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Backpacker Radio

The Trek

From the Appalachian Trail to the Pacific Crest and everything in between. Backpacker Radio is a show all about the wonderful world that is thru-hiking and long distance backpacking.

Co-hosts, Zach "Badger" Davis and Juliana "Chaunce" Chauncey muse on the backpacking life and the latest from the trail every other week. Topics include but are not limited to news, trail culture, interviews, gear, advice, and all you can eat buffets.

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  • Nov 29, 2021 · 2 hr 1 min

    #128 | Nimblewill Nomad

    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 If you want to learn more about Nimblewill Nomad, check out Kelly Floro's article, Nimblewill Nomad, 83, Just Became the Oldest Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker Get some gift ideas: Thru-Hiker Gift Guide $ 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. Advertise on Backpacker Radio 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.

  • Nov 22, 2021 · 1 hr 55 min

    #127 | Billy Widmer

    In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Minus33, we are joined by Badger's pal, Billy Widmer. In addition to being The Trek's go-to tech guru, Billy has an accomplished backpacking resume that includes an AT thru-hike, a lot of trekking through his native lands of New York, and a recent and very unorthodox thru-hike of the Arizona Trail. The conversation spins off in a predictably tangential fashion, where we talk about web 3.0, the blockchain, and the mental health impacts of 100% remote work. We wrap the show with a triple crown of ways to stave off the winter blues and the news of some recent bear activity near McAfee Knob on the AT. Minus33: Head to minus33.com and use code "21backpacker15" for 15% off your order Gossamer Gear discount code: Use code "littledonkeygirl" for 15% off at Gossamergear.com. Excludes Black Friday sale. Enlightened Equipment: Save 10% off Enlightened Equipment's Stock Revelation Quilt or Torrid Jacket with code "thetrek10" here. Code excludes holiday sale running 11/19/21 - 11/29/21, where shoppers can score 10% off customer & 20% off stock. 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" Interview with Billy Widmer Time stamps & Questions 00:04:13 - QOTD: What's your death row meal? 00:07:20 - Welcome Billy! 00:07:52 - How did you get your trail name? 00:08:44 - Is that your death row meal? 00:09:00 - Were you always vegan in NY? 00:09:35 - What's your hiking background? 00:10:24 - Was that your first long-distance hiking trip? 00:10:48 - What have you been up to since the AT? 00:12:07 - When did you do the Uinta Highline? 00:12:22 - Give us the rundown on that! 00:12:56 - Does Utah get similar weather too Colorado? 00:13:41 - Why did you choose eastbound? 00:14:10 - Is there a logistical reason why people go one way versus another? 00:14:26 - How much of it is trailed? 00:15:00 - Is there a specific difference between the East terrain and West terrain? 00:15:56 - For someone interested in the Uinta Highline, do you have any prep advice? 00:17:14 - What is the Nolan's 14? 00:18:07 - Do you have to complete it in a certain amount of time? 00:18:26 - How many people have done it within 60 hours? 00:18:56 - What went wrong in your attempt? 00:19:57 - Did you give yourself checkpoints for pacing? 00:21:11 - What Mt. Elbert the first 14er you ever did? 00:21:28 - Would you make another attempt? 00:21:44 - Did you do Capitol Peak? 00:22:28 - What is it like going over the knife's edge on Capitol Peak? 00:23:18 - Chaunce, would you do Capitol Peak? 00:24:19 - Have you done any other 14ers that rival Capitol Peak? 00:24:51 - How does that compare to climbing in Yosemite? 00:25:15 - What's the most intense climbing you've done? 00:26:12 - Where did your idea for the AZT come from? 00:28:30 - Because of the water access, did your route work for you? 00:29:39 - What was your timeframe for hiking the AZT? 00:30:35 - Was it a fairly solo journey? 00:31:07 - Does your mind start playing tricks on you? 00:32:16 - What was the wildlife like? 00:33:24 - Do bites happen regularly? 00:34:53 - Any other wildlife encounters? 00:35:07 - What is a Gila monster? 00:35:50 - Are they endangered or just good at hiding? 00:36:02 - Do they bite? 00:36:33 - How long did it take you to hike the AZT? 00:37:43 - What was your average daily mileage? 00:38:01 - How does the AZT compare to the AT? 00:38:58 - Would you do it again? 00:39:33 - Did you encounter ridiculously hot days? 00:39:58 - Were you hiking in the evenings at all? 00:40:22 - Did you become the Guthook/Far Out hero? 00:41:11 - Any other notable highlights/lowlights from the AZT? 00:42:17 - Do you wish you would have picked a longer trail? 00:45:24 - As a vegan, what do you eat on trail? 00:48:11- What do you like about working for Zach? 00:48:55 - What do you hate about working for Zach? 00:50:27 - What has your career path looked like? 00:52:12 - Is it accurate that other companies try to lure you in with benefits or perks? 00:54:08 - What's Chaunce's candy count so far? 00:55:02 - How do you get started in the tech world? 00:55:40 - Is there a specific programming language someone should start with? 00:56:14 - Do you need to be proficient in math to be a good developer? 00:57:30 - What is web 3.0? 01:00:40 - It decentralizes everything right? 01:01:10 - What is proof of concept? 01:02:29 - What is a "block"? 01:04:11 - Do you believe this is the future of universal currency? 01:05:42 - What's an NFT and is Zach one? 01:09:56 - You mentioned you think everything will be digital. What would a digital world look like? 01:11:03 - Do people think it's bad that things will all become digital? 01:14:02 - How do you feel about remote work? 01:19:26 - What's your major fuck up at The Trek? 01:21:50 - What's on your outdoor bucket list for the next year? SEGMENTS Trek Propaganda How I Managed Chronic Depression on my AT Thru-Hike by Sarah Wolfson Bear Activity Near McAfee Knob by Kelly Floro Triple crown of ways to fight off the Winter Blues Thank you again too Minus33! [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. Advertise on Backpacker Radio 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.

  • Nov 15, 2021 · 1 hr 38 min

    #126 | Andrew Hughes

    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.

  • Nov 8, 2021 · 2 hr 1 min

    #125 | Live in Wisconsin!

    In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we bring you our first ever LIVE podcast. And by that, we mean it was live to the fine folks who joined us at the Hop Haus in Fitchburg, Wisconsin on October 15th. There's no way to describe this episode other than...rowdy. If you want to feel like you were in the room with us, we recommend grabbing a blue ribbon or two and maybe an old-fashioned to boot. Gossamer Gear discount code: Use code "gingersaregood" for 15% off at Gossamergear.com. Goodr: Use code "backpacker15" at checkout to save 15% off your first order at goodr.com/backpacker15 Vital Farms: Check out vitalfarms.com to learn more about where honest food is raised [divider] 2021 AT Hikers: Take the Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker Survey Live episode with Chaunce, Zach, and special guest, Jabba Time stamps & Questions 00:03:13- QOTD: What's one thing from your childhood that you wish was still in full force today? 00:04:09 - Reminders & thank you to Ice Age Trail Alliance 00:05:03 - Episode Drinking Game: Any time you hear the words "hike" or "Wisconsin", take a drink 00:06:43 - Introducing the surprise guest 00:07:38 - Welcoming Jabba 00:08:33 - Jabba's elevator pitch 00:11:10 - Explaining the Culver's CurderBurger 00:12:56 - What is the Ice Age Trail's Mammoth Hiking Challenge? 00:14:42 - Jabba and his full throttle approach 00:15:57 - Can Chaunce spell "apropos"? 00:17:56 - Favorite moments from the Ice Age Trail 00:20:01 - Who knows the game of "Odds"? 00:22:14 - Is anyone familiar with the Lehigh Gap on the AT? 00:23:26 - Chaunce is interested in thru-hiking the Ice Age Trail 00:24:10 - Let's show Elise some appreciation! 00:25:58 - Would you rather have a magical van that could teleport you anywhere you want and time travel OR magically consume the knowledge of any book you touch? 00:27:50 - Would you rather have an obsessive person love you OR hate you? 00:30:25 - Would you rather be able to eat anything you want and have it be perfect nutrition OR sleep one hour a day and be fully rested 00:31:40 - Which scenario would you want to be true: Jurassic Park Or Ghost Busters? 00:32:35 - Would you rather fight a chicken barehanded every time you get into a car OR fight an orangutan with a sword once a year? 00:35:00 - Hike Wisconsin! 00:35:20 - What animal do you think would be your exact equal in a fight? 00:36:26 - What is your definition of love? 00:38:10 - Jabba's Colorado trail story 00:41:13 - What is the most suspicious thing to buy along with condoms? 00:42:20 - Do you open a popsicle from the stick side or popsicle side? 00:45:16 - Are hot dogs sandwiches? 00:47:20 - Would you rather win a million dollars OR gain global citizenship? 00:49:50 - Would you rather fight one hundred chicken sized horses OR one horse-sized chicken? 00:54:55 - Let's chat about the Hayduke 00:57:57 - Who is working on the Mammoth Hike Challenge? 00:58:11 - Who has completed the challenge? 00:59:11 - Does everyone know who Scott Jurek is? 01:02:11 - Does anyone know who's face is part of the Mike Myers mask? 01:03:30 - Let's get back to Scott Jurek! 01:04:20 - What went wrong with the FKT attempts? 01:09:08 - At what point did you know you needed to go home? 01:11:38 - Is anyone familiar with Scott Jurek's book, North? 01:13:31 - How do you convince your support team that you're done? 01:15:15 - Audience Q&A Time 01:16:18 - What's the longest you've been on a trail? 01:17:27 - What was home to you at that time? 01:19:48 - What do you listen to while you hike? What is your favorite Harry Styles song? 01:30:20 - Do you think it's easier to hike, go back to a job, and know what's out there for you OR continue working a job that you aren't pleased with, but not know the joy hiking could bring? 01:32:25 - Tasha, blogger of The Trek, answers the above question 01:35:40 - Introducing Pauly! 01:37:48 - What is it like editing BPR? 01:38:20 - When have you edited out something Jabba said or did? 01:39:40 - What was the most painful episode to edit? 01:40:40 - Do you actually enjoy listening to the podcast? 01:42:42 - What nuances do you pick up on that the normal person wouldn't pick up on? 01:43:42 - What "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" clip did you add to the Fancy Feast episode? SEGMENTS Triple Crown of Wisconsin Things Get to know Mara Ice Age Trail Spotlight [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. Advertise on Backpacker Radio 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.

  • Oct 31, 2021 · 1 hr 32 min

    #124 | Ice Age Trail + Wisconsin Recap

    In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, Badger, Chaunce, and Sauce give you the full recap of our recent Wisconsin Ice Age Trail Road Trip Extravaganza. We give you a play-by-play of the highlights from the trail, town, the live events, and all the TMI inside stories and embarrassing moments in between. Casual warning to listeners- you will walk away from this one wanting to hike the Ice Age Trail and/or gorge yourself on fried fish. We wrap with a very brief segment discussing the new rebrand of Guthook Guides. Organifi discount code: Use code "backpacker" at organifi.com/backpacker for 20% off your purchase Gossamer Gear discount code: Use code "gingersaregood" for 15% off at Gossamergear.com. Minus33: Head to minus33.com and use code "21backpacker15" for 15% off your order ZBiotics: Use code "trek10" at zbiotics.com Recap with Chaunce, Zach, and Elise Time stamps & Questions 00:04:52 - QOTD: What was your biggest surprise about Wisconsin? 00:10:16 - Day 1 in Wisconsin 00:11:28 - Meeting the Travel Wisconsin crew 00:12:11 - Starting the Ice Age Trail in St. Croix 00:15:53 - Packing out Culvers every night 00:17:40 - Sunsets, beavers, and WI elevation 00:18:51 - Ice Age Trail history from Elise 00:20:42 - Beaver stories 00:23:30 - Playing "Odds" 00:27:02 - Breakfast in Cornell, WI 00:29:40 - Ice Age Trail: Ringle Segment 00:32:04 - Zach drops spider in Elise's bag 00:35:54 - Night hiking 00:40:56 - Ice Age Trail trailhead festivity 00:41:25 - Playing "Odds" again 00:44:55 - Hilltop Pub & Grill fish fry 00:46:44 - What are the odds Zach would hike in a leather thong? 00:49:03 - Bohn Lake segment 00:50:32 - Preparing for the Delafield Meet-up 00:55:36 - Exploring Whitewater, WI 00:59:40 - Getting to know Elise better 01:00:14 - Jabba joined the group 01:01:16 - Elisa tells Chaunce's underwear story 01:04:00 - Ice Age Trail: Blackhawk and Blue Spring Lake segment 01:06:13 - Hiking Devil's Lake 01:11:44 - Car ferry on the Ice Age Trail 01:12:38 - Exploring Lodi, WI 01:13:32 - Live podcasting in Fitchburg, WI 01:15:12 - What happened to Chaunce's face? 01:20:00 - Exploring downtown Madison, WI on Badge Game Day 01:20:39 - Flying back to Denver 01:22:44 - Recap wrap-up SEGMENTS Trek Propaganda Guthook Guides, Popular Thru-Hiking App, Rebrands as FarOut [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. Advertise on Backpacker Radio 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.

  • Oct 25, 2021 · 1 hr 34 min

    #123 | Pete McBride

    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 Pete McBride's Instagram New Book: "Seeing Silence: The Beauty of the World's Most Quiet Places" 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 Congrats to 2021 PCT Thru-Hikers Congrats to 2021 AT Thru-Hikers EcoPak – Revolutionizing Thru-Hiking Packs for a Better Planet The Trek Blogger & Vlogger Applications 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. Advertise on Backpacker Radio 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.

  • Oct 14, 2021 · 2 hr 19 min

    #122 | Fancy Feast + Hot Ones (Hiker Trash Edition)

    In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we open the show with a Hiker Trash edition of "Hot Ones", where Chaunce and Badger are grilled by Elise while eating incredibly hot wings. Tears, fear, and slamming beers ensues. We also feature our most impromptu interview to date with our new pal, Fancy Feast. Fancy Feast just wrapped a thru-hike of the Colorado Trail, after having her SOBO PCT plans thwarted by California's fires. In addition to giving us the unenviable story of finding Badger's dirty socks, she shares her experiences of working a variety of conservation jobs, including her time at the Green Mountain Club, and quite possibly the funniest trail name origin story we've ever heard. We wrap the show with a triple crown of the most beautiful spaces we've seen while backpacking, a quick n dirty gear review on the Platypus QuickDraw, and some listener feedback on period underwear. Minus33: Head to minus33.com and use code "21backpacker15" for 15% off your order Enlightened Equipment: Save 10% off of Enlightened Equipment's Stock Revelation Quilt or Torrid Jacket with code "thetrek10" here Organifi discount code: Use code "backpacker" at organifi.com/backpacker for 20% off your purchase ZBiotics: Use code "trek10" at zbiotics.com [divider] Interview with Fancy Feast Fancy Feast's Instagram Time stamps & Questions 00:04:40 - QOTD: Do people attempting an FKT take the time to bury their poop? 00:06:30 - Backpacker Team Hot Ones 00:07:23 - How is everyone's spice tolerance? 00:09:05 - Chaunce, what's the longest you have gone without a shower? 00:11:00 - Zach, are there any big adventure plans with Leo? 00:12:20 - Chaunce, if you could co-host with someone other than Zach, who would you pick? 00:12:42 - Zach, if you could co-host with someone other than Chaunce, who would you pick? 00:14:03 - Can you name the first 10 episodes of Backpacker Radio in order? 00:18:11 - Zach, do you and Chaunce ever argue over creative differences? If so, when? 00:21:10 - Chaunce, what annoys you the most about Zach? 00:23:03 - Zach, can you explain this Tweet: "We imitate dog stretches and sexual positions, but not their affinity for goose shit. Seems arbitrary to me." What inspired that? 00:24:23 - Chaunce, are there any episodes you wish you could erase? 00:27:29 - What's the most annoying thru-hiking cliche? 00:31:34 - Chaunce, are you single? 00:32:07 - Zach, what was the last thing you lied to Jenna about? 00:33:39 - Chaunce, do you know what the Vas Deferens are? The seminal vesicles? The corona? 00:38:21 - Zach, can you sing "Walking Slow" by Animal Years? 00:40:11 - What's the worst Leave No Trace error you've made? 00:43:13 - Out of all the guests on the show, are there any that you'd never want to hike with or have back on the show? 00:44:50 - Chaunce and Zach, will either of you triple crown? 00:49:10 - Introducing Fancy Feast 00:50:26 - Backstory of Zach's sock search 00:53:22 - When did you finish the Colorado Trail? 00:53:39 - Give us your backpacking resume 00:57:06 - What was it like to work for the Green Mountain Club? 00:57:12 - Walk us through your job 00:58:00 - How do you go about educating other hikers? 00:58:43 - How did you handle poop stirring tasks? 00:58:57 - What do you stir the waste with? 00:59:43 - How many total privies have you stirred? 01:01:14 - What is the difference between the privies? 01:01:51 - Do you wear a N95 mask when doing those tasks? 01:02:02 - Have you ever gotten poop soup on you? 01:03:13 - What happens after the composting process begins? 01:03:34 - Where does the new soil get distributed? 01:04:34 - Do you have any advice for others looking for a similar job? 01:05:46 - Anything else on the hiking resume? 01:07:00 - What is it like to be told you need to get off trail vs. when you make the decision yourself? 01:10:05 - When you switched to the Sierra, was it a strategic decision? 01:10:48 - Did you hike the CT with other PCT hikers? 01:13:04 - What was the journey like getting from the PCT to the CT? 01:15:58 - What's the Southwest Conservation Corp? 01:16:35 - What are some examples of the work? 01:18:00 - How did you end up getting into conservation work? 01:19:33 - Give us your pitch on why trail maintenance is rewarding 01:22:52 - How many compliments do you get on your hat? 01:23:20 - How did you find out about Zach's socks? 01:24:04 - Did you have trouble finding them? 01:24:48 - What was appealing about the sock hunt? 01:26:44 - What hike is next? 01:27:28 - Do you have to worry about snow? 01:29:04 - What knowledge do you need to have about cows? 01:30:26 - Is this a paid role? 01:30:36 - Is there an adventure planned for after ski bumming? 01:31:29 - If you went back on the conservation end of the spectrum, do you have a dream conservation job? 01:32:15 - How did you get the name Fancy Feast? 01:34:58 - Did it taste like it smells? 01:35:24 - Have you eaten cat food since? 01:36:45 - As a listener, what is something you've always wanted to say to the hosts? 01:37:45 - Was it a conscious decision to not wear makeup on an episode where you're sweating? 01:38:14 - How does the studio compare to your expectations? 01:38:56 - What was your least favorite episode? 01:39:20 - What do you do to save money? 01:40:29 - What was your favorite episode? 01:42:49 - Anything else you'd like to convey, Fancy Feast? SEGMENTS Hot Ones Bet Trek Propaganda Triple Crown of the best backpacking views Gross or Not Gross If you don't wash thrifted clothes before you wear them 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. Advertise on Backpacker Radio 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.

  • Oct 8, 2021 · 1 hr 56 min

    #121 | Nicole Antoinette 2.0

    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 Nicole's Instagram Nicole's Food Post Nicole's New Book Nicole's Gear List 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 Zach's photo of a white substance [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. Advertise on Backpacker Radio 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.

  • Sep 29, 2021 · 2 hr 25 min

    #120 | Social Media x Backpacking

    In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are talking all things social media and how it relates to the world of backpacking. This is a long and lively conversation and we dive into some highly charged subjects including gatekeeping, is Instagram influencing a good or bad for the thru-hiking culture, the addictive nature of social media, and much much more. Backcountry.com discount code: Use code "backpackerradio" at backcountry.com/backpackerradio to get 15% off your first full price purchase Organifi discount code: Use code "backpacker" at organifi.com/backpacker for 20% off your purchase [divider] Social Media X Backpacking Panel Zach's Instagram Juliana's Instagram Elise's Instagram Time stamps & Questions 00:02:44 - QOTD: What was the first social media app you engaged with regularly? 00:09:19 - Wisconsin reminder: Delafield & Fitchburg events 00:10:27 - Introducing today's panel: Social Media X Backpacking 00:12:24 - Zach's take on Instagram being an ineffective tool to learn about backpacking 00:13:45 - Chaunce's rebuttal on using social media for research 00:15:56 - Zach's recommendation to not use Instagram as your primary research tool 00:16:06 - How much did Chaunce research for her PCT hike? 00:17:00 - Elise's take on applying critical thinking when viewing social media content 00:18:30 - Blogging content vs. social media content 00:21:30 - Chaunce's defense of Instagram 00:22:52 - Elise moderates and discusses Instagram serving as a highlight reel 00:23:54 - Example of people using Instagram negatively for educational purposes 00:25:00 - Using social media tools for inspiration 00:27:11 - Discussing the impact of diving into a thru-hike unprepared 00:28:18 - Elise's caveat to using social media for education 00:29:44 - YouTube being a powerful educator 00:30:10 - Tagging locations on Instagram 00:30:58 - Chaunce's pro-tagging stance 00:32:43 - Elise's tagging stance and how it relates to increase crowds in the outdoors 00:34:00 - How tagging locations relates to gatekeeping 00:35:11 - Nuances of the gatekeeping debate 00:36:46 - If you want to keep places private, why would you post about it to begin with? 00:39:25 - Chaunce's stance on requiring permits for overcrowded areas 00:41:25 - Elise's point on paid permits being exclusionary 00:44:23 - Pros and cons of Instagram influencing 00:46:26 - Financial motivation to be an influencer 00:53:45 - What are the benefits to growing your presence on Instagram? 00:59:00 - Elise's pros for growing her account 01:00:39 - Elise's cons for growing her accounts 01:01:30 - People misplacing their anger toward influencers 01:04:00 - Defining what constitutes as a "public figure" 01:07:45 - At what point do you accept you're a public figure? 01:08:53 - Elise's Guthook trolls story 01:11:10 - Opening yourself up to negativity 01:12:28 - Using hashtags to gain exposure 01:12:47 - Summary of pros and cons of Instagram influencing 01:14:55 - Thriving off of social media attention 01:15:45 - Pressures of entertaining fans 01:19:12 - Determining how comfortable you are with attention 01:22:12 - Can being an influencer impact your experience on trail? 01:27:42 - Instagram providing instant gratification 01:30:14 - Have you ever touched up a photo to alter your appearance? 01:31:20 - If you were sharing with friends, would you still edit the photo? 01:35:45 - Does Instagram make people more self-conscious about appearance? 01:42:11 - Is the influencer world having a negative impact in backpacking? 01:54:23 - The power of social media to influence positive change 01:59:51 - How Zach landed on his decision to decrease social media usage 02:06:51 - Zach, how do your opinions conflict with running the Trek's social pages? 02:08:50 - "The Social Dilemma" documentary 02:10:49 - Chaunce's social media conclusion 02:16:10 - Being a good listener vs. solutioning 02:18:05 - Defining what good social media use is for you 02:22:17- Episode wrap-up [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. Advertise on Backpacker Radio 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.

  • Sep 22, 2021 · 2 hr 14 min

    #119 | Lauren & Henri de la Vega: The Triple Crown Power Couple

    In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Lauren and Henri de la Vega — a husband and wife southbounding the Continental Divide Trail to complete their triple crown. We take a journey down memory lane in both romance and trails and get an in-depth play-by-play on their CDT hike thus far. This chat paints an awesome picture of some of the alternates that are available, how to spot geothermal activity under the ground when in the backcountry of Yellowstone, and risk tolerances based on experiences from the PCT. It ends with the cutest Q&A, trek propaganda on a breakout of COVID in the AT portion of Maine, a heated triple crown of cereals, and more. Backcountry.com discount code: Use code "backpackerradio" at backcountry.com/backpackerradio to get 15% off your first full price purchase Gossamer Gear discount code: Use code "gingersaregood" for 15% off at Gossamergear.com. Vital Farms: Check out vitalfarms.com to learn more about where honest food is raised Enlightened Equipment: Save 10% off Enlightened Equipment's Stock Revelation Quilt or Stock Torrid Jacket with code "thetrek10" here. Interview with Lauren & Henri de la Vega Lauren's Instagram Henri's Instagram Lauren & Henri's Guiding Company Time stamps & Questions 00:04:15 - QOTD: How was your last week? 00:09:54 - General Reminders: Wisconsin meetups & new intern 00:11:45 - Guest introductions 00:13:18 - Did you meet on trail? 00:15:42 - Did the woman you babysat for officiate your wedding? 00:16:05 - Did you both have an interest in thru-hiking? 00:17:01 - How long had you been dating when you started the AT? 00:17:23 - Did you enjoy the transition to sharing the same tent, and giving up your personal space? 00:19:04 - How is SOBOing the CDT going? 00:19:50 - When did you start the CDT? 00:19:55 - What was the weather like at the time? 00:20:34 - Were there any big gear changes from the AT/PCT/CDT? 00:21:24 - Did the tent give you peace of mind with the bears? 00:22:20 - What was your reaction when you thought a bear collapsed the tent? 00:22:50 - Did the fires impact your hike? 00:25:28 - What was the scenery like on the Big Sky route? 00:26:03 - How many miles have you hiked? 00:27:57 - How does your mileage tracking impact your resupply? 00:30:15 - What's the most amount of people you think you've seen on a given day? 00:30:53 - Are you finding it's primarily hikers on their 3rd trail, or beginners? 00:31:29 - What's the wildlife been like? 00:35:17 - Is the pika encounter the scariest animal encounter you've had in your life? 00:35:34 - When you walked through Yellowstone, were you able to do some sightseeing? 00:36:36 - Weren't you worried about the thermal areas while hiking? 00:37:32 - How do you identify thermal areas? 00:39:20 - Were you able to identify any of the thermal areas yourself? 00:41:00 - Can the thermal hot springs be used as a water source? 00:41:14 - Are people swimming in these spots? 00:42:38 - When were you passing through Yellowstone? 00:42:44 - Where do you go after Yellowstone? 00:44:49 - Was the alternate to Jackass Pass similar to Mahoosuc Notch? 00:45:36 - How long is the alternate in comparison to Mahoosuc Notch? 00:47:10 - Did you look at photos before getting to the CDT destinations? 00:48:07 - Since you didn't see photos beforehand, were you surprised by your reaction to some of the views or spots? 00:49:02 - What were your "Oh shit!" moments on the trails? 01:04:33 - What was underneath the hole you created on Mather Pass? 01:06:46 - Did people on Facebook weigh in on what the hole was? 01:08:18 - Was it Strawberry or Tree? 01:10:54 - Did Strawberry's accident impact your risk tolerance? 01:13:40 - Where were you Guiding in New York? 01:13:55 - Is it for kids or adults? 01:14:49 - Is it a course you take to become a Guide? 01:15:46 - What types of questions are asked that could be completed on the scantron? 01:16:36 - Back to the CDT, was there anything else to mention about the Wind River Range? 01:23:13 - Filtering cow shit water 01:24:06 - What happens after the basin? 01:25:43 - When you're doing a stretch of roadway, where do you camp at night? 01:29:14 - What do you say to a cop when you get in trouble for camping on the road? 01:29:46 - Was there anything notable about Colorado we should hit on? 01:34:48 - Does it make you feel better to check the elevation gain of your hike? 01:35:51 - When playing fuck/marry/kill, why would you kill the CDT? 01:36:23 - When did you complete your 14ers 01:36:48 - Is Leadville the last town you were in? 01:38:06 - What are you looking forward to next? 01:39:19 - Did you go into Montbell while you were in Denver, to get puffy pants? 01:42:50 - What's your biggest pet peeve about each other while on the trail? 01:45:40 - What is the most endearing thing the other person has done? 01:47:48 - How do you fish when on trail? 01:48:15 - If you catch something do you keep it or catch and release? 01:49:49 - What's one thing that made you want to murder the other person while on trail? 01:52:22 - If you were to write a dating bio for the other person, in a hiking theme, what would you write? 01:55:38 - Give me your joint dating profile bio, as a couple, for a trail magic sugar momma 01:56:44 - Thanks for joining us Lauren & Henri! SEGMENTS Trek Propaganda: AT Surge in COVID Cases Triple Crown of Cereals [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. Advertise on Backpacker Radio 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.

  • Sep 14, 2021 · 2 hr 26 min

    #118 | Girl Stuff 2.0 - Backcountry Hygiene, Trail Horniness, Favorite Apparel, and More

    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 Chaunce Instagram Sauce Instagram Lavender Instagram 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. Advertise on Backpacker Radio 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.

  • Sep 6, 2021 · 2 hr 12 min

    #117 | Andrew "Reptar" Forestell on Being Naked and Afraid

    In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek we are joined yet again by our old pal, Reptar. Since we last chatted way back in 2018 (when we still had Kobe and Anthony Bourdain), Reptar has kept very busy- most notably being the co-star in a recent episode of Naked and Afraid. We ask all the sophomoric questions you'd want to ask someone who earns fame through grit and genitalia, including how often his unmentionables rubbed against spiky things, what it's like to meet your survival partner in the nude, and mastering the proper angle to bend over when a camera is on you. We also chat about finishing the PCT, his next documentary, and a new survivalist video game he's developing. We wrap the show with a few trail food ideas, a triple crown of dried fruit, and finding the precise line where peeing in water goes from cool to gross. 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. Goodr discount code: Use code "backpacker15" to save 15% on your first order at goodr.com/backpacker15. [divider] Interview with Andrew "Reptar" Forestell Instagram The AT Experience (Documentary) Watch Naked & Afraid on Discovery Channel or Discovery+ on 9/5 at 8pm ET. 00:02:57 - QOTD: How long would you last on Naked & Afraid? 00:04:57 - Reminder: We are coming to Wisconsin and specifically to Delafield on October 13th and Fitchburg on the 15th. 00:06:17 - Reptar returns! See his previous episode here. 00:07:40 - What's been going on with you since we last talked? 00:09:14 - Let's talk about Naked & Afraid - how did you get involved? Can you explain the show to us? 00:10:31 - Is there a prize at the end of the 21 days? 00:11:27 - How did you get involved with the show? 00:12:16 - How did you "hit up" the people to try and be on Naked & Afraid? 00:12:48 - Did you revise your pitch or do you think it was just your persistence? Did you send a video? 00:13:30 - Do you have to send in dick pics to Naked & Afraid? Did they ever ask to see you naked? 00:13:47 - Do they let you apply in pairs? 00:14:37 - How much notice do you get before going on the show? 00:15:24 - What does "conditioning" for the show look like? 00:16:17 - How much of this is fitness training and how much is just wanting to look good naked? 00:16:42 - Did you hit up Yukon for tips beforehand? 00:19:02 - Did they tell you the type of climate or environment you'd be in before time? 00:20:42 - Was there any talk of a malaria vaccine? 00:23:53 - Do you think you got lucky with where you were? 00:24:45 - What is your naked encounter with your partner like? When do they tell you to take off your clothes? 00:26:25 - Did you use a satchel to cover yourself? 00:26:44 - Did you try to cover up? 00:27:52 - How soon after the initial meeting does the game show portion start? 00:28:50 - Do you get any supplies? 00:29:53 - What was your partner's one item? 00:30:09 - Was it more difficult to navigate because of how strange the situation was? 00:32:48 - Did your partner's study of mushrooms come in handy? 00:33:59 - Did your partner eat the mushrooms anyway? 00:34:38 - Did you feel like you and your partner pulled equal weight survival wise? 00:36:15 - How do you prepare cactus? 00:37:15 - Could you not slice the cactus with the machete? 00:38:26 - Would you still eat cactus today? 00:40:30 - What was the wildlife situation like? 00:49:45 - How did your hunger compare to hiker hunger? 00:52:04 - Are the camera crew allowed to eat or drink around you? 00:52:36 - Do you have to think about not bending over and exposing your bare butt hole? 00:54:48 - Was there ever a time where you got a little "excited" and had to hide it? 00:56:58 - Did you ever hear creepy noises coming from African animals? 001:01:28 - What is your sleep setup? 01:02:20 - Did you guys weave blankets? 01:05:00 - How cold was it at night? 01:07:26 - What kind of security blanket do you have in terms of the medical crew? 01:17:58 - When do you get your clothes back? What is the "re-clothing" like? 01:21:20 - Did you guys ever have a moment where you were ready to throw in the towel? 01:24:08 - How do people watch your episode of Naked & Afraid? Discovery Channel on basic cable or Discovery+ on September 5 at 8pm. 01:26:03 - Can we talk about your PCT Experience documentary? 01:28:30 - And is this the same story we interrogated you about? 01:29:42 - What were you carrying to achieve the shots you got? Canon 5D Mark III Full Frame Camera 01:32:28 - When you are hiking and making a video like this, does it affect your hike? 01:36:16 - How many details can you share about the game you're developing (Far North)? 01:42:00 - Do you have to feed your person regularly? 01:45:14 - Anything else BPR listeners should be aware of? SEGMENTS 6 Trail Foods That Never Bore Me (No Matter How Much I Eat) by Kelly Floro Triple Crown of Dried Fruits Gross or not gross: When does a body of water get too small to pee in? Mail Bag Eel Facts 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. Advertise on Backpacker Radio 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.

  • Aug 23, 2021 · 2 hr 14 min

    #116 | Outdoor F.U.T.U.R.E.

    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] Listen Download 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 Outdoor F.U.T.U.R.E. Team Gabaccia Moreno Jaylyn Gough Teresa Martinez Gabe Vasquez Jessica Loya Ángel Peña Carissa 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 Mezcal or Patron Soft or Crunchy Corn or Flour Green chili or Jalapenos Red or Green (chili) Rolled or Flat Taco or Burrito Smothered or on the side Selena or Shakira Do you know whose land you are on? What does allyship and equity look like to you? SEGMENTS Trek 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 Would you rather eat boogers or goose poop? 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. Advertise on Backpacker Radio 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.

  • Aug 12, 2021 · 2 hr 12 min

    #115 | Scott Carney on Wim Hof, Summiting Kilimanjaro, and Debunking Charlatans

    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: Instagram Facebook Twitter Book Trailer Buy The Wedge 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? Drukpa Kunley 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?01:10:33 - Is brown fat more activated by bare skin exposure? Rather than when clothed? 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? SEGMENTS Trek 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. Advertise on Backpacker Radio 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.

  • Jul 30, 2021 · 1 hr 59 min

    #114 | How to Afford a Thru-Hike

    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): Qapital Betterment Acorns Wealthfront Tip #2 (Zach): Know what gear to splurge on. Specifically: Footwear Shelter Sleeping bag/quilt Tip #3 (Elise): Leverage the Financial Independence community (and finding your Coast FI number for peace of mind). Some FI resources: The Simple Path to Wealth by JL Collins Quit Like A Millionaire by Kristy Shen and Bryce Leung The Choose FI podcast MoneywithKatie on Instagram Coast FI caclulator Tip #4 (Chaunce): Budget smart while you're actually on trail. Tip #5 (Zach): Know where to skimp on gear. Specifically: Headlamp Base layer Rain gear Water filter Sunglasses And more 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: Uber/Lyft Instacart Rover 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. SEGMENTS Trek Propaganda Colleen Goldhorn's Posts Triple Crown of things to spend $25 on Gross or Not Gross Zach being barefoot on an airplane 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. Advertise on Backpacker Radio 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.

  • Jul 22, 2021 · 2 hr 57 min

    #113 | Rachael "Rabbit" Delano: Triple Crowner and Yogi

    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 Instagram Website Youtube 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 Stream Crossing Safety 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? SEGMENTSTrek Propaganda Backcountry Campfires: A Relic of the Past by Paul Magnanti Triple Crown of Things That Will Ruin Your Day Hike Chaunce: forgetting sunscreen, not leaving early enough, lack of vigilance (because you're almost done) Rabbit: air quality, calf cramps, creepy dudes Zach: thunderstorms above tree line, running out of food/being hungry 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. Advertise on Backpacker Radio 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.

  • Jul 14, 2021 · 1 hr 13 min

    #112 | Beginner Backpacking Mistakes

    In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are trying new things! In lieu of an interview, myself alongside Chaunce and Sauce (Elise), cover some of the most common beginner backpacking mistakes. Because we here at Backpacker Radio can occasionally steer off-topic, we wanted to experiment with an episode dedicated to what the show's title implies. Backpacking stuff. These pointers run the full spectrum, from massive mistakes, to minor gaffes. Regardless of where you are in your backpacking evolution, we think you'll walk away from this one with some very useful insight. 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. Gossamer Gear discount code: Use code "gingersaregood" for 15% off at Gossamergear.com. [divider] Panel with Elise (Sauce), Chaunce, and Zach 00:06:39 - QOTD: Is the left ball lower and your main child bearing ball? 00:10:08 - We are going to Wisconsin! 00:13:11 - Mistake #1 from Zach: Not doing shakedown hikes 00:17:41 - A shakedown hike is more than just narrowing down your gear! 00:18:52 - Mistake #2 from Chaunce: Put your phone on airplane mode when you do practice hikes. 00:23:25 - Mistake #3 from Elise: Not knowing how to properly filter your water. 00:30:33 - Mistake #4 from Zach: Buying gear beyond your skill set/experience. 00:40:52 - Mistake #5 from Chaunce: Being too firm on your hike and not allowing flexibility based on the elements. 00:50:00 - Mistake #6 from Elise: Research the gear that is right for YOU. 00:54:47 - Mistake #7 from Zach: Mental prep might be more important than any other kind of prep. 00:59:49 - Mistake #8 from Chaunce: Not practicing communicating with your sattelite device in multiple types of coverage. 01:06:27 - Mistake #9 from Elise: Trying to keep up with people above your fitness level. No Segments! [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. Advertise on Backpacker Radio 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.

  • Jul 6, 2021 · 2 hr 37 min

    #111 | Second Chance Hiker

    In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, we are joined by Second Chance Hiker. In 2018, Cory McDonald, aka Second Chance, was bored, depressed, and north of 400 pounds. After his doctor told him that he was headed for a heart attack if he didn't make some serious changes, Second Chance uprooted his life, and committed to hiking the PCT with the goal of losing 200 lb in the process. We learn all about the highs and lows Cory confronted during his trek, including how he got a girlfriend, and why he ultimately got off trail in very dramatic fashion. Second Chance shares what he's been up to since the PCT, including treks in Croatia and through the crocodile filled swamps of Florida. A very important warning to listeners, this episode does touch on some sensitive subject matter, especially conversations of panic attacks and suicide. If this may be triggering for you, we encourage you to skip to the end of the interview after Cory talks about his Florida Trail hike. We wrap the show with a triple crown of things we're terrible at, some history of why the Appalachian Trail doesn't have switchbacks, and a follow up on James Jordan's trial verdict.

  • Jun 23, 2021 · 1 hr 59 min

    #110 | Alison Young: Thru-Hiker, Producer, Podcaster, and Classic Music Aficionado

    In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Alison Young. Alison has a world-class radio voice, is a super accomplished backpacker, with a long list of thru-hikes, a former professional flutist and classic music aficionado, and the host and producer of The Trek's newest podcast, Walking Distance. We get a crash course in all things classical music, including how Lizzo ranks alongside some of the historical greats, we talk in depth about Alison's many treks, especially her international hikes (prepare to expand your bucket list), we talk about what it's like to do long distance backpacking trips into your 50s and how she manages with two fake hips, and much more. This is a fun conversation that hits on some really unique subject matter, we think you'll really enjoy it. We wrap the show with the most bizarre triple crown we've ever done- I'll leave it at that, we have another gross / not gross, and we learn why redheads experience less pain, spoiler alert, it's not due to their lacking a soul. Good To-Go: Use code "TREK25" to save 25% off your order here. OnX deal: This month, get a 1 year membership for $10 with all proceeds going to Leave No Trace. Learn more at onxmaps.com/greatoutdors. Enlightened Equipment: Save 10% off off Enlightened Equipment's Stock Revelation Quilt or Stock Torrid Jacket with code "trek10" here. Gossamer Gear discount code: Use code "poopstory" for 15% off at Gossamergear.com. [divider] Interview with Alison Young Blissful Hiker Walking Distance Podcast Alison's Instagram QUESTIONS 00:04:30 - QOTD: which is easier, eating a little or eating nothing? 00:05:37 - We are coming to Wisconsin! 00:06:29 - Welcome Alison Young! 00:07:52 - How did you get into backpacking? 00:11:48 - Can we talk about your career as a flutist? 00:14:00 - What is the life of a professional flute player? 00:15:56 - Can you tell us more about your career at American Public Media? 00:18:30 - Was it difficult to go from being the star of the show to being the cheerleader? 00:20:30 - What is Dystonia? 00:22:10 - Does your Dystonia affect backpacking at all? 00:22:53 - Is trying to play with Dystonia a mind fuck? 00:25:24 - Did your surgeon think your backpacking contributed to your hip replacement? 00:27:31 - What is the next step people should take to go deeper into the classical music world? 00:31:30 - How many times have you watched the movie Fantasia? 00:33:30 - If you could only listen to one classical song for an entire thru-hike, what would it be? Gustav Mahler from Songs of a Wayfarer 00:38:49 - Will you tell us about the Drakensberg Traverse? 00:40:59 - Was there any standout wildlife on that trek? 00:42:08 - Did the baboons ever get aggressive? 00:43:35 - How long is that hike? 00:43:40 - Were you carrying all your food? 00:45:33 - Were people confused about what you were doing? 00:47:08 - Are you being conscious about your food around the baboons? 00:48:45 - Go on about Isle Royale? 00:51:04 - How are you sleeping knowing there's wolves around you? 00:52:32 - What are you supposed to do if you see a wolf? 00:54:53 - How long was your Isle Royale hike? 00:55:38 - What time of year were you there? 00:55:58 - How were the mosquitoes? 00:57:48 - Can you pronounce that region again? "Kekekabic" 00:59:03 - Do people thru-hike the Border Route Trail? 01:03:20 - If you could redo one international hike, which would it be? The Karakoram in Pakistan 01:06:33 - What's going through your mind when doing a water crossing like that? 01:10:05 - How does your spouse handle you being away for months at a time? 01:13:46 - Can you talk about your decision to not have kids, etc.? 01:15:52 - Can we talk about the GR5? 01:19:46 - Do you have advice for someone who is not the typical 20-something that wants to start backpacking? 01:22:34 - Do you do anything besides walking to get in shape for backpacking? Yoga, etc.? 01:25:36 - Will you give us the overview for Walking Distance? 01:34:28 - What inspired the CDT? Can you talk about your upcoming adventure? 01:37:10 SEGMENTS Lizzo Playing the Flute The Longest Trail by Jonathan Horwitz Triple crown of Desserts Gross or Not Gross Zach picked a booger and felt it in his throat 1-Minute Gear Review: Premature Evaluation — Platypus Quickdraw 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. Advertise on Backpacker Radio 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.

  • Jun 15, 2021 · 2 hr 27 min

    #109 | The Real Hiking Viking on The Hayduke

    In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by the show's third co-host at this point, the real hiking viking. We do a deep dive on every inch of Jabba's recent hike of the Hayduke, including the challenges of long water carries, regular exposure to 100-plus degree days, navigating the route, and some truly epic stories, including a trail magic rafting trip through the Grand Canyon. Whether you want to learn about the Hayduke or are simply craving some more Jabba time, this one will not disappoint. We wrap the show with a triple crown of things that ruin your day, Chaunce explains why you can't get a vaccine until after you've done your taxes, and we get some more horse facts, chicken edition. Good To-Go: Use code "TREK25" to save 25% off your order here. OnX deal: This month, get a 1 year membership for $10 with all proceeds going to Leave No Trace. Learn more at onxmaps.com/greatoutdors. Enlightened Equipment: Save 10% off off Enlightened Equipment's Stock Revelation Quilt or Stock Torrid Jacket with code "trek10" here. Gossamer Gear discount code: Use code "poopstory" for 15% off at Gossamergear.com. [divider] Interview with Jabba aka The Real Hiking Viking QOTD: Aliens and ghosts. SEGMENTS Trek Propaganda 100-Mile Wilderness Designated International Dark Sky Park by Tina Mullen Man and 2-Year-Old Son Found Dead on Maryland AT in Apparent Murder-Suicide by Kelly Floro Triple Crown of Mundane Things that Ruin Your Day Gross or Not Gross 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. Advertise on Backpacker Radio 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.