave what you find principle? 01:16:19 - Is there anything about carving into trees you want to talk about? 01:19:18 - What is the leave no trace stance on cairns? 01:21:32 - Can you elaborate on the principle of minimizing fire impacts? 01:25:02 - You said no fires on the AT in Georgia? Follow up from Ben on the subject:
Camping on the trail in Georgia Refer to the guide books for locations. There is camping at all of the shelters or you may camp at one of the many established campsites along the trail or stay in one of the shelters. Learn about and follow Leave No Trace principles and use areas already hardened by use. If you have a fire, please use existing fire rings and be sure your fire is dead out before leaving the area. Be acquainted with no-fire zones such as on Blood Mountain. Refer to the Chattahoochee National Forest website for news and information about fire restrictions that may be in effect.
01:29:31 - Do you think LNT will ever change it’s stance on campfire guidance? 01:32:10 - What about explosive gender reveal parties? 01:33:20 - Can you elaborate on the principle: respect wildife? 01:39:20 - What’s the proper way to approach someone who is violating Leave No Trace? 01:45:14 - How does that apply to online behavior? 01:48:39 - What is Leave No Trace’s social media recommendations on geotagging? 01:52:50 - Where can people go to learn more?
SEGMENTSTrek Propaganda
Triple Crown of 90s Sitcoms Reddit Brain Buster: You have an incredible night's sleep, wake up and the world is infested by zombies (9 out of 10 people). They are not lethal. Instead they're painfully boring, obsessed with politics and smell like off codfish. What do you do? Mail Bag 5 Star Review A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Jason Lawrence, Austen McDaniel, Andrew, Christopher Marshburn, S11N, Sawyer Products, Brad and Blair (Thirteen Adventures), and Cameron Brown. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Cynthia Voth, Brandon Spilker, Emily Brown, Jeffrey Miller, Mitchell, Zoe Jenkins, Dcnerdlet, Jeff LaFranier, Mark Snook, Peter Ellenberg, Thomas Fullmer, Jacob Northrup, Peter Leven, TraskVT. | |||
| 13 Jun 2022 | #153 | AT Trail Days 2022: Thru-Hiker Interviews Part 2 | 02:02:08 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by goodr, we are joined by more AT Hiker Trash! This is volume II of our thru-hiker interviews from AT Trail Days 2022. This one concludes with a trail name origin story that is borderline too insane to believe. We wrap the show with some very sad news of a hiker's tragic fall from McAfee Knob, a Triple Crown of Passive Aggressive Statements Used in Work Emails, and how Badger's TRT plans almost fell through once again, as per tradition. Goodr: Use code “backpacker15” for 15% off at goodr.com/backpacker15. Gossamer Gear: Use code “littledonkeygirl” for 15% off at gossamergear.com. Enlightened Equipment: Use code “thetrek10” for 10% off Enlightened Equipment’s Stock Revelation Quilt or Torrid Jacket at enlightenedequipment.com. Point6: Use code “point6trek” for 30% off point6.com. [divider] Interview with more current AT hikers! Time stamps & Questions 00:04:17 - QOTD: What was the highlight from your Memorial Day weekend? 00:11:10 - Interview with Take Three 00:19:29 - Interview with Ibex 00:25:32 - Interview with Nomad 00:33:10 - Interview with Turtle 00:38:09 - Interview with Pink and Flash 00:48:04 - Interview with Sweets 00:57:26 - Interview with Stove Top 01:05:55 - Interview with Dipper 01:14:47 - Interview with Fifty Cal 01:25:37 - Interview with Boston 01:31:52 - Interview with Smash SEGMENTS Trek Propaganda Triple Crown of passive aggressive statements used in work emails Mail Bag [divider] Check out our sound guy @Paulybooyshallcross. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Jason Lawrence, Christopher Marshburn, Sawyer Products, Brad and Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Patrick Cianciolo, Paul Packman Sealy, Matt Soukup, Jason Snailer, and Greg Mac. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Liz Seger, Cynthia Voth, Emily Brown, Dcnerdlet, Jeff LaFranier, Peter Ellenberg, Jacob Northrup, Peter Leven. | |||
| 28 Sep 2020 | #82 | Dan Durston on Designing Gear and Hiking the Great Divide Trail | 02:22:20 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Dan Durston. Dan is the gear nerd's gear nerd. In addition to hiking the PCT and being one of only two people to yo-yo the Great Divide Trail (the other being his wife as they did it together), Dan is visionary behind the new gear company, Durston Gear. We go way deep down the rabbit hole on why polyester tents are making a comeback and are possibly the ultimate fabric for shelters, how he's able to execute on his philosophy of creating lightweight gear that's super easy to setup, how his being a loudmouth on the Backpackinglight forums made his gear company possible, and much more. If you're into gear technology, even if you're not, we bet you're really going to enjoy this conversation. Also, our buddy Legend breaks another FKT, we have another Reddit Brain Buster, and we have a point counter point on the virtues of summer vs. fall backpacking.
Gossamer Gear discount code: Use code: PoopStory for 15% off your entire cart at gossamergear.com. "How to Afford a Thru-Hike" discount code: "ipooped" [divider] Interview with Dan Durston: 00:03:16 - QOTD: What’s an “oh shit” moment where you’ve realized you’ve been doing something the wrong way for years? 00:07:18 - Intro to Dan Durston 00:07:26 - What is your backpacking resume? 00:09:54 - Do you have to push gear by setting FKTs? 00:10:32 - Do you own the gear company? Are you not the sole proprietor of Dan Durston Gear? 00:12:09 - Do you get a royalty of every product sold? 00:12:59 - Did you also hike the PCT with your wife? 00:13:24 - How did you get into backpacking? 00:14:40 - You were determined to get your pack weight down before your first trip? 00:14:56 - How light was your pack when you first started? 00:16:38 - Did seeing someone do a whole 50-mile trail in a day create the origin for you going ultralight? 00:17:47 - When did the shift to ultralight happen? Was Backpacking Light involved in that? 00:18:40 - What were your big 3 when you were at 5 pounds? 00:20:00 - Were you giving gear companies feedback when you were testing products? 00:21:25 - To become a gear tester do you just go on backpacking forums and be loud? 00:21:44 - What did you bring on the PCT? 00:22:24 - Had you started making your own gear already on the PCT? 00:23:33 - How did you get into making your own gear? 00:24:23 - What is the hardest thing to make yourself? Packs? 00:26:26 - Advice to someone who wants to get a cottage industry pack but is worried about fit? 00:27:42 - Is there any benefit to going to REI and measuring packs there? 00:28:22 - What is the process with your designs going to manufacturing? 00:30:40 - Are you the only one doing product testing on Dan Durston Gear? 00:32:15 - Who is Dan Durston Gear for? Who is the target market? 00:36:49 - What makes setting up your tents so simple? 00:37:39 - Do you have any photos of your disaster feet? 00:39:01 - How tall are you? 00:49:36 - How did drop.com find you? 00:50:29 - What do you mean by ‘being a loudmouth on backpacking light’? 00:51:24 - Have you solved the condensation issue that most ultralight tents have? 00:52:43 - So should you not ventilate your tent when sleeping in humid areas? 00:55:14 - What are your recommendations for campsite selection to avoid condensation? 00:57:03 - Talk about polyester tents! 00:58:00 - What’s the weight difference between polyester and nylon? 00:59:48 - So what is the strongest fabric? 01:02:30 - Does the fabric make the tent more prone to smell or mildew? 01:03:35 - How long should you leave your tent out to dry? 01:04:31 - Is there a proper way to clean and store a tent? 01:05:30 - How often should you replace tents? 01:07:00 - How do you store your tent? Stuff or fold and roll? 01:10:51 - Who is the X-mid made for? 01:13:18 - If Dan Duston Gear didn’t exist and you had one tent you had to use for all purposes, what would you pick? 01:14:13 - Will there ever be a DCF X-Mid? 01:16:58 - Would you consider Dan Durston Gear to be ultralight? 01:17:27 - Do you think there is a lot of room for improvement in the cottage industry UL gear space? 01:19:15 - If you could name the Dan Durston backpack what would you name it? 01:19:43 - Will you talk us through the pack? 01:21:43 - Can you get a 40 oz beer in the pocket? 01:22:28 - What is the mesh material on the shoulder strap? 01:24:19 - What is the advantage of X-Pac? 01:29:09 - What are some other pack companies that use X-Pac? 01:31:25 - What is the weight on the Dan Durston pack and what does it go for? 01:33:31 - What was it that took your company to the next level? 01:35:30 - What would Dan Durston’s gear slogan be? 01:36:44 - Can you talk about the Great Divide Trail? 01:39:33 - Where does the GDT start and end and where does it go through? 01:42:06 - What is the seasonality for the GDT? 01:42:51 - What kind of miles can you do on snowshoes? 01:43:28 - Can you tell us about the mosquitoes? 01:42:59 - What would you say is the “Sierra” of the GDT? Or “the desert”? 01:45:04 - What is the non-profit that oversees the GDT? 01:46:28 - Can you run into grizzlies the entire way? 01:46:45 - Do you have any scary grizzly stories? 01:48:24 - Has anyone died on the GDT from a grizzly encounter? 01:49:41 - What is the resupply like? 01:50:38 - Do you have to mail resupply boxes? 01:51:28 - Are you able to get 10 days of food in your pack? 01:52:00 - What inspired the yo-yo of the GDT? 01:52:29 - Were you able to enjoy the southbound hike as much as the northbound hike? 01:53:53 - What are some good Canadian snacks? 01:55:09 - In Canada do you have to order Canadian bacon to get Canadian bacon? 01:55:36 - Where should people go for your stuff? 01:56:04 - Is there anything else you are as obsessed with planning as your gear? SEGMENTSTrek Propaganda - Legend Broke the Colorado Trail Unsupported FKT Sign up for The Trek newsletter! Reddit Brain Busters Point/Counterpoint: Summer vs. Fall Hiking Mail Bag 5 Star Reviews! [divider] Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Paul Packman Sealy, Jason Lawrence, Janelle L., Austen McDaniel, Andrew, Thomas Fullner, Christopher Marshburn, S11N, and Sawyer Products A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Emily Brown, Jeffrey Miller, Mitchell, Zoe Jenkins, dcnerdlet, Jeff LaFranier, Mark Snook, Peter Ellenberg, Jacob Northrup, Peter Leven Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. | |||
| 22 May 2023 | #202 | Anna McKinney on Finding Her Fiancé on the AT, Guiding in the Smokies, and Battling Imposter Syndrome | 02:41:07 | |
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. We wrap the show with me getting angry about spiders and octopi, a triple crown of things serious thru-hikers don't compromise on, and also other stuff! Enlightened Equipment: Use code “EETREK10” for 10% off Enlightened Equipment’s Stock Revelation Quilt or Torrid Jacket at enlightenedequipment.com. Backpacker’s Pantry: Use code “TWINSFORWINS” for 25% off at backpackerspantry.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code “TAKELESSTREKMORE” for 15% off at gossamergear.com. RTIC Outdoors: Shop at rticoutdoors.com. OnX Backcountry: Use code “BACKPACKERRADIO20” for 20% off a Premium or Elite Membership at onxmaps.com. [divider] Interview with Anna McKinney Time stamps & Questions 00:06:07 - QOTD: Excluding water, what’s the difference between spiders and octopus? 00:08:40 - Reminders: Suggest a guest! Fill out our listener survey by June 15! 00:09:35 - Introducing Anna 00:10:35 - What’s your trail name and origin story? 00:12:53 - Do you have any standout trail magic stories? 00:15:06 - What got you into the outdoors? 00:16:30 - What was your big girl job? 00:17:30 - What was it like going through your own backyard on the AT for the first time? 00:20:20 - How steep was your backpacking learning curve? 00:22:23 - Discussion about losing people on the trail 00:24:29 - Did a zero degree bag with a liner prove to be excessive? 00:26:11 - What was your process of working your pack weight down? 00:29:00 - What’s your base weight nowadays? 00:32:35 - We love love - tell us about meeting your fiance on the AT! 00:36:45 - When you’re into someone, how do you let them know without creeping you out? 00:39:27 - When did the physical aspect come into play? 00:41:27 - How did he ask you to be his girlfriend? 00:44:08 - What was finishing the trail like for your relationship? 00:45:50 - Did you ever feel like the relationship was in jeopardy after the trail? 00:47:09 - What did you learn about him off-trail that you didn’t learn on-trail? 00:49:19 - Ask your on-trail romance these questions! 00:52:43 - What are the stages of a trail relationship? 00:54:07 - Chaunce’s stages of a trail relationship 00:59:22 - Tell us about working with Blue Ridge Hiking Company 01:01:53 - Tell us about caretaking the AT bunkhouse in Hot Springs 01:04:05 - What was the vibe when it’s not only thru-hikers but some thru-hikers? 01:05:31 - Tell us about your experience with imposter syndrome 01:08:38 - Tell us about underrated sections of the AT 01:12:50 - What is it like to guide in the Smokies? 01:15:55 - Discussion about interacting with thru-hikers within the National Park on guiding trips 01:19:14 - What are some fun facts about the Smokies flora and fauna? 01:23:21 - What are some trail highlights in the Smokies that aren’t on the AT? 01:25:57 - Tell us your engagement story! 01:29:13 - Where did you get your rings made? 01:31:32 - Tell us about the Arizona Trail! 01:35:22 - Discussion about the snow on the AZT 01:38:00 - Did you know at the beginning things could change due to the snow? 01:39:19 - Tell us about how your travel plans changed 01:41:01 - Which day of your National Parks trip would you revisit? 01:42:11 - What differences did you notice hiking with a partner between the AT and AZT? 01:44:45 - Did you get in any major fights? 01:46:54 - Have you lost any fights? 01:49:44 - Where can people go to follow you? 01:51:45 - What’s next? SEGMENTS Trek Propaganda
Triple Crown of things serious thru-hikers don’t compromise on Pupdate Twin Update Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @paulyboyshallcross. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Cameron Brown, Christopher Marshburn, Dayne, Greg McDaniel, Matt Soukup, Mike Poisel, Morgan Luke, Patrick Cianciolo, Sawyer Products, Timothy Hahn, and Tracy “Trigger” Fawns. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Dcnerdlet, Jake Landgraf, Jeanne Latshaw, Jeff LaFranier, Joann Menzer, Keith Dobie Jr, Kelly Heikkila, Liz Seger, and Peter. | |||
| 14 Sep 2021 | #118 | Girl Stuff 2.0 - Backcountry Hygiene, Trail Horniness, Favorite Apparel, and More | 02:26:39 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are bringing you another edition of the wildly popular Girl's Stuff episode. Chaunce, Sauce, and guest panelist Lavendar share their experiences on a wide array of topics related to being a female backpacker, including safety tips when in the backcountry solo, hygiene regimens (or lack thereof), dealing with intense levels of horniness on trail, and much more. We wrap the show with a pair of new segments- "things guys want to know about girls but are too afraid to ask" and "ambushing Zach with women's anatomy flashcards". BRANWYN discount code: Use case “backpacker15” for 15% off at branwyn.com Gossamer Gear discount code: Use code “gingersaregood” for 15% off at Gossamergear.com. Enlightened Equipment: Save 10% off off Enlightened Equipment’s Stock Revelation Quilt or Stock Torrid Jacket with code “thetrek10” here. [divider] Interview with Chaunce, Sauce, and guest panelist Lavender Time stamps & Questions 00:04:10 - Treasure Hunt: Find Zach’s socks to win a green juice travel pack from Organifi and a new pair of socks. Check out instagram for sock location! 00:05:52 - QOTD: What’s your favorite part of being a lady backpacker? 00:09:53 - Introducing Lavender 00:12:30 - What tips do you have for hiking alone and staying safe? 00:15:59 - Can you address how you’ve felt safety-wise, while backpacking? 00:24:54 - Lavender, what was your solo travel experience prior to the AT? 00:25:22 - How do you answer the question ‘Are you hiking alone?’? 00:27:27 - Elise, how do you assess whether someone is a danger to you or not? 00:30:38 - Have you ever hiked with groups or individuals you’ve met online? 00:33:32 - How do you get a significant other more comfortable with sleeping outside? 00:35:18 - How do you overcome the fear of sleeping alone? 00:37:37 - Any recommendations for curly hair when you’re on trail? 00:39:48 - Are cleaning wipes necessary? 00:41:05 - Is there a specific brand of cleaning wipes you’d recommend? 00:42:41 - How do you approach your skincare routine on the trail? 00:43:26 - What was your hygiene routine the first few days on trail vs. the last days? 00:46:03 - Have any of you used the backcountry bidet? 00:47:33 - How is the pee rag? 00:50:57 - How do you deal with coochie stink? 00:55:13 - Would you shave your head before a thru-hike? 00:56:42 - What is an undercut? 00:57:50 - How do you pee in a bottle without a cone? 00:63:01 - Do levels of horniness ever compare to levels of hunger on the trail? 00:66:13 - Is the trail a good environment for someone who is especially horny? 01:08:33 - Lavender, when you are hiking SOBO, how many others are starting within a day of you, in either direction? 01:12:32 - Do you bring sex toys on trail? 01:13:46 - What do you do to alleviate the horniness? 01:14:46 - Did you know anyone who brought toys on the trail? 01:17:57 - What’s your favorite “girly” items you can’t live without? 01:18:26 - What luxury items can you not live without on trail? 01:19:58 - What can guys do to normalize girl stuff on trail? 01:21:22 - Do you feel like you need to hide feminine products? 01:22:56 - How did you handle PMS on the trail? 01:23:22 - Do your levels of PMS symptoms change when you’re on trail vs. off trail? 01:25:10 - What birth control do you use on trail? Check out our first Girls Stuff episode for more conversation on this. 01:26:06 - How do you encourage other girls to backpack? 01:28:19 - Do you have people trying to meet up with you on the trail when you are public with your location? 01:36:08 - How do you deal if you’re always cold? 01:40:14 - What are the best underwear and bra brands to avoid chafing and wedgies? SEGMENTS “Things guys want to know about girls but are too afraid to ask” Anatomy Flashcards 5 Star Review Mail Bag [divider] Check out our sound guy @Paulybooyshallcross. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Ausen McDaniel, Jason Lawrence, Christopher Marshburn, Sawyer Products, Brad and Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Patrick Cianciolo, Brandon Spilker and Matt Soukup. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Cynthia Voth,, Emily Brown, Mitchell, Dcnerdlet, Jeff LaFranier, Peter Ellenberg, Jacob Northrup, Peter Leven, TraskVT, Lindsay Sparks, Liz Seger and Lisa Douglas. | |||
| 03 Apr 2023 | #195 | Jack "Quadzilla" Jones 2.0: the Calendar Year Triple Crown and Handling Isolationism | 02:36:03 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined once again by Quadzilla. We of course go deep on his calendar year triple crown from last year, getting a play-by-play of his standout highlights, lowlights, and everything in between from his epic 8,000-mile adventure. Much like Quadzilla's first appearance, this one is full of sage advice for on trail and off, including how he handles isolationism, dealing with the doldrums, and the importance of staying present. This one of course does not disappoint. We wrap the show with the Triple Crown of previously held backpacking convictions you’ve changed your mind on, some news on Mt Washington's recent -108 degree day, and a new stupid thing of the week. Gossamer Gear: Use code “BACKPACKERRADIO” for 15% off at gossamergear.com. Organifi: Use code “BACKPACKER” for 20% off at organifi.com/backpacker. Goodr: Use code “BACKPACKER” for free shipping on your first order at goodr.com/backpacker. Enlightened Equipment: Use code “EETREK10” for 10% off Enlightened Equipment’s Stock Revelation Quilt or Torrid Jacket at enlightenedequipment.com. RTIC Outdoors: Shop at rticoutdoors.com. [divider] Interview with Jack “Quadzilla” Jones Time stamps & Questions 00:04:53 - QOTD: Should Kraft mac n’ cheese be eaten with a fork or a spoon? 00:07:15 - Reminders: Future of BPR :( 00:12:20 - Introducing Quadzilla 00:13:45 - Introduce us to the Calendar Year Triple Crown and what inspired you to do it 00:15:44 - Have we crossed any boundaries talking about your quads? 00:17:27 - Tell us about your ideal weight and your trail diet 00:19:40 - Give us some background on the general CYTC facts 00:22:18 - Tell us about the winter weather you experienced on the AT 00:27:44 - Did you have anything to self-arrest with? 00:28:26 - Did your weightlifting background give you an advantage in the snow? 00:29:14 - Was Vermont the first place you consistently saw winter weather? 00:31:01 - Was there any part of you that wished you got off and switched trails? 00:32:28 - What was your camera setup? 00:34:57 - Have you ever considered making a quads calendar or OnlyFans? 00:36:35 - Do you have any trail photography hacks? 00:38:07 - Tell us about your wildlife encounters and photos 00:40:56 - Why did you also take video clips? 00:44:05 - Were you intentionally more introspective in what you shared about your journey? 00:47:28 - How do you process everything publicly? 00:49:30 - Tell us about battling isolationism 00:53:38 - Do you have thoughts on what a cure could be? 00:57:39 - Tell us more about recognizing when you’re in the doldrums of a hike 01:01:36 - How would you compare the AT? 01:04:10 - Did you consider timing where you would be during a potential low point? 01:07:00 - What are your top “holy shit” moments from the CYTC? 01:09:08 - Quadzilla’s poop story 01:10:00 - Did you hike with other people at any point? 01:12:45 - How did you then pull away from the social aspect and return to hiking solo? 01:14:36 - How often did you get recognized? 01:18:02 - Did that experience make you rethink the next hitch? 01:21:03 - If you could go back and relive a day from each of the trails, which would it be? 01:23:10 - When you got past the San Juans, was there a big sigh of relief? 01:25:27 - What kind of gear did you carry over the course of the year? 01:29:22 - Do you have the layering company to hike in cold temperatures? 01:31:25 - Discussion about waterproof socks 01:31:50 - Days Quadzilla would relive on the AT and CDT 01:34:16 - Discussion about smashing watermelons 01:38:40 - How did the CDT this year compare to the first time you hiked it? 01:41:40 - Are there certain restaurants or towns you knew you wanted to visit a second time? 01:44:42 - Did you keep track of your food or macros while hiking? 01:45:53 - Did any particular food item keep your interest for the entire journey? 01:47:23 - Did you take any supplements? 01:50:24 - What did your 5,000 calories consist of? 01:52:16 - Did you intentionally drink a certain amount of water? 01:53:50 - Tell us about getting sponsored for your hike 01:55:08 - Did you find any romance on the trail? 01:58:01 - What plans do you have for this year? 02:01:00 - Where can people buy your book? 02:02:30 - Anything else to share before you leave? SEGMENTS Trek Propaganda
Stupid Thing of the Week Triple Crown of previously held backpacking convictions you’ve changed your mind on Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @paulyboyshallcross. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Christopher Marshburn, Dayne, DoGoodPantry, Greg McDaniel, Kristina Diaz, Matt Soukup, Mike Poisel, Morgan Luke, Patrick Cianciolo, Sawyer Products, and Tracy “Trigger” Fawns. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Dcnerdlet, Jacob Northrup, Jeff LaFranier, Keith Dobie Jr, Liz Seger, and Peter. | |||
| 10 Jun 2019 | #39 | The Real Hiking Viking on The Jordan Trail, "Failing" on The Long Trail, and Upcoming Plans | 02:11:30 | |
We are once again joined by Backpacker Radio's most invasive species, otherwise known as The Real Hiking Viking. We hear all about his two month long stint on the Jordan Trail. He tells us all about this trek, the region, its people, the food, and the experience altogether. We also chat about what went wrong on his Long Trail winter thru-hike attempt, and how he opted to swallow his pride instead of putting his life at risk. I briefly touch on thru-hiking with your dog as part of today's Trek Propaganda, and we close out the show with a triple crown of new gear that we're excited to test. Subjects discussed in the episode include:
Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio? Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Download this podcast. Find us on Stitcher and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Michael W Hinkley, S11N, Todd Cartner, Sawyer Products, and Travis Smith A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Gregory Gardner and Peter Leven Follow The Real Hiking Viking, Weezer, The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio, and Chaunce on Facebook. Follow The Trek on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter. Intro music via. | |||
| 29 Sep 2019 | #47 | Peter Bakwin of FastestKnownTime.com | 01:40:18 | |
Today's guest is Peter Bakwin, co-creator at fastestknowntime.com. We dive deep on all things FKT related, including his take on some of the more controversial FKTs, the proper way to document a speed record, and how he spearheaded this community. We also talk about Peter's long and impressive background in backpacking and ultra running, including his unmatched Rock-hard Hard Rock run. We also have a new unpopular opinion segment, a patent pending and much more.
[divider] Subjects discussed in the episode include:
Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio? Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co.
Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Download this podcast. Find us on Stitcher and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Christopher Mashburn, S11N, Sawyer Products, Todd Cartner, and Travis Smith A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Gregory Gardner, Jacob Northrup, and Peter Leven Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio, and Chaunce on Facebook. Follow The Trek on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter. Intro music via. | |||
| 16 Oct 2023 | #223 | Snakes 101: Bites, Myths, and Antivenom with Dr. Nick Brandehoff and Dr. Bryan Wilson | 02:06:40 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Dr. Nick Brandehoff and Dr. Bryan Wilson of The Asclepius Snakebite Foundation to of course talk all things snakes. We cover everything you could want to know about dealing with snakes and snake bites including what to do if bitten by a snake in the backcountry in a variety of circumstances, what to do if your kid or dog is bitten by a snake, common myths about snakes and snake bites, a fornicate marry kill of snake species, what resources people ought to be aware of in dealing with snake safety, and much more. We wrap the show with the best excuses to get out of work, a triple crown of items over $1,000 that aren't living, and are small enough to be manually lifted, a new segment, trigger warning, a horseback DUI, and more! Vargo Outdoors: Use code “BACKPACKERRADIO” for 20% off at vargooutdoors.com. Katabatic Gear: Use code “BPR15” for 15% off at katabaticgear.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code “TAKELESSTREKMORE” for 15% off at gossamergear.com. [divider] Interview with Dr. Nick Brandehoff and Dr. Bryan Wilson Time stamps & Questions 00:04:30 - Reminders: Check out our new merch, submit your poop story for a chance to win a BPR RTIC mug, and apply to be a blogger! 00:08:40 - Introducing Dr. Brandehoff and Dr. Wilson 00:10:00 - Tell us about your backgrounds and how you came to your current roles 00:13:27 - Why does Denver have a high concentration of toxicologists? 00:15:10 - How many snakes do each of you own? 00:15:55 - When you think of snake people, what is the stereotypical snake person? 00:17:15 - Have either of you been bitten by venomous snakes? 00:18:07 - What makes a snake venomous but not dangerous? 00:27:35 - If you get bit by a snake while out hiking, how do you get it to let go of you? 00:29:15 - How far do snakes lunge? 00:31:50 - Have snakes evolved not to rattle? 00:32:12 - If you get bit while hiking, what should you do? 00:35:00 - Discussion about the myth of using electricity to denature venom 00:36:55 - First aid tips 00:38:43 - Is it okay to move to get to medical care? 00:40:20 - Does it make more sense to hike or run? 00:41:48 - Is it a bad idea to try to slow the circulation or elevate the area? 00:42:54 - How does your knowledge impact your outdoor experience? 00:47:11 - Myth busting: are baby rattlesnakes more venomous than adults? 00:50:27 - What kind of venomous snakes are most prevalent in the United States? 00:52:00 - Can you rank the 4 snakes according to how bad it is to get bitten by them? 00:54:05 - Which of the 4 snakes would you most want to get bitten by? 00:57:05 - After you’re bit, how long do you have before a snakebite becomes lethal? 00:59:40 - Tell us about the Appalachian snake people 01:02:00 - Discussion about the long term impacts of snake bites 01:04:40 - Is antivenom the same for all snakes? 01:07:02 - How is antivenom made? 01:09:07 - Why do the antibodies have to be taken from other animals? 01:11:45 - Are you optimistic about the technology of antivenom evolving? 01:12:08 - Is it true that not all hospitals have antivenom? 01:13:50 - Discussion about poison centers (800-222-1222) 01:16:20 - What’s the craziest thing you’ve seen with the poison center? 01:20:57 - What should you do if a child or dog gets bit by a snake? 01:24:56 - Do you have any snake jokes? 01:25:30 - Fuck Marry Kill: water moccasins, rattlesnakes, copperheads 01:26:45 - If you could see any snake in the wild, what would you pick? 01:28:25 - What snake would come out the victor in a bracket? 01:29:55 - What are some rapid fire snake facts? 01:32:30 - Have you ever done any snake pranks? 01:33:35 - Why are people so afraid of snakes? 01:35:00 - Where can people learn more about you and your organization? Segments Trek Propaganda: A Camera as Company: Thru-Hiking in Scotland with a Panoramic Camera by Laura Partain QOTD: What’s your go-to excuse for getting out of work? Triple Crown of non-living, liftable items you’d want over $1,000 Triggering the Internet Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @paulyboyshallcross. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex & Misty with Navigators Crafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, DoGoodPantry, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Liz Seger, Matt Soukup, Mike Poisel, Morgan Luke, Patrick Cianciolo, Sawyer Products, Timothy Hahn, and Tracy “Trigger” Fawns. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: 12 Trees Farms, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jake Landgraf, Jeanne Latshaw, Jeff LaFranier, Joann Menzer, Keith Dobie Jr, Kelly Heikkila, Matthew Spence, and Peter. | |||
| 10 Feb 2025 | Viking Q&A: First Aid Kits, Electronics, Socks, and a Beard Update | 02:51:29 | |
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are A’in your Q’s, with our pal and yours, the lightly bearded Jabba aka The Real Hiking Viking. In today’s question and answer we dive into a host of nitty gritty backpacking details, including what exactly is in our first aid kit, electronics bag (down to the cords), and our stuff sac systems, including some specific product recommendations. We also chat about our least favorite backpacking trips, our thought process in choosing socks for a backpacking trip, and what we deem as the biggest misuse of money when on a thru-hike. Jabba also updates us on what life has been like sans-beard, the fallout with his girlfriend, and if he plans to bring it back. We wrap the show with our go to movie theater orders, why corn maintains its shape when shat, the triple crown of cities we'd add an NFL team and what their mascots would be, and we once again dive down the rabbit hole of how often peepee happens during poopoo. Another very mature episode for the archive. Topo Athletic: Use code “THETREK15” at topoathletic.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code “BACKPACKER20” for 20% off packs at gossamergear.com. AG1: Get your free $79 gift at drinkag1.com/backpacker. Timeline: Get 33% off your first order at timeline.com/backpacker33. [divider] Interview with Viking Time stamps & Questions 00:11:45 - Reminders: Join us for our live show in Austin, listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon, and apply to blog for the Trek! 00:15:05 - Re-introducing Jabba 00:18:57 - What’s life been like since you shaved the beard? 00:26:15 - How long have you been a Joe Pesci impersonator? 00:26:58 - Will you grow the beard back? 00:30:25 - What is in your first aid kit? 00:49:00 - What’s your favorite planet? 00:52:00 - What is your full electronics kit? 01:01:25 - If you had to have an inside/desk job, what would it be? 01:02:45 - What was that in the Orange Bowl? 01:03:26 - What features of the Zerk did you have strong opinions about? 01:15:15 - What’s your least favorite trail over 50 miles? 01:32:35 - Does the carpet match the drapes? 01:33:45 - What is the biggest misuse of money on trail? 01:44:40 - How much thought do you put into your hiking socks? 01:52:00 - Who’s the biggest asshole you’ve ever met on trail? 01:53:17 - How many stuff sacks do you use? 02:08:44 - How old do you think your kids will be for their first backpacking trip? 02:10:45 - What is being married going to do to your thru-hiking career? 02:15:00 - Peak Performance Question: What is your top performance enhancing hack? Segments Trek Propaganda: Biden’s Final, Controversial Push for America’s Public Lands by Katie Jackson QOTD: What is your movie theater order? QOTD 2: Why does corn come out the same shape as corn? Triple Crown of cities you’d add an NFL team to Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Ben Love, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Greg McDaniel, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Liz Seger, Mud Tom, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger’ Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Bonnie Ackerman, Chris Pyle, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Katharine Rudzitis, Lauren Cain, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Ruth S, and Spencer Hinson. | |||
| 23 May 2022 | #150 | Caet Cash on Peak Bagging in the Appalachias, Southbounding, and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome | 02:07:15 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek brought to you by Goodr, we are joined by Caet Cash. Caet first discovered backpacking back in 2014 and has been on an absolute tear ever since. We chat about why she prefers to hike SOBO, including some SOBO specific elements of both the AT and PCT, her insane list of peakbagging feats in the Adirondacks and southern Appalachians, redlining (aka mapping) the Smokies, and much more. Caet also details how her backcountry goals have shifted since being diagnosed with Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, how she manages EDS, and why she thinks it's important to be vocal about this chronic condition. We wrap the show with an overview of our AT road trip thus far including Chaunce's absurd sun burn, a triple crown of emotional high points on trail, a listener voicemail, and a listener educates us on the Philmont Poop Rating. Goodr: Use code “backpacker15” for 15% off at goodr.com/backpacker15. Gossamer Gear: Use code “littledonkeygirl” for 15% off at gossamergear.com. Greenbelly: Use code “trek2022” for 10% off at greenbelly.co.
Interview with Caet Cash Time stamps & Questions 00:04:32 - QOTD: What’s been the best part of the road trip thus far? 00:14:53 - Introducing Caet 00:15:10 - Discussion about Caet’s trail name. 00:16:03 - What’s the origin of your trail name? 00:18:37 - How mad are you going to be about Zach’s pronunciation of Appalachian? 00:19:02 - Do you remember where you first met Zach? 00:21:07 - Tell us your backpacking resume. 00:22:45 - Tell us about the Northville Placid Trail. 00:24:26 - What’s the best season to do the Northville Placid Trail? 00:25:45 - Do most people start in Northville? 00:26:00 - What type of wildlife do you see? 00:27:05 - Have you done any of the Finger Lakes Trail? 00:27:52 - What put the Appalachian Trail on your radar and why did you choose southbound? 00:29:19 - Was your marathon pain related to your future diagnosis? 00:30:10 - Anything else you want to share from the AT? 00:32:25 - Chaunce’s story. 00:34:52 - At one point did you feel like you got into the hiking rhythm? 00:38:20 - Does any part of the trail feel hard after you’ve completed the Whites? 00:39:30 - Anything else you want to share from the CT? 00:40:36 - Tell us about connecting your footsteps on the PCT. 00:43:54 - How did you decide to go southbound on the PCT? 00:44:30 - How did you handle sleeping alone? 00:46:35 - How many times have you seen bears at night? 00:47:30 - Discussion of purism differences between the AT and PCT. 00:48:35 - When did you finish the PCT and what was the Sierra like? 00:50:15 - Tell us about what you thought of the PCT views and scenery. 00:52:02 - Do you prefer the scenery of the AT? 00:53:20 - Do you think list-making is more of a personality trait of people in the Northeast? 00:54:11 - Tell us about the South Beyond 6,000 grid. 00:55:36 - Can you give us more detail on the SB6K guidelines? 00:57:14 - What’s your strategy in accomplishing the SB6K? 00:58:14 - How do you hike all of them in a month? 00:59:25 - What are your top 3 favorite peaks from the SB6K? 01:00:49 - Tell us about the Adirondack 46. 01:02:03 - How many of the SB6K peaks are accessible from or on the AT? 01:03:03 - Have you done Mt. Rogers? 01:03:47 - If there’s no view, is the appeal strictly accomplishing the list? 01:04:20 - Has anyone else done the SB6K grid? 01:07:02 - Tell us about redlining the Smokies. 01:09:12 - How much do you have to plan for a redlining project versus winging it? 01:09:41 - Are there any resources for helping someone plan a redline? 01:10:45 - How long did it take you to redline the Smokies? 01:11:44 - Tell us about your hip injury. 01:16:01 - Tell us about Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. 01:18:19 - Have you ever dislocated your shoulder? 01:19:01 - What differentiates this disease from someone with other flexibility or hypermobility? 01:19:41 - How do you cope with or reduce chronic pain? 01:22:22 - How has EDS modified your future plans or goals? 01:24:29 - How common is EDS? 01:25:51 - What else in your lifestyle has changed to pursue your health goals? 01:27:18 - Has it been tough to recalibrate your goals? 01:28:28 - Did you ever wonder if your pain was similar to other hikers’? 01:29:58 - Would cycling be a possible activity for you? 01:31:52 - Tell us about your sister and hiking with her. 01:32:55 - What’s your big 3 these days? 01:34:14 - Hype up van life for us. 01:36:18 - What do you want to share about guiding? 01:37:12 - How did you like working with Jennifer Pharr Davis? 01:38:00 - Anything else you want to share? 01:39:08 - Thank you! SEGMENTS Trek Propaganda Triple Crown of emotional high points on trail Listener Voicemail Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound g uy@Paulybooyshallcross. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Jason Lawrence, Christopher Marshburn, Sawyer Products, Brad and Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Patrick Cianciolo, Paul Packman Sealy, Matt Soukup, and Jason Snailer. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Liz Seger, Cynthia Voth, Emily Brown, Dcnerdlet, Jeff LaFranier, Peter Ellenberg, Jacob Northrup, Peter Leven. | |||
| 09 Jan 2023 | #183 | Mackenzie Fresquez on Backpacking with Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD | 01:54:05 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Mackenzie Fresquez. Today's interview focuses on neurodivergence in the outdoors, as Mackenzie has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. We get Mackenzie's experience with how this has interfaced with her long-distance backpacking trips- including a NOBO LASH on the PCT in 2021, what unique challenges someone with ADS faces in the context of a large on-trail community, and what advice she has to offer others with ASD who aspire to get into backpacking. We wrap the show with a packed array of segments, including some tips for UL backpacking with a baby, the triple crown of best drunks, a couple of very juicy stupidest things of the week, a new cinnamon court submission, and more! Enlightened Equipment: Use code “TREKPOD10” for 10% off Enlightened Equipment’s Stock Revelation Quilt or Torrid Jacket at enlightenedequipment.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code “TAKELESSTREKMORE” for 15% off at gossamergear.com. Casio: Shop at casio.com/us/watches. Organifi: Use code “BACKPACKER” for 20% off at organifi.com/backpacker. [divider] Interview with Mackenzie Fresquez Time stamps & Questions 00:04:26 - QOTD: How long are dog’s memories? 00:11:32 - Reminders: Monthly Patreon Q&A episodes! Become a Patreon supporter! 00:14:44 - Introducing Mackenzie 00:15:19 - Tell us some nature trivia! 00:17:28 - Give us your backpacking resume. 00:19:33 - What made you want to start the PCT after leaving the CT? 00:20:20 - Introduce us to the topic of neurodivergence. 00:21:19 - Why do you think there is a lot of attention about neurodivergence content on social media right now? 00:22:10 - What is Autism Spectrum Disorder? 00:25:45 - What made you go from masking your symptoms to seeking a diagnosis? 00:28:00 - Discussion about insurance coverage for autism assessments 00:29:10 - What was the tipping point to answers and how has the diagnosis helped? 00:31:12 - Do you consider your diagnosis a benefit or hindrance for backpacking? 00:35:30 - What do you know now that you wish you’d known before starting your hikes? 00:36:36 - Discussion about social situations on trail 00:40:02 - DId your symptoms manifest in any additional ways? 00:41:36 - What separates general social anxiety from ASD? 00:42:15 - How did you prepare for the PCT? 00:44:56 - Will you prepare for future backpacking trips differently? 00:45:52 - Which backpacking routine is your favorite? 00:46:36 - Do you have a superpower? 00:47:40 - How was the response to your facebook posts? 00:51:00 - Discussion about self-diagnosis versus clinician diagnosis 00:52:33 - Why is being able to label something important? 00:53:55 - What was the negative bi-product of faking extraversion? 00:54:40 - What else do you recommend for someone considering their symptoms? 00:56:33 - Why are GI issues common in people with ASD? 00:58:22 - Discussion about “curing” autism 01:00:35 - Did you have a lot of social discomfort on the PCT? 01:02:05 - Thank you! SEGMENTS Stupid Thing of the Week Trek Propaganda
Mom Gross or Not Gross Cinnamon Court Triple Crown of best drunks Mail Bag 5 Star Review Listener Voicemail [divider] Check out our sound guy @paulyboyshallcross. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Christopher Marshburn, Dayne, Greg McDaniel, Kristina Diaz, Matt Soukup, Mike Poisel, Patrick Cianciolo, Paul Packman Sealy, Sawyer Products, and Tracy “Trigger” Fawns. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Dcnerdlet, Jacob Northrup, Jeff LaFranier, Keith Dobie Jr, Liz Seger, and Peter. | |||
| 13 Jan 2025 | Triple Crowning as a Family of 6, Parenting Teenagers on Trail, and Life Lessons with Vince & Georgie Strawbridge | 02:48:46 | |
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek and brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Vince and Georgie Strawbridge, one-third of the six-person thru-hiking family. We last caught up with the Strawbridges in early 2020, when they were freshly off their hike of the PCT. Since, they’ve conquered both the CDT and the AT, completing the Triple Crown as a full family. We dive into the high and lowlights of these treks from the perspectives of Vince (dad) and Georgie (the youngest in the family). They share insights on navigating the CDT during COVID, overcoming multiple bouts of hypothermia, how one Strawbridge daughter managed to hike the CDT despite being severely anemic, why the AT ranked as their least favorite of the Triple Crown trails, hiking the AT as a group of seven (adding another kiddo for this one), some especially serendipitous instances of trail magic, and Vince’s unconventional—and hilarious—efforts to convince his wife, Monica, to take on another thru-hike, including a group therapy session with their friends. We wrap the show with new of a job opening at Backpacker Radio, we ponder how far from a star you should be before it’s safe to stare, a FMK of places to get wet, a breakdown of how much more expensive it is to hike the AT these days, and the Triple Crown of human names that sound like they could double as state names. Topo Athletic: Use code “TREKWINTER15” at topoathletic.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code “BACKPACKER20” for 20% off packs at gossamergear.com. [divider] Interview with Vince & Georgie Strawbridge Time stamps & Questions 00:05:34 - Reminders: Apply to join the BPR team or vlog for the Trek, get tickets to our live show in Austin on April 17, and support us on Patreon! 00:11:20 - Introducing Vince & Georgie Strawbridge 00:12:12 - How did Georgie break her leg? 00:13:18 - How old are all the kids now? 00:15:00 - How has your interest in hiking changed since you were last on the podcast? 00:16:06 - How do you feel about hiking as a kid? 00:18:49 - How did you find time to write the book? 00:25:25 - What did you learn through writing the book? 00:28:20 - Did Zach & Chaunce find parallels between hiking and writing? 00:32:20 - Now that you’re older, have you noticed hiking feeling different? 00:33:50 - How did you decide on the CDT next? 00:39:27 - How should Zach get his kids to like hiking? 00:43:40 - What was the result of the group referee sessions? 00:45:45 - What are some highlights of the first part of the trail? 00:48:35 - How did you manage the logistics after the first 400 miles? 00:51:00 - What was your dog encounter? 00:52:50 - How did you manage schooling on trail? 00:54:53 - What were some cool stories that overlapped with the trail? 00:59:40 - How does your homeschooling curriculum interact with applying to college? 01:03:10 - What do you want to do when you grow up? 01:04:10 - Tell us about the time you took too much Benadryl 01:07:35 - What was the tent breakup on the CDT? 01:09:22 - What was your level of enjoyment on the CDT? 01:10:30 - Did you notice your own growth between the trails? 01:11:27 - What’s the dynamic between you and your siblings? 01:14:20 - Tell us about the September storm 01:20:20 - Do you ever have meetings without Vince? 01:24:00 - Discussion about finding out June was anemic 01:26:50 - Were you hesitant to have June join you on the AT? 01:27:52 - How did you decide to go northbound on the AT? 01:29:17 - What was it like going from the CDT during covid to the AT northbound? 01:34:00 - How did you weigh the pros and cons of hiking as a large group? 01:38:20 - Did you get any negative comments online? 01:43:26 - Did it feel like you were in easy mode on the AT? 01:47:30 - Story about running out of food 01:49:50 - What was it like getting your first real trail magic experience? 01:54:40 - Did someone get trench foot on this hike? 01:55:30 - What was it like to reach the sign on Katahdin? 01:57:45 - How has the Triple Crown experience changed your kids? 02:01:30 - Would you want to be homeschooled again? 02:04:45 - Give us the highlights of the Great Divide Trail 02:08:15 - Who handles cold water better? 02:09:13 - What was it like navigating the fire season? 02:13:18 - Is the hitching culture different in Canada? 02:14:10 - Tell us about your plans for 2025? 02:16:39 - Peak Performance Question: What’s your top performance enhancing hack? Segments Trek Propaganda
QOTD: How far from a star must you be to be safe to stare? Triple Crown of (human) names that sound like they could be names of states Fuck Marry Kill: Places to get wet Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Greg McDaniel, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Liz Seger, Mud Tom, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger’ Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Bonnie Ackerman, Brett A, Chris Pyle, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jack Greene, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Katharine Rudzitis, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Ruth S, and Spencer Hinson. | |||
| 07 Jan 2019 | #26 | Scout + Frodo, The Top Tents on the Appalachian Trail, & Forgotten Internet Holidays | 01:16:19 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, Chaunce sits down with famed PCT trail angels, Scout and Frodo. We get an in depth look at Scout's new book, "The Continental Divide Trail: Exploring America's Ridgeline Trail", his passion for writing, and we learn about the first person to hike the Continental Divide. We also cover the most popular tents used by 2018 Appalachian Trail thru-hikers, and get into a new segment, Forgotten Internet Holidays. Subjects discussed in today's show include:
Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio? Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co.
Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Stitcher and Google Play. Support us on Patreon!A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Sawyer Products and Tama Lama Ding Dong. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Gregory Gardner, Andre Oosthuizen, Randy Harter, and Peter Leven Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek, Chaunce, and Badger on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow The Trek on Facebook, Twitter and sign up for our newsletter. | |||
| 01 Aug 2022 | #160 | Beginner Backpacking Mistakes 2.0 | 02:42:18 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek we are bringing you another edition of Beginner Backpacking Mistakes. Today we're joined by our good pal and backpacking superstar, Steven “Twinkle” Shattuck, to give you a rundown of mistakes to avoid on your next backpacking trip. If you listened to the first edition of this panel, rest assured that all of the tips in this episode are brand new- backed by many thousands of miles of trail experience- we made all the mistakes so you don't have to. We also have a triple crown of our favorite day hikes in Colorado, we learn about Twinkle and Grace's recent epic backpacking trip in Peru, and we wrap the show with a solid hazing of Chaunce. RTIC Outdoors: Use code “backpacker” for 10% off orders over $50 at rticoutdoors.com. Organifi: Use code “backpacker” for 20% off at organifi.com/backpacker. Ned: Use code “backpacker” for 15% off at helloned.com/backpacker. Tanri: Use code “bpradio10” for 10% off at tanri.com. Panel with Badger, Chaunce, and Twinkle
Time stamps & Questions 00:06:18 - QOTD: What have you been up to since we last talked? 00:11:27 - Discussion about Twinkle’s Huayllapa Circuit hike 00:21:14 - Twinkle’s Mistake #1: Relying on your phone too heavily for navigation 00:28:20 - Chaunce’s Mistake #1: Not including gear replacements or fixes into your trail budget 00:36:00 - Zach’s Mistake #1: Not eating enough food 00:43:50 - Twinkle’s Mistake #2: Splitting up with your group without making a detailed plan 00:57:08 - Chaunce’s Mistake #2: Just because your body feels like it can push on, doesn’t mean it should 01:02:32 - Zach’s Mistake #2: Be more selective with your campsites 01:15:02 - Twinkle’s Mistake #3: Do not buy excess footwear prior to your hike 01:25:00 - Nancy East fan club 01:28:13 - Chaunce’s Mistake #3: Not preparing for what happens after your hike 01:34:58 - Zach’s Mistake #3: Not budgeting enough extra time for your hike SEGMENTS Trek Propaganda
Triple Crown of our favorite Colorado day hikes [divider] Check out our sound guy @Paulybooyshallcross. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Jason Lawrence, Christopher Marshburn, Sawyer Products, Brad and Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Patrick Cianciolo, Paul Packman Sealy, Matt Soukup, Jason Snailer, Greg Mac, Tracy “Trigger” Fawns, Mike Poisel, and Kristina Diaz. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Liz Seger, Cynthia Voth, Emily Brown, Dcnerdlet, Jeff LaFranier, Peter Ellenberg, Jacob Northrup, Peter Leven. | |||
| 31 Jan 2018 | #2 - Scuba Steve on Hiking Through the Sierra in Record Snow, Poop Stories, and The Top Gear on the Appalachian Trail | 01:41:48 | |
In episode number 2 of Backpacker Radio, we talk a whole lot of number 2. Zach "Badger" Davis and Juliana "Chaunce" Chauncey are joined by 2017 PCT thru-hiker Scuba Steve and hear his tales of hiking through The Sierra during one of the highest snow years in recorded history, including a couple of near-death experiences. We also talk about Chaunce's plan to section hike the Colorado Trail this year, how Badger did the same in 2015, and a few noteworthy stops along the trail. Like children, the three then discuss their favorite poop stories from their hikes, including Chaunce's introduction into sh*tting in the woods, Badger's Cliffhanger deuce in The Whites, and Scuba Steve's bizarre strategy of using notebook paper to wipe. The trio examine the most popular packs, sleeping bags, and tents used on the Appalachian Trail in 2017, and share their own experiences with some of the gear. And lastly, they answer a few listener questions submitted from Instagram. Have any questions, comments, or concerns for Backpacker Radio? Reach out at podcast@thetrek.co. If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a review on iTunes and subscribe. | |||
| 05 Dec 2022 | #178 | Leonard Adkins on 20,000 Miles of Backpacking, Thru-Hiking in the 1980s, and Authoring 21 Books | 02:24:13 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Leonard Adkins. Leonard is a backpacking legend and author of more than twenty books, including several guide books, a book about the flora, fauna, and geology on the the Appalachian Trail, and his most title, "All About the Appalachian Trail" the first and only book for children grades 4-8. We go in depth on Leonard's backpacking history, which includes more than 20,000 miles dating back to the early 80s. We learn what it was like to be one of the first to hike the Pacific Northwest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and the first (alongside his wife) to hike the Allegheny Trail. We learn some fun facts about the plants along the AT. And we get the ultimate endorsement for this interview from Leonard himself, who says, "I enjoyed that more than I was expecting.” We were flattered. We wrap the show with the worst all-time Christmas songs, the triple crown of baked goods, a new stupid thing of the week, and more. RTIC Outdoors: Shop at rticoutdoors.com. Organifi: Use code “BACKPACKER” for 20% off at organifi.com/backpacker. Enlightened Equipment: Use code “ULTRALIGHT10” for 10% off Enlightened Equipment’s Stock Revelation Quilt or Torrid Jacket at enlightenedequipment.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code “TAKELESSTREKMORE” for 15% off at gossamergear.com. [divider] Interview with Leonard Adkins Time stamps & Questions 00:05:15 - QOTD: What is the all-time worst Christmas song? 00:13:52 - Reminders: Hiker Meetup, Saturday December 10! 00:17:08 - Reminders: apply to blog in 2023, shop the Trek’s new shorts and hats! 00:18:34 - Introducing Leonard 00:19:19 - What’s your origin story? 00:22:56 - How popular was the trail in 1980? 00:26:18 - How was the trail or route different in 1980? 00:29:14 - Did you hike the trail to research for your books or did your books result from hiking? 00:31:55 - How much time did you spend on your first book? 00:33:33 - Tell us more about hiking the AT in 1980. 00:37:50 - If you could backpack the AT today or in the 80’s again, which would you pick? 00:40:11 - Do you remember your original backpacking gear? 00:44:29 - Tell us about the Allegheny Trail. 00:50:42 - How long do you think it would take the average thru-hiker to complete? 00:54:30 - What was the Pacific Northwest Trail like in 1983? 00:57:54 - How did you know about these trails to hike them before they were completed? 01:00:22 - How did you plan your hikes without guide books or maps? 01:03:30 - Discussion about hiking the Continental Divide Trail in 1987 01:05:26 - How many maps did you carry on the CDT and how did you get them? 01:07:37 - What does your navigation setup look like today? 01:10:05 - What shorter trail stands out from the ones we haven’t talked about yet? 01:11:54 - Would you describe your hiking experience as Type I or Type II fun? 01:12:50 - What was your most challenging day of backpacking? 01:14:58 - What percent of your time is spent hiking, researching, and writing books? 01:16:21 - If you could hike one of your international trails again, which would it be? 01:21:39 - Did you re-hike sections of the trail to write your books? 01:25:37 - What’s your favorite story about nature that’s in your books? 01:27:44 - What’s your favorite story about the animals you researched? 01:29:43 - Tell us more about your educational and professional background. 01:32:08 - What are the best overnight hikes on the AT? 01:34:06 - Are the ponies in Grayson Highlands wild or feral? 01:35:41 - Tell us about your wife getting struck by lightning. 01:40:14 - Was the pain localized to her foot? 01:42:00 - Laurie’s perspective on the story 01:42:55 - What was the inspiration for writing a book for kids? 01:45:42 - What feedback have you gotten on the book? 01:47:50 - Do you have a larger mission for writing books? 01:48:53 - Where can people follow you and get your books? SEGMENTS MG Check-In Trek Propaganda
Stupid Thing of the Week Triple Crown of baked goods Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @paulyboyshallcross. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Jason Lawrence, Christopher Marshburn, Sawyer Products, Brad and Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Patrick Cianciolo, Paul Packman Sealy, Matt Soukup, Jason Snailer, Greg Mac, Tracy “Trigger” Fawns, Mike Poisel, and Kristina Diaz. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Liz Seger, Cynthia Voth, Emily Brown, Dcnerdlet, Jeff LaFranier, Peter Ellenberg, Jacob Northrup, Peter Leven. | |||
| 30 Dec 2019 | #56 | Scott Turner on the Best Hikes in San Diego County, 2020 Predictions, and The Top Footwear on the AT | 01:30:30 | |
Today the Cinnamon Connection is joined by Scott Turner. Scott is *the* go-to resource for all things hiking in Southern California. He's the co-author of the latest version of "Afoot and Afield: San Diego County", known as San Diego's hiking bible. Scott shares his favorite hikes in San Diego county, including the best short trails, long trails, the best ecological diversity, the best history, and much more. We also cover the top footwear on the Appalachian Trail in 2019, our predictions for 2020, more horse facts, and Chaunce has a mini-meltdown. [divider]
Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio? Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Download this podcast. Find us on Stitcher and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Cristopher Marshburn S11N, Sawyer Products, Thomas Fullner, and Travis Smith A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Gregory Gardner, Jacob Northrup, Mark Snook, Peter Leven, Peter Ellenberg Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio, and Chaunce on Facebook. Follow The Trek on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter. | |||
| 20 Jan 2025 | Thru-Hiking with 50-Year-Old Gear with Jared "Snackbox" Champion | 01:43:08 | |
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Jared “Snackbox” Champion. Snackbox is s a hiker, father, and Youtuber who, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Colorado Trail, hiked it almost exclusively with 50 year old gear. We talk about the process of sourcing this gear, the hardest items to acquire, the least backpacker-friendly items of the bunch, which gear hasn’t advanced as much, and how his appreciation for gear has changed in light of this experience. Jared also shares the story of bonding with his now-wife over their shared love of the Colorado Trail, life as a professor, managing ADHD on trail, and much more. We wrap the show with a last call for Trek Vlogger applications, Chaunce and I share our take on cowboy (and cowgirl) camping, how thin a pancake can be before it's a crepe, and the triple crown of things we've changed our minds on. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. Gossamer Gear: Use code “BACKPACKER20” for 20% off packs at gossamergear.com. Timeline: Get 33% off your first order at timeline.com/backpacker33. [divider] Interview with Jared “Snackbox” Champion Time stamps & Questions 00:05:10 - Reminders: Support us on Patreon, get tickets to our live show in Austin on April 17, and apply to vlog for the Trek! 00:07:45 - Introducing Jared 00:08:15 - What’s your trail name origin story? 00:09:50 - What’s your favorite dad joke? 00:10:14 - Tell us about your hiking resume 00:11:45 - Tell us about meeting your wife on trail 00:16:34 - Tell us about hiking the Dodson Loop in Big Bend 00:18:33 - Sell Zach on the Collegiate Loop 00:21:50 - Where did this CT hike idea come from? 00:24:30 - Discussion about being a professor 00:27:00 - Discussion about finding sponsors 00:30:55 - Discussion about choosing the shoes 00:32:30 - What pack did you use? 00:35:40 - What tent did you use? 00:38:00 - How did you determine what gear you could cheat on a bit? 00:41:30 - What sleeping bag did you use? 00:44:37 - What did you bring for apparel? 00:45:50 - What was the weight of your pack and how did your mileage change? 00:48:50 - What’s your overarching thesis about the hike? 00:52:45 - Do you appreciate ultralight gear more now? 00:55:12 - When does the documentary come out? 00:56:50 - How does ADHD interface with your backpacking experience? 01:03:07 - What fun Colorado Trail history facts do you have? 01:05:02 - Do you know what your next project will be? 01:07:30 - Do you think thru-hiking has curbed any negative symptoms of ADHD? 01:08:40 - Stay Salty Question: What’s your hottest take in the world of backpacking? Segments Trek Propaganda
QOTD: How thin can a pancake be before it becomes a crepe? Triple Crown of things you’ve changed your mind on Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Ben Love, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Greg McDaniel, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Liz Seger, Mud Tom, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger’ Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Bonnie Ackerman, Chris Pyle, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Katharine Rudzitis, Lauren Cain, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Ruth S, and Spencer Hinson. | |||
| 01 Apr 2024 | How to Hike the Colorado Trail with David Fanning: Seasons, Trail Towns, and Extra Experiences | 02:46:09 | |
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are chatting all things Colorado Trail. Rachel, who filled in for Zach, and Chaunce are joined by David Fanning, who has seven complete hikes of the Colorado Trail, which is tied for the record we think. Topics covered today include the pros and cons of hiking the CT both east and westbound, the best weather windows, transportation to the trail, recommended gear, information about the campsites, water availability, the best towns, resupply strategy, preparation strategies, how to navigate the trail, wildlife, comparing the Collegiate East and West, and more. We wrap the show with the official details of our upcoming LIVE podcast in Denver, how to cook corn, and the triple crown of bread. Gossamer Gear: Use code “DINGLEBERRY” for 20% off packs at gossamergear.com. Danner: Use code “TREK15” for 15% off Mountain 600 boots at danner.com. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. Shady Rays: Use code “TREK20” for $20 off polarized sunglasses at shadyrays.com. [divider] Panel with David Fanning Time stamps & Questions 00:06:14 - Reminders: Come attend BPR live in Denver on April 23! Apply to be a Trek blogger or Ambassador and suggest a potential Trail Days guest for BPR! 00:07:37 - Introducing the Colorado Trail panel 00:08:54 - Introducing David Fanning 00:12:04 - How did you go from the PCT to CT? 00:14:20 - When was the first year you hiked the Colorado Trail? 00:15:52 - Do you think having that conversation with the doctor turned out to be a blessing? 00:20:25 - Colorado Trail basics 00:22:40 - Hiking season and weather 00:30:10 - What crazy weather have you seen across 7 hikes? 00:31:45 - Discussion about keeping gear dry and rain gear 00:36:42 - What experience have you had with snow on the trail? 00:39:14 - Have you had any sketchy experiences with lightning? (NOLS lightning resources) 00:41:56 - Discussion about dead tree fall 00:43:15 - Hiking NOBO or SOBO 00:49:08 - Trail termini 00:51:00 - Discussion about taking the train from Grand Junction to Denver 00:52:12 - Resupplies and towns 00:53:18 - Discussion about hitching 00:59:50 - Trail towns: Bailey, Conifer, Jefferson, and Fairplay (See The Colorado Trail Guide: Resupply and Towns on the Colorado Trail) 01:04:04 - Trail towns: Breckenridge, Frisco, and Copper 01:05:45 - Sending resupply boxes 01:06:53 - Trail towns: Leadville 01:09:54 - Trail towns: Twin Lakes 01:10:35 - Collegiate East vs West 01:17:05 - Trail towns: Buena Vista and Salida 01:19:05 - The Cochetopa section 01:24:10 - Trail towns: Gunnison, Lake City 01:31:56 - Discussion about sheepdogs 01:34:06 - Trail towns: Silverton and the scenic train 01:38:40 - Discussion about the section between Lake City and Silverton 01:40:20 - Discussion about wildlife encounters 01:48:00 - Food storage on the CT 01:50:04 - Shelter considerations on the CT 01:54:15 - Discussion about campsites and Chaunce’s scary story 01:58:45 - Navigation on the CT 02:00:48 - Dogs and bikes on the CT (Backpacker Radio #214 | Tisha McCombs, Executive Director at the Colorado Trail Foundation) 02:03:30 - What has changed the most over your many hikes? 02:07:00 - Section hiking versus thru-hiking 02:14:02 - What’s your elevator pitch for the Colorado Trail? 02:17:04 - Physical preparation on the CT 02:21:25 - Discussion about food and appetite 02:21:55 - Tell us about Voices of the Colorado Trail Segments Trek Propaganda
QOTD: How do you cook corn? Triple Crown of bread Plug Me: Old Man Murph's Coffee Roasters Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex & Misty with Navigators Crafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Greg Knight, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Hailey Buckingham, Jason “Snail” Snailer barely know her, Liz Seger, Patrick Cianciolo, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, and Tracy “Trigger” Fawns. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: 12 Trees Farms, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Jeff LaFranier, Joann Menzer, Katharine Rudzitis, Keith Dobie Jr, merle Watkins, Peter, and Ruth S. | |||
| 03 May 2019 | #36 | Jon "Airborne" Schwarze on His PCT Yo-Yo | 02:08:53 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, Badger is joined by Jon Schwarze, aka Airborne. Despite this being his first thru-hike, last year Airborne became just the fifth person to yo-yo the Pacific Crest Trail (which is to thru-hike the same trail in both directions in less than one year). We go balls deep on everything that went into this trek, including the differences between his NOBO and SOBO hike, his gear, his bizarre and demanding diet, what it was like meeting Scott Williamson, and how his background (despite having limited backpacking experience) played a major role in his success. We also get into some Trek Propaganda, two lies and a truth, a mailbag, and more. Subjects discussed in the episode include: Airborne Interview
Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio? Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co.
Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Download this podcast. Find us on Stitcher and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Michael W Hinkley, S11N, Sawyer Products, and Travis Smith A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Gregory Gardner and Peter Leven Follow Airborne, The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow The Trek, Backpacker Radio, and Chaunce on Facebook. Follow The Trek on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter. Intro music via. | |||
| 06 Jan 2025 | Backpacker Radio LIVE with Kyle Hates Hiking: A New Trail Mystery, Shaving Jabba's Beard, and Kyle's Reddit Haters | 02:27:02 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined yet again by Kyle O’Grady of Kyle Hates Hiking for our 2nd live podcast, recorded at the Skylark Lounge in Denver. This episode is action-packed. We kick off the episode by shaving Viking’s beard. The beard shaving is the ultimate entertainment, we encourage you to check this one out on YouTube. Kyle then shares an exclusive trail mystery about a local Colorado man who disappeared while pursuing another man who also vanished under mysterious circumstances. We also talk shop about YouTube, discussing how Kyle has grown his channel to over half a million subscribers, and he breaks down some of the most intriguing mysteries he’s covered in the past year. And we take some questions from the audience. We wrap the show by debating the largest animal we could take in a fight, the Triple Crown of Euphemisms for Masturbating, acknowledging the ceiling’s butt plugs, and much more. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. Gossamer Gear: Use code “SNUGGLEBUG” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com. Sierra Club Outings: Use code “BACKPACKER” for $100 off at outings.sierraclub.org. Timeline: Get 33% off your first order at timeline.com/backpacker33. [divider] Interview with Kyle O’Grady Time stamps & Questions 00:07:00 - The Shaving of the Beard 00:19:20 - Reminders: Subscribe to our newsletter, get tickets to our live show in Austin on April 17, and support us on Patreon! 00:20:53 - Introducing Kyle 00:23:30 - What has led to the growth in your channel over the past year? 00:26:55 - Kyle’s new outdoors mystery 00:56:15 - How many trail mysteries have you covered thus far? What are the themes? 01:01:28 - What are the meanest things people say about you? 01:03:15 - Discussion about Youtube thumbnails and strategy 01:05:55 - Do you really hate hiking? 01:11:20 - A second trail story from Kyle! 01:21:25 - When are you hiking the CDT? 01:23:10 - How long does each portion of a Youtube video take? 01:27:30 - How did your PCT miles go this year? 01:31:55 - Should hikers prepare their own missing posters? 01:35:10 - What are your favorite ultralight jerk pro tips? 01:40:28 - What inspired you to start your Youtube channel? 01:45:00 - What’s your most popular video and why do you think that is? 01:46:35 - What is your most overrated ultralight luxury? 01:48:05 - Are you planning to hike the AZT? 01:49:35 - Discussion about desert hiking 01:52:25 - How do you keep your hobby separate from your job? 01:55:50 - Stay Salty Question: What’s your hottest take in the world of backpacking? Segments QOTD: What’s the largest animal you could beat in a fight? Triple Crown of euphemisms for masturbating Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Ben Love, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Liz Seger, Mud Tom, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger’ Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Bonnie Ackerman, Chris Pyle, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Katharine Rudzitis, Lauren Cain, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Ruth S, and Spencer Hinson. | |||
| 19 Sep 2022 | #167 | Kraig Adams on Being a Professional Vlogger and International Trekking | 01:37:07 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Minus33, we are joined by Kraig Adams. Kraig has accumulated more than 700,000 YouTube subscribers while showcasing his adventures from around the world, including Mae Hong Son Loop in Thailand, Adirondack High Peaks, Tour Du Mont Blanc Loop in France, Santa Cruz Trek in Peru, Torres del Paine in Chile, Kesugi Ridge Trail in Alaska, Sawtooth Loop Trail in Idaho, just to name a few. We learn how Kraig got into the world of video blogging, how he's turned it into a full time profession, his favorite and least favorite hikes domestically and abroad, what advice he'd offer to aspiring worldly travelers, how and why he maintains a life of minimalism, and much more. We wrap the show with a triple crown of things that you aren’t superstitious about but may be a little-sticious about, a guide to edible berries along the PCT, and another update from MG! Minus33: Use code “backpacker22” at minus33.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code “takelesstrekmore” for 15% off at gossamergear.com. Enlightened Equipment: Use code “ultralight10” for 10% off Enlightened Equipment’s Stock Revelation Quilt or Torrid Jacket at enlightenedequipment.com. [divider] Interview with Kraig Adams Time stamps & Questions 00:03:03 - QOTD: What’s a sport that no matter the skill level, you don’t find impressive at all? 00:07:23 - Reminders: Apply to be the Trek’s Youtube personality! 00:07:29 - Introducing Kraig 00:08:20 - Tell us about your background. 00:09:57 - Discussion about initial filmmaking in NYC. 00:11:45 - What’s your benchmark for a successful video today? 00:12:57 - What’s the inspiration for your video style? 00:14:34 - Are you using backpacking as a means to travel or travel as a means to backpack? 00:16:06 - Tell us your hiking resume. 00:17:54 - Does it feel like work for you? 00:18:52 - Do you ever hike with your dog? 00:20:00 - What goes into planning a trip for you? 00:23:35 - Would you say your priority is more the video product or your own experience? 00:25:07 - How do you balance your work and home life? 00:27:02 - How does being a minimalist impact the decisions you make while traveling? 00:29:09 - How does minimalism influence your physical belongings? 00:30:48 - Is your wife a minimalist? 00:34:10 - Discussion about Big Bend 00:34:50 - What are your top three favorite US hikes? 00:35:47 - What are your top three favorite international hikes? 00:37:31 - How was your most recent Tour du Mont Blanc? 00:38:05 - What is it like to do a trip with subscribers? 00:42:10 - Do you get recognized a lot? 00:43:02 - Do you have any stories about trips going awry? 00:45:57 - How do you prepare for camping alone in Alaska? 00:47:15 - Discussion about navigation 00:48:30 - Hike superlatives 00:53:15 - What tips do you have about the Sawtooth Loop? 00:54:03 - What international hike would you recommend for beginners? 00:55:32 - Which trail has the best wildlife? 00:57:08 - What’s your fear level? 01:00:14 - Do you have any other travel tips and tricks? 01:03:03 - What are some primary/secondary hike pairs? 01:05:06 - Tell us about your camera gear and video process. 01:08:27 - Is there one component that accounts for the majority of your revenue? 01:11:09 - Discussion about brand partnerships 01:13:20 - Where can people follow you? SEGMENTS MG Check-In Trek Propaganda
Triple Crown of things you aren’t superstitious about but are maybe a little-stitious about Twitter Picture Chaunce Surprise Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @headnodculture. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Jason Lawrence, Christopher Marshburn, Sawyer Products, Brad and Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Patrick Cianciolo, Paul Packman Sealy, Matt Soukup, Jason Snailer, Greg Mac, Tracy “Trigger” Fawns, Mike Poisel, and Kristina Diaz. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Liz Seger, Cynthia Voth, Emily Brown, Dcnerdlet, Jeff LaFranier, Peter Ellenberg, Jacob Northrup, Peter Leven. | |||
| 14 Apr 2025 | The Camino de Costa Rica with Maytal "Carrot Top" Agasi (BPR #301) | 02:22:50 | |
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we’re joined by Maytal Agasi, known on trail as Carrot Top. In this episode, we learn how a road trip in a mid-size SUV with her two brothers sparked Carrot Top’s entry into the world of thru-hiking. She shares how she benefitted massively from both solo and group thru-hikes. We chat about her time on the JMT, Colorado Trail, and PCT, and we take a deeper dive into her most recent trek on the Camino de Costa Rica, covering standout cultural elements, landscape highlights, the incredibly muggy weather, rich wildlife (including venomous snakes and sloths), managing language barriers, unique logistical challenges, and more. A quick note: I made a big time dumb guy mistake. About 30 minutes into the interview, I realized our audio recorder wasn’t rolling. The first 36 minutes of the interview have lower audio quality than usual. That portion still offers important context about Maytal’s journey into the outdoors, but if it’s too distracting, the audio quality improves at the 36-minute mark of the interview. Trigger warning: This interview includes discussion of suicide. If this is a sensitive topic for you, we recommend skipping ahead to the point where the audio improves—again 36 minutes into the interview. We wrap the show with another clue about our super secret special guest for the upcoming live podcast in Austin, what ridiculous outfit we’d hike in forever, the Triple Crown of Colorado stereotypes, and a disturbing story of an international hiker who was detained, deported, and banned from the U.S. on her way to hike the Arizona Trail. Topo Athletic: Use code “TREKWINTER15” at topoathletic.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code “BACKPACKER20” for 20% off packs at gossamergear.com. Vaer Watches: Check out Vaer Watches at vaerwatches.com. AG1: Get your free $79 gift at drinkag1.com/backpacker. [divider] Interview with Maytal “Carrottop” Agasi Time stamps & Questions 00:06:10 - Reminders: Sign up for the Trek’s newsletter, join us for our live show in Austin, listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon, and apply to blog for the Trek! 00:10:00 - Audio note 00:12:10 - Introducing Maytal 00:15:30 - How did you get your trail name? 00:16:05 - What does a garden educator do? 00:17:24 - What is the best plant? 00:19:40 - How did you get into hiking? 00:21:23 - Why don’t you fight with your siblings? 00:24:00 - Discussion about Maytal’s roadtrip 00:25:23 - Are your parents hippie-adjacent? 00:27:08 - What’s your favorite on-trail meal to make? 00:30:50 - Do you taste the meals before dehydrating them? 00:32:44 - How did you decide to hike the JMT? 00:34:10 - What happened to your dad? 00:38:30 - How do you process things as well as enjoy the trail while hiking? 00:40:50 - Was it intimidating to hike mostly solo on your first hike? 00:46:17 - Are there any fats that are safe to dehydrate? 00:46:55 - Did you know right away you wanted to do more hikes? 00:49:45 - Have you butt heads with anyone on trail? 00:52:00 - How did you get your gear dialed in for the JMT? 00:55:00 - Discussion about stool sample tests 00:57:45 - Were you happy to hike the CT with a friend or did you ever want space? 01:00:50 - What did you like about Salida? 01:03:03 - When did you decide to hike the PCT? 01:05:30 - Tell us about almost falling off a mountain 01:10:35 - What was it like to go through the Sierra twice? 01:12:45 - How did you learn about the Camino de Costa Rica? 01:15:57 - Are guides required? 01:16:50 - How long is the trail and what is the mileage like each day? 01:20:30 - Do you pay the host families? 01:23:40 - How did you communicate that you were vegetarian? 01:24:50 - Did you have cell service? 01:26:00 - Do you know how many people have hiked this trail? 01:28:30 - What was the weather like? 01:30:25 - What were the landscape highlights of the trail? 01:38:00 - Discussion about wildlife 01:41:05 - Were there other opportunities to eat in town? 01:42:12 - What are the biggest cultural differences? 01:45:55 - What would you like to relay to the listeners of Backpacker Radio? 01:47:38 - Peak Performance Question: What is your top performance-enhancing or backpacking hack? Segments Trek Propaganda
QOTD: If you could only hike in one ridiculous outfit for the rest of your life, what would it be? Triple Crown of Colorado stereotypes Thing of the Week Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek’s newsletter Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Brent Stenberg, Carl Houde, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Eathan Harwell, Gillian Daniels, Greg Alsop, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Greg McDaniel, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger’ Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Bonnie Ackerman, Brett Vandiver, Chris Pyle, David, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Greg Floravanti “Lumberjack”, Jack Greene, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Ruth S, and Spencer Hinson. | |||
| 02 Mar 2020 | #62 | The Strawbridge Family: Thru-Hiking the PCT as a Family of Six | 02:10:19 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, we are joined by five sixths of the Strawbridge Family. The Strawbridges successfully thru-hiked the PCT SOBO in 2018 with four kids in tow- ages 11, 13, 14, and 17. We chat about everything you can dream of regarding hiking as a family, including how they handled school, gear, their pace, everyone's emotional and physical well being, and so on. Vince and Monica, aka mom and dad, are fact checked by Georgie, Henry, and June, the youngest three of the four kids. This is a fun interview, Chaunce and I laughed in excess, and hopefully serves as inspiration for young families looking to inject more adventure into their lives.
Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio? Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co.
Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Stitcher and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Cristopher Marshburn, S11N, Sawyer Products, Thomas Fullner, and Travis Smith. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Gregory Gardner, Jacob Northrup, Jeff LaFranier, Mark Snook, Michelle Pugh, Peter Leven, Peter Ellenberg. Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio, and Chaunce on Facebook. Follow The Trek on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter. | |||
| 19 Aug 2024 | Zach Hiked the Weminuchoo Choo Loop (and His Biggest Backpacking Blunder Yet) | 01:41:22 | |
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, Zach takes on the role of guest. This episode recaps his recent hike through the Weminuche Wilderness, a 40-mile loop he’s coined the "Weminuchoo Choo Loop." It’s bound to catch on. Zach gives a full overview of the hike, covering the distance, elevation gain, alternate route options, trail highlights, wildlife, and more. He also shares a story about perhaps his biggest backcountry blunder to date—an expensive mistake, and one he had the distinct pleasure of having a witness for. Additionally, Zach discusses some new gear he tested on this trip, including a piece that will forever change his water retrieval system. The episode wraps up with sun protection tips for the backcountry, the triple crown of the easiest items to forget to pack for a backpacking trip, whether it’s acceptable to put ketchup on a hot dog, and a listener’s valuable tips about backpacking Patagonia’s O-Circuit. Zoleo: Use code “BACKPACKERRADIO” for free device activation at zoleo.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code “SNUGGLEBUG” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. [divider] Interview with Zach! Time stamps & Questions 00:05:00 - Reminders: Support us on Patreon for exclusive bonus content and join us in NYC this September 16 for a hiker meetup! 00:09:45 - Introducing Zach 00:10:20 - Overview of Zach’s original plans and adapted plans in the Weminuche 00:13:38 - The train logistics 00:19:32 - What’s the overview of the route? 00:22:10 - Zach’s big blunder 00:28:10 - What was the aftermath of the blunder? 00:31:30 - How did you navigate the remainder of the hike? 00:32:50 - Will you start using paper maps? 00:34:10 - What other blunders occurred? 00:36:24 - Day 1 00:40:45 - Day 2 00:48:00 - Day 3 00:54:04 - What other wildlife did you see? 00:55:09 - How was the water situation? 00:55:32 - Did you need permits? 00:55:45 - Would you hike it with a dog? 00:56:19 - How would you recommend making it longer? 00:57:47 - Elk Park to Needleton on AllTrails 00:58:32 - What gear did you bring? 01:01:24 - What tent did you use? 01:05:30 - What was the weather like? 01:07:14 - You wore a sun hoodie? 01:10:30 - Is it worth flying into Durango rather than Denver if you want to do this hike? 01:12:40 - Kumo Question: If animals could talk, which one would be the most annoying? 01:15:00 - Final thoughts on the Weminuchoo Choo Loop Segments Trek Propaganda: The Essential Gear for Sun Protection on Your Thru-Hike by Ariella Nardizzi QOTD: Ketchup on a hot dog? Triple Crown of easiest things to forget to pack for a backpacking trip Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg McDaniel, Hailey Buckingham, Liz Seger, Patrick Cianciolo, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger’ Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: 12 Trees Farms, Bonnie Ackerman, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Joann Menzer, Katharine Rudzitis, Keith Dobie Jr, Merle Watkins, Peter, and Ruth S. | |||
| 08 Oct 2021 | #121 | Nicole Antoinette 2.0 | 01:56:00 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are rejoined by Nicole Antoinette. We get an update on how her Colorado Trail hike went, including some very unexpected turns, we learn more about her entry into van life, and what advice she'd give to others looking to do the same, and chat about her new book which she is reluctant to call a book, How to Be Alone, an 800-mile hike on the Arizona Trail. Perhaps it goes without saying, but for those who were fans of Nicole's first appearance on the show, this one will not disappoint. We wrap the show with Chaunce butchering the pronunciation of Wisconsin town names, a quick education on the bark beetle problem facing the American West, an exciting announcement about a not-yet-fully-fledged Backpacker Radio sponsorship for one lucky 2022 thru-hiker, a triple crown of stereotypical dog names, and much more. Enlightened Equipment: Save 10% off of Enlightened Equipment’s Stock Revelation Quilt or Stock Torrid Jacket with code “thetrek10” here. Organifi discount code: Use code “backpacker” at organifi.com/backpacker for 20% off your purchase Vital Farms: Check out vitalfarms.com to learn more about where honest food is raised Goodr: Use code “backpacker15” at checkout to save 15% off your first order at goodr.com/backpacker15 [divider] Interview with Nicole Antoinette Time stamps & Questions 00:05:04 - QOTD: What’s your favorite fall activity? 00:08:26 - Wisconsin hiker meet-up updates 00:10:15 - The Mammoth Hike challenge 00:11:01 - Introducing Nicole Antoinette 00:13:03 - How did the Colorado Trail compare to the Arizona Trail and PCT? 00:13:47 - Why was the Colorado Trail the most joyful hiking experience? 00:16:27 - Emotional base weight impacts your hike 00:18:43 - Beginners on the Colorado Trail 00:21:05 - Tell us about hiking with your partner 00:24:05 - How did you handle your partner’s injury mid-hike? 00:28:45 - What did everyone else’s journey look like from that point forward? 00:32:36 - Hiking with your partner 00:35:19 - Did you have a favorite stretch or day on the Colorado Trail? 00:38:40 - Altitude sickness on the Colorado Trail 00:43:29 - Social media’s impact on preparing for a thru hike 00:46:26 - Anything else you’d want to share about the Colorado Trail? 00:48:06 - Hiking with a frameless pack 00:54:50 - Why did you move away from veganism? 00:58:08 - Any go-to, vegan thru-hiking foods? 01:01:30 - Did you experience any health changes when you re-introduced animal products? 01:04:31 - Do the symptoms of endometriosis go away immediately after you start hiking? 01:06:21 - How often are you living in your van? 01:06:48 - What year did van life start? 01:06:55 - What motivated you to get into van life? 01:09:03 - Talk us through the non-obvious pros and cons of van life 01:13:52 - If you could go back and give yourself van life advice, would you change anything? 01:18:13 - Did you retire a podcast? 01:18:26 - Tell me about the new podcast 01:22:07 - Nicole’s book 01:29:55 - Thank you, Nicole!
SEGMENTS Wisconsin Town Names Trek Propaganda Triple Crown of most stereotypical dog names If you were to get a restaurant logo tattoo in exchange for free food, what Denver restaurant would you pick? Mail Bag 5 Star Reviews Gross or Not Gross
[divider] Check out our sound guy @Paulybooyshallcross. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Ausen McDaniel, Jason Lawrence, Christopher Marshburn, Sawyer Products, Brad and Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Patrick Cianciolo, Brandon Spilker and Matt Soukup.
A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Cynthia Voth,, Emily Brown, Mitchell, Dcnerdlet, Jeff LaFranier, Peter Ellenberg, Jacob Northrup, Peter Leven, TraskVT, Lindsay Sparks, Liz Seger and Lisa Douglas. | |||
| 28 Feb 2018 | #4 - The Real Hiking Viking Pt II, Scariest Moments from the Trail, & Thru-Hiking Nutrition | 01:32:14 | |
For Episode #4, we are again joined by our buddy, The Real Hiking Viking. This time, instead of an interview, Jabba joins us as the third co-host of the show. It does not disappoint. Or maybe it does. Who can be sure. Subjects discussed in Episode 4 include:
Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/backpackerradio Leave us a review on iTunes. Drop us a line at podcast@thetrek.co. Follow us on Instagram at @BackpackerRadio. | |||
| 11 Mar 2024 | Kelly "Ibex" Floro on the Pyrenean Haute Route, Budgeting for a Thru-Hike, and Being the Trek's Managing Editor | 02:46:25 | |
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by The Trek’s Managing Editor, Kelly “Ibex” Floro. We learn all about what it’s like to have Zach as a boss, Kelly’s top tips for how to afford a thru-hike, and she shares insights from her own thru-hiking adventures including the AT, Wind River High Route, and we dive especially deep into Kelly’s most recent thru-hike of the Pyrenean Haute Route through the Pyrenees, straddling the border between Spain and France. Kelly gives us an in-depth run-through of this epic route, including when to hike, which direction, navigation challenges, resupply strategy, the various geographic highlights, the culture surrounding the trail, and much more. We wrap the show with useful smartphone apps for your next thru-hike, how Zach got concussed recording a podcast, and the triple crown of short off-season thru-hikes. Mountainsmith: Use code “TREKZERK24” for 40% off at mountainsmith.com. Ka’Chava: Get 10% off at kachava.com/backpacker. Appalachian Gear Company: Use code “BPRADIO20” for 20% off at appalachiangearcompany.com. [divider] Interview with Kelly Floro Time stamps & Questions 00:05:15 - Reminders: Get your tickets for a live BPR podcast in Denver on April 23, support us on Patreon, and suggest a potential guest who will be at Trail Days this year! 00:09:15 - Introducing Kelly 00:12:27 - How do you like working for Zach? 00:17:55 - How did you start thru-hiking? 00:19:52 - At what point did you consider yourself a good writer? 00:20:30 - Do you have tips for someone who wants to blog their hike? 00:25:45 - Was the AT your first backpacking trip? 00:27:12 - What did you learn on that hike? 00:29:45 - What were you thinking about career wise when you hiked the AT? 00:32:40 - When did you realize you wanted to do more thru-hikes? 00:33:15 - What surprised you despite all the preparation you did? 00:36:20 - Tell us about dealing with poison ivy on the AT 00:41:27 - Discussion about flip flopping the AT 00:45:24 - Do you have tips for someone considering a flip flop hike on the AT? 00:51:00 - Would you recommend flip flopping the AT? 00:55:20 - Tell us about hiking the Colorado Trail 00:57:22 - Tell us about the Wind River High Route 00:59:23 - What are the differences between the two route options? 01:02:55 - What’s the most challenging part of the Adventure Alan route? 01:05:45 - What tips would you give to someone who wants to try backcountry navigation? 01:09:20 - What navigational resources were available for the route? 01:11:14 - How much did you enjoy this style of hiking? 01:12:38 - Any non obvious advice for the Wind River High Route? 01:15:00 - Tell us about the Pyrenean Haute Route 01:20:00 - Discussion about the refuges on the HRP 01:21:48 - How and why did you choose this route? 01:24:55 - Which direction do you hike? 01:27:11 - What were the standout towns? 01:32:09 - How crowded was the trail? 01:35:14 - What do the resupplies look like? 01:40:40 - Tell us about the wine you had along the HRP 01:41:42 - Are there any ‘must zero’ places? 01:43:27 - Can you describe the Pyrenean mountains? 01:45:53 - Tell us the story about throwing your phone off a cliff 01:48:22 - How did you manage the rest of your gear for your Europe trip? 01:50:20 - Tell us about Bulgaria 01:53:05 - Have you heard of the Peaks of the Balkans trail? 01:54:49 - What do you have for health insurance in Europe? 01:56:18 - What have you learned while traveling in Europe? 01:57:25 - What are your current big 5 gear items? 01:59:20 - What gear has surprised you recently? 02:00:20 - What goes into a standout gear review? 02:01:40 - What stands out to you about thru-hiking affordably? 02:04:27 - What are some of your favorite hidden gems in Olympic National Park? Segments Trek Propaganda: 13 Useful Smartphone Apps for Your Next Thru-Hike by Danielle Krolewicz QOTD: What’s the longest: a microwave minute, a hangover minute, or a treadmill minute? Stupid Thing of the Week Triple Crown of short thru-hikes you can do in the offseason Plug Me: Brew Davis's Website Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @paulyboyshallcross. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex & Misty with Navigators Crafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Greg Knight, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Hailey Buckingham, Jason “Snail” Snailer barely know her, Liz Seger, Patrick Cianciolo, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, and Tracy “Trigger” Fawns. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: 12 Trees Farms, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Jeff LaFranier, Joann Menzer, Keith Dobie Jr, Merle Watkins, Peter, and Ruth S. | |||
| 14 Aug 2023 | #214 | Tisha McCombs, Executive Director of the Colorado Trail Foundation | 02:28:20 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek we are joined by new Executive Director at the Colorado Trail Foundation, Tisha McCombs. Tisha gives us a rundown on her journey to becoming the head at the CTF, what her vision is for the Colorado Trail moving forward, all that goes into maintaining the CT and where help is most needed, and much more. We also chat a bit about the role mountain biking plays into sustaining many trails throughout Colorado, what her top advice is to aspiring adventurers - coming from the perspective of an adventure and life coach, and a fuck marry kill of the sections of the Colorado Trail. We wrap the show with a triple crown of ways to insult thru-hikers, a review of the updated version of the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite from a former guest of the show, and a new segment, plug me. PACT Outdoors: Use code “TREK20” for 20% off and free shipping at pactoutdoors.com. Visit Iceland with Chaunce and Badger: Registration is live for our 2024 trip to Iceland. Come and hike to glaciers, waterfalls, and secret lagoons with your favorite podcast hosts. More info here! Range Meal Bars: Use code “THETREK” for 20% off at rangemealbar.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code “TAKESHELTER20” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com. RTIC Outdoors: Shop at rticoutdoors.com. [divider] Interview with Tisha McCombs Time stamps & Questions 00:05:02 - Reminders: Find us on YouTube and Patreon 00:06:03 - Introducing Tisha McCombs 00:06:24 - Does Tisha give us Mims vibes? 00:07:22 - Packing resupply boxes 00:13:16 - Walk us through your previous work prior to your new role with the CT 00:15:45 - Check out the CTF store 00:16:45 - Should we treat this as trading cards? 00:17:37 - Between CA and CO, what are some National Park recommendations you’d give? 00:19:20 - Tell us about your other non-profit experience 00:20:04 - Were you responsible for the Palisade Plunge? 00:20:50 - Were you primarily managing people at COPMOBA? 00:21:37 - What are some of the challenges with volunteer work? 00:23:36 - Have there been any oopsies with volunteers? 00:25:08 - Are the trails for hikers as well, or only mountain bikers? 00:25:46 - Is there any tension between mountain bikers and hikers? 00:29:24 - Do mountain bikers think e-bikers are lazy? 00:29:46 - How much do e-bikes and dirt bikes impact trails compared to mountain biking? 00:33:36 - What are the rebates that CO is giving on e-bikes? 00:36:30 - If you could only bike or hike the rest of your life, what would you pick? 00:37:15 - How does the spine injury impact wearing a backpack? 00:38:35 - Do you have a favorite pack that helps? 00:39:41 - The CT is a multi-purpose trail. How do you make decisions that benefit all uses? 00:43:34 - Do you get funds from dirt bike tags? 00:45:19 - How does trail maintenance differ between mountain biking and hiking? 00:46:33 - What would you like to do differently as the new Executive Director of the CTF? 00:51:53 - What type of money does it take to maintain trails? 00:59:15 - Why do you think there is so much interest in making the CT the best maintained trail in the US? 01:02:18 - How do you increase volunteer interest? 01:06:26 - Did you go through similar feelings with your son? 01:08:09 - Did you ever get resistance from your son when trying to bring him to your activities? 01:11:17 - What are some specific needs of the CTF? 01:15:17 - What’s one of the best trail crew meals you’ve had? 01:16:22 - If options were endless, what would you do for the CT? 01:17:40 - What logistics would go into removing road walks? 01:18:55 - What are your two other wishes for the CTF? 01:21:59 - Are there any transportation recommendations? 01:22:58 - What about park & ride options? 01:24:01 - Are there apps for private parking spaces? 01:26:16 - What are top business ideas for someone who wants to offer value to the trail? 01:29:18 - Is there anywhere along the trail to do mail drops? 01:31:39 - Is there a shuttle into Lake City? 01:33:59 - Tell us about your work as a life coach 01:37:33 - Is there one element that merges adventure, career, and trauma? 01:40:23 - Are there any go-to fly fishing spots along the CT? 01:41:51 - Is it catch-and-release along the trail? 01:42:20 - FMK for Colorado Trail Segments 01:45:15 - Thank you, Tisha! 01:45:43 - Visit www.coloradotrail.org
Segments QOTD: How old are you in your mind? Trek Propaganda: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT Sleeping Pad Review Thing of the Week QOTD 2: What’s the most unethical thing you’d do to save money? Triple Crown of ways to insult thru-hikers Mail Bag/Plug Me: The Unseen by Mike Clelland 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @paulyboyshallcross. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years.
A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex & Misty with Navigators Crafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, DoGoodPantry, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Liz Seger, Matt Soukup, Mike Poisel, Morgan Luke, Patrick Cianciolo, Sawyer Products, Timothy Hahn, and Tracy “Trigger” Fawns.
A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: 12 Trees Farms, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jake Landgraf, Jeanne Latshaw, Jeff LaFranier, Joann Menzer, Keith Dobie Jr, Kelly Heikkila, Matthew Spence, and Peter. | |||
| 13 Jul 2020 | #75 | The Blackalachian | 02:29:33 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, we are joined by Daniel White, known on trail as The Blackalachian. We learn all about The Blackalachian's life before he became a full-time adventurer, including his days as a rapper and his time in prison, how thru-hiking was put on his map, his experiences with racism on the AT, his thru-bike of the Underground Railroad Route, His hikes of The Great Outdoors Challenge in Scotland and Camino del Norte in Spain, and what the future has in store for him. This conversation is both heavy and hilarious, informative and fun; we hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
[divider] Backcountry.com discount code: Use code: Backpacker15 to save 15% on your first purchase from Backcountry.com/backpackerradio Zpacks discount code:Use code: HEXAMIDBPR for $25 discount at Zpacks.com [divider]
[divider] 00:03:23 – QOTD: Is wearing a t-shirt with your podcast’s name on it the same as being in a band and wearing your own band t-shirt? 00:07:10 – What was life like for the Blackalachian before he was the Blackalachian? 00:08:33 – Can you tell us about your rapping career? Soundcloud: Logo704 00:09:54 – Can you tell us what prison was like? 00:11:00 – Any overlaps between prison and thru-hiking? 00:11:50 – Did prison push you toward backpacking? 00:13:40 – Thoughts on your boss that said not to follow your dreams? 00:14:50 – Since you made the decision to thru-hike so quickly, did you have the gear you needed to start the AT? 00:17:17 – How has your gear evolved since then? 00:17:58 – where was the Blackalachian inspired? 00:20:20 – Did you get shakedowns? 00:20:45 – Did you plan your resupplies around fishing? 00:21:30 – Can you give us fishing tips? 00:21:53 – Were you YouTubing your thru-hike from the get-go? 00:23:08 - Have you gotten feedback from other Black hikers who were inspired by you? 00:23:27 – What are the more common questions and feedback that you get? 00:24:00 – Were you nervous about smaller towns in the Appalachians? 00:24:40 – What is the reality of being on trail like vs. your expectations? 00:26:00 – What were your expectations of racism on trail? What was it like on trail? 00:28:09 – Were towns better or worse than thru-hikers? 00:29:00 – Have you ever encountered someone and changed their perception? 00:30:03 – Can you give us an example of microagressions? 00:33:07 – Can you tell us how you came to your motto of “love and light”? 00:37:05 - Do you have any specific highlights from your AT hike? 00:39:30 – Flipping on the AT? 00:40:13 – Did you get that “Rocky Mountain” feeling in the Presidentials? 00:40:48 – Have you considered the PCT? 00:42:50 – Tell us about the Underground Railroad Bike Route! 00:46:30 – Could you stay in the same places people did when they were on the Underground Railroad? 00:47:07 – Does the UGRR have anything like Guthook? 00:47:49 – Did you see any other thru-bikers? Did you YouTube this journey? 00:49:37 – Can you compare thru-hiking to thru-biking? 00:51:05 – How long did it take to thru-bike the UGRR? 00:51:25 – Did you take special precautions to protect your bike? 00:52:19 – Were you able to leverage your YouTube channel to get sponsorships? 00:53:21 – What was your “bike first aid kit”? 00:54:44 – How long does it take for your ass to adjust to biking for that long? 00:56:35 – Any advice for someone who has never bike packed before? 00:59:41 – Tell us about The Great Outdoors Challenge! 01:01:00 – How was your reception in Scotland vs. the Appalachians? 01:02:29 – Did you see a lot of gingers? 01:02:40 – Tell us about the pub scene! 01:03:09 – How long were you in Scotland? 01:04:49 – If you had to pick between adventurer and thru-hiker what would it be? 01:08:39 – Can you give us some Camino Norte highlights? 01:11:20 – Is it true that your admission to hostels covers wine as well? 01:11:46 – Did you do the Camino solo? 01:12:31 – Preference for hiking in the US vs. internationally? 01:13:40 – How does walking through places with a lot of history impact you or your hike? 01:15:00 – What hikes are next on your radar? 01:18:20 – Can you tell us about the Groundskeepers program? 01:20:15 – Pointers on getting sponsorships? 01:21:40 – Paying for fathers to get pedicures? 01:23:59 - Differentiating between content for YouTube and Instagram? 01:25:55 - Can you talk about how recent shifts have affected you? Any advice for thru-hikers? 01:28:37 - Your pants? 01:31:10 - When are you going to buy a bunch of land and start a commune? 01:33:33 - Best Poke Stop on the AT? 01:34:41 - Favorite food on trail? What will you never eat again? 01:35:43 - How often do people reach out from the internet to meet up? 01:37:33 - Parting words? SegmentsThe Trek Propaganda Triple Crown of Summer Wins Mail Bag 5 Star Reviews Backcountry Matchmaking
New Shirts? Here are the old ones. What segments do you like? [divider] Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Stitcher and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Christopher Marshburn, Janelle L, Paul Packman Sealy, S11N, Sawyer Products, and Thomas Fullner A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Dcnerdlet, Jacob Northrup, Jason Lawrence, Jeff LaFranier, Jeffrey Miller, Mark Snook, Mitchell, Peter, Peter Ellenberg, and Zoe Jenkins Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, Elise and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. | |||
| 25 Nov 2024 | Katie "Double Dip" Jackson on Hiking the CDT as Her First Triple Crown Trail | 02:51:08 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by thru-hiker and Trek Writer, Katie Jackson, known on trail as Double Dip. Katie gives us an in depth breakdown of her recent thru-hike of the Continental Divide Trail, including why she advocates that hikers not take the Creede cutoff, her experience of a wild storm so intense that lightning struck and killed nearby cows, the challenge of losing her hiking partner early on, hiking on an injured foot for hundreds of miles- and how it was miraculously healed in some hot springs, waking up to grizzles in her camp, and much more. Katie also gives some of her backpacking hot takes, including how the Colorado Trail is superior to the JMT. We wrap the show with whether it'll be possible to thru-hike the AT in 2025, the incredible phenomenon that is Frito feet, my new depressing thing of the week, and the triple crown of places where a long trail should exist. Gossamer Gear: Use code “SNUGGLEBUG” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com. Trailbrush: Use code “TREK20” for 20% off trailbrush.com. [divider] Interview with Katie “Double Dip” Jackson Time stamps & Questions 00:02:46 - Reminders: Help us make Jabba shave his beard, support us on Patreon for exclusive bonus content, join us in Denver on December 7th and apply to be a 2025 blogger! 00:07:55 - Introducing Katie 00:08:40 - What’s your outdoors origin story? 00:11:15 - What’s your 9 to 5? 00:14:24 - Would you recommend consulting to people interested in thru-hiking? 00:16:05 - How does your engineering brain manifest while hiking? 00:18:37 - Did you plan anything on the Colorado Trail that you did not plan for the CDT? 00:19:30 - How many boxes did you send yourself on the CDT? 00:21:35 - What other regrets do you have from hiking the Colorado Trail? 00:27:07 - How did your eating strategy evolve over the CT? 00:31:00 - Discussion about the Cochetopa section of the CT 00:36:12 - What led you to the John Muir Trail in 2023? 00:38:02 - Which trail is better between the CT and JMT? 00:40:00 - Why didn’t you love the Winds? 00:41:18 - Was your dad okay with you doing the CDT in 2024? 00:42:10 - Did you ever have any issues with satellite messages not going through? 00:43:35 - How was New Mexico? 00:44:40 - Tell us about losing your hiking partner early on 00:49:54 - Would you feel comfortable starting the CDT alone now? 00:52:45 - How was the water in New Mexico? 01:02:45 - How would you rate New Mexico 1 out of 10? 01:05:00 - How much snow did you encounter? 01:08:10 - When did you use your ice axe? 01:10:30 - Were most people getting beaten up? 01:14:30 - What advice do you have to avoid silly mistakes? 01:18:35 - What were your top 5 snacks? 01:21:20 - Discussion about Katie’s backpack 01:23:25 - Tell us about the next stretch of trail and your foot injury 01:26:45 - What was the diagnosis from the doctor? 01:28:35 - Story about stopping in Granby 01:33:00 - How did your foot eventually heal? 01:35:40 - Tell us about taking the cutoff around Rocky Mountain National Park 01:36:50 - If you did the CDT again, would you do any different alternates? 01:38:45 - Did you experience judgment because you hadn’t done another long trail before? 01:42:00 - Discussion about unsolicited advice 01:43:30 - How was the mental aspect of the trail compared to your expectations? 01:45:00 - Tell us about Wyoming and adding whimsy to the trail 01:48:25 - Why didn’t you love the Winds? 01:49:27 - Tell us about the Idaho-Montana border 01:51:50 - Would you do the trail again SOBO? 01:53:05 - Tell us about almost getting hit by lightning 02:01:20 - What was the best trail magic of the CDT? 02:05:05 - Tell us about the Montana section 02:06:37 - How did you manage your long distance relationship? 02:08:10 - Did Montana meet your expectations? 02:11:50 - Did you see any grizzlies? 02:14:47 - What was it like to get to the terminus? 02:17:36 - Kumo Question: What is your favorite book and why? 02:20:17 - Where can people follow you? Segments Trek Propaganda
QOTD: Do you know about Frito feet? Depressing Thing of the Week Triple Crown of where a long trail should be Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Ben Love, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Liz Seger, Mud Tom, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger’ Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Bonnie Ackerman, Chris Pyle, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Katharine Rudzitis, Lauren Cain, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, and Ruth S. | |||
| 24 Jul 2023 | #211 | Matteo Volpi on Starting a UL Gear Company in Mexico, Entrepreneurship Lessons, and Backpacking in the US | 02:02:28 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Matteo Volpi, the CEO of Volpi Outdoor Gear, the Mexico-based UL gear company. We talk about what it's like to run a cottage gear company out of Mexico, a country without much of a long-distance backpacking culture. We learn about what goes into starting and running a new business, how he designs the products he uses and sells, the challenges of managing a team, and much more. We also talk about Matteo's hikes on the PCT and Colorado Trail and his love affair with backpacking in the US. We wrap the show with a brief overview (and hopefully some foreshadowing) of the UK's 230-mile Cape Wrath Trail, the Triple Crown of activities that aren't but feel like sports, and some further education on the subject of real people who exist that don't have internal monologues who are real people that really exist. Range Meal Bars: Use code “THETREK” for 20% off at rangemealbar.com. RTIC Outdoors: Shop at rticoutdoors.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code “TAKESHELTER20” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com. [divider] Interview with Matteo Volpi Time stamps & Questions 00:03:39 - Support us on Patreon! 00:05:14 - Introducing Matteo 00:06:05 - How did you get your trail name? 00:09:05 - How did you first get introduced to thru-hiking? 00:09:58 - Tell us about Guadalajara 00:12:35 - Are there any long trails or public land in Mexico? 00:14:48 - Is there any sort of backpacking culture in Mexico? 00:16:40 - Discussion about gear access and outdoor retailers in Mexico 00:20:40 - What’s the process for getting a visa for hiking the PCT 00:23:30 - What was it like starting at the Mexico-US border? 00:25:10 - Did you face any sort of racism or unpleasant behavior? 00:26:40 - Tell us about your early days on the PCT 00:30:28 - What are the top three non-obvious places to visit in Mexico? 00:37:00 - What highlights do you have from your first days of the PCT? 00:40:40 - When did you start your gear company? 00:42:11 - How did you get started with your gear? 00:45:13 - How do you make the packs? 00:48:24 - How do you source the fabrics? 00:55:40 - What led you to start your gear company? 00:57:11 - How hard is it to ship internationally? 00:59:00 - Tell us about hiking the Colorado Trail with your pack 01:00:03 - What are your favorite features of your backpack? 01:02:50 - How many miles do you typically do a day? 01:04:52 - How do you manage your time hiking, running a company, and going to school? 01:06:19 - What are you hoping to accomplish by going to college and studying GIS? 01:08:07 - How big is your team? 01:08:45 - What are your ambitions for the company in the future? 01:11:28 - What is the biggest, non-obvious challenge for your company? 01:14:52 - What advice would you give to yourself about starting a company? 01:16:07 - How do you approach taking risks? 01:18:03 - Rolf’s celebrity question: what are your plans right now? 01:19:52 - Do you have a favorite section of the CT? 01:21:18 - Where can people keep up with you? SEGMENTS QOTD 1: What’s the shelf life of leftover sushi? QOTD 2: Are mashed potatoes just Irish guacamole? Trek Propaganda
Stupid Thing of the Week Triple Crown of things that aren’t sports but feel like sports Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @paulyboyshallcross. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex & Misty with Navigators Crafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, DoGoodPantry, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Liz Seger, Matt Soukup, Mike Poisel, Morgan Luke, Patrick Cianciolo, Sawyer Products, Timothy Hahn, and Tracy “Trigger” Fawns. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: 12 Trees Farms, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jake Landgraf, Jeanne Latshaw, Jeff LaFranier, Joann Menzer, Keith Dobie Jr, Kelly Heikkila, Matthew Spence, and Peter. | |||
| 12 Aug 2021 | #115 | Scott Carney on Wim Hof, Summiting Kilimanjaro, and Debunking Charlatans | 02:12:48 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Scott Carney. Scott's early career as an investigative journalist had him debunking fake gurus and charlatans. When he was put on assignment by Playboy Magazine more than a decade ago to do the same with a Dutch daredevil- named Wim Hof- Scott assumed this would be more of the same. What ensued was Scott being enthralled by Wim, his famous breathing and cold exposure techniques, as well as the circus that surrounded the Wim Hof experience. We talk all about Scott's time with Wim, what it was like to summit Kilimanjaro with him in just 28 hours (when it typically takes closer to 5 days), how Wim is potentially becoming more of a charlatan today, and much more. I found this conversation to be fascinating, I hope you do too. We wrap the show with Chaunce having an undesirable virus, a debate on the proper number of times to knot your shoelaces, a triple crown of toys from when we were young, and much more. Organifi: Use code "backpacker" for 20% off at organifi.com/backpacker. Enlightened Equipment: Save 10% off off Enlightened Equipment's Stock Revelation Quilt or Stock Torrid Jacket with code "trek10" here. Goodr discount code: Use code “backpacker15” to save 15% on your first order at goodr.com/backpacker15. Path Projects: Go to pathprojects.com and let them know BPR sent you. [divider] Reminders: BPR is looking for an intern. Interview with Scott Carney: 00:07:05 - QOTD: What’s the coldest you’ve ever been? 00:16:00 - How did you get into investigative journalism? 00:20:33 - You mentioned trekking around Nepal — what kind of trekking were you doing? Content warning: Discussion of suicide. 00:21:13 - So can you talk about how you specifically became involved with debunking fake gurus and charlatains? 00:24:09 - Is it mostly westerners that the effects you were studying impacted? End content warning. 00:25:08 - Were people literally watching a corpse rot? 00:28:42 - Is Tantra tied to psychotropic breathing at all? 00:29:27 - Is there anything else you want to add about your career of debunking gurus? Would you say it’s more so tied to philosophy or the people? 00:32:22 - Why is there a theme of gurus having sex with people? 00:35:48 - How did you get set up on the assignment to debunk Wim Hof? 00:37:13 - Have people ever died of hypothermia trying to do this? 00:38:31 - Did you keep an open mind at all? Or were you sure Wim Hof was a fake? 00:39:00 - Is drinking part of the retreats? 00:40:52 - Can you pinpoint what opened your mind to him when you were learning about Wim’s methods? 00:45:00 - Read Scott’s book — ”What Doesn’t Kill You” 00:48:50 - What about Wim Hof is so compelling? 00:51:50 - Did the results of the study on Wim Hof’s techniques surprise you or catch you off guard? 00:53:44 - Can you explain the physiological response that happens when you do the breathing? 00:57:55 - How important would you say the meditation process is after doing a few rounds of the Wim Hof method? 01:00:00 - Do you still practice daily? 01:02:20 - Do you do the breathing and cold in conjuncture? 01:02:50 - What’s the name of your fancy ice bath? 01:05:20 - Are you supposed to try to visualize something warm? Or do you just take the cold head on? 01:05:50 - Do you think it’s a physical adaptation or a mental adaptation? 01:09:14 - What is that line in terms of finding your limits? 01:11:05 - Can you accumulate more brown fat via cold exposure? And how does that relate to the wedge? 01:13:00 - Wim Hof has a twin brother — do they have similar amounts of brown fat? 01:16:07 - Is there a performance benefit to these methods? 01:19:31 - What is the application of the breathing technique and cold exposure for people doing long distance hikes? 01:23:51 - Take us through the story of how you eventually went back to Europe and then Africa to hike Kilimanjaro with Wim Hof? 01:25:27 - And you guys were going for a record? 01:26:39 - What is the average time for a summit of Mt.Kilimanjaro? 01:26:51 - Were you doing the breathing technique the whole time you were hiking or during breaks? 01:27:04 - When you do the practice at home do you do it the same way each time? Do you ever use nostril breathing? 01:28:00 - Wim likes your book even though there’s a chapter that doesn’t look at him in the most favorable way? 01:34:16 - Have you ever thought about approaching Wim about how people are taking his methods out of context? 01:36:24 - Is there a book in the intertwined nature of social media and putting people on pedestals? 01:36:58 - Can you talk about your books? 01:38:53 - So you do a macro dose of MDMA with psychiatrists? 01:39:45 - Is your book an audio book? 01:40:00 - If you had to pick one element from The Wedge as very beneficial, what would it be? 01:41:01 - You also posted recently about The Vortex?
SEGMENTSTrek Propaganda One Simple Trick to Keep Your Shoelaces Tied on Your Next Hike by Owen Eigenbrot Triple Crown of Toys From When You Were Young Mail Bag [divider] Check out our sound guy @Paulybooyshallcross. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Ausen McDaniel, Jason Lawrence, Christopher Marshburn, Sawyer Products, Brad and Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Patrick Cianciolo, Brandon Spilker and Matt Soukup. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Cynthia Voth,, Emily Brown, Mitchell, Dcnerdlet, Jeff LaFranier, Peter Ellenberg, Jacob Northrup, Peter Leven, TraskVT, Lindsay Sparks, Liz Seger and Lisa Douglas. | |||
| 18 Dec 2023 | Nick "DJ" Fowler on His PCT FKT and Financing a Hiking Lifestyle | 02:51:04 | |
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Nick Fowler. Nick went from 1-2 mile day hikes in 2019 to setting the self supported PCT FKT in 2023, with many learning lessons, mistakes, and miles in the four year span in between. We learn all about his experiences on the Hayduke, Pacific Northwest trail (which was another FKT hike for him), the Arizona Trail, and of course go deep on his PCT hike from this year. We also learn about how Nick is able to financially swing being basically full-time hiker trash, outlining how some specific entrepreneurial decisions and savings strategies enable him to dirtbag around the clock. Even if FKTs aren’t your jam, we think you’ll really enjoy this conversation, as we feel it does a good job of normalizing this extreme style of trekking. We wrap the show with how Zach endangered his family with a black widow, news of the removal of an iconic AT shelter, things that are normal at 3pm but terrifying at 3am, and the triple crown of drunk regrets. Badger + Chaunce Signed Book Package: Use code “LITTLEDONKEYGIRL” for $5 off and get a BPR sticker at store.thetrek.co. Vargo Outdoors: Use code “BACKPACKERRADIO” for 20% off at vargooutdoors.com. CTUG: Use code “BPR15” for 15% off at chickentrampergear.com. Interview with Nick “DJ” Fowler Time stamps & Questions 00:05:47 - Reminders: Get Zach and Chaunce’s signed book bundle by January 15th, support us on Patreon, and check out our new website! 00:08:05 - Introducing Nick 00:08:49 - Tell us your poop stories 00:15:20 - Discussion about shower frequency 00:19:20 - How did you go from a clean cut corporate guy to setting an FKT? 00:22:40 - What was the first big animal you encountered? 00:25:40 - What would you say to people who think FKT hikers are missing the point? 00:30:04 - What does a day of hiking look like emotionally? 00:34:00 - Tell us about peeing red 00:39:58 - What was the biggest breakdown you had on trail? 00:45:35 - Has not quitting been a theme across your life? 00:47:12 - What did you learn on the PNT that helped you on the PCT? 00:49:27 - What packing mistakes did you correct on the PNT? 00:52:40 - What’s your footwear system? 00:54:50 - Discussion about road walks and bushwacking on the PNT 00:55:50 - What do you commonly lose? 01:00:17 - Discussion about dealing with Tropical Storm Hilary 01:11:38 - What was your sketchiest moment of the Hayduke? 01:16:35 - How did you get your trail name? 01:18:20 - Discussion about footwear 01:26:50 - What type of pain did you deal with on a daily basis on the PCT? 01:30:30 - What are your strongest food cravings? 01:41:00 - Discussion about diet and food 01:42:45 - How much time did you have off between hikes and before the PCT? 01:43:40 - How did you transition from a regular job to full time hiking? 01:47:45 - What do you do for passive income? 01:51:28 - What steps did you take to feel confident enough to make these moves? 01:54:20 - What tips do you have for someone who’s interested in this topic? 01:59:10 - What ventures would you recommend people get into? 02:01:33 - What mental tools are you using to stay determined? 02:04:45 - Discussion about the classifications of FKTs 02:11:11 - When would you say enough is enough? 02:13:30 - Tell us about your book, Itch Segments Trek Propaganda: Appalachian Trail Landmark, Overmountain Shelter, to be Removed by Diane Duffard QOTD: What’s normal at 3pm but terrifying at 3am? Stupid Thing of the Week Triple Crown of drunk regrets 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @paulyboyshallcross. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex & Misty with Navigators Crafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Greg Knight, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Ironhike endurance productions, Liz Seger, Matt Soukup, Mike Poisel, Patrick Cianciolo, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, and Tracy “Trigger” Fawns. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: 12 Trees Farms, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Hailey Buckingham, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Jeff LaFranier, Joann Menzer, Keith Dobie Jr, Peter, and Ruth S. | |||
| 28 Mar 2019 | #33 | Andrew Skurka | 02:01:22 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by adventuring legend, author, blogger and backcountry guide, Andrew Skurka. This is a very meaty show, we touch on a huge number of subjects including his ridiculous backpacking endeavors, his favorite backcountry routes, his bear bagging recommendations, the current state of rain gear, specific gear recommendations for an AT or PCT thru-hike, and so much more. Strap in, this is a fun interview filled with a ton of valuable insight. We also debut a new segment, featuring a popular YouTube personality by the name of Second Chance Hikes, and close out the show with a triple crown of survival items. Subjects discussed in the episode include:
Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Stitcher and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Michael W Hinkley, S11N, Sawyer Products, and Travis Smith A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Gregory Gardner and Peter Leven Follow Andrew Skurka, The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow The Trek, Backpacker Radio, and Chaunce on Facebook. Follow The Trek on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter. Intro music via. | |||
| 30 Sep 2024 | Ian Mangiardi on Youtube Hit "As It Happens," Getting Dumped on Trail (Twice), and The Explorers Club | 01:54:04 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Ian Mangiardi aka "Dusty". For those of you who've read Appalachian Trials, you're already familiar with Ian’s name, as he served as my pre AT thru-hike guru and therapist. Ian gives us a full rundown on his triple crown treks, including being dumped on two of the three hikes, how he and Andy Laub (former guest) formed an instant bromance on the first week of the AT, the filming of As It Happens, their PCT documentary with more than a million on YouTube, and some wild excursions in Mongolia and Bhutan. We wrap the show with whether bringing terminal food onto the plane makes you a sociopath, the triple crown of New York things, and you can now officially get your tickets for our Denver Live Podcast with Kyle Hates Hiking and Holiday Hiker Meetup Extravaganza! LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. Gossamer Gear: Use code “SNUGGLEBUG” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com. Katabatic Gear: Use code “BPR15” for 15% off at katabaticgear.com. [divider] Interview with Ian Mangiardi Time stamps & Questions 00:04:45 - Reminders: Join us in Denver on December 7th! Apply to be a 2025 blogger and support us on Patreon for exclusive bonus content! 00:07:10 - Introducing Ian 00:08:07 - How do Zach and Ian know each other? 00:12:13 - How did Ian and Andy meet? 00:14:12 - Tell us about your breakup 00:16:22 - What was your outdoors experience prior to the AT? 00:19:20 - How did you learn what gear you needed? 00:20:50 - Tell us about your second on-trail breakup 00:26:30 - Did you end the hike stronger than you started? 00:29:20 - Tell us about your friend fight 00:37:00 - Have you ever had a tramily other than Andy? 00:38:26 - How did you and Andy become friends? 00:40:30 - Was it an especially wet year on the AT? 00:43:45 - What fun stories do you have from the AT? 00:50:00 - Ian’s surprise trail magic 00:55:00 - Tell us about going from the AT to the PCT 00:57:01 - Chaunce’s As It Happens story 00:59:45 - Did you both film? 01:00:25 - How did you split up the workload? 01:02:17 - Tell us about getting caught in a snowstorm 01:04:20 - Tell us about kicking a rock off a cliff 01:06:00 - How did you decide what to cut out of the film? 01:09:14 - Did you hike the AT in spandex shorts? 01:10:45 - Do you still use a sleeping bag liner? 01:14:45 - Do you feel strongly about any other nontraditional gear items? 01:17:00 - Tell us about the New Explorers Award 01:20:45 - Tell us about the Kings Challenge in Bhutan 01:25:40 - What is the Explorers Club? 01:27:45 - What has changed in the world of thru-hiking? 01:30:26 - Where can people keep up with you? 01:32:28 - What’s your best poop story? Segments Trek Propaganda: Everything You Need To Know To Plan an International Thru-Hike by Kelly Floro QOTD: Is it messed up to bring airport terminal food onto the plane with the intent of eating it once you’re in your seat? Triple Crown of New York things Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Ben Love, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Liz Seger, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger’ Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bonnie Ackerman, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Joann Menzer, Katharine Rudzitis, Lauren Cain, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, and Ruth S. | |||
| 26 Oct 2018 | Trail Correspondents Episode #15: Diversity on the Trail | 01:23:41 | |
Diversity on the trail is a heavy, but important subject. It's impossible to do this subject justice in the span of an hour long podcast, but it's a conversation worth having nonetheless. Our correspondents share their thoughts about the diversity -or lack thereof- that they've encountered on trail. Our hikers also ponder ways the community can encourage under-represented groups to get onto the trail. Admittedly- our correspondents largely follow the demographics of the thru-hiking community at large- which is to say young and white. Though one of our hikers is visiting from across the pond and another is gay- and we've got more female correspondents than male when the trail skews the other way. But in terms of racial diversity, there's none. We were fortunate to get the input of Elsye "Chardonnay" Walker, who's one of the few (if not the only) black woman to hike the triple crown. She shares her take on these same questions, which offers some interesting contrast to the other stances offered in this episode. Lastly, we get an update from Jeffrey "Legend" Garmire, who's on the tail end of his Great Western Loop journey, a 6,875-mile footpath across the western half of the USA. The path, popularized by Andrew Skurka, links five existing trails, including the Pacific Crest Trail, Pacific Northwest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, Grand Enchantment Trail, & Arizona Trail, as well as some route finding through the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts. In today's show, we hear from:
You can support the show through our Patreon page, which helps us to publish episodes more frequently. Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio? Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Stitcher and Google Play. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek, Chaunce, and Badger on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube Follow The Trek on Facebook, Twitter and sign up for our newsletter. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Sawyer Products. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Gregory Gardner, Kate Hurley, Clint "DuctTape" Sherbet, Peter Leven Episode produced by Pauly Boy Shallcross. Check out his coffee roaster, Old Man Murph's. Music via. | |||
| 14 Sep 2018 | #19 | Piers Ellison on His PCT Brown Recluse Spider Bite, Hiking with a Guitar, and Considerations for International Hikers | 01:26:11 | |
Before leaving for a long distance trek, it's common for people to envision worst case scenario. For Piers Ellison, on his 2016 PCT hike, this fear became a reality when he was bitten by a brown recluse spider. In episode 19, we talk in depth about this nightmare, how he hiked the entire PCT while carrying his guitar, the challenges an international hiker must confront in order to trek one of the United States' long trails, and finally, Piers delights us by playing a pair of songs from his new EP "Distance". Also, Chaunce is drunk. Subjects discussed include:
Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio? Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Stitcher and Google Play. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Sawyer Products A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Gregory Gardner, Kate Hurley, Clint "DuctTape" Sherbet, and Peter Leven. Follow Piers Ellison, Backpacker Radio, The Trek, Chaunce, and Badger on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow The Trek on Facebook, Twitter and sign up for our newsletter. | |||
| 30 Jul 2021 | #114 | How to Afford a Thru-Hike | 01:59:56 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are bringing you another advice based show. Today's episode is all about how to afford a thru-hike, which includes overall tips for how to budget, how much to budget, what items you can skimp on, what items you should splurge on, tools for automating the process, and much more. We wrap the show with a triple crown of items that we love for less than $25, a wild story about a multi-day grizzly bear attack, and we discuss whether a calendar year triple crown is anti-thetical to the thru-hiking ethos. QOTD: How long is the lifespan of a fly/mosquito? And why aren’t dead ones all over the ground? BPR is doing a live podcast at Hop Haus in Fitchburg, Wisconsin from 6:00pm - 8:00pm on Friday, October 15. How to Afford a Thru-Hike ebook by Kelly Floro Tip #1 (Chaunce): Use apps that set aside money for you. Apps mentioned (not sponsored): Tip #2 (Zach): Know what gear to splurge on. Specifically:
Tip #3 (Elise): Leverage the Financial Independence community (and finding your Coast FI number for peace of mind). Some FI resources:
Tip #4 (Chaunce): Budget smart while you’re actually on trail. Tip #5 (Zach): Know where to skimp on gear. Specifically:
Tip #6 (Elise): Figure out how much your life actually costs, then figure out how to cut further or earn more. Tip #7 (Chaunce): Take on a side job where all earnings are specifically for thru-hiking. Some ideas:
Tip #8 (Zach): Decide how much you think your thru-hike will cost, then add 20%. Tipe #9 (Elise): Surround yourself with people who either support your goals or have similar ones. SEGMENTSTrek PropagandaTriple Crown of things to spend $25 on Gross or Not Gross
Mail Bag Cinnamon Court [divider] Check out our sound guy @Paulybooyshallcross. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Jason Lawrence, Christopher Marshburn, Sawyer Products, Brad and Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, and Patrick Cianciolo. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Cynthia Voth, Brandon Spilker, Emily Brown, Mitchell, Dcnerdlet, Jeff LaFranier, Peter Ellenberg, Jacob Northrup, Peter Leven, TraskVT, Lindsay Sparks, Liz Seger and Lisa Douglas. | |||
| 29 Nov 2021 | #128 | Nimblewill Nomad | 02:01:45 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek we are joined by backpacking legend Nimble Nomad. The name is likely familiar as Nimblewill Nomad recently made news for setting the record as the oldest person to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail at 83 years old. We learn all about this odyssey- and he does not sugarcoat how challenging it was. He also shares some of the wisdom he's accrued over his many tens of thousands of miles on trail, which can be applied to both your on and off-trail worlds. We close the show with a triple crown of rooms in the house and some gift ideas for the backpacker in your life. IndexIQ: You no longer need to choose between supporting the environment and investing in your financial future. Visit clnretf.com today! Be sure to read IndexIQ information below before investing. Gossamer Gear discount code: Use code “littledonkeygirl” for 15% off at Gossamergear.com. Excludes Black Friday sale, between 11/15-12/7. Organifi discount code: Go to organifi.com/backpacker, use code “backpacker” and get 25% off everything in the store and free shipping within the U.S. from 11/26-11/30. After those dates, get 20% off your entire purchase with code “backpacker” Minus33: Head to minus33.com and use promo code “21backpacker15” for 15% off your order [divider] Interview with Nimblewill Nomad Time stamps & Questions 00:03:44 - QOTD: What single scene ruined an entire movie/TV series/franchise? 00:10:30 - Reminders: Backpacker Radio Sponsorship & Fundraising 00:11:38 - Introducing Nimblewill Nomad 00:12:25 - How did you get started in the world of hiking and backpacking? 00:15:05 - Did you always intend to go that far? 00:16:31 - Was there any part of you that wanted to finish at Katahdin? 00:18:36 - Does it get harder every time you finish? 00:21:10 - What is your terminology for your thru-hikes? 00:22:52 - What’s the difference between your 1998 hike and 2000/2001 hike? 00:29:04 - What’s the difference between the International AT and U.S. AT? 00:33:23 - Did you intentionally try to break the record for oldest AT hiker? 00:35:10 - Why did you name it your last trail? 00:37:04 - How did the difficulties of this hike compare to other times on the AT? 00:39:38 - Why did you add an additional 420 miles to your AT hike? 00:42:56 - Why do you call your thru-hikes odysseys? 00:49:25 - Are there any profound spiritual differences to who you are today? 00:52:23 - Any wisdom you’d relay to former you or others listening? 00:58:07 - What were some of the most memorable parts of the AT hike? 01:04:00 - Is it true your base weight is 6 or 7 pounds? 01:04:47 - What do you carry with you? 01:08:00 - Nimblewill Nomad’s sponsors 01:13:10 - Would you like to speak about simplifying your belongings and life? 01:18:00 - Talk us through your philosophy of simple living off trail 01:20:53 - What was it like spending time with Dale “Grey Beard” Sanders 01:25:30 - Is there something similar between you and Grey Beard that motivates you to complete a goal like the AT? 01:31:52 - Can you talk us through how it felt to complete the hike? 01:34:50 - Anything you’d like our listeners to know before we close?
SEGMENTS Trek Propaganda
Triple crown of rooms in the house 5 Star Reviews IndexIQ Investing Involves Risk. Consider the Funds’ investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The prospectus and the statement of additional information include this and other relevant information about the Funds and are available by visiting CLNRetf.com. Read the prospectus carefully before investing. IndexIQ® is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC and serves as the advisor to the IndexIQ ETFs. ALPS Distributors, Inc. (ALPS) is the principal underwriter of the ETFs. NYLIFE Distributors LLC is a distributor of the ETFs. NYLIFE Distributors LLC is located at 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302. ALPS Distributors, Inc. is not affiliated with NYLIFE Distributors LLC. NYLIFE Distributors LLC is a Member FINRA/SIPC. [divider] Check out our sound guy @Paulybooyshallcross. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Ausen McDaniel, Jason Lawrence, Christopher Marshburn, Sawyer Products, Brad and Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Patrick Cianciolo, Brandon Spilker and Matt Soukup. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Cynthia Voth, Emily Brown, Mitchell, Dcnerdlet, Jeff LaFranier, Peter Ellenberg, Jacob Northrup, Peter Leven, TraskVT, Lindsay Sparks, Liz Seger and Lisa Douglas. | |||
| 01 Jul 2024 | John Mackey, Whole Foods Co-Founder, on His Thru-Hiking Experience, Co-Owning Gossamer Gear, and Entrepreneurship | 02:27:59 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, brought to you by Helinox we are joined by John Mackey. On trail he's known as "Strider", off trail he's known as the co-founder and former CEO of Whole Foods. In addition to being a world-class entrepreneur, Mackey is also a backpacking enthusiast, having hike the AT, PCT, Colorado Trail, and many trails abroad including hikes in the Alps, Patagonia, and more. This is a fun, informative, and wide ranging chat that covers his thru-hike on the AT while being the active Whole Foods CEO, how he saved Gossamer Gear from near extinction, his fascination with UL gear, including his own 6.5 lb base weight, how his love for fantasy novels spilled into his own creative endeavor at the AT's shelter logs, his favorite vegan trail snacks, and much more. We also dive into some non-backpacking talk, including how to build a successful and healthy company culture, his take on labor unions, how psychedelics played a pivotal role in his life, and we learn all about his new book, The Whole Story: Adventures in Love, Life, and Capitalism. Chaunce and I were amped for this chat and it did not disappoint. We wrap the show with a sneak peak at a new full-time job opening at The Trek, what fact is common knowledge in our field, but unknown to most of the population, the triple crown of Whole Foods foods, and Chaunce's encounter with a ghost. Helinox: Use code “BACKPACKER20” for 20% off at helinox.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code “SNUGGLEBUG” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. [divider] Interview with John “Strider” Mackey Time stamps & Questions 00:04:56 - Reminders: Apply for the Trek’s new full time role! Suggest a guest for PCT Days and support us on Patreon for bonus exclusive content! 00:08:15 - Introducing John 00:09:18 - Tell us about investigating your wife’s fridge during your first date 00:12:27 - We Love Love: Tell us about telling her how you felt 00:18:12 - Did that make you more sensitive to how you interact with people? 00:19:15 - What was the origin story of buying Gossamer Gear? 00:23:46 - Are you still involved in the operations of Gossamer Gear? 00:25:15 - How did you get to a baseweight of 6 pounds? 00:26:50 - What are your Big Three? 00:28:00 - How did Ray Jardine’s book insprie you? 00:30:30 - Tell us about getting off trail 00:33:22 - What’s it like to complete the AT and go back to being the CEO of Whole Foods? 00:36:01 - Tell us about your trail register stories 00:39:35 - What was the process for your support vehicle? 00:41:44 - Did other hikers realize you were involved with Whole Foods? 00:43:10 - What impact has psychadelics had on your career? 00:49:33 - What did your parents think when you started Safer Way? 00:54:56 - Was it hard to ask your father to leave the board of Whole Foods? 00:58:50 - What was the community’s reaction to you starting Safer Way? 01:02:18 - How did you mentally keep up with the growth of Whole Foods? 01:03:43 - Were there any books you recommend to entrepreneurs? 01:05:28 - Discussion about listening to books while long distance hiking 01:07:00 - Discussion about what John eats while backpacking 01:10:21 - What kind of cravings do you get while hiking? 01:12:20 - What do you think about alternative meat burgers? 01:13:23 - Can you explain why vegans are against eggs? 01:16:20 - Tell us about hiking with the founder of Celestial Seasonings tea 01:18:58 - What was the origin story of your step-daughter’s trail name? 01:20:09 - What sticky situations have you gotten into on trail? 01:24:00 - Tell us about hiking the PCT 01:27:39 - Tell us about the Via Francigena and Alpe Adria 01:29:50 - What has been your favorite European trail? 01:31:35 - What’s your take on REI’s recent efforts on union busting? 01:36:52 - What tips do you have for building a strong company culture? 01:42:00 - Discussion about merging with Amazon 01:43:18 - What is Jeff Bezos like? 01:43:41 - Zach’s idea for grocery store improvement 01:45:33 - Kumo Question: What is the cheesiest movie you secretly love? 01:48:26 - Tell us about Love Life Segments Trek Propaganda: Kristian Morgan Aims for Another Appalachian Trail FKT by Ariella Nardizzi QOTD: What fact is common knowledge in your field, but unknown to most of the population? Spooky Thing of the Week Triple Crown of Whole Foods foods Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg McDaniel, Hailey Buckingham, Liz Seger, Patrick Cianciolo, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger’ Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: 12 Trees Farms, Bonnie Ackerman, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Joann Menzer, Katharine Rudzitis, Keith Dobie Jr, Merle Watkins, Peter, and Ruth S. | |||
| 16 May 2022 | #149 | Darwin on Quitting YouTube, Advice to Aspiring Vloggers, and What Lies Ahead | 02:01:23 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by YouTube sensation, Darwin. We learn all about Darwin's rise to fame, including the turning point from when he went from a novice content creator to a full-blown trail celebrity, his advice to aspiring YouTube trail personalities, and why he ultimately fell out of love with the platform. We also learn about Darwin's new media company, Outdoor Evolution, and the plethora of projects currently coming from OE, and what lies ahead. We wrap the show by sharing the news of a gent who's about to finish walking around the world with his pup and we opine on whether we'd rather have a boring, stupid, or ugly offspring. Gossamer Gear: Use code “littledonkeygirl” for 15% off at gossamergear.com. Organifi: Use code “backpacker” for 20% off at organifi.com/backpacker. Greenbelly: Use code “trek2022” for 10% off at greenbelly.co. Interview with Darwin Time stamps & Questions 00:04:25 - QOTD: Would you rather have a boring, stupid, or ugly kid? 00:06:57 - BPR Announcements: The Trek’s Featured TikTok Personality 00:08:08 - Introducing Darwin 00:08:37 - What was your life pre-dirtbag adventuring? 00:09:52 - Was there one trip you saw as the tipping point to altering your lifestyle? 00:13:56 - Tell us about the timeline of leaving home. 00:14:35 - Tell us about the initial intentions of the trail. 00:16:50 - Do you think leaving the AT and returning later prepared you for future trips? 00:18:47 - When does the Youtube channel enter the picture? 00:22:46 - Was there a particular moment when the channel became something you thought you could make a career out of? 00:25:27 - Tell us about living and working in Albuquerque. 00:26:45 - What’s the strangest hobby you’ve gotten into? 00:28:20 - Tell us about owning a restaurant. 00:29:10 - Are you a big fan of the blues? 00:30:04 - What are the top three things you would never dabble in? 00:31:40 - Tell us about cycling and bike-packing. 00:36:04 - Why do you think your bike-packing videos didn’t take off? 00:36:55 - Is adventure touring more trail or more road? 00:38:58 - How is your injury affecting your upcoming plans? 00:38:33 - Do you mind if I ask how old you are? 00:40:07 - What was the next big hike after the AT? 00:41:03 - How did you like the Pinhoti Trail? 00:42:48 - What kind of miles are you usually hiking per day? 00:44:42 - How did your channel interface with your PCT hike? 00:48:50 - Discussion about the turning point in popularity for the channel. 00:52:43 - Can you elaborate on the closure you sought on the CDT? 01:00:56 - If you had any general advice to someone interested in growing a Youtube channel, what would you tell them? 01:05:24 - Did you develop a thicker skin toward internet comments as you made more videos? 01:09:08 - Tell us about Outdoor Evolution. 01:14:58 - How do you decide how to allocate your time? 01:16:45 - Tell us about the structure of OE. 01:17:55 - Do you and your wife plan to have any children? 01:21:35 - Tell us more about current OE projects. 01:26:25 - How much are you looking to fundraise for your public lands series? 01:27:36 - How big is your production team? 01:28:58 - Give us a sneak peak of each episode. 01:30:01 - Tell us about the other upcoming projects you have going on this year. 01:33:22 - Anything else you want to share? 01:35:12 - Thanks! SEGMENTS Trek Propaganda
Adrift on the Pacific Crest Trail by Clay Bonnyman Evans Triple Crown of unlikely spaces where humans become savagely territorial Impromptu News Story Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @Paulybooyshallcross. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Jason Lawrence, Christopher Marshburn, Sawyer Products, Brad and Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Patrick Cianciolo, Paul Packman Sealy, Matt Soukup, and Jason Snailer. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Liz Seger, Cynthia Voth, Emily Brown, Dcnerdlet, Jeff LaFranier, Peter Ellenberg, Jacob Northrup, Peter Leven. | |||
| 25 Feb 2021 | #95 | Andy Downs of the ATC on the Mountain Valley Pipeline & Postponing Thru-Hikes During a Pandemic | 02:11:58 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are once again joined by Andy Downs of the ATC. For those who might be unfamiliar, the ATC has been under a bit of heat of late for the news of their accepting a very large gift from the Mountain Valley Pipeline, a project they once opposed. Andy gives us a thorough breakdown on the history of the project, why the ATC is no longer actively opposing it, and answers some of the common critical questions being lobbed in the ATC's direction. We also dive into the subject of the ATC making the request for people to yet again postpone their thru-hikes on the AT in 2021, how the decision was arrived to, and some key considerations to make for those who are still dead set on hiking the Trail. Zach also outline why The Trek will not be closing the platform to thru-hikers this year, the duo talk about their ideal marriage partner and/or shapeshifter victims, and listeners are blessed with a trio of poop stories to close out the show. Backcountry discount code: Use code "BACKPACKER15" to save 15% on your "first" purchase at Backcountry.com/backpackerradio. Gossamer Gear discount code: Use code "POOPSTORY" to save 15% off your cart at GossamerGear.com Good To-Go discount code: Use code "BACKPACKER25" to save 25% on your order and get free shipping on orders over $100 at Goodto-go.com. [divider] Interview with Andy Downs of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy 00:05:30 - QOTD: Why did Chaunce have to reschedule the show? 00:06:39 - Welcome back to Andy Downs 00:08:00 - You mentioned not being the best thru-hiker can you explain? 00:09:52 - How many times have you been to prison? 00:10:05 - What is your title at the ATC? 00:11:00 - What power line issues were you dealing with yesterday? 00:12:04 - What was 2020 like for you and the ATC? 00:14:18 - What was trail maintenance like on the AT in 2020? 00:16:25 - What is the chain of command with trail maintenance clubs? What exactly does the ATC do? 00:19:20 - Does the ATC provide any funding? 00:20:42 - Does the ATC run the ridge runner program? 00:22:25 - Can you talk about how the Mountain Valley Pipeline history intertwines with the AT? 00:34:16 - Why is this big news all of a sudden? 00:35:36 - What is not being disclosed about the deal and why is that the case? 00:37:54 - Can you speak to the million-dollar bonus you got (joking)? 00:39:47 - Is the money going to go to rerouting in Virginia? 00:44:43 - As someone who fought the pipeline for a while can you understand why people are upset? 00:48:21 - Do you have to advocate for the deal now? 00:49:45 - What is your obligation to the advancement of the pipeline? 00:53:36 - Some people say you are incentivized to help finish the pipeline? 00:55:34 - What are the potential impacts of the pipeline? 01:03:05 - So what are the big downsides? 01:09:35 - Are there large environmental concerns? 01:11:14 - Are the ecosystems around the AT not also considered the ATC’s responsibility? 01:18:00 - Can you talk about the ATC’s stance on Covid-19? 01:27:24 - Does the ATC have any say in trail days? 01:30:18 - Have you had any feedback from trail towns asking you not to discourage hikers? 01:33:10 - What should people know? Where should they stay up to date?
SEGMENTSTrek Propaganda Thru-Hiking in 2021, COVID-19, and The Trek’s Platform by Zach Davis 2021 Badger Sponsorship: A $20,000+ Gear Giveaway to Benefit the National Scenic Trails Reddit Brain Buster
Mail Bag 5 Star Review
[divider] Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Jason Lawrence, Austen McDaniel, Andrew, Christopher Marshburn, S11N, Sawyer Products, Brad and Blair (Thirteen Adventures), and Cameron Brown. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Cynthia Voth, Brandon Spilker, Emily Brown, Jeffrey Miller, Mitchell, Zoe Jenkins, Dcnerdlet, Jeff LaFranier, Mark Snook, Peter Ellenberg, Thomas Fullmer, Jacob Northrup, Peter Leven. Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. | |||
| 13 Apr 2021 | #101 | Emily Ford on Thru-Hiking the Ice Age Trail in Winter | 02:10:28 | |
In today's episode of backpacker radio presented by the trek, we are joined by Emily Ford. Perhaps you've heard that name in the backpacking sphere of late, because Emily recently wrapped a thru-hike of Wisconsin's Ice Age Trail- in the dead of winter- becoming just the second person ever to do so, and the first woman. We do a deep dive on Emily's journey, including what gear she used, the weather conditions (spoiler alert- it was cold as hell), how she had to knock on strangers' doors to ask if she could sleep in their yard, and how she managed this trek alongside a husky that did not belong to her. This is a fun conversation. We wrap the show with a preview of The Trek's brand new podcast- Walking Distance, a Triple Crown of odd firsts, another edition of backpacking advice of the day, and some history of how North Carolina's tallest mountain played a role in the death of the person its named after. But first. Gossamer Gear discount code: Use code "POOPSTORY" to save 15% off your cart at GossamerGear.com Greenbelly discount code: Use code: "TREK2021" to save 10% sitewide at greenbelly.co Reel toilet paper discount code: Use code "BACKPACKER" to save 25% at reelpaper.com Check out Hikerlink.co to connect with hiker trash past, present and future. Interview with Emily Ford 00:04:42 - QOTD: Do you like backpacking in the winter? Or what’s the worst part of hiking in freezing temperatures? 00:08:00 - Welcome Emily Ford 00:08:20 - Where are you from originally and how and when did you get into backpacking? 00:09:54 - Did you hear what happened on Lake Superior? 00:10:23 - What kind of stuff did the people who were fishing lose? 00:10:57 - Why don’t we hear your Minnesotan accent? 00:11:07 - What’s the best accent you’ve got? 00:12:13 - When did your intro into hiking and backpacking begin? 00:14:02 - How much do you think rugby helped you train you for backpacking? 00:15:37 - Did your rugby coach’s mantra play in your mind as you hiked? 00:16:18 - What made you want to do a winter thru-hike? 00:17:25 - Did you feel like it was a hard adjustment to backpacking after being used to quicker movements with rugby? 00:19:34 - How do you get into powerlifting? 00:22:03 - Did powerlifting help with carrying such a heavy pack for winter backpacking? 00:23:17 - Can you give us the full spiel about the Ice Age Trail and what you just accomplished? 00:24:37 - You’re the first woman and second person ever to winter thru-hike the Ice Age Trail, correct? Does that speak to the difficulty of the feat or the difficulty of being out in that cold of weather? 00:25:39 - What’s the terrain like on the Ice Age Trail? Also you finished in 69 days?! Nice. 00:27:04 - Was it difficult technically or more like rolling hills? 00:28:09 - Had you hiked much of the trail in summer? 00:28:48 - When did you have snow shoes on the trail? 00:29:42 - What was this Wisconsin winter like? How cold was it? 00:31:17 - Did your dog sleep with you in your sleeping bag? 00:32:14 - What’s a musher? 00:33:30 - So the kennel just let you borrow a dog for the winter? 00:34:59 - How did Diggins respond to thru-hiking in winter? 00:36:36 - So Diggins was melting the snow underneath her as she slept? 00:36:59 - Was Diggins pulling her gear or your gear? 00:37:59 - Diggins was on leash in all your photos, can you talk about that? 00:39:39 - Do you think Diggins stayed near you because she began to trust you? 00:40:00 - What was it like giving Diggins back to her family? 00:41:00 - Does Diggins live close enough to visit? 00:41:38 - What kind of challenges were there with bringing a dog? 00:43:19 - Did Diggins get town food too? 00:43:33 - Did you get to go to any fish fries? 00:44:07 - What was your lodging situation while on trail? 00:45:16 - So you have friends all throughout Wisconsin? 00:46:24 - What is it like when you get to town? How do you pick which door you are going to knock on? 00:47:53 - How many times did you cold knock on people’s doors? 00:48:31 - Were people familiar with the Ice Age Trail? 00:49:05 - Are these people who let you sleep in their yard interacting with you at all? 00:49:22 - At what point did you start to get fan fare? 00:51:29 - Do you have any dream sponsors? 00:52:30 - Can you talk about your gear? 00:55:00 - How did your sleeping bag pack? 00:58:14 - What were you wearing while you were hiking? 00:59:46 - Did you have down or synthetic gear? 01:01:18 - Do you have leftover issues from frostbite on your butt? 01:02:08 - Would snow pants have been too hot? 01:04:19 - Were your shoes waterproof? 01:04:54 - Did you have gaiters? 01:06:04 - Did you keep hand warmers in bags to keep them working? 01:06:32 - What kind of eyewear did you have? 01:06:55 - Did you use trekking poles? 01:11:25 - Can you speak to being a black, LGBTQIA+ hiker? 01:13:42 - Have people messaged you that they are inspired by your journey? 01:14:44 - What’s next for you? 01:15:25 - Have you been in touch with Renee Patrick at all? 01:17:06 - Did you struggle with feeling stir crazy and bored and not being able to talk to other people? 01:19:08 - How did processing things while hiking interface with your journey? 01:21:02 - Can you talk about your job as head gardner? 01:22:13 - Where can we find you? What can we plug? 01:22:36 - What’s a goat apprentice? 01:23:00 - Did your dog know you were cheating on him while hiking with Diggins? 01:23:53 - Do you have any fun goat facts? 01:24:41 - So older goats don’t get mad at the younger goats when they bounce on them? 01:25:28 - If you are stranded on an island would you prefer goat or cow cheese? 01:26:38 - Why do people not drink more goat milk? SEGMENTSTrek Propaganda Triple Crown of Firsts Random Backpacking Advice…of the day. Mile by Mile Excerpt Mail Bag 5 Star Reviews A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Jason Lawrence, Austen McDaniel, Andrew, Christopher Marshburn, S11N, Sawyer Products, Brad and Blair (Thirteen Adventures), and Cameron Brown. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Cynthia Voth, Brandon Spilker, Emily Brown, Jeffrey Miller, Mitchell, Zoe Jenkins, Dcnerdlet, Jeff LaFranier, Mark Snook, Peter Ellenberg, Thomas Fullmer, Jacob Northrup, Peter Leven, TraskVT and Lindsay Sparks. | |||
| 08 Jul 2024 | Adam Cramer, CEO of Outdoor Alliance, on the EXPLORE Act and Conservation Advocacy | 01:43:27 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Helinox, we are joined by Adam Cramer, the founding Executive Director and CEO of Outdoor Alliance, a national coalition of outdoor recreation advocacy groups revitalizing the conservation movement with modern organizing and digital engagement. We learn all about this organization, the work they've done, the conservation movement at large, some interesting data from their recent wildfire report, and much more. We wrap the show with news of a new feature from iOS 18 which could be a gamechanger for backpackers, the proper ratio of water to corpses, and the triple Crown of AT trail sections you’d take someone you hate. Helinox: Use code “BACKPACKER20” for 20% off at helinox.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code “SNUGGLEBUG” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com. Backpacker’s Pantry: Use code “THETREK” for 20% off at backpackerspantry.com. [divider] Interview with Adam Cramer
Time stamps & Questions 00:04:00 - Reminders: Apply for the Trek’s new full time position! Suggest a guest for us to interview at PCT Days and support us on Patreon. 00:07:35 - Introducing Adam 00:08:13 - What makes for a good skatepark? 00:09:20 - Tell us about whitewater rafting 00:12:44 - What is Outdoor Alliance and how is it funded? 00:14:00 - How do you pick where the primary attention goes? 00:15:22 - How did you get involved with Outdoor Alliance? 00:20:04 - What are the specific objectives of Outdoor Alliance for this year? 00:22:07 - What does the EXPLORE act include? 00:24:10 - How did the EXPLORE act get passed in the House and what’s the process for the Senate? 00:28:39 - Tell us about the funding 00:31:04 - Do you collaborate with any hunting and fishing organizations? 00:33:06 - Does any of the funding go towards trail maintenance? 00:35:35 - Does it get exhausting to argue the same thing year after year? 00:37:32 - What were some of the findings from the Outdoor Alliance wildfire report? 00:41:50 - Would some regions implement this before others? 00:47:07 - Are you looking to expand how many organizations you work with? 00:47:45 - Kumo Question: What’s the most beautiful place you’ve ever been to? Segments Trek Propaganda: No Signal, No Problem: Apple Introduces 2-Way Satellite Messaging for iPhones by James Townsend Accidental Oopsies QOTD: People will swim in the ocean, even though there are definitely many corpses in it. People will not swim in a pool with a corpse in it. Humans all have a corpse:water ratio that is acceptable for them to swim in. What is your ratio? Triple Crown of AT trail sections you’d take someone you hate Priest Confession (and leave us your own!) Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg McDaniel, Hailey Buckingham, Liz Seger, Patrick Cianciolo, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger’ Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: 12 Trees Farms, Bonnie Ackerman, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Joann Menzer, Katharine Rudzitis, Keith Dobie Jr, Merle Watkins, Peter, and Ruth S. | |||
| 27 Apr 2020 | #69 | Will "Akuna" Robinson | 02:54:13 | |
In episode 69, we are joined by Will Robinson, AKA Akuna. Akuna is an army veteran, the first known African-American male to complete the triple crown, and an all around awesome guy. We talk about his experiences in managing chronic pain, how hiking interfaced with his PTSD, what it's like hiking through rural America as a black man with dreadlocks, and some of the highlights and lowlights of each of his thru-hikes. We also have some listener emails, we learn how people are keeping busy during the apocalypse, and introduce a new segment, Backcountry Matchmaking- our new on-air dating service. Giggity.
[divider] 00:04:30 - Meet Will “Akuna” Robinson and learn how he got started in hiking 00:05:44 - How he ended up on the PCT 00:06:30 - The closest long trail to Akuna in Louisiana 00:07:11 - How did growing up in New Orleans make you resilient? 00:08:42 - How did you end up in the military? 00:11:18 - Did your academic achievements have any bearing on your military experience? 00:12:40 - His Job in the Military (and how that became an electrical engineering degree) 00:14:00 - What was it like coming home from the military? 00:15:30 - Was PTSD treatment helpful? 00:16:20 - What are your injuries from the military? And how does that affect your backpacking? 00:19:00 - Healing through thru-hiking 00:24:50 - Why doesn’t the military talk more about mental health? 00:26:40 - Barriers to unorthodox treatments 00:27:37 - People thinking of long-distance backpacking with chronic pain 00:32:45 - Did you have to deal with withdrawals? 00:33:57 - Does backpacking alleviate pain? Or distract from it? 00:34:51 - Having flashbacks on trail 00:38:16 - Does your hiking family know about your flashbacks? Can they help in any way? What is the right way to help? 00:41:45 - How the thru-hiking community deals with mental health issues 00:45:00 - How Akuna Ended up on the PCT 00:49:00 - Tell us about your first PCT hike 00:51:00 - Akuna dislocates his knee on Mt.Whitney 00:54:00 - What was 2017 like on the PCT? 00:56:35 - Triple digit temperatures are no problem for Akuna 00:57:50 - How did you get your trail name on the PCT? 00:59:30 - Tell us about your 2017 Sierra experience 01:06:01 - Do you crave life-fearing moments? 01:10:00 - Akuna Hated the AT (at first) 01:15:19 - What is it like hiking the AT as an African American? 01:22:23 - Did you notice a difference in the way you were treated between the AT, PCT, and CDT? 01:26:00 - How does your trail family react when people are racist? 01:30:30 - Do you have any advice for Afircan Americans thinking about thru-hiking? 01:31:15 - Any advice for how the hiking community can help make thru-hiking more welcoming and inclusive? 01:32:00 - Notable AT moments 01:37:40 - Akuna’s AT Merrel Film & Akuna’s CDT Merrel Film 01:41:30 - Akuna’s CDT Hike 01:46:40 - The brutality of the CDT 01:48:15 - Gnarly weather on the CDT, PCT, and AT 01:50:25 - Falling in the Gila River on the CDT 01:55:05 - Akuna and Undecided almost get arrested 02:00:00 - How does it feel to be the first African American man known to finish the triple crown? 02:04:00 - Akuna’s postponed North Country Trail thru-hike 02:11:30 - Any plans for later this year if things clear up? 02:15:30 - Where to find Akuna: @AkunaHikes 02:17:11 - NZ borders closed for an entire year.
SEGMENTS 02:18:10 - The Trek Propaganda: Clay Bonnyman Evans reviews Chaunce’s Book 02:19:00 - Mail Bag! 02:20:00 - Things people are doing to stay sane during quarantine 02:26:30 - Akuna weighs in on if Carol Baskin killed her husband 02:28:07 - Pupdates from Chuance: Harper is Getting Crate Trained 02:36:38 - Five Star Reviews: Poop Stories and Horse Facts (& Impromptu Gear Reviews) 02:45:00 - Backcountry Matchmaking: Zach “Beta” Terpstra, Emily Mydlowski, Erica “Spitfire” [divider] Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio? Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co.
Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Stitcher and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Christopher Marshburn (who got us that awesome Katahdin sign from TrailSigns), ineedcoffee 17, S11N, Sawyer Products, and Thomas Fullner A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: dcnerdlet, Jacob Norhtrup, Jeff LaFranier, Mark Snook, Peter, Peter Ellenberg, Zoe Jenkins. Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio, and Chaunce on Facebook. Follow The Trek on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter. | |||
| 08 Jan 2020 | #57 | Crazy Jack Northam on Summiting Whitney ~200 Times, Listener Poop Stories, and The Top Tents on the Appalachian Trail | 02:16:53 | |
We are joined by "Crazy Jack" Northam. Crazy Jack has earned his name by summiting Mt. Whitney (the highest peak in the United States' lower 48) nearly 200 times, an endeavor he didn't begin until the ripe age of 50 years. Today, jack now 72 years old and still going strong. He regales us with tales of his many ascents up his favorite mountain, why he chooses to summit the same peak, his yo-yo hikes on Whitney, his climbs beginning at the nearby town of Lone Pine, and how he stumbled into some seriously historic butter. Chaunce and I close out the show by highlighting the top shelters on the Appalachian Trail, give an official ruling on the best Dorito flavor, do the Triple Crown of food items remaining in your bag when get to town, and get into a new recurring segment, Listener Poop Stories.
Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio? Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Download this podcast. Find us on Stitcher and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Cristopher Marshburn, Lance Whitley, S11N, Sawyer Products, Thomas Fullner, and Travis Smith. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Gregory Gardner, Jacob Northrup, Jeff LaFranier, Mark Snook, Michelle Pugh, Peter Leven, and Peter Ellenberg Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio, and Chaunce on Facebook. Follow The Trek on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter. | |||
| 29 May 2018 | Trail Correspondents #7: The Biggest Surprises (Part 1) | 00:33:02 | |
When backpacking through the backcountry for months on end, there's one thing that can be relied upon: expect the unexpected. Today's episode focuses in on exactly that- the biggest surprises from the trail. Specifically, what caught our hikers most off guard? Today we hear from:
You can support the show through our Patreon page, which helps us to publish episodes more frequently. Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio? Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co. | |||
| 15 Nov 2021 | #126 | Andrew Hughes | 01:38:29 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, we are joined by Andrew Hughes. Andrew is quite possibly the most accomplished mountaineer that you have never heard of. Some of his feats include climbing the highest summit in all seven continents and six of the seven highest volcanic summits, he's the third person ever to complete the Antarctica Trifecta, and he's very close to completing the Explorers' Grand Slam. If you're not familiar with what these last two feats are, you're certainly not alone, we do a deep dive on all this and much more. We learn about a missing hiker who ignored rescuers' calls for a hilarious reason, a very last minute, seasonal triple crown, and we hear from Chaunce's #1 fan. | |||
| 11 Sep 2023 | #218 | Ultralight Backpacking Tips with Carl "Professor" Stanfield | 03:01:52 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are talking all things ultralight backpacking. We're joined by our pal and thru-hiker extraordinaire, Carl Stanfield aka "Professor", as the three of us share some of our top tips for reducing pack weight. The advice in this episode covers the full spectrum, from broad-based philosophical ways to approach what should and should not be in your pack, to more granular tips for simple and cost-effective ways of going UL. Whether you're hoping to thru-hike a triple crown trail or lighten the load a bit for your weekend outing, this one has insightful and practical pointers for you. We wrap the show with a quick overview of a new ultralight material being used for tarps and tents- and the relative pros and cons, but more importantly, we do the triple crown of the top benefits of an alien invasion which devolves into the most insane debate in Backpacker Radio history. Chaunce goes pure red face. CTUG: Use code “Backpackerradio” to save 15% on your order at chickentrampergear.com Gossamer Gear: Use code “TAKELESSTREKMORE” for 15% off at gossamergear.com PACT Outdoors: Use code “TREK20” for 20% off and free shipping at pactoutdoors.com. [divider] Panel with Carl Stanfield Time stamps & Questions 00:03:58 - Reminders: Join us in Iceland for Summer of 2024! Support us on Patreon! Lastly, if you have a good poop story, submit it here! 00:09:34 - Welcoming Carl “Professor” Stanfield 00:09:49 - What have you been up to lately? 00:13:23 - What do you do with your short break? 00:14:39 - How many days did you get off? 00:17:24 - What was your day-to-day? 00:20:24 - Tell us about your new girlfriend! 00:22:21 - Can you give us a brief overview of your hiking resume? 00:23:30 - Panel introduction: Ultralight Backpacking 00:26:30 - Chaunce’s #1: Get used to doing less 00:31:03 - Professor’s #1: Be adaptable 00:34:41 - What does everyone do when you don’t have a utensil? 00:38:11 - Badger’s #1: Don’t carry too much water 00:49:59 - Chaunce’s #2: Compare weights when shopping for gear 00:53:38 - Professor’s #2: Of the big 4, invest in a lightweight tent 01:09:30 - Shelter satisfaction results from The Trek’s hiker survey 01:12:24 - Badger’s #2: Remove redundancy 01:36:00 - Chaunce’s #3: You don’t need to bring your hobbies with you 01:48:17 - Professor’s #3: Dial in your food consumption 02:07:11 - Professor’s Hot Take: Make up for calories in town 02:10:47 - Chaunce’s Final Thoughts: Eat your dinner to get your dessert 02:17:00 - Zach’s #3: Use Smart Water bottles instead of Nalgenes 02:24:00 - Panel wrap-up Segments Trek Propaganda: UltraTNT: The Newest Material for Ultralight Tarps & Tents By Joal and Jenny Triple crown of alien invasion benefits [divider] Check out our sound guy @paulyboyshallcross. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex & Misty with Navigators Crafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, DoGoodPantry, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Liz Seger, Matt Soukup, Mike Poisel, Morgan Luke, Patrick Cianciolo, Sawyer Products, Timothy Hahn, and Tracy “Trigger” Fawns. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: 12 Trees Farms, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jake Landgraf, Jeanne Latshaw, Jeff LaFranier, Joann Menzer, Keith Dobie Jr, Kelly Heikkila, Matthew Spence, and Peter. | |||
| 04 Nov 2024 | Tara Dower on Her Appalachian Trail FKT, Falling 200+ Times, and Her Crew | 02:10:07 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we're joined by Tara Dower, the new holder of overall Fastest Known Time on the Appalachian Trail. Tara gives us the low down on every aspect of her recent record-breaking trek, including how she fell wildly behind pace after the first two states, her nutrition, her sleep habits (or lack thereof), how vital her crew was in her success, the criticism she's faced for "hiking too fast", running a 100-mile race just a few weeks prior to the attempt, and much more. Tara also goes into more depth on her backpacking and FKT background and we subject her to a pair of brutally awkward fornicate, marry, kill questions. Fun times all around. We wrap the show with our triple crown of guilty pleasure songs, a stupid thing of the week (Zach hurts himself again), and the most unrealistic thing we thought we could be when we were kids. Raise $10,000 and the Real Hiking Viking Will Do the Unthinkable… Topo Athletic: Use code “THETREK15” at topoathletic.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code “SNUGGLEBUG” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. [divider] Interview with Tara “Candy Mama” Dower Time stamps & Questions 00:05:55 - Reminders: Support us on Patreon for exclusive bonus content, join us in Denver on December 7th and apply to be a 2025 blogger! 00:07:55 - Introducing Tara 00:09:29 - Are you still recovering? 00:10:45 - What mantras did you have? 00:13:00 - What was your origin story in the outdoors? 00:17:12 - When did you decide to pursue the Mountains to Sea Trail FKT? 00:19:00 - Did you impress yourself at that moment? 00:21:30 - Tell us about getting off the AT because of anxiety 00:23:05 - How do you manage anxiety during an FKT attempt? 00:24:25 - Were you tough growing up? 00:26:45 - What inspired you to want to continue pursuing FKTs? 00:29:55 - Tell us about the John Muir Trail 00:31:20 - What part of running do you dislike the most? 00:32:30 - Tell us about the Benton MacKaye Trail FKT 00:34:40 - Tell us about the Colorado Trail FKT 00:36:20 - Discussion about support classifications 00:40:25 - How do you deal with critics? 00:44:30 - How did the Colorado Trail change your outlook on future FKTs? 00:46:00 - When did you decide to go after the AT FKT? 00:48:38 - Did you initially plan to beat the overall record? 00:50:08 - Were you intimidated by others who tried and failed to beat the record? 00:51:30 - Did you notice a transition in social media as you were running? 00:55:18 - Why did your anxiety influence which direction you went? 00:57:20 - How long before you started was the Hard Rock? 01:00:00 - What was it like going through Mahoosuc Notch at FKT pace? 01:01:44 - Tell us about being behind pace at first 01:05:27 - How did your crew chief motivate you? 01:07:03 - Did you ever disagree about decisions? 01:08:00 - How much of a trail was solo or with a pacer? 01:09:50 - What was your adjustment like after the FKT? 01:12:45 - How has your nutrition changed over the years? 01:18:55 - Did you have any near injuries? 01:19:40 - Can you pinpoint a low moment? 01:23:30 - Did you hallucinate? 01:26:45 - Tell us about your average mileage and sleep during the FKT 01:30:40 - Is Rascal’s position a paid position? 01:31:34 - Did you have any paid sponsorship during this run? 01:32:26 - When did you know you had it? 01:35:02 - Did you conceptualize how big of a deal it was going to be? 01:36:35 - Tell us about raising money for Girls on the Run 01:38:20 - Fuck Marry Kill: thru-hiking, FKTs, ultraracing 01:39:31 - Fuck Marry Kill: Outside Magazine, Washington Post, The Trek 01:40:34 - Kumo Question: What’s something you’ve always wanted to try but haven’t had the courage to do yet? Segments Trek Propaganda: Tara Dower Sets Overall Fastest Known Time on Appalachian Trail by Kelly Floro QOTD: What is the most unrealistic thing you thought you could be when you were a kid? Stupid Thing of the Week Triple Crown of guilty pleasure songs Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Ben Love, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Liz Seger, Old Man Murph’s Coffee Roasters, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger’ Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Bonnie Ackerman, Chris Pyle, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Katharine Rudzitis, Lauren Cain, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, and Ruth S. | |||
| 08 Apr 2024 | Eeland Stribling aka the "Black Steve Irwin" on Fly Fishing, Stand Up Comedy, and Wildlife Biology | 02:13:39 | |
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Eeland Stribling. Eeland, who’s known as the "Black Steve Iriwn" and “The Fliest Fisherman” is a wildlife biologist, educator, standup comedian, and the host of “Comedians on the Fly.” We dive deep into the world of standup comedy, including the various hazing routines, what it’s like to eat shit during an open mic, how things change as you climb the ranks, the process of crafting a joke, and more. Eeland also educates us with some fun facts about black bears and mountain lions and gives us a thorough primer on how to get started with fly fishing. This chat was both fun and informative, you will not be disappointed. We wrap the show with five word sentences that are guaranteed to start a fight, the triple crown of shows to fall asleep to, and we have more details of our live podcast in Denver. The link to get tickets is in the show notes. Taking a pause here to give you time to snag yours. Gossamer Gear: Use code “SNUGGLEBUG” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com. Jenna Davis: Email jenna@firstsummitrealty.com or call 303-946-9476 to get a free consultation. Shady Rays: Use code “TREKREACT” for 2 lenses free when you buy React frames at shadyrays.com. Danner: Use code “TREK15” for 15% off Mountain 600 boots at danner.com. [divider] Interview with Eeland Stribling Time stamps & Questions 00:03:42 - Reminders: Get tickets to our live show in Denver on April 23! 00:04:44 - Introducing Eeland 00:05:37 - What got you into comedy? 00:09:15 - How would you describe your style of comedy? 00:14:18 - What is the easiest animal to make fun of? 00:15:45 - Tell us about your experience as a nuisance animal technician 00:18:58 - Tell us about tranquilizing and relocating bears 00:22:08 - What was the smartest bear encounter you had? 00:25:40 - How did your mountain lion work compare to that with bears? 00:28:00 - Is there an area that’s notorious for problematic bears? 00:33:31 - Are there notable comedians you’ve opened for? 00:38:05 - What is it like to hang out with comics in the green room? 00:43:20 - What’s the best advice other comedians have given you? 00:46:55 - Tell us about how you write jokes 00:48:55 - What’s it like when jokes bomb? 00:53:00 - How does a set hit with some crowds and not with others? 00:58:04 - Can you read us the most recent lines in your notebook? 01:02:17 - How frequently are you improvising on stage with new bits? 01:04:45 - When are your upcoming shows in April? 01:06:04 - Tell us about your show, Comedians on the Fly 01:09:20 - How did you get into fly fishing? 01:12:37 - Tell us about your phone incident while saltwater fishing 01:15:55 - How do you know what flies are needed for certain areas? 01:18:00 - Are you reluctant to share your favorite tips or places? 01:23:56 - How much of fly fishing is skill vs. knowledge vs. luck? 01:27:30 - Discussion about paralells between comedy and fishing 01:31:40 - Can you talk to us about Brown Folks Fishing and why their work matters? 01:34:30 - Kumo Question: If you could live in any era of history, what would you pick? 01:37:18 - What do you recommend for someone who wants to get started in fly fishing? 01:46:06 - Do you exclusively do catch and release? 01:52:00 - Discussion about protecting released fish 01:54:00 - Where can people find you? Segments Trek Propaganda: 2024 Badger Sponsorship Winners by Kendra Slagter QOTD: In 5 words or less, start a fight without politics Listener Voicemail (leave us your own!) Triple Crown of shows to fall asleep to Plug Me: Glen Van Peski’s Take Less. Do More: Surprising Life Lessons in Generosity, Gratitude and Curiosity from an Ultralight Backpacker Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex & Misty with Navigators Crafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Greg Knight, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Hailey Buckingham, Jason “Snail” Snailer barely know her, Liz Seger, Patrick Cianciolo, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, and Tracy “Trigger” Fawns. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: 12 Trees Farms, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Jeff LaFranier, Joann Menzer, Katharine Rudzitis, Keith Dobie Jr, merle Watkins, Peter, and Ruth S. | |||
| 05 Sep 2022 | #165 | Pattie Gonia: All Things Drag Queen, Hiking in High Heels, and Advocacy for Inclusive Outdoors | 02:16:39 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Wyn Wiley, better known online as Pattie Gonia. Pattie is a "professional homosexual", environmentalist, and a drag queen. This conversation is fun and informative. We go deep learning all the fun nuances of the drag world, including what goes into a good tuck (who owns the title for the GOAT of tucking), the best drag songs, and the core components of a good drag performance. Pattie shares all the good work she's is doing with various outdoor organizations to improve representation in the outdoors. And of course we get a run down of what goes into being ultra-athletic in high heel boots. We close the show with a triple crown of awkward places to run into an ex, a Q&A segment, and we cover if thru-hiking the PCT can give you a dumptruck ass. Gossamer Gear: Use code “backpackerradio” for 15% off at gossamergear.com. Organifi: Use code “backpacker” for 20% off at organifi.com/backpacker. Enlightened Equipment: Use code “ultralight10” for 10% off Enlightened Equipment’s Stock Revelation Quilt or Torrid Jacket at enlightenedequipment.com. Interview with Wyn Wiley aka Pattie Gonia
Time stamps & Questions 00:04:56 - QOTD: What’s the easiest meal of the day to eat healthfully? 00:10:39 - Reminder: Apply to be a 2023 Trek Blogger 00:11:34 - Introducing Wyn! 00:13:05 - Who is Wyn Wiley? 00:15:26 - How did you become Pattie Gonia? 00:17:40 - Were you always openly queer? 00:19:23 - Who put boundaries on you as a kid? 00:22:10 - How do you run in high heels? 00:24:20 - What were you thinking when you posted some of your first viral videos? 00:27:22 - Were some people okay with you being gay but not with your wearing heels? 00:29:26 - Can you explain Wyn and Pattie’s different pronouns? 00:31:40 - What’s a good protocol for knowing when to ask someone their preferred pronouns? 00:33:36 - Discussion about being Pattie versus Wyn 00:35:10 - What’s the most difficult physical endeavor you’ve done in heels? 00:36:14 - Discussion about tucking 00:41:45 - Tell us about your hiking clothes. 00:42:48 - Do you have any tips for hiking in heels? 00:44:42 - Do you have any good eating shit stories from hiking in heels? 00:45:41 - Tell us about your recent event with the North Face. 00:48:29 - How can businesses be better allies? 00:50:34 - How can businesses move into the advocacy space? 00:52:31 - Do you want to give any particular people a shoutout? 00:54:09 - Have you had experiences where brands have approached you the wrong way? 00:55:48 - What were some of the biggest lessons you learned? 00:57:18 - What do you recommend for people looking to join queer outdoor communities? 00:59:07 - What does into a 10/10 drag performance? 01:03:42 - If you’re stranded on drag island, what 3 songs do you bring for your performance? 01:05:25 - If you were to make a drag starter pack, what would be in it? 01:06:28 - What is your go-to hiking snack? 01:11:18 - Do you feel like the thru-hiking community better accepts the queer community? 01:15:35 - How do you think you can bring more straight, white men to allyship? 01:17:01 - Do you see any backlash for caring about hair and makeup in the outdoors? 01:20:10 - Tell us about your makeup process. 01:22:09 - If you could pick only 3 pieces of makeup, what would you choose? 01:22:50 - Tell us about the plastics crisis work you did in Hawaii. 01:27:50 - Tell us about your organization, the Outdoorist Oath. 01:28:56 - What are the first projects your organization is starting with? 01:30:32 - Can you tell us about calling out NOLS? 01:37:29 - What should companies prioritize to do better by communities? 01:40:03 - Where can people go to keep up with you? SEGMENTS Trek Propaganda
Triple Crown of awkward places to bump into an ex Instagram Q&A Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @Paulybooyshallcross. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Jason Lawrence, Christopher Marshburn, Sawyer Products, Brad and Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Patrick Cianciolo, Paul Packman Sealy, Matt Soukup, Jason Snailer, Greg Mac, Tracy “Trigger” Fawns, Mike Poisel, and Kristina Diaz. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Liz Seger, Cynthia Voth, Emily Brown, Dcnerdlet, Jeff LaFranier, Peter Ellenberg, Jacob Northrup, Peter Leven. | |||
| 26 Feb 2024 | Q&A: Backpacking with a Gun, Crush It Syndrome, Overrated Gear, Emotionally Draining Trail Experiences, and More | 02:27:33 | |
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are bringing back another edition of Q&A. Today we’re joined by our pal and chronic thru-hiker and adventurer, Steven “Twinkle” Shattuck to answer your burning trail-related questions. Today’s episode covers a wide range of topics, including the feasibility and necessity of carrying a gun while backpacking, the dangers of “crush it syndrome” in light of Christopher Roma’s recent tragic passing, Twinkle's top trails from around the world, the most overrated piece of gear, how we prevent blisters, and much more. Simply put, if you like your Qs being A’d, you have stumbled upon the right episode. We wrap the show with the top sleeping bags, quilts, and pads from the AT last year, the top home theft suggestions to mildly inconvenience your victim, and the triple crown of foods that are way better or worse when homemade. Jenna Davis: Email jenna@firstsummitrealty.com or call 303-946-9476 to get a free consultation. Gossamer Gear: Use code “DINGLEBERRY” for 20% off packs at gossamergear.com. Ka’Chava: Get 10% off at kachava.com/backpacker. [divider] Panel with Steven “Twinkle” Shattuck
Time stamps & Questions 00:02:50 - Bid on our Tyvek wall until February 29, apply to be a blogger, and support us on Patreon! 00:05:22 - Introducing Twinkle 00:08:30 - Crush It Syndrome - check out Skurka’s article, Christopher Roma: Learning to turn back 00:28:17 - Backpacking with a gun 00:53:45 - Twinkle’s top 3 trail recommendations in the world 00:57:11 - Twinkle’s favorite international hikes 01:00:40 - What’s the most overrated piece of gear? 01:14:53 - How do you stay safe from ticks while outside? How much do you worry about them? (Check out episode 200 to learn more about Lyme disease) 01:22:50 - If you had to do a medium length trail (100-500 miles) this year, which one would it be? (Check out Eloise Robbin’s article, The Best Time of Year to Hike These 23 Popular Long Trails and Swami’s website, The Hiking Life) 01:29:51 - As a future dad, how do you instill both an interest and a respect for nature in young kids? (Check out episode 152 to hear Nancy East discuss this topic) 01:37:48 - What is your daily routine for foot care to prevent blisters while doing big miles? 01:42:30 - Can you tell us about your most emotionally draining experience on trail? 01:52:11 - What brand of instant coffee will help you poop the best? 01:53:58 - How does someone get into canyoneering? Where do you begin? 01:55:56 - What is the best 311 song or album? Segments Trek Propaganda: The Top Sleeping Bags, Quilts, and Pads on the Appalachian Trail: 2023 Thru-Hiker Survey by Kate Richard QOTD: You’re a burglar but you can only steal things that mildly inconvenience your victims. What are you taking? Triple Crown of foods that are way better or worse when homemade Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @paulyboyshallcross. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex & Misty with Navigators Crafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Greg Knight, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Ironhike endurance productions, Jason “Snail” Snailer, Liz Seger, Patrick Cianciolo, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, and Tracy “Trigger” Fawns. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: 12 Trees Farms, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Hailey Buckingham, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Jeff LaFranier, Joann Menzer, Keith Dobie Jr, Peter, and Ruth S. | |||
| 19 Oct 2018 | #21 | Nathan "Puma" Bauman on His 18-Month Adventure, Photography Tips, & The Best Trail Magic Items | 01:43:45 | |
What does it take to turn a thru-hike turns into an 18-month adventure? That's the central theme of today's show, as the Cinnamon Connection is joined by Nathan "Puma" Bauman- who, after hiking the Appalachian Trail, next hiked on the Continental Divide Trail, Long Trail, and Pacific Crest Trail within a year and a half span. We talk about the differences between the three triple crown trails, what it's like to quit on a thru-hike, why the Long Trail is the most difficult trail Puma's encountered, and some tips for aspiring trail-photographers. We chat briefly about the 2018 AT Hiker Survey, AT completion and PCT completion photos. The show wraps up with the second edition of The Triple Crown Of, where we share our favorite trail magic items. Subjects discussed in today's show include:
Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio? Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Stitcher and Google Play. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Sawyer Products A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Gregory Gardner, Kate Hurley, Clint "DuctTape" Sherbet, and Peter Leven. Follow Puma, Backpacker Radio, The Trek, Chaunce, and Badger on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow The Trek on Facebook, Twitter and sign up for our newsletter. | |||
| 30 Mar 2020 | #66 | Drunk Q&A | 02:19:31 | |
Backpacker Radio is making good on their promise to get weird. Today we bring you a drunk Q&A. Backpacker Radio's new intern, Elise Ott, navigates us through a series of questions, including COVID-19, how we're handling the self-quarantining, a lot of poop related subjects, thru-hiking purism, and much more. At the top of the show, one of Chaunce's friends gives us the poop story to end all poop stories. This one is our most feral podcasts to date. Because that's what you do during an apocalypse. [divider]
[divider] Drunk Q&A0:03:52 - Intro, Welcome to BPR (long-distance style) 0:05:00 - Elise Ott Introduction (new BPR intern), articles on the Trek 0:05:50 - Casey’s Poop Story to End All Poop Stories 0:24:30 - We Meet Harper (after she pees on the floor) 0:26:44 - What are your favorite TP substitutes? 0:30:00 - What would you do if you were on trail right now? Even if you were 400 miles in? 0:41:43 - What international long hikes are Chaunce and Zach hiking or dreaming about? 0:45:00 - Only ramen for an entire trail or only mashed potatoes? 0:47:17 - If you ran out of toilet paper during your quarantine, what would you use to wipe? 0:54:22 - If you had to drink one celeb’s bath water whose would it be? 0:56:00 - If you had to pick another sport besides hiking to invest your time, energy, and money into, what would it be? And why? 1:00:00 - Is it okay to day hike right now? 1:09:00 - Ad break! Save 10% at AppalachianGearCompany.com by using code "BACKPACKERRADIO" at checkout. 1:17:45 - If you had to shelter in place would you use a tent or build a shelter? What food would you bring? 1:28:28 - What kind of mud is Chaunce using to build her hut? 1:32:00 - The question, “what is your most memorable road walk?” turns into a discussion on thru-hiking purity. 1:50:09 - Are people as mean on the trail as they are on facebook? 1:55:09 - The Final Question (there are two): If you could name a pet or child after a place on trail? 1:58:15 - The Final Question (the second one): Could you do a major thru-hike backwards? And if you did, what gear adjustments would you make? 2:02:00 - Actually The Final Question: Will Chaunce take Harper on a thru-hike? 02:12:55 - Follow us on social media! (Chaunce's Instagram, YouTube, Facebook | Badger's Instagram, Elise's Instagram) [divider] Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio? Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co.
Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Stitcher and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Cristopher Marshburn, S11N, Sawyer Products, Thomas Fullner, and Travis Smith. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Gregory Gardner, Jacob Northrup, Jeff LaFranier, Mark Snook, Michelle Pugh, Peter Leven, Peter Ellenberg. Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio, and Chaunce on Facebook. Follow The Trek on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter. | |||
| 23 Aug 2021 | #116 | Outdoor F.U.T.U.R.E. | 02:14:09 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we have a lively conversation with the crew at Outdoor F.U.T.U.R.E., a diverse coalition working to ensure that nature’s transformational powers are accessible to all of our nation’s youth. We chat about the organization's goal of a federal equity fund, why you can't plug your ears and demand that politics stay out of the outdoors, how inequality affects outdoor access, and much more. We wrap the show with a bizarre story of a former professor being suspected of starting several fires in California, a gross or not gross about dogs eating human body fluids, and a very important correction to the record of my shoeless etiquette on airplanes. This episode was recorded on Arapahoe, Ute, Cheyenne and Shoshone land. [divider] ListenDownload this episode. [divider] CONFIRM CURRENT: Gossamer Gear discount code: Use code “gingersaregood” for 15% off at Gossamergear.com. Enlightened Equipment: Save 10% off off Enlightened Equipment's Stock Revelation Quilt or Stock Torrid Jacket with code "trek10" here. [divider] Interview with
00:02:30 - QOTD: How have your backpacking plans gone to shit as of late? 00:11:02 - Reminder! Backpacker Radio Wisconsin Meetups — Wednesday, October 13 at Delafield Brewhaus and Friday, October 15 at Hop Haus in Fitchburg 00:12:04 - Welcome Gabaccia Moreno, Jalen Goff, Gabe Vasquez and Teresa Martinez of Outdoor F.U.T.U.R.E. 00:13:00 - Introduction to Gabe Vasquez 00:13:56 - Everyone, when you introduce yourselves, can you tell us how you initially got into the outdoors? 00:17:32 - Introduction to Gabaccia Morreno 00:19:43 - Do you have a favorite form of outdoor recreation? Is that hunting? 00:20:45 - Are you a Bills fan? 00:21:21 - Introduction to Jalen Goff 00:28:29 - Introduction to Teresa Martinez 00:35:06 - Can you talk a little bit about the specifics of Outdoor F.U.T.U.R.E. and how you’ll achieve your goals? 00:35:20 - Introduction to Jessica Loya 00:40:44 - Do you know how far away we are from an outdoor equity fund? Is there a timeline? 00:48:29 - Go to outdoorfuture.org to offer your support for the Outdoor Future Act 00:49:43 - Where does the money come from for the initiative? 00:51:08 - If someone wants to give what’s the process? Go to Outdoorfuture.org. 00:51:41 - Introduction to Ángel Peña 00:53:33 - How are we gonna pay for it? 00:57:43 - Is it a bad strategic move to start with private funding? 01:00:26 - What does it look like in a dream world where Outdoor F.U.T.U.R.E. is successful in everything they do? 01:08:03 - What do you say to people who say “the outdoors are free” and “the outdoors are for everyone”? What are the fundamental inequities that underserved communities face in accessing the outdoors? 01:19:26 - What does it look like if Outdoor F.U.T.U.R.E. fails? 01:26:00 - Why do you think that is (that POC are polling to call for more protection of the outdoors)? 01:30:34 - What do you say to people who don’t want to “bring politics” into the outdoors? 01:37:54 - What is the takeaway message that you’d like to leave for our listeners? 01:41:10 - F.U.T.U.R.E. stands for Fund for Underrepresented and Tribal, Urban, and Rural Equity 01:48:00 - Rapid fire for Zach and Chaunce
SEGMENTSTrek Propaganda Former University Professor Held on Suspicion of Arson Near PCT Did Zach actually say he goes barefoot in the airplane bathroom? Give us a timestamp Listener Gross or Not Gross
Mail Bag
[divider] Check out our sound guy @Paulybooyshallcross. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Ausen McDaniel, Jason Lawrence, Christopher Marshburn, Sawyer Products, Brad and Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Patrick Cianciolo, Brandon Spilker and Matt Soukup. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Cynthia Voth,, Emily Brown, Mitchell, Dcnerdlet, Jeff LaFranier, Peter Ellenberg, Jacob Northrup, Peter Leven, TraskVT, Lindsay Sparks, Liz Seger and Lisa Douglas. | |||
| 28 Mar 2022 | #142 | Peter Bergman | 02:15:49 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Peter Bergman. In a nutshell, Peter is the ultimate wildcard. His hiking resume, which includes a completed section hike of the PCT and a cross country hike from his front door in Denver to Mt. of the Holy Cross- doesn't even begin to tell his story. We learn about the life of an art professor, some of most ridiculous projects, which toes the line between art and prank, and his latest release, PaCT, a series of projects related to his two-part section hike of the PCT, the first chunk as a 23-year-old, and the rest at twice the age of 46. Chaunce and Badger were thoroughly entertained during this one, you will be too. We wrap the show with a special triple crown, Elise edition, some surprise birthday wishes to Chaunce - including a voicemail that had us LMAO'ing, and much more. Gossamer Gear: Use code “littledonkeygirl” for 15% off at gossamergear.com. Organifi: Use code “backpacker” for 20% off at organifi.com/backpacker. Enlightened Equipment: Use code “ultralight10” for 10% off Enlightened Equipment’s Stock Revelation Quilt or Torrid Jacket at enlightenedequipment.com. Bedrock Sandals: Head to bedrocksandals.com today! [divider] Interview with Peter Bergman
Time stamps & Questions 00:04:38 - QOTD: What is something every junk drawer must have in order to be considered a proper junk drawer? 00:09:03 - BPR Announcements: Denver Hiker Meetup April 5, New Intern 00:13:30 - Introducing Peter 00:13:36 - What’s your elevator pitch? 00:14:53 - Tell us about being a professor. 00:15:54 - What percentage of your students would you say are garbage people? 00:16:58 - What is your favorite course to teach? 00:17:57 - What’s the most memorable art project you’ve seen while teaching? 00:20:20 - What’s your take on the Van Gogh exhibit? 00:20:51 - What’s your take on Meow Wolf? 00:21:51 - What’s your overall experience as an artist? 00:27:18 - Would you say there’s a theme among Cabriolet owners? 00:28:33 - Tell us about the postcards. 00:31:49 - How did you not get shot? 00:33:28 - How do you differentiate between art and entertainment? 00:33:58 - What’s the name of the documentary? 00:34:38 - What was it like during/in the pre-Jackass, Southern California, skate-punk scene? 00:36:20 - What about skateboarding created that culture? 00:38:17 - What’s your take on Jackass? 00:38:57 - Discussion about free library project. 00:43:38 - Are you currently in the midst of any pranks? 00:51:15 - Tell us about the PCT section in 1996. 00:55:10 - Discussion about deciding to finish the trail in 2019. 00:56:06 - Discussion about hike from Denver to Mt. Holy Cross. 00:56:40 - How much of that route was off-trail vs. on roads? 00:56:58 - Discussion about returning to the PCT in 2019. 00:57:17 - How do Peter and Elise know each other? 00:58:25 - How did you end up with two feet of Dylan’s hair around your neck? 00:59:25 - Discussion about the hair collection. 01:02:16 - Discussion about the time capsule. 01:08:10 - Discussion about getting off trail in 1996. 01:12:14 - With your exciting hobbies off-trail, how did you keep yourself entertained on trail? 01:16:06 - As someone who is a professor, how would you assign an on-trail project to hikers as if they were students? 01:19:27 - Walk us through the flipbook, zine, and book. 01:21:25 - Discussion about book printing. 01:24:20 - Discussion about the time between 1996 and 2019. 01:25:09 - How did your dad respond to the book? 01:25:34 - How many books are left? 01:25:53 - Discussion about badgers. 01:28:29 - Tell us about the snowstorm. 01:34:20 - Discussion about completing the trail in 2019. 01:37:12 - What were the primary differences between the two hikes? 01:41:43 - What was your gear like in 1996? 01:43:57 - What’s your poop story? 01:49:22 - Thank you! SEGMENTS Trek Propaganda
Triple Crown of Elise Chaunce’s Birthday Well-Wishes 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @paulyonthedrums Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Jason Lawrence, Christopher Marshburn, Sawyer Products, Brad and Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Patrick Cianciolo, Matt Soukup, and Jason Snailer. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Liz Seger, Cynthia Voth, Emily Brown, Dcnerdlet, Jeff LaFranier, Peter Ellenberg, Jacob Northrup, Peter Leven. | |||
| 24 Mar 2025 | Budget Backpacking Gear: Saving Money on Tents, Backpacks, Clothing for Thru-Hiking (BPR #298) | 02:45:00 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we’re joined by former guest, Trek writer, and certified gear nerd Alex “GPS” Brown. The focus of this one is how to save money on your backpacking kit. We break this one down category by category, sharing the best ways to cut costs, pinpointing which items aren’t worth pinching pennies on, offering specific product shoutouts, and discussing overall strategies to ensure more of your hiking budget goes toward your hike. Whether you're on a shoestring budget or just looking to save a few bucks, this episode is for you. We wrap the show with news on a partial reversal of NPS layoffs, a debate on whether we'd prefer to be chased by a bizarrely fast turtle or lug around a backpack full of jelly, and the triple crown of foods we wish we had discovered sooner. Topo Athletic: Use code “TREKWINTER15” at topoathletic.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code “BACKPACKER20” for 20% off packs at gossamergear.com. Ombraz: Use code “BACKPACKER30” for $30 off at ombraz.com/discount/backpacker30. Purple Rain Skirts: Use code “BACKPACKER20” for 20% off at purplerainskirts.com. Bear Mattress: Use code “BACKPACKER” for 40% off at bearmattress.com. [divider] Interview with Alex “GPS” Brown Time stamps & Questions 00:05:15 - Reminders: Join us for our live show in Austin, listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon, and apply to blog for the Trek! And sign up for the Trek’s newsletter! 00:13:30 - Introducing Alex 00:14:07 - Tell us about the Haute Route Pyrenees 00:19:00 - Disclaimers for this episode 00:31:50 - Budget backpacks 00:36:40 - Budget tents 00:44:00 - Budget sleeping bags 00:50:40 - Budget groundcloths 00:54:00 - Budget sleeping pads 01:02:20 - Budget footwear 01:20:16 - Budget socks 01:26:30 - Budget rain gear 01:38:00 - Budget clothing 01:50:05 - Budget cookware 01:55:10 - Honorable budget mentions 02:01:45 - Peak Performance Question: What is your top performance-enhancing or backpacking hack? Segments Alex’s Poop Story Trek Propaganda: Trump Administration Partially Reverses National Park Layoff Decision by Katie Jackson QOTD: Would you rather hike 100 miles while being chased by a slightly-too-fast tortoise or while wearing a backpack full of jelly? Triple Crown of foods you wish you knew existed sooner Mail Bag 5 Star Review (suggest a guest!) [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek’s newsletter Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Ben Love, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Greg McDaniel, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Liz Seger, Mud Tom, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger’ Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Bonnie Ackerman, Chris Pyle, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Katharine Rudzitis, Lauren Cain, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Ruth S, and Spencer Hinson. | |||
| 28 Jan 2020 | Introducing "The Attempt" Podcast | Episode 1: “I’m attempting it. I’m attempting it.” | 00:12:45 | |
We interrupt your normally scheduled Backpacker Radio content to bring you a sneak peak of a brand new podcast launched by The Trek in partnership with BadCat Media, called, The Attempt. The Attempt follows Benjamin Drachman during his *attempted* SOBO thru-hike of the PCT in 2019. The show is produced by Julia Drachman- and no that last name is not a coincidence, Julia is Ben's older sister. What may shock you about this show is its production value. And by that, I mean, it has production value. We're all about trying new things here at The Trek. In other words, if This American Life and Trail Correspondents had a baby, this podcast would be that baby. Instead of further explaining what this show is, let's give you a Costco sample size for you to chew on. As soon as I shut the hell up, you'll get the first episode of this show. If you like what you hear, I encourage you to head to the thetrek.co/theattempt to find more episodes (the first three are already out) or simply search for "The Attempt" in your preferred podcast platform. | |||
| 04 Jun 2018 | Trail Correspondents Episode #8 - The Biggest Surprises (Pt II) | 00:52:13 | |
When backpacking through the backcountry for months on end, there's one thing that can be relied upon: expect the unexpected. Today's episode focuses in on exactly that- the biggest surprises from the trail. Specifically, what caught our hikers most off guard? This is the 2nd part of this episode where we check in with our PCT and CDT hikers. We hear from our AT hikers in the previous episode. Today we hear from:
You can support the show through our Patreon page, which helps us to publish episodes more frequently. Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio? Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Download this podcast. Find us on Stitcher and Google Play. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek, Chaunce, and Badger on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube Follow The Trek on Facebook, Twitter and sign up for our newsletter. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Sawyer Products, Evaristo Villela A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Gregory Gardner, Kate Hurley, Clint "DuctTape" Sherbet, Peter Leven Episode produce by Pauly Boy Shallcross. | |||
| 17 Feb 2022 | #137 | Andrew Skurka 3.0 | 02:29:40 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, Andrew Skurka returns! Again. In studio. Not that you need any convincing to continue listening, but this chat starts normal and devolves into Chaunce tricking him into saying that he'll do sexual things a bug. We also talk about the new normal of backpacking in the West, we learn about the Skurka Scholarship, and we get a detailed overview of the backcountry bidet butt cleaning technique. This one has it all. We do a triple crown of reality tv shows, share the sad news of the passing of a beloved PCT trail angel, and give a last call for our internship application. [divider] LISTENDownload this episode. [divider] Good To-Go: Use code “BPR25” HERE to save 25% on your next order. Free shipping on orders over $100. Enlightened Equipment: Save 10% off Enlightened Equipment’s Stock Revelation Quilt or Torrid Jacket with code “ultralight10” here. Hike the International Appalachian Trail, Ulster-Ireland: Go to www.iatulsterireland.com to learn more about this beautiful hike! [divider] Interview with Andrew Skurka Time stamps & Questions 00:04:41 - QOTD: What is everyone binging on Netflix right now? 00:12:24 - Reminders: Internship opportunity 00:14:16 - Introducing Andrew Skurka 00:14:57 - What has changed for you since 2021? 00:17:20 - How many minutes a mile do you average? 00:17:58 - How does your passion for running compare to your thru-hiking? 00:19:18 - What does your off season look like? 00:19:50 - Are you wrecked after one of these marathons? 00:21:05 - How many miles are you averaging a week? 00:21:42 - How do you break up your miles throughout the week? 00:22:23 - Why do you prefer road running? 00:22:58 - Has running dulled your excitement for long distance hiking? 00:25:51 - Do you use the van on guiding trips? 00:27:00 - The Guiding Business 00:28:52 - Is there a limit to your trips? 00:30:37 - What makes a good guide? 00:31:40 - What becomes stressful during the trips? 00:33:11 - What happened in 2014? 00:36:42 - Tell us about the guiding services you offer 00:37:30 - What’s the most difficult aspect of a guiding business? 00:38:27 - What does the Olympic Mountains trip have that others don’t? 00:41:21 - What factors do you take into account for trip cancellations? 00:42:54 - Do you think forest closures will becomes more and more common? 00:44:50 - Do you think strict fire-starting rules will be put into place? 00:45:40 - How do you feel about the condition of the West? 00:47:00 - Where are you house hunting? 00:49:42 - What’s your advice for CDT and PCT SOBOs? 00:51:45 - Do you think hikers need to strengthen snow skills? 00:52:24 - Which of your new trips are you most excited about? 00:53:11 - What do you look for when you scout out a new trip? 00:53:48 - Do you plan bailouts? 00:54:19 - What are the deadlines for applying for your trips? 00:54:45 - How many applications do you commonly receive? 00:55:36 - Do you use waitlists? 00:57:17 - How do you weed out applicants? 00:59:50 - Guide Hiring 01:02:21- What got you interested in birding? 01:04:32 - Skurka Scholarship 01:05:43 - Diversity of guiding trips 01:09:13 - Skurka Scholarship deadline - Feb 21st 01:10:48 - Thoughts on gear innovation 01:16:30 - What are your thoughts on inReach Mini 2? 01:22:22 - What other categories have innovation opportunities? 01:24:26 - What’s your least favorite flying insect? 01:25:24 - Fuck, Marry, Kill: Insect version 01:27:36 - Anything else gear-related? 01:29:45 - State of content-websites 01:32:26 - How do affiliate links? 01:34:45 - What’s the future of content websites? 01:36:49 - Voicemail Listener Questions - Backcountry bidet etiquette 01:46:59 - Listener Question - High Sierra in a high snow year 01:47:18 - Listener Question - High route development 01:48:38 - Listener Question - Who does Skurka follow in the outdoor space? 01:50:48 - Find Andrew Skurka: www.andrewskurka.com SEGMENTS Trek Propaganda:
Triple Crown of reality tv shows 5 Star Reviews Thank you to our Title Sponsor, Good To-Go, Zach’s favorite meals on trail. Place your order at www.goodto-go.com and use code “BPR25” at checkout for 25% off! [divider] Check out our sound guy @Paulybooyshallcross. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Jason Lawrence, Christopher Marshburn, Sawyer Products, Brad and Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Patrick Cianciolo, and Matt Soukup. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Liz Seger, Cynthia Voth, Emily Brown, Dcnerdlet, Jeff LaFranier, Peter Ellenberg, Jacob Northrup, Peter Leven. | |||
| 23 Jan 2023 | #185 | Patricia Cameron on Being Assaulted in a Trail Town, Her PCT LASH, and Living on a Glacier in Alaska | 01:41:43 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are once again joined by Patricia Cameron. We catch up on all that she's been up to since our last interview, including a NOLS mountaineering leadership course in Alaska, a 2022 LASH on the PCT, and a hiker trash prom hosted by her organization, Blackpackers. Patricia also shares a distressing story of her being the victim of a hate crime during her PCT hike in Lone Pine, California, in which she caught the entire encounter on video. We play the audio from this incident, get Patricia's take on exactly what went down, some of her thoughts on the risk and reception of being a hiker of color through these rural towns, and despite this incident, why she has no plans to stop long-distance backpacking anytime soon. A warning to listeners that the audio from this video is triggering, but I do believe that it's important for everyone in the community to hear this and get a sense of the depressing reality that still persists for many of our fellow hikers. We wrap the show with a few reasons why a flip-flop thru-hike might be the way to go on the AT, a triple crown of non-dog pets, a superb listener poop story, and more. Enlightened Equipment: Use code “TREKPOD10” for 10% off Enlightened Equipment’s Stock Revelation Quilt or Torrid Jacket at enlightenedequipment.com. Organifi: Use code “BACKPACKER” for 20% off at organifi.com/backpacker. Gossamer Gear: Use code “TAKELESSTREKMORE” for 15% off at gossamergear.com. [divider] Interview with Patricia Cameron Time stamps & Questions 00:06:50 - QOTD: Would you take 5 years off your life to talk back and forth with your dog for one hour? 00:11:45 - Reminders: subscribe to the Trek newsletter for news about the Badger Sponsorship 00:12:20 - Introducing Patricia 00:13:14 - What have you been up to since March of 2021? 00:14:54 - What does a person do on a glacier for 2 weeks? 00:18:41 - What inspired you to take the class and learn these winter skills? 00:20:03 - How does a day on a glacier compare to a day of backpacking? 00:22:02 - What skill were you most excited to learn? 00:24:35 - How did you transition from Alaska to Kennedy Meadows? 00:25:30 - Tell us about starting on the PCT 00:26:40 - Discussion about cold soaking and food planning 00:28:33 - What made the PCT harder than you were expecting? 00:33:27 - Tell us about hiking after injuring your leg. 00:35:11 - Did you consider getting off trail? 00:36:01 - Tell us about the incident that happened in Lone Pine. 00:40:25 - *Trigger warning: Audio clip starts* 00:41:22 - *Trigger warning: Audio clip ends* 00:42:30 - Were you scared at that moment? 00:42:45 - Were you more or less scared going back to trail after that? 00:45:38 - Tell us more about Nicole and Girls Fight Back 00:46:43 - Is there a part of you that feels vindicated by capturing the incident on video? 00:50:18 - What will it take for you to feel safe going to Lone Pine? 00:53:48 - What do you want the listener to take away from hearing this? 00:56:48 - How did the incident impact the rest of your hike, particularly in trail towns? 01:00:30 - Any parting messages related to this? 01:01:04 - Where did your LASH end? 01:03:30 - Discussion about Amtrak ride from Truckee to Denver 01:06:00 - Discussion about the Tahoe Rim Trail 01:08:20 - Would you recommend the TRT to others? 01:10:00 - Tell us about your Good Morning America interview 01:14:15 - Discussion about public speaking 01:15:40 - Tell us about Hiker Trash Prom 01:17:48 - What’s coming up for Blackpackers in 2023? 01:20:00 - Thank you! SEGMENTS Trek Propaganda
Triple Crown of non-dog pets Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @paulyboyshallcross. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Christopher Marshburn, Dayne, Greg McDaniel, Kristina Diaz, Matt Soukup, Mike Poisel, Patrick Cianciolo, Paul Packman Sealy, Sawyer Products, and Tracy “Trigger” Fawns. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Dcnerdlet, Jacob Northrup, Jeff LaFranier, Keith Dobie Jr, Liz Seger, and Peter. | |||
| 22 Jul 2021 | #113 | Rachael "Rabbit" Delano: Triple Crowner and Yogi | 02:57:42 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Rachael "Rabbit" Delano. Rabbit is a triple crowner, yogi, trail junkie, and currently in an ongoing battle with the Colorado Trail. We learn about how the discovery of thru-hiking was a true fork in the road for Rachael, as the other path was leading toward a very dark place (much like our episode with Second Chance, for those who are triggered by talks of suicide, we encourage you to skip to about 15 minutes into the interview). We talk about the highs and lows of each of Rabbit's triple crown hikes. We learn which yoga poses she most recommends for hikers and backpackers. And why the Colorado Trail keeps kicking her ass! We wrap the show with a discussion on why backcountry campfires might need to become a thing of the past, at least in the West, we do a triple crown of things that ruin a day hike, and introduce a new segment- Hiker Trash Board Confessionals. But first. Organifi: Use code "backpacker" for 20% off at organifi.com/backpacker. Enlightened Equipment: Save 10% off off Enlightened Equipment's Stock Revelation Quilt or Stock Torrid Jacket with code "trek10" here. Path Projects: Go to pathprojects.com and let the know BPR sent you. [divider] Interview with Rachael “Rabbit” Delano CONTENT WARNING: Discussion of suicide 00:05:08 - QOTD: What are your upcoming backpacking plans? 00:08:23 - Wisconsin Hiker Meetup on Wednesday, October 13th @ Delafield BrewHaus 00:09:30 - What is your thru-hiking resume? 00:14:36 - Can you put a finger on what about your life was not satisfactory? 00:16:40 - did you go straight from New York to the AT? 00:16:50 - What was the timeline from being at your lowest to starting the AT? 00:17:13 - And all you had seen at that point was a Katahdin photo? 00:17:32 - Did you have a feeling hiking would be your salvation? Or were you just willing to try anything? 00:18:12 - Do you experience being just done with hiking? Or are you just ready to go again? 00:19:42 - What was the experience like going back home after the AT? END CONTENT WARNING 00:21:30 - How fat is Zach’s baby’s cheeks? 00:22:39 - Do you do morning yoga on the trail? 00:23:31 - What does the process of becoming a yoga instructor look like? 00:24:49 - How much of yoga teacher training is the movement and how much is the origin of yoga? 00:26:43 - Is it hard to memorize the names of all the different yoga positions? 00:28:10 - What are the core tenets of being a good yoga teacher? 00:29:07 - Have you ever laughed at someone farting in your class? 00:31:40 - Are there good poses for helping with digestion? 00:32:53 - Do you have a series of go to moves for hiking? 00:35:34 - Are there good movements that can help you sleep? 00:37:50 - Can you tell us about breath work? 00:42:40 - Any more moves for backpackers? 00:46:58 - Do you have a go to yoga sign off? 00:48:35 - Does it matter what color you imagine (based on color psychology)? 00:54:31 - Can you talk about the intersection of breathing techniques and managing anxiety? 00:56:48 - Is there a resource or tool you’ve found for different techniques for managing anxiety? 00:58:28 - Were there any major themes you took away from your three big hikes? 01:00:37 - What happened with your near death experience on the PCT? 01:10:02 - Did you sleep through the night? 01:10:41 - Did the snow melt the next day? What was the trail like? 01:13:15 - Can you tell us the story of you getting swept away during a creek crossing in the Sierra in 2017? 01:19:00 - What were you thinking when this was happening? 01:19:21 - What did you do after you got back to the bank you came from? 01:22:19 - PCTA has a good resource for water crossings and formations for different group sizes 01:23:28 - Was it hard for you to put ego aside? 01:25:26 - If someone is planning to do their first thru-hike on the PCT in an average to above average snow year, what advice would you have for them? 01:30:23 - What were your takeaways from the CDT? 01:33:54 - Why would you stay on the CDT if you could? 01:34:36 - Where were the mosquitoes the worst? 01:34:55 - What percent of the CDT do you think you did by yourself? 01:37:11 - Was it challenging to not see many other people? 01:40:05 - Do you think more people stick together because the CDT has much fewer hikers? 01:41:29 - What is Hadrian’s Wall like? Is it social? 01:42:28 - Did you want to do something longer since you were going so far? 01:43:26 - Did you still do big days or did you go slower since it was shorter? 01:46:36 - How tall is the wall? 01:47:44 - Anything else about Hadrian’s Wall? 01:56:14 - What is the goal of redoing the Copper - Breckenridge section over and over? 01:58:00 - What is the significance of your trail name? SEGMENTS Backcountry Campfires: A Relic of the Past by Paul Magnanti Triple Crown of Things That Will Ruin Your Day Hike
Hiker Trashboard Confessional [divider] Check out our sound guy @Paulybooyshallcross. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok.
A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Jason Lawrence, Christopher Marshburn, Sawyer Products, Brad and Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, and Patrick Cianciolo. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Cynthia Voth, Brandon Spilker, Emily Brown, Mitchell, Dcnerdlet, Jeff LaFranier, Peter Ellenberg, Jacob Northrup, Peter Leven, TraskVT, Lindsay Sparks, Liz Seger and Lisa Douglas. | |||
| 24 Apr 2023 | #198 | Catra "DirtDiva" Corbett on Overcoming Meth Addiction to Run 100+ Miles 100+ Times | 02:09:59 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Catra Corbett. Catra is an accomplished ultrarunner, former meth addict, author, and overall force for positivity. We go through Catra's many long distance accomplishments including being the first American woman to run over 100 miles on more than 100 occasions, her fastest known double time for the 425-miles John Muir Trail, and her streak of running every day for the last 10 years. We learn about the process of overcoming addiction and starting a new life, how Catra maintains a positive mindset while managing her depression and anxiety, her favorite trail races, including a fuck marry kill of the best 100 mile races, and much more. This was a fun lively chat, you will enjoy it, or else, we will find you. We wrap the show with a triple crown of random facts, reasons why you should SOBO thru-hike the CDT, a new patent-pending, and some last minute thoughts before Chaunce hits the Ozark Highlands Trail. Enlightened Equipment: Use code “EETREK10” for 10% off Enlightened Equipment’s Stock Revelation Quilt or Torrid Jacket at enlightenedequipment.com. OnX Backcountry: Use code “BACKPACKERRADIO20” for 20% off a Premium or Elite Membership at onxmaps.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code “TAKELESSTREKMORE” for 15% off at gossamergear.com. RTIC Outdoors: Shop at rticoutdoors.com. [divider] Interview with Catra Corbett Time stamps & Questions 00:09:57 - QOTD: Predictions for Zach with twins! 00:11:58 - Reminders: Take our listener survey! Trail 00:13:30 - Introducing Catra 00:14:16 - Give us your full background on getting into sports 00:18:44 - Did you have any trauma that turned you towards substances? 00:21:37 - Is it almost a benefit to have gone through past hardships while being an ultrarunner? 00:23:00 - Tell us about being a go-go dancer! 00:25:40 - Do you think you needed to process your trauma prior to starting running? 00:26:48 - Can you talk about how hard it was to stay clean and focus on running? 00:30:28 - How did you cut ties with your former friends? 00:32:02 - Tell us about setting the JMT yo-yo FKT 00:45:50 - What did the FKT culture look like in 2002? 00:49:55 - Have you had any hallucinations? 00:54:26 - Tell us about the Triple Crown of 200s 00:57:18 - Have you noticed a change in the 200-mile race scene since Courtney’s win? 01:01:45 - What would you say is the line between oversleeping and undersleeping? 01:06:25 - Do you have any general advice for people looking to learn from you? 01:07:46 - Is it possible for running to become too much of a good thing? 01:12:17 - Is there an established time for a JMT triple? 01:12:45 - How do you get a permit for an FKT on the JMT? 01:14:35 - How does your approach differ based on the length of your race? 01:16:10 - Fuck Marry Kill: 100-mile races 01:18:45 - How did you get your trail name? 01:21:44 - Tell us about your shoes 01:23:06 - Tell us about getting stalked by animals and nearly dying 01:30:55 - Do you alter your course if you see storms coming? 01:31:43 - Tell us about writing the book 01:33:33 - Trigger warning: do you want to tell us about when you attempted suicide? 01:38:30 - What mindset skills do you use? 01:41:30 - Where can people go to follow you? SEGMENTS Trek Propaganda
Stupid Thing of the Week Patent Pending Triple Crown of random facts Mail Bag (submit a guest for the show!) 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @paulyboyshallcross. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Cameron Brown, Christopher Marshburn, Dayne, DoGoodPantry, Greg McDaniel, Kristina Diaz, Matt Soukup, Mike Poisel, Morgan Luke, Patrick Cianciolo, Sawyer Products, Timothy Hahn, and Tracy “Trigger” Fawns. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Dcnerdlet, Jacob Northrup, Jeff LaFranier, Keith Dobie Jr, Liz Seger, and Peter. | |||
| 01 Mar 2019 | #30 | Gummy Bear on Being a Gay, Plus-Sized Hiker, PCT 2019 PSA, and Things to Freak Out About Before a Thru-Hike | 02:00:19 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, we are joined by Gummy Bear, a 2018 PCT hiker and all around awesome dude. We do a deep dive on his experience of being a gay and plus size hiker in the trail community. We chat some about his upcoming Arizona Trail hike. Chaunce and I deliver the PCT class of 2019 a warning for what they can expect to see in the Sierra this year and why you might want to consider hiking southbound. We do a triple crown of things to freak out about before leaving for a thru-hike. Basically we touch on all the reasons why you should never leave your house (not actually). This is a meaty show, so find a comfortable place to sit, lay, or meander down the trail. Subjects discussed in today's show include:
Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio? Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Stitcher and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Michael W Hinkley, S11N, Sawyer Products, and Travis Smith A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Gregory Gardner and Peter Leven Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Gummy Bear on Facebook. Follow The Trek on Facebook, Twitter and sign up for our newsletter. Intro music via. | |||
| 10 May 2019 | #37 | Jenny & Scott Jurek on the Appalachian Trail Speed Record, Parenting, and What's Next | 02:28:23 | |
In 2015, Scott Jurek was the most talked about person on the Appalachian Trail, even the trail community at large. As soon as the legendary ultrarunner announced that he was bringing his talents to Appalachia, a flurry of fanfare and press followed suit. Though his record has been broken a pair of times since, the swell of attention has yet to be matched. Today Jabba and Badger sit down with Scott Jurek and his wife and head crew member, Jenny Jurek, to learn about this FKT, what the undertaking was like from each of their perspectives, how it's prepared them for parenthood, their new book "North: Finding My Way While Running the Appalachian Trail", and much more. We also get an introduction to our newest Thru-Hiker of the Week, "Sochi", who's attempting to become the first amputee to thru-hike the Pacific Crest Trail. Subjects discussed in the episode include: Subjects discussed in today's interview:
Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio? Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co.
Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Download this podcast. Find us on Stitcher and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Michael W Hinkley, S11N, Sawyer Products, and Travis Smith A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Gregory Gardner and Peter Leven Follow Scott Jurek, Jureks on the Run, The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Scott Jurek, The Trek, Backpacker Radio, and Chaunce on Facebook. Follow The Trek on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter.
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| 22 Feb 2019 | BPR Community Show #1 | Advice to Prospective Thru-Hikers | 00:33:54 | |
Today's show is a special edition, an experiment, and a community-sourced show, all rolled into one giant tortilla, hiker trash style. A few months ago, we put a call out to The Trek's bloggers and vloggers to share their top tips for someone who's about to embark on a thru-hike. Tis the season. As you will see, this advice runs the gamut, and can often even be contradictory to one another. The reason for this is simple, there is no one single approach to successfully thru-hiking. That said, I do think there's tremendous value in listening to the insight of those who've walked the walk, as you can pick and choose what resonated with you, test different approaches, keep what works, and discard the rest. Additional resources:
In today's show, you hear advice from:
Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio? Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Stitcher and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Michael W Hinkley, S11N, Sawyer Products, and Travis Smith A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Gregory Gardner and Peter Leven Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow The Trek on Facebook, Twitter and sign up for our newsletter. Music via. | |||
| 01 Jun 2021 | #107 | Glen Van Peski, Founder of Gossamer Gear | 02:15:41 | |
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Gossamer Gear founder Glen Van Peski. We learn all about the origins of Gossamer Gear, including how the company would not be in existence today without the founder of Whole Foods. We learn about some of Glen's proudest gear innovations, including the crotch pot. We walk about how he's able to manage a three pound base weight, future gear innovations in the world of backpacking, and much more. We wrap the show with a triple crown of Leonardo DiCaprio movies, Jabba gives us an impromptu lesson on scrotums from the Hayduke, and we bring back one-minute gear reviews. Check out Walking Distance wherever you listen to podcasts. OnX discount code: Use code: "Backpackerradio20" for 20% off at onxmaps.com. Picky Bars discount code: Use code "BACKPACKER" for 20% off $25 Picky Bars. Goodr discount code: Use code “backpacker15” to save 15% on your first order at goodr.com/backpacker15. Reel toilet paper discount code: Use code "BACKPACKER" to save 25% at reelpaper.com [divider] Interview with Glen Van Peski [divider] QOTD: What’s the strangest thing you’ve done in the last week? 00:11:09 - Backpacker Radio is going to Wisconsin in October! 00:12:40 - Listeners, are you close to Wisconsin? Do you want to come see us? Let us know where? 00:14:30 -Welcome Glen Van Peski! 00:14:52 - How did you originally get into backpacking? 00:15:58 - Are you still in Massachusetts? 00:16:47 - Can you give us a run through of your notable backpacking trips? 00:17:57 - What is the typical length of your backpacking trips? 00”18:21 - What began the foray into making your own gear? 00:20:07 - At this point did the lightbulb go off that there was a market opportunity? Or were you just sewing for yourself? 00:23:07 - How quickly did you sell through your first 50 packs? 00:23:57 - What was your full time job at that point? 00:24:40 - Do you remember what the run of 50 packs cost you? 00:25:40 - Can you walk me through the initial scaling of the business? What happened after the first 50 packs? 00:28:03 - What is your day-to-day involvement at this point? And was it called Gossamer Gear? 00:29:15 - What year was it at this point? 00:29:59 - It sounds like you were hitting you stride right when credit card processing became a thing? 00:31:22 - Is the G420 the same as the original G4? 00:32:26 - How collaborative are cottage gear companies with each other? 00:34:30 - Can you talk more about the evolution from GVP Gear to Gossamer Gear? 00:40:20 - What is your involvement today? 00:41:21 - Is the cooking system you’re working on the Crotch Pot? 00:43:11 - Can you share the story of your gear choice during your hike in the High Sierra? 00:46:27 - Did the weight sitting lower on your body change the way your muscles reacted? Were you sore in different places? 00:46:57 - Was there anything you left out to make that volume work? 00:48:50 - How do you get under 3 pounds for your base weight? 00:51:22 - How would you describe your interest in UL backpacking? 00:53:25 - How much Gossamer Gear stuff are you using on your hikes? 00:54:09 - Can you walk us through the inception of The One? 00:55:11 - What challenges did you run into with the DCF version of The One? 00:57:33 - Can you explain what DCF is and outline some of the feature benefits of the fabric over all? 00:59:28 - What is Oxford? 00:59:33 - Do you think DCF is worth the rage? Is it overhyped or properly hyped? 01:00:55 - Do you see any fabrics in the pipeline that could be as disruptive as DCF? 01:03:14 - What is in your go-to first aid backpacking kit? 01:04:50 - Why do you think you are interested in being of service to others? 01:06:00 - Is this something that translates to your life over all? Outside of backpacking? 01:09:54 - What are some of your favorite non-Gossamer Gear gear choices? 01:11:40 - Can you speak truth to the fact that there are people who buy The One as a two-person tent? 01:15:28 - What is the oldest piece of gear that you backpack with today? 01:16:26 - Your sleep socks haven’t gotten holes? 01:16:48 - Are we going to see the 6 oz tent in the Gossamer Gear store soon? 01:17:58 - Do you see any gear that will be mainstream in thru-hiking in the near future? 01:18:51- Do you use your tent stakes as chopsticks? 01:20:50 - Do you have any other gear redundancies?
01:22:44 - Any parting words to the backpackers of the world? 01:23:33 - Is there any part of you that craves luxuries while backpacking? 01:25:05 - Where should people go find you? SEGMENTSThe Best Time of Year to Hike These 23 Popular Long Trails by Eloise Robbins Triple Crown of Leonardo DiCaprio Movies Call with Jabba!
1-Minute Gear Review
Mail Bag 5 Star Reviews [divider] Check out our sound guy @Paulybooyshallcross. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Jason Lawrence, Austen McDaniel, Andrew, Christopher Marshburn, S11N, Sawyer Products, Brad and Blair (Thirteen Adventures), and Cameron Brown. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Cynthia Voth, Brandon Spilker, Emily Brown, Jeffrey Miller, Mitchell, Zoe Jenkins, Dcnerdlet, Jeff LaFranier, Mark Snook, Peter Ellenberg, Thomas Fullmer, Jacob Northrup, Peter Leven, TraskVT and Lindsay Sparks. | |||
