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.

Subscribe Listen in podnod RSS feed Show website

400 episodes
Updated Yesterday
Explicit

Episodes400

Newest first

Jun 9, 2021 · 2 hr 41 min
#108 | Weezer & Dirty Avocado on the Arizona Trail
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by recurring guest, Steph Lotus aka Weezer, and her good pal, Dirty Avocado, as the duo recently wrapped a thru-hike of the Arizona Trail. This one is the mid-point between a trail overview and first person narrative of their journey, including some mild tragedy, comedy, and romance. We wrap the show with a triple crown of desert things, we tease the new Trail Correspondents season, and we are blessed with a bison poop story. Advertise on Backpacker Radio
Jun 1, 2021 · 2 hr 15 min
#107 | Glen Van Peski, Founder of Gossamer Gear
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 Gossamer Gear Blog [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? Zpacks BluffWorks YAthletics Ministry of Supply 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? Checkout Mayfly Ultralight 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? Gossamer Gear Blog SEGMENTS The Best Time of Year to Hike These 23 Popular Long Trails by Eloise Robbins Triple Crown of Leonardo DiCaprio Movies Call with Jabba! What are questions women have about men but are too afraid to ask? 1-Minute Gear Review Chaunce - Book Stand Zach - Hoka Challenger ATR 6 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.
May 24, 2021 · 2 hr 39 min
#106 | Nicole Antoinette
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by my good bud, Nicole Antoinette. Nicole is a thru-hiker, entrepreneur, podcast host, and all around magnetic personality. We talk about overcoming imposture syndrome in the world of backpacking, why the stereotypical thru-hiking style of big miles, ramen, and cramped motel rooms isn't a one-size-fits-all approach, accepting failure, sobriety, and much more. This is a lively conversation; you will enjoy it. We wrap the show a triple crown of kitchen gadgets, we officially unveil the destination for our 2021 Backpacker Radio Road Trip, and someone gets poop in their hair. 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 Interview with Nicole Antoinette Instagram QOTD: You have one hour to spend $10,000 in one store, what store are you choosing? 00:07:58 - Nicole, if we meet you on a hike, what is your clif notes introduction to somebody? 00:10:10 - What is it that pays the bills these days? 00:12:36 - Will you please plug your podcast? 00:13:10 - Why did you archive all your instagram posts? 00:15:44 - What influenced your decision to scrap things (off instagram)? 00:19:21 - How do you pursue what the next thing is without using a passion as the igniter for that? 00:21:21 - Can you talk about your questioning monogamy phase? 00:23:49 - Have you always been so self-aware? 00:25:45 - Do you meditate at all? 00:26:30 - How did you transition from running to backpacking? 00:30:14 - How did you end up thru-hiking the PCT after being hurt after the Oregon section? 00:33:35 - How long before you are planning your next backpacking trip? 00:37:55 - What made you start to enjoy backpacking? 00:40:11 - Where are you from? 00:40:23 - Were there any concrete things you changed that helped you enjoy the experience? 00:46:14 - How did you find the balance between not being afraid and being comfortable on your own? 00:47:29 - How did you cope with loneliness? 00:49:28 - Is Chaunce an introvert or extrovert? 00:51:49 - Did you get more music? 00:55:29 - Between Ice Ice Baby and the Safety Dance which song would you put on your phone if you could only choose one? 00:56:00 - If an extrovert is considering going on a hike solo, do you have any advice for them? 01:00:16 - Can we talk about your SOBO PCT hike next? 01:02:20 - What does a social life look like on a southbound thru-hike? 01:03:26 - When was your start date? 01:04:56 - How did the SOBO PCT hike live up to expectations? 01:08:47 - Can you talk about the perception of not completing your thru-hike? 01:12:35 - What value do you get out of saying your PCT hike was a failure? 01:22:27 - Did you feel that having your own community established before you started backpacking helped? 01:24:10 - Do you think you could quit more gracefully because you've established your confidence in other areas of your life? 01:28:21 - How much did you encounter party culture on the PCT and how was it as a sober hiker? 01:30:35 - Do you have any advice for sober people hoping to hike? 01:36:31 - Do you mind talking about the evolution of your relationships? 01:37:23 - What role did the thru-hike play in the end of your marriage? 01:42:20 - How did you transition into your current relationship? 01:47:25 - When are you doing the Colorado Trail? 01:48:00 - Where can people find you? Instagram SEGMENTS Trek Propaganda Desk-Bound Engineer to Professional Backpacking Guide in 1 Year by Dan Purdy Apply to be a writer for The Trek Backpacker Radio Road Trip Announcement! Triple Crown of Kitchen Tools Gross or Not Gross Leo's Blowouts Chaunce Picking People's Scabs Reddit Brain Buster You're a burglar…but you can only steal things that mildly inconvenience your victims. What are you taking? ex: the plate that goes in the microwave 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.
May 12, 2021 · 3 hr 5 min
#105 | Miss Janet, Legendary AT Trail Angel
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by legendary Appalachian Trail trail angel, Miss Janet. We learn about how cute boys was her gateway back to the trail in the 70s, the history of how people learned about and communicated around the trail, and why she's dedicated so much of her life to helping AT hikers. We also touch on some hot button issues surrounding the trail, including when trail magic crosses the line, the impact of partying on the trail, and what she sees as a solution to the abundance of trash in some of the more popular areas. We wrap the show with a triple crown of bad farts, Chaunce and I answer some listener questions, and who do you think you are? I am! OnX discount code: Use code: "Backpackerradio20" for 20% off at onxmaps.com. Gossamer Gear discount code: Use code "POOPSTORY" to save 15% off your cart at GossamerGear.com Reel toilet paper discount code: Use code "BACKPACKER" to save 25% at reelpaper.com Picky Bars discount code: Use code "BACKPACKER" for 20% off $25 Picky Bars. [divider] Interview with Miss Janet Instagram Themissjanet@gmail.com QOTD: What has been your best trail magic experience? Are fish worth it? 00:16:21 - Pop Quiz - what year did Miss Janet and Badger meet? 00:17:05 - Can you tell me about your upbringing and the confluence of getting involved with the AT? 00:18:22 - Why were you afraid of the first hiker you saw on the AT? 00:19:55 - Do you remember what year it was the first time you met an AT hiker? 00:22:50 - What interesting things happened on the AT in 1985? 00:26:38 - Is your mom still in Erwin today? Is she still part of the AT experience? 00:29:36 - What happens in between you being introduced to the AT and you opening your own hostel? 00:32:30 - So you were surprised by the sheer amount of hikers when you moved back to Erwin? 00:36:14 - When you started your hostel were there enough hikers to support two hostels? 00:40:35 - What year did you start your hostel? 00:41:08 - How did people know which hostel to go to in the late 90's? 00:42:48 - Why were you banned from the email list? 00:47:56 - How many people drop out by the time they hit Mountain Crossing? 00:50:58 - What are people's reasoning for not registering with the ATC? 00:54:55 - How do you calculate how many people are vlogging their AT hike? 00:55:41 - Have you noticed that people are starting early and earlier every year? 00:57:27 - Would you advocate for a daily cap on the AT like the PCT? 01:01:03 - Can you talk about that photograph that came out last year with all the trash on Max Patch? 01:02:02 - Are there efforts made by trail angels to relay the importance of LNT? 01:04:58 - Don't leave out styrofoam coolers if you aren't coming back for them. 01:07:14 - What are your thoughts on the difference between trail magic and hiker feeds? 01:14:06 - Have you noticed that at every major road crossing there's so much trail magic that hikers have come to just expect it? 01:17:37 - Have you noticed thru-hiker entitlement as time has gone on? 01:23:43 - How would you define the AT experience? 01:26:30 - How would you define what an AT thru-hike looks like? 01:35:31 - is there any consistent theme to the gap between what people are expecting and what they end up actually experiencing? 01:40:42 - How often do you end up being the AT therapist? 01:43:40 -How often do you think hikers get off because they are bored? 01:47:10 - Can you bridge the gap between Miss Janet's hostel and the Miss Janet that trail angels up and down the AT? 01:49:30 - How much of the trail had you hiked prior to that? 01:54:15 - Would you trade your hiking style for making it all the way to Katadhin? 01:55:58 - How did you go from hostels to doing traveling trail angeling? 01:58:00 - What is it about the trail that keeps you coming back? What is it that you love about the people and culture? 02:09:17 - Where can people find Miss Janet? Instagram Themissjanet@gmail.com SEGMENTS Trek Propaganda AT Killer James Jordan Not Guilty By Reason of Insanity Trail Profile: How to Hike the 96-Mile Lone Star Hiking Trail by Katie Houston Triple Crown of Bad Farts Listener 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. 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.
May 4, 2021 · 2 hr 21 min
#104 | Ben Crawford on Thru-Hiking the AT with a Family of 8
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, we are joined by Ben Crawford of the Crawford Family. In 2018, Ben Crawford, along with his wife Kami, and their six kids, ages between two and sixteen years old, thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail. We learn all about the unique challenges of this undertaking, including how to keep kids spirits high when hiking in snow for over a month, what their gear system looked like, and how they handled a very mixed reception from the online hiking community. This conversation also takes some wlid turns including how Ben and Kami were excommunicated from their Christian Missionary group, how he hit the jackpot as a blackjack card counter, and why he doesn't school his kids (either in the traditional sense or with homeschooling). We wrap the show by announcing the winners of our big episode 100 giveaway, we have a triple crown of villains, and we get some horse facts, llama edition. OnX discount code: Use code: "Backpackerradio20" for 20% off at onxmaps.com. Greenbelly discount code: Use code: "TREK2021" to save 10% sitewide at greenbelly.co Goodr discount code: Use code "backpacker15" to save 15% on your first order at goodr.com/backpacker15 Check out Hikerlink.co to connect with hiker trash past, present and future. Interview with Ben Crawford Instagram Youtube 2,000 Miles Together (Book) Their AT documentary Holy Rollers: The True Story of Cound Carting Christians 00:04:41: QOTD: What is your favorite crossfit lift? 00:10:00 - Welcome Ben Crawford of the Crawford Family 00:10:14 - Give us the full breakdown of how you got started on the AT 00:12:04 - Does the government have it's own branded peanut butter? 00:14:00 - Did you have a family to look up to before starting the trail? 00:16:10 - Can you do a run through of the kids and their ages? 00:17:56 - Are you and your wife still religious? 00:18:46 - Why were you excommunicated? 00:20:15 - When you were excommunicated did you lose all of your friends? Or did you have friends outside the church? 00:21:25 - What led you to start questioning what was happening around you? 00:24:50 - When did you make the leap from realizing your kids were physically capable to deciding to hike the AT? 00:28:31 - When did you start the trail and when did you plan to finish? 00:29:20 - Can you tell us how cold it was in March when you started? 00:30:41 - What were the hikers around you saying seeing a family that big with temperatures that low? 00:32:14 - Were the kids carrying their own gear? What was your overall gear system and setup? 00:33:20 - What tent did you have for the kids? 00:37:30 - What is your strategy for keeping morale up for the whole family? 00:40:28 - What was your parenting style that created adventurous, outdoorsy kids? 00:44:20 - Is there any science to show that it's bad for kids to over exert themselves at such a young age? 00:47:07 - Can you talk about CPS getting involved while you were out on trail? 00:49:51 - How did you deal with people talking about you online? 00:51:07 - What happened when the government was called? 00:55:00 - You think the person who called on you did so from youtube? 00:56:29 - What is unschooling? 00:58:21 - Do you think your rejection of institutions and institutionalization comes from your upbringing in the church? 00:59:32 - Can you talk about your career and entrepreneurial pursuits? What was your business life like prior to the trail? 01:04:14 - How do you get people to start black jack? 01:04:26 - Holy Rollers: The True Story of Cound Carting Christians 01:05:18 - Do people need a certain background to be good at black jack? 01:06:46 - So is it against house rules? 01:09:28 - Have you always been good at math? And what skills are required to execute this? And What is it? 01:11:07 - So you need learning money? 01:12:04 - What's the advantage without counting cards? 01:14:25 - How do kids learn math when they are doing unschooling? Or other things that are essential to doing "life" things? 01:16:45 - What about reading? 01:17:28 - Do you have any sort of confines for the kids? Are there things kids have to do during the day? 01:20:58 - Is it easier for you to give 45k for your kids to build a house after doing black jack? 01:22:15 - What happened with the kids and the house? 01:22:36 - Are you teaching them the carpentry skills, etc.? 01:24:40 - Do you have any framework for how you go about something like giving the kids a house? 01:28:22 - Can you tell us the Katahdin story and the conclusion to your hike? 01:33:40 - How can people budget for a thru-hike? Or go outside the confines of a 9-5 to fund a hike? SEGMENTS Episode 100 Winner: Package 1 Winner: Justin Cornell Package 2 Winner: Meredith Snyder Package 3 Winner: Henk Humes Honorable Mention for Chuck Lopez for putting all the show intros together Trek Propaganda Backcountry Guide Killed in Grizzly Bear Attack Near Yellowstone by Tina Mullen The Top Down Jackets for Backpacking The Top Synthetic Jackets for Backpacking Triple Crown of Villains (Fire Season Prediction for 2021: Grim) 'This has never happened': California's only wildfire research center makes scary discovery 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.
Apr 27, 2021 · 2 hr 35 min
#103 | How to Train for a Thru-Hike ft. Dr. Freeborn Mondello
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Dr. Freeborn Mondello. Freeborn, who is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, explodes our brains with some non-conventional advice for hikers, backpackers, and really any endurance athlete. This includes why stretching might be a waste of time, the importance of heavy weight resistance training, and why the traditional 3 sets of 10 reps is going to be counterproductive to your goals- and yes those last two points are not contradictory. Whether you're training for a hike or simply want to maintain good health, you'll find this conversation fascinating- we sure did. We wrap the show with a triple crown of days of the week, a new gross or not gross, and some good innovating pee pants for people with vaginas. OnX Backcountry discount code: Use code: "Backpackerradio20" for 20% off at onxmaps.com. Greenbelly discount code: Use code: "TREK2021" to save 10% sitewide at greenbelly.co Gossamer Gear discount code: Use code "POOPSTORY" to save 15% off your cart at GossamerGear.com Check out Hikerlink.co to connect with hiker trash past, present and future. Interview with Dr.Freeborn Mondello RunfreePT.com Instagram - @runfreept Youtube - RunfreePT Free consults over video or in person — runfreept@gmail.com 00:04:30 - QOTD: What's an injury you have that always comes back? 00:06:47 - Welcome Dr.Freeborn Mondello! 00:07:43 - You've done multiple iron man races? What does that entail? 00:10:09 - What is the chafe situation like after a 2.4 mile swim and immediately hopping onto a bike? 00:11:12 - Where have you done your iron man races? 00:12:48 - Did you consider throwing in the towel on the 106 degree day? 00:15:02 - You're a champion mountain biker? 00:16:10 - How do you go from excelling at a sport where you use high twitch muscles to a sport that uses slow twitch muscles? 00:17:46 - Have you had your muscle twitch fibers measured? 00:18:49 - Is there any science to support being able to switch your muscle fiber types? 00:19:57 - So you grew up in Silver City near Gila National Forest? 00:20:30 - So you've been familiar with the CDT for a long time? 00:22:01 - How did you get into physical therapy? 00:25:19 - Is there anything cool you learned why getting your doctorate that most people wouldn't know or expect? 00:27:00 - How much of a role does neurology play in PT? 00:30:26 - Can you explain dry needling? 00:34:10 - So it's really your nervous system sometimes telling you that you can't do something rather than your muscular system? 00:36:30 - Would an orthopedic surgeon have a different take? 00:37:14 - How do the mechanics of dry needling work? How far in does the needle go? 00:40:12 - Can you tell us about the performance enhancing aspect of dry needling? 00:42:41 - Is there something about dry needling that would make it against the rules? 00:44:06 - Does dry needling have a place in the context of a thru-hike? If this is their first time, are those dice worth rolling? 00:46:51 - Is dry needling more effective for acute injuries or chronic ones? 00:48:27 - How long does dry needling last? How often do people have to come back? 00:52:20 - How does the central nervous system play a role in weight training overall? 00:55:49 - Pavel's kettlebell training video and Rogan interview 00:56:26 - Can you define hypertrophy vs. strength training? 00:59:27 - Do the nutritional requirements differ in hypertrophy vs. strength training? 01:03:08 - What would your protocol be for someone getting ready to hike in a couple months? 01:09:40 - Can strength training work with things you have at home? 01:14:20 - Are kettlebells that different from dumbells? 01:15:44 - If you're on an island and you can only bring one kettle bell with you, what weight is it? 01:17:06 - How long are you supposed to swing kettlebells for? 01:18:57 - Don't just buy a kettle bell and start swinging! 01:20:20 - Why is 80% the ideal number for optimal strength training? 01:23:40 - Why is strength training important for endurance sports? Why is doing deadlifts helpful for someone going on a thru-hike? 01:26:17 - Is stretching helpful? What role does it play in endurance sports? 01:30:12 - Is foam rolling helpful? Balls that roll out your muscles? 01:32:08 - Is it possible that foam rollers or lacrosse balls do help people or is it a placebo effect? 01:34:37 - So stretching can help flexibility, but that doesn't necessarily help injury prevention? 01:36:04 - Can you talk about the difference between mobility and flexibility? 01:37:33 - So tension can just be solved with various workouts? 01:38:48 - What should someone look for to find a good physical therapist or a good personal trainer? 01:42:54 - Is being stretched to your full capacity after ACL surgery advisable? 01:43:53 - How can you tell the difference between an injury you need to rest and a sore muscle you can just push through? 01:46:34 - How do you open hip flexors to reduce lower back pain? 01:48:32 - What is your youtube channel? RunfreePT (five way hip drive) 01:49:52 - What is the best way to prevent shin splints? 01:52:08 - What can people do to help prevent foot issues? 01:56:02 - Is it a good idea to ease into minimalist shoes before a thru-hike? 01:59:00 - So it sounds like strength is the solution? 02:02:10 - Where can people find you? RunfreePT.com Instagram - @runfreept Youtube - RunfreePT Free consults over video or in person — runfreept@gmail.com SEGMENTS Triple Crown of Days of the Week Gross or Not Gross? Zach ate moldy beef sticks Chaunce drank Harper's drool Mail Bag 5 Star Reviews Special thanks to OnX by Backcountry. Shoutout to Pauly (our editor/beats 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. 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.
Apr 19, 2021 · 2 hr 36 min
#102 | Clara Hughes, Olympian and Thru-Hiker
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek brought to you by OnX Backcountry, we are joined by Clara "Redfeather" Hughes. Clara, in no uncertain terms, is a bonafide superstar. In addition to a multitude of thru-hikes under her belt, Clara is a world-class speed skater and cyclist, being the only athlete in history to win multiple medals at both the summer and winter Olympic Games. Let that sink in for a second. We go deep on all the things you'd want to ask an Olympic superstar, including what her training regimen looks like, what it feels like to win a gold medal, and how much of a drunken orgy the Olympic village really is. We also learn how her backpacking endeavors played a role in her Olympic career and why she attributes a portion of her success to her trekking. We do a triple crown of Olympic sports (fittingly enough), how a professional tennis player stole our idea to sell our body parts in a non-prostitution sorta way (not that there's anything wrong with that), and a contentious patent pending. OnX discount code: Use code: "Backpackerradio20" for 20% off at onxmaps.com. Greenbelly discount code: Use code: "TREK2021" to save 10% sitewide at greenbelly.co Gossamer Gear discount code: Use code "POOPSTORY" to save 15% off your cart at GossamerGear.com Goodr discount code: Use code "backpacker15" to save 15% on your first order at goodr.com/backpacker15 [divider] Interview with Clara Hughes Clara's Instagram Clara's Website Clara's Book [divider] 00:04:55 - QOTD: What is your favorite pizza? 00:08:36 - Welcome Clara Hughes! 00:14:51 - What is this Baja hike? 00:17:44 - How did you get into your Olympic career? 00:25:22 - So you first got into sport when you were 16 or 17, how old were you for your first Olympic games? 00:25:44 - When you were younger did you know you were gifted as an athlete? 00:25:55 - How did you go from not really doing sport to being an olympic athlete? What happened in the middle? 00:29:03 - So the Olympic medals came after the JMT revelation? 00:31:10 - What is the community of the Olympics in Canada? How does it even work getting into the Olympics? What does the system look like in the months outside of the Olympic games? 00:33:18 - How did the structure of the Olympic community help with your mental health struggles? 00:40:40 - Is there a part of you that does want to turn hiking into sport and try an FKT? 00:44:28 - Do you relay your story about mental health on trail? 00:48:55 - When are they going to make a movie about your life? Has anyone approached you about one? If not, why are they f*cking up? 00:52:41 - Why do you think thru-hiking is a bigger deal in the U.S.? 00:55:31 - Can you give a little background on the Great Divide Trail? 00:57:48 - How much crossover is there between speed skating and cycling? 01:00:18 - When did you realize you wanted to do Olympic cycling? 01:02:18 - Can you put in headphones in the Olympics? If not, what's in your head? 01:05:03 - Has anyone tried to rig the spring part of the skate to make it super powerful? 01:06:28 - Where are the wipeouts more intense? Cycling or speedskating? 01:08:57 - Would you rather have a slicey bloody injury or an internal bone breaking injury? 01:10:47 - Are there photos of your sunglasses injury? 01:12:41 - What does it feel like to win a gold medal? 01:16:19 - Can you speak to the states of flow you get into competitively vs. training? 01:20:23 - Is Olympic Village as crazy as all the stories? 01:23:13 - Do you have any wild Olympic Village stories? 01:25:18 - Is the last day of the Olympics the biggest party day? 01:26:50 - Do you wear your medals all the time? 01:29:31 - Where should people go to keep up with you? SEGMENTS Interview debrief Trek Propaganda Six Triple Crown Spots to Visit If You Can't Thru-hike This Year by Eloise Robbins Triple Crown of Olympic Sports News from Off the Trail Patent Pending (Hangry App) 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.
Apr 13, 2021 · 2 hr 10 min
#101 | Emily Ford on Thru-Hiking the Ice Age Trail in Winter
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 Emily's Instagram 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? SEGMENTS Trek Propaganda Walking Distance Podcast 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.
Apr 1, 2021 · 3 hr 32 min
#100 | Jennifer Pharr Davis + The Real Hiking Viking
Today is our centennial show, and oh boy, is it a beast. For starters, as a thank you to you, our beautiful listeners- we are giving away some awesome prizes, including a Gossamer Gear tent, pack, and trekking poles- but really that just scratches the surface. We're chatting with Jennifer Pharr Davis and Brew Davis about their current COVID Recovery Tour- a family road trip touring the national parks, and a concerted effort to both prioritize their mental health and inspire others to do the same. In hilarious Hiker Trash fashion, the Davis fam conducts this interview from their hotel room's bathroom floor, because, kids. We wrap the show with a wild and somewhat inebriated series of segments- including some newbies such as Never Have I Ever backpacking edition, Gross or Not Gross, and Random Backpacking Advice of the Day. And to really crank this one to 11, the segment portion of the show features our bud and resident yeti, Jabba aka The Real Hiking Viking aka Tom. Strap in. [divider] Listen Download this episode. [divider] 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. My Medic visit discount code: Use code: "BACKPACKER25" to save 25% at mymedic.com [divider] Interview with Jennifer Pharr Davis & Brew Davis Jennifer Pharr Davis's instagram Brew Davis's instagram Jennifer Pharr Davis's Facebook Brew Davis's Facebook Jennifer Pharr Davis's Website Blue Ridge Hiking Company Brew Davis on Spotify 00:05:04 - QOTD: If your belly button was a real button, what would you want it to do? 00:08:00 - Explanation for winning prizes! 00:14:05 - Interview with Jennifer Pharr Davis and Brew Davis 00:15:00 - What is your most recent book? 00:16:53 - Where are you right now? What are you drinking? And what are you drinking it out of? 00:18:00 - You're drinking what out of a what? 00:19:15 - Give us a brief intro on Blue Ridge Hiking Co. and how things have gone with COVID? 00:23:18 - The outfitter is new then? 00:24:10 - Can you talk about the President's Council? 00:26:45 - Is there a certain time they add or remove people from the President's Council? 00:28:00 - You serve (or served) on the board for the ATC? What is that like? 00:33:48 - What has it been like being a parent to two kids during the heart of COVID? 00:40:13 - Can you talk about what the National Parks tour is? 00:47:47 - What part of the tour is for work? 00:53:23 - How are your kids doing? Who is this trip for? 00:57:25 - How has COVID impacted your screen policy? 01:04:40 - How did you do the schedule for the National Parks tour? 01:06:00 - How do you stay on top of the changes with the pandemic and everything? 01:08:35 - Where in the tour are you now? Where have you visited? 01:12:17 - Can you tell a story about Al Capone and Hot Springs? 01:13:47 - Do you set goals based on your kids hiking desires? How do you choose which treks you take on? 01:23:53 - Do you have any parting words of wisdom for us? 01:26:53 - Where should people go if they want to keep up with the National Parks Tour? SEGMENTS Trek Propaganda The Best Backpacking Meals of 2021 by Katie Kommer New Writer Applications on The Trek Zach's Assistant Internship Random Piece of Backpacking Advice of The Day Gross or Not Gross TRIPLE CROWN of band names Never Have I Ever 5 Star Reviews Prize package 1: Gossamer Gear The One Shelter, $100 gift card at Backcountry.com, 2 pairs of Goodr shades (upcoming advertiser), a 5-meal sampler from Greenbelly, a signed copy of Appalachian Trials or Pacific Crest Trials and Hiking from Home, a Trek Hat, AND A BPR STICKER Prize package 2: Gossamer Gear Gorilla Pack, $100 gift card at Backcountry.com, 2 pairs of Goodr shades (upcoming advertiser), and a 5-meal sampler from Greenbelly, a signed copy of Appalachian Trials or Pacific Crest Trials and Hiking from Home, a Trek Hat, AND A BPR STICKER Prize package 3: Gossamer Gear LT5 Poles, $100 gift card at Backcountry.com, 2 pairs of Goodr shades (upcoming advertiser), a signed copy of Appalachian Trials or Pacific Crest Trials and Hiking from Home, a Trek Hat, AND A BPR STICKER 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.
Mar 25, 2021 · 2 hr 32 min
#99 | Patricia Cameron, Founder of Blackpackers
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Patricia Cameron. Patricia is a journalist, thru-hiker, and the Founder and Executive Director at Blackpackers, a non-profit whose mission is to eliminate economic disparities of people of color in outdoor recreation. We chat in-depth about Patricia's Colorado Trail thru-hike last year, including what it was like to hike during a pandemic, how much she enjoyed the hiker trash camaraderie, some of her favorite stops along the trail, and more. We also learn about the origin of Blackpackers, some of the challenges and successes she's had in building it, and the impact she's with the Colorado POC community so far. We wrap the convo with some very important Breaking Bad chat and what it's like to pee yourself. The show closes with a triple crown of animals you don't want to see on trail, we ponder how badly we want to explore the universe, Badger opines about why Altra is losing ground with the thru-hiking community, and we get a taste for a new podcast project courtesy of our very own, Ms. Juliana Chauncey. 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. My Medic visit discount code: Use code: "BACKPACKER25" to save 25% at mymedic.com [divider] Interview with Patricia Cameron COBlackpackers.com Patricia's Twitter Patricia's Instagram Blackpackers Instagram Blackpackers Facebook Patricia's blogs on Backpacker.com about her CT hike 00:05:00 - QOTD: What are your spring hiking plans? 00:07:58 - Welcome Patricia Cameron of CO Blackpackers! 00:08:27 - How did you get into the outdoors/backpacking? 00:09:48 - Did the green vested guru have any hesitancy for showing you how to set up the tent? 00:10:46 - Are you originally from Colorado Springs? 00:11:05 - When did writing about backpacking become part of the equation? 00:12:58 - Were you at Outdoor Retailer on behalf of CO Blackpackers? 00:14:22 - Can you talk about your journalism background? 00:15:27 - Are you a football fan? 00:17:11- How did Blackpackers correlate with the CT (timing wise)? 00:17:46 - Can you explain Blackpackers for people who don't know? 00:20:19 - What regions of Colorado does Blackpackers work with? 00:21:04 - Can you talk about the evolution/growth of Colorado Blacpackers over the last year? 00:24:55 - Can you talk through where your head was at with starting the trail? 00:26:19 - Did you choose to hike the Colorado Trail based on the pandemic? 00:27:00 - How did your son feel about you hiking the trail? 00:29:24 - How much lightning did you have to deal with on your hike? 00:30:34 - What did you do when you were stuck in the storm? 00:34:22 - Can you talk about the hiker camaraderie and what your expectations were going into the hike? 00:36:08 - How many people were you seeing on the Colorado Trail? 00:37:14 - Can you speak to the night when someone said "whiskey" and you decided to camp with them? 00:39:30 - Did you enjoy the towns on the CT?00:40:24 - You had some great town stays besides Breckenridge — can you talk about Salida? 00:42:47 - What's your go-to when you go into town? 00:43:45 - Was there a standout meal on the trail? 00:44:56 - Were you taking notes every night? 00:45:45 - Did you ever bring drinks with you on the trail? 00:51:00 - Can you talk about your gear? 00:54:10 - Did you accept yourself during the hike or before? 01:00:30 - Can you talk about your pacing? You are a self-described slower hiker? Can you speak to the pace you did it in? 01:02:33 - Did you do any of the side trails or 14ers on the trail? 01:03:10 - Do you have a favorite location from the Colorado Trail? 01:06:11 - How many people do you think Blackpackers has brought outside so far? 01:07:40 - Did you feel like you were successful in reaching people outside of the hiking world through other venues (like skiing)? 01:09:18 - Are you a big Breaking Bad fan? 01:10:00 - Who from Breaking Bad would be best at thru-hiking? 01:10:17 - Who would you like to thru-hike with? 01:11:40 - Can you speak to the mentality some people have that there isn't a race boundary in the outdoors? 01:15:25 - What are some of the biggest challenges you are facing with running and starting Blackpackers? 01:16:20 - If people want to help but aren't local where can they go and what can they do? Donate at COBlackpackers.com Volunteer 01:17:33 - Can you speak a little more about the specific NOLS course you went on? 01:18:41 - Does that inform the kind of courses you'll be leading? Does NOLS help with certifications? 01:27:40 - Lots of potty talk 01:30:14 - Upcoming trips you are excited about personal or with Blackpackers? 01:31:57 - What's harder — hiking the Colorado Trail or raising a teenager? SEGMENTS Trek Propaganda 5 Reasons Why I Chose to Flip-Flop the Appalachian Trail by Austin Hays Triple Crown of animals you don't want to confront on a hike Reddit Brain Buster If an alien offered you a one week trip across the galaxy and back with the catch being 15 years passes on Earth, would you accept or reject the offer and why? Follow-up: As an alien your goal is to ruin life for all of the earthlings as much as possible. However, you only have time to do one thing. What do you do? One-Minute Gear Reviews Mile By Mile Podcast Teaser 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.
Mar 17, 2021 · 2 hr 9 min
#98 | Eric Giuliani on Traveling 70,000 Miles Around the World on a Shoestring Budget
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Eric Giuliani. Eric, more or less on a whim, decided to trade his unfulfilling corporate job to circumnavigate the globe without taking a single flight. Yes, 70,000 miles by boat, train, and automobile, and- to make the story even more ridiculous- he relies largely on his very nascent photography skills to barter his way around the world. We learn all about this massive adventure, including an in-depth accounting for how he pitched hotels to lodge in exchange for his services, how difficult it can be to lay low during high terror alerts as a 6'10" former collegiate basketball player, what it's like to spend several days on cargo ships without any form of entertainment, and more. We wrap the show with a quick chat about Trail Days 2021, a triple crown of things we'd do with a million bucks, and an absurd story about a bear biting a woman's ass in an outhouse. Reel toilet paper discount code: Use code "BACKPACKER" to save 25% at reelpaper.com. 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 Eric Giuliani Eric's Book - Sky's the Limit: One Man's 70,000 Mile Journey Around the World Sky's The Limit trailer for Eric's book Eric's Instagram Eric's Twitter Eric's Youtube 00:05:07 - QOTD: What is a movie that inspires you or has inspired you to get outside? 00:11:02 - Where does your travel story start? 00:13:18 - Can you elaborate on why it's better to hate your job than like your job? 00:15:31 - How did your finances and the philosophy of the travel itself interface with one another? 00:19:42 - So before you left you didn't actually have the skills you were bartering? 00:23:59 - How far in advance were you booking places out (through bartering)? 00:26:15 - What was your success rate on reaching out to people? What goes into a good pitch for what you were trying to do? 00:28:21 - Did you ever feel any sort of imposter syndrome while doing this? 00:30:15 - Did your pitch start to work better once your portfolio got more built out? 00:32:30 - Did your pitch start to involve more video as you got better? 00:38:19 - Drones are the move. 00:39:28 - Can you share how you chose what destinations you chose? How you formatted the trip? 00:45:24 - Is it even more difficult to lay low as a westerner being 6'10"? 00:47:04 - You've mentioned that the bus rides are dangerous, can you explain some of the dangers they pose? 00:49:09 - Were there ever instances during these risky trips that put you on edge? 00:50:40 - Were you doing anything recreationally during the African leg of your journey? 00:52:39 - What happened after Egypt? 00:54:55 - How did you keep yourself entertained on a cargo ship? 00:56:00 - Were there any huge storms on cargo ships? 00:58:44 - Can you talk more about your Europe adventures? 01:04:13 - What were you traveling with? 01:05:35 - Did you buy new stuff as you went along? 01:07:12 - Who did you give the bartered jacket to? 01:08:06 - Were you good at pitching yourself in person before you left or did you hone the craft over the course of your journey? 01:09:11 - When you did pay for things did you ever negotiate? Did you ever haggle? 01:11:00 - What was the primary thread that you enjoyed about this trip? 01:13:33 - Where did you go after Beijing? 01:17:08 - Did you ever have a moment on the ships where you felt like it might sink? 01:19:15 - What does someone do in Antarctica? 01:23:00 - What is the place you are actually staying like? Can you describe the town or whatever it is? 01:24:20 - Do you have any general pieces of advice for anyone who's interested in doing something similar? SEGMENTS As Trail Days Moves Forward, Hikers Wonder About Safety by Tina Mullen The Trek Editorial Internship Gear Wars: Merino Wool vs. Synthetic Base Layers Katie Kommer Reddit Brain Buster: What's a fact that makes you uncomfortable? We'll start — bones are wet. The strongest species on earth is the dung beetle. Triple Crown of things you would do with a million dollars* *must be selfish, not altruistic 5 Star Reviews Mail Bag Alaskan Woman Attacked By Bear From Below 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.
Mar 9, 2021 · 2 hr 26 min
#97 | Ben Lawhon of Leave No Trace
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 LeaveNoTrace.org 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: See: https://www.georgia-atclub.org/hike-the-a-t/hike-the-georgia-appalachian-trail/frequently-asked-questions 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? LeaveNoTrace.org SEGMENTS Trek Propaganda Trek Ambassadors Badger Sponsorship is now CLOSED 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.
Mar 2, 2021 · 2 hr 5 min
#96 | Survivorman Les Stroud
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by THE Survivorman, Les Stroud. This interview does not disappoint. We talk about Les' entry into the world of reality tv- and why he hates the genre overall, he talks a little bit of shit on Bear Grylls, we chat about some of his most precarious moments in the bush, and Les gives us a very compelling pitch on why Sasquatch is probably real. We wrap up the show wondering how we'd run amok if the world was frozen for 24 hours, we learn what Vinegrower's Day is, and I hate on lemon juice. Photo credit: Laura Bombier Backcountry discount code: Use code "BACKPACKER15" to save 15% on your "first" purchase at Backcountry.com/backpackerradio. 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. Feals.com discount code: Use code "BACKPACKER" for members to get 50% automatically taken off their first order with free shipping at feals.com. Interview with Les Stroud: Survivorman - Les's Youtube - Les's Podcast - Les's Book — Wild Outside - Les's New Special — Surviving Disasters 00:05:19 - QOTD: What is the closest you've come to using (or have you used) extreme survival skills while backpacking? 00:12:45 - Intro to Les Stroud, how did you get started in the outdoors? 00:14:59 - Was TV inspiring you to get outdoors why you created Survivorman? 00:17:21 - How do you feel about reliance on cell phones for navigation? 00:19:20 - How did you background in music transition into your work in the outdoors? 00:24:38 - Do you know how much all your camera equipment weighs? 00:27:23 - Does it bother you to be mentioned in the same breath as Bear Grylls? 00:30:33 - Did you get to talk to Mike Judge about King of the Hill? 00:31:54 - What is the place you'll never go? 00:32:12 - Can you talk about reality TV in general? Do you feel like you are being dragged down by the category? 00:36:20 - Can you tell us about the year long honeymoon project? 00:39:33 - Where can someone find Snow Shoes & Solitude? Or any of your stuff? Les's Youtube 00:39:48 - So you own all the rights to your content? 00:42:20 - Can you give an introduction to the show and your vision of Survivorman? 00:44:25 - How far out there are you when you are filming shows? 00:52:04 - How do you decide where you're going and how much prep goes into it? 00:56:20 - Les has a podcast: Survivorman with Les Stroud 00:57:23 - What was your favorite food you ever caught? 00:58:21 - Do you bring sleeping bags? Not even in the Arctic? 00:59:02 - How does turtle taste? 00:59:56 - Do you think you would have kicked ass on Fear Factor? 01:00:09 - Did you ever schedule your survivor experiences to avoid exposure/cliffs? 01:00:50 - What's the biggest mistake you've ever made? 01:02:46 - Can we talk about bigfoot? 01:03:11 - Is there an environment that is particularly hard? 01:05:55 - How did you know that beef fat was safe to eat even though it was old? 01:08:30 - Does fire get rid of most diseases and harmful things? 01:09:25 - Did it get more tempting to avoid failures as the show went on? 01:13:41 - What is bigfoot? 01:19:42 - So it's not one bigfoot? It could be a species? 01:20:40 - Why are there so many people who have seen bigfoot but no game camera has picked it up? 01:24:11 - Do you think aliens is a likely theory for what bigfoot is? 01:25:16 - Could bigfoot be an alien? 01:25:31 - Would you describe yourself as a skeptic or believer? 01:27:22 - Thoughts on the lochness monster? Ghosts? 01:30:06 - You've experienced bigfoot? What did you experience? 01:30:38 - Can you tell us about your Surviving Disasters special? 01:31:27 - Les's book Wild Outside is coming out March 1 01:32:00 - Surviving Life with Les Stroud podcast 01:32:44 - Everything is on Youtube SEGMENTS Trek Propaganda The Best Tents for Thru-Hiking by The Editors Walking Distance Podcast by Alison Young Reddit Brain Buster: Time freezes for 24 hours and you are not affected, what do you do? Chaunce's Diet 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. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube.
Feb 25, 2021 · 2 hr 11 min
#95 | Andy Downs of the ATC on the Mountain Valley Pipeline & Postponing Thru-Hikes During a Pandemic
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? Project Planning Reference Materials SEGMENTS Trek 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 You get to pick one person with a 50/50 chance that in the morning you'll either wake up as them or married to them — who do you choose? 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. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube.
Feb 8, 2021 · 2 hr 29 min
#94 | Philip Carcia, New Hampshire's Peakbagging Phenom
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Philip Carcia. Have you heard of New Hampshire? Because Philip has hiked it. All of it. Many times, in all different directions. In addition to a handful of thru-hikes, Philip has completed the New Hampshire 48 Single Year Grid, the White Mountain Direttisima (twice), and White Mountain Redline FKT. If you don't know what any of that means, good! We will learn this together during our conversation. We wrap up the show with some news from the ATC, a new snail themed Reddit Brain Buster, we get some intel on the hot spots along the Ice Age Trail, and it's cicada season! 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 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. Check out Hikerlink. [divider] Interview with Philip Carcia Instagram Facebook 00:04:36 - QOTD: A burglar breaks into your home, but he only wants the stuff on the top of your fridge. What is he going to steal? 00:07:45 - Intro to Philip Carcia 00:10:16 - How did you get into hiking? 00:14:20 - What was your upbringing like until 16 when you went on your first hike? 00:16:22 - Did things snowball immediately after your first hike? 00:24:12 - Tell us what the Single Year Grid is: Hiking all 48 4,000' mountains every month for a year 00:34:30 - What are the logistics like getting in between each mountain? Is there a lot of driving in between, etc.? 00:38:52 - What makes it appealing to do the same hikes over and over again? 00:43:51 - Fuck, Marry, Kill — the months of hiking in New England 00:47:46 - What's the difference between the double single winter and a calendar grid? 00:50:58 - Has anyone done the calendar or single year grid since? 00:54:42 - Tell us about the Direttissima and how to pronounce it. 01:00:28 - Is this route all on trail? Off-trail? Roads? 01:03:32 - How steep are the trails that connect the 48? 01:09:58 - You hold a White Mountain Redline FKT — can you tell us what a White Mountain Redline is and about your experience? 01:19:55 - This sounds like one of your most extensive White Mountain feats? 01:20:15 - How intense is it to plan for a White Mountain Redline FKT? 01:30:44 - What are the best of the 48 4,000' mountains in New Hampshire? 01:31:16 - What is the hardest of the 48 4,000' mountains in New Hampshire? 01:32:13 - What is the easiest of the 48 4,000' mountains in New Hampshire? 01:32:37 - If you could only do one of the 48 4,000' mountains in New Hampshire for the rest of your life, which would it be? 01:33:11 - What is the worst marked of the 48 4,000' mountains in New Hampshire? 01:33:49 - What is the most underrated of the 48 4,000' mountains in New Hampshire? 01:35:15 - What is the most overrated of the 48 4,000' mountains in New Hampshire? 01:38:33 - What is the best named 48 4,000' mountains in New Hampshire? 01:39:50 - What is a 48 4,000' mountain in New Hampshire that you'd skip? 01:41:39 - Can you talk about the initiative you founded? 01:47:00 - Where can people keep up with Summits in Solidarity? Instagram Facebook 01:48:30 - Where do we find Philip? Instagram Facebook SEGMENTS Trek Propaganda Black Forest Trail Profile by Troy Zohner The ATC Will Not Recognize Thru-Hikers During Pandemic by Kelly Floro Minor Inconveniences Reddit Brain Buster After lightning strikes your garden, you gain the ability to communicate with snails and they follow your commands. What will you ask them to do? Cicada Season Horse Fact from Erin Potter Unlike humans who produce stomach acid when they ingest food, horses always produce stomach acid which makes it essential that they have something to eat so that they don't develop ulcers. 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: 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. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube.
Jan 26, 2021 · 1 hr 57 min
#93 | The Quirins on Thru-Hiking the AT with a Baby
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Bekah and Derrick Quirin. In 2017, the Quirins thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail with their adorable baby, Ellie, alongside. We learn how in the hell this is possible, including their diaper logistics, gear setup, nap schedule, and much more. The very next year the Quirins cycled the 2,700 mile Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, again, with Ellie in tow. We learn the of the unique challenges between thru-hiking and thru-biking, the differences between hiking with a baby and a toddler, and much more. We close out the show with some Badger Baby Q&A, a round of toddler or drunk person trivia, Chaunce gives us her best patent pending invention yet, and Zach does his best to string coherent sentences together despite some punishing sleep deprivation. Gossamer Gear discount code: Use code "POOPSTORY" to save 15% off your cart at GossamerGear.com [divider] Help us raise $100,000 for the trails and we'll get butt tattoos. Check out Hikerlink. [divider] Interview with The Quirins The Dirtbag Baby on Instagram Valleyforestschool.com for Forest School in Roanoke, VA or Greenville, SC 00:04:20 - QOTD: At what age does a baby become a true thru-hiker? 00:05:46 - Donate to the Butt tattoo campaign 00:06:51 - Introduction to the Quirins who Thru-Hiked the AT in 2017 with their baby, Ellie. 00:08:02 - What was the inspiration to thru-hike with a baby? And how old was Ellie when you took on the thru-hike? 00:09:27 - How old was Ellie when you decided to hike? 00:09:37 - Is it scary to have a 6-month-old and be selling everything? 00:10:50 - Is Ellie just starting to walk when you started the trail? 00:11:26 - Did Ellie walk at all on the trail? 00:12:10 - Where on the trail did Ellie take her first steps? 00:12:45 - Did you hike northbound? 00:13:34 - What are the carrying logistics with gear and the baby? 00:14:37 - How heavy was the whole family's gear? 00:15:46 - Can you tell us more about your sleep system? 00:16:51 - Was the quilt also made by thermarest? Yes, the Vela HD down quilt. 00:17:16 - What kind of diaper system were you using? 00:18:09 - They make compostable diaper liners? Yes, G-Diapers. 00:18:24 - What was the weight of diaper liners by the time you got to town? 00:20:07 - What was Ellie eating on the trail? 00:20:18 - What age do babies switch from canned mushy stuff to normal stuff? 00:20:51 - Did Ellie have a favorite trail meal? 00:21:47 - Did Ellie's temperament change on the trail vs. in town? 00:23:17 - How did you guys deal with rain on the AT? 00:24:38 - What pack did you use for Ellie's carrying case? And how did you decide on that? 00:26:28 - Did you know how steep the northern part of the trail would be? 00:28:21 - What did other hikers think about you hiking with the baby? 00:29:36 - Is Ellie the youngest to do the AT? 00:30:42 - How did Ellie sleep through the night on the AT? 00:32:49 - Does Ellie remember the trail? 00:33:47 - Can you tell us about a high and low point on the AT? 00:38:16 - Can you elaborate on forest school? 00:38:55 - What's a standard day at forest school like? 00:39:38 - Have you noticed Ellie now has a natural affinity for being outdoors? 00:40:50 - Does Ellie consider being outside normal or being home more normal? 00:42:17 - Do you think having hiked the AT but not having a memory of it will be weird for Ellie? 00:43:38 - Can you tell us about your family bike-packing? 00:44:44 - How does bike-packing compare to hiking with a baby? 00:45:51 - Did you guys have to deal with terrible twos? 00:48:32 - Why did you prefer to ride at night on the Great Divide trip? 00:49:00 - Did you ever see grizzly bears? 00:49:19 - How long did the 2,800 miles take and how long was your average day? 00:49:35 - What kind of mileage were you doing on the AT? 00:50:01 - What's your approach for the mileage you do on your trips? 00:50:26 - How much did you sleep if you were trying to hike or ride while she sleeps? 00:51:03 - What's a normal night of sleep for you guys? 00:51:59 - How much does Ellie sleep on trips? 00:53:08 - Was it easier to carry Ellie when she was asleep? 00:54:12 - Tell us about the ambitions of your family moving forward with a second baby on the way! 00:55:11 - Do you think your kids will grow up differently because of their young experiences on trail? 00:58:11 - Was it always a goal of yours with raising a kid to not be stuck to a rigid schedule? 00:59:24 - Does Ellie take it harder when you guys are away since she spent so much time with you at a young age? 01:01:45 - What was Ellie's first word? 01:03:00 - Any advice for other parents? 01:04:51 - Any staples to carry for the baby? 01:06:50 - How much is a down jacket for a 1-year-old? 01:07:07 - Do you have any brands in mind for babies? 01:09:00 - Any parting words? The Dirtbag Baby on Instagram Valleyforestschool.com for Forest School in Roanoke, VA or Greenville, SC SEGMENTS The 2020 AT Section Hiker Survey: Motives and Logistics by Mariposa 2021 PCT Long-distance Permits Will be Issued; Portal to Open January 19 by Kelly Floro Patent Pending: Guacarollie Horse Baby Facts Dad Q&A Toddler or Drunk Person? Triple Crown of NFL teams Chaunce picks: Bills, Buccaneers, Rams Zachs picks: Chiefs, Packers, Saints 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. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube.
Jan 8, 2021 · 2 hr 14 min
#92 | Andrew Skurka Returns
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) Backpacker Radio Book Bundle [divider] Interview with Andre Skurka Andrew's Previous Backpacker Radio Epsidoe (33) Andrewskurka.com 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? Andrewskurka.com Segments How 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. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube.
Dec 27, 2020 · 4 hr 2 min
#91 | The NYE Sh*t Show Spectacular
Today's episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, is 2020 personified. And by that, I mean it's a genuine shit show. Today's show runs the gamut, we drunk dial some fans, introduce a slew of new segments, play some trivia (grab a drink if you'd like to play along), and are given a play-by-play of some soiled denim courtesy of The Real Hiking Viking. As if that weren't enough the trio consumes enough adult beverages to commit to getting quasi-matching butt tattoos if you, our Backpacker Radio listeners, deem it worthwhile. This is our longest episode yet, by a lot, and exceptionally weird. Strap in. Zpacks discount code: Use code: BPRPLEX for $25 off any plex tent at zpacks.com. [divider] Help us raise $100,000 for the trails and we'll get butt tattoos. Backpacker Radio Book Bundle 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. True Thru-Hiker Shirt & Mug [divider] 00:03:50 - QOTD: What would you put in a 2020 time capsule? 00:08:09 - 2021 Predictions 00:59:00 - Drunk Dialing The Real Hiking Viking 01:08:24 - Drunk Dialing with Smelly Melly / Frontline 01:15:00 - Drunk Dialing with John 01:19:00 - BPR stats 01:25:41 - Drunk Dialing with Julian 01:28:30 - Drunk Dialing with Katie 01:32:55 - Top 10 Countries that listen to Backpacker Radio 01:35:38 - Pits and Peaks of 2020 01:40:00 - Drunk Dialing with Chirstopher Marshburn 01:48:21 - Drunk Dialing with Crystal 01:58:10 - Drunk Dialing with Katie Again 01:59:30 - Drunk Dialing with Kate aka Stickerz 02:09:18 - Drunk Dialing with Rob 02:18:00 - Drunk Dialing with Logan and Kevin 02:26:21 - Trivia with Zach 02:47:27 - Drunk Dialing with Nicholas 02:52:50 - Surprise appearance from Ballflap 02:57:40 - Drunk Dialing with Dot 03:10:00 - More Pits and Peaks 03:19:27 - Drunk Dialing with Zane and Anton 03:35:00 - (ISH?) The beginning of the butt tattoo discussion 03:51:00 - Mail Bag Comment _____ to win a sticker [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. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube.
Dec 22, 2020 · 2 hr 20 min
#90 | Cindy Ross
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, we are joined by Cindy Ross. Cindy is a bonafide renaissance woman. She's published nine books, with two more on the way, she's a triple crowner, illustrator, and avid traveler. But, the bulk of our conversation today centers around Cindy's novel approach to raising children. In a nutshell, Cindy and her husband believe that kids should fold into your lifestyle, and not the other way around, as evidenced by their family of four taking on the CDT in section hikes beginning when their kids were just toddlers. Cindy schools us on experiential education, the trick to successful homeschooling, and why you shouldn't let kids get in the way of your adventurous pursuits. Whether you have kids, are planning on it in the future, or not, I am confident you will enjoy our conversation. We also do the triple crown of sauces, unveil 2020's naughty and nice lists, and hop in our time machines and prevent the development of two movies. Zpacks discount code: Use code: BPRPLEX for $25 off any plex tent at zpacks.com. Gossamer Gear discount code: Use code "POOPSTORY" to save 15% off your cart at GossamerGear.com Backpacker Radio Book Bundle 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. True Thru-Hiker Shirt & Mug [divider] Interview with Cindy Ross Cindy's website [divider] 00:03:36 - QOTD: What is the best book you've read in 2020? 00:09:52 - Cindy Ross, will you tell us about your background? 00:13:58 - So you were a trail angel to your husband? 00:14:21 - How did you keep in touch with your husband? Did you have an initial romantic interest? 00:16:43 - Do you think getting the same injury is a symbol of romance? 00:17:13 - What years did you hike the AT? 00:17:25 - What did the AT look like in the '70s compared to now? 00:17:54 - How many people were you seeing on the AT? 00:18:06 - Was the trail as maintained as it is now? 00:18:33 - You did the AT in two halves? Where did you start each time? 00:18:56 - What was the typical demographic on the AT at the time? 00:19:16 - What was the hostel culture like? 00:19:43 - What were resupplies like? 00:20:23 - So you hiked the AT with a friend? 00:21:03 - Were there trail logs when you hiked the AT? 00:21:14 - Do you still have your gear? 00:22:05 - Your book is also a sketchbook right? 00:22:17 - What does your process look like? 00:22:37 - Did you make your own shelter? 00:22:44 - How did you know what to make? 00:23:44 - Did anyone want to buy the gear you made? 00:24:17 - What inspired you to continue the AT in '89? 00:24:44 - Did you end up liking the second leg more? 00:25:42 - Is there anything else you want to say about the AT? What differences do you notice between the AT in the late '70s and today? 00:27:10 - Do you think the ATC should institute a permit system? 00:28:34 - When was your PCT hike? 00:28:38 - What was the PCT like in '82 and '84? 00:28:58 - Who was "we" on the PCT? 00:29:50 - Did you find people in the desert section of the PCT? 00:30:15 - Was the trail well marked at the time? Did you get lost? 00:30:58 - Through the desert, what were your longest water carries? 00:31:34 - Did you know what you were signing up for when you started the PCT? 00:31:54 - Did you dislike snow travel before the PCT? 00:33:29 - Were you carrying any devices to help you? 00:33:43 - Did you have anything like an InReach? 00:34:00 - What was it like to hitch in the '80s? Did people know what you were talking about when you said you were hiking the PCT? 00:34:54 - What did you tell people when you are hitching? 00:36:37 - How much do llamas cost? 00:37:41 - What are the advantages of llamas over horses? 00:38:21 - What's the maximum weight you can put on a llama? Specifically in terms of a kid? 00:39:14 - Did you know anything about llamas previously? 00:40:12 - Did you just borrow the llamas for the duration of the trail? 00:40:50 - How do you maintain a llama? 00:41:38 - How long do llamas usually live? 00:41:49 - Do you have any llama facts? 00:42:43 - Do you grow attached to llamas like you would a dog? 00:44:20 - When the llamas are walking do they have reins? How does that work? 00:45:40 - Do you just tie the llamas to a tree when they get to camp? 00:45:53 - Were there any first aid considerations for llamas? 00:46:43 - Did you ever have to worry about mountain lions? 00:48:37 - Do you still have llamas today? 00:48:52 - Are llamas lonely if they only have one? 00:49:12 - Can your goats carry gear? 00:49:30 - So the goats are just for companionship? 00:49:42 - How far can goats go? 00:50:10 - Can you tell us about the logistics of hiking with kids? How old were your kids on the CDT? 00:50:56 - Are there kid seats for the llamas? 00:51:29 - Did you have any hesitations about bringing your kids? 00:52:00 - Was sleeping with young kids an issue on the trail? 00:55:00 - How would the kids describe their experience? 00:55:37 - Can you offer a synopsis of what your kids wrote? 00:57:07 - Do your kids have tons of pets now? 01:01:37 - Was teaching your kids on the CDT in place of "actual" schooling? 01:02:55 - Was the Camino a cycling trip? 01:03:08 - Why are your kids so bright? 01:04:20 - How do you decide what is important to learn and what's not? How do you decide what to focus on for homeschooling? 01:06:12 - Did you worry about the kids socially? 01:08:59 - Do you think giving kids the ability to choose their schooling made them want to learn more? 01:09:47 - When Bryce wants to learn about tsunamis, did you also have to learn about tsunamis? 01:10:29 - What is your kid's relationship with technology today, since they grew up without TV? 01:11:29 - What is your take on parenting where screens are used so often? 01:15:08 - What advice do you have for other people wanting this lifestyle for their kids? 01:17:26 - Can you speak to the scientific studies about kids doing better in nature? 01:20:57 - Is there an audio version of your book? 01:21:16 - Can you define experiential education? 01:22:33 - Is there any risk of exposing your kid to stress? 01:24:30 - Are your kids still very outdoorsy? 01:24:50 - How old are your kids now? 01:25:02 - Was Sierra conceived in the place of her namesake? 01:25:47 - Can you really time the gender of your kid? 01:26:28 - Can you give us a rundown of your two new books coming out? 01:27:43 - Can you talk about some of the stories that inspired your book? 01:29:08 - Is it unanimous that the trail was the healing the veterans were looking for? 01:30:20 - Is there science to back up the efficacy of long-distance hiking and healing? 01:33:38 - What kind of carpentry skills did you have before building your log cabin? Todd Gladfelter - Chainsaw artist (Cindy's husband) Bryce Gladfelter - Illustrator (Cindy's son) 01:35:19 - What are the metaphors people can take away from building a marriage while building a log cabin? 01:38:20 - Where should people go to hear more from you? Cindy's website Segments Trek Propaganda Gossamer Gear The DCF One Ultralight Tent Review Gossamer Gear The DCF Two Ultralight Tent Review Triple Crown of Sauces 2020 Naughty and Nice List How long is too long to leave up the holiday lights? And when should people take them down? 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: 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. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube.
Dec 11, 2020 · 2 hr 3 min
#89 | Dr. Kristina Kiefer on Backpacking with a Dog
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] Backpacker Radio Book Bundle 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. True Thru-Hiker Shirt & Mug [divider] Interview with Dr.Kristina Kiefer @kristinakiefer @barefootprofessordvm www.vetssmart.com [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? @kristinakiefer @barefootprofessordvm www.vetssmart.com 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 What's the best beer for trail magic? What's the best piece of simple advice you have to offer? How do you handle backpacking with lightning in Colorado? Is there a chance mountain lions came back to the Appalachian mountains? I wanna thru-hike but I already wasted 10 years of my life, what do I do? Most memorable view? Chaunce Tea Plantation Pic What gives you the right? 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. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube.