Backpacker Radio

The Trek

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

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

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400 episodes
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Episodes400

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May 21 · 1 hr 14 min
Signs of Thru-Hiker Entitlement, Weird Smells, the Triple Crown of Mountain Peaks, and a "Geography" Quiz
Segments Geography Quiz Smells Associated with Health Issues Trek Propaganda: 7 All-Too Common Signs of Entitlement I've Noticed in the Thru-Hiking Community by Peg Leg QOTD: Why does a sawyer filter last a lifetime but you're supposed to swap a brita every few months? Triple Crown of mountain peaks Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek's newsletter Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Bill Jensen, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Bret Mullins aka Cruizy, Bryan Alsop, Carl Lobstah Houde, Christopher Marshburn, Clint Sitler, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Ethan Harwell, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Jackson Storm, JaredNotFromSubway, Jason Kiser, Jason "The Snail" Snailer, Luke Netjes, Matty in AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Randy Sutherland, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, The Saint Louis Shaman, Timothy Hahn, Tracy 'Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Benjy Lowry, Bonnie Ackerman, Brett Vandiver, Chris Pyle, Dakota J, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Denise Krekeler, Jack Greene, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Lloyd Harris, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, Sloan Alberhasky, and Tyler Powers.
May 18 · 4 hr 34 min
Negotiating with Al-Qaeda, Drill Sergeant Secrets, and Healing from War on the AT with Stephen "Near Miss" Palazzo (BPR #357)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Stephen Palazzo, aka Near Miss, an Army veteran, thru-hiker, and peak bagger who has completed the AT, CDT, AZT, and Colorado Trail, summited all 58 of Colorado's 14ers, and knocked out three of the seven summits. This one runs the gambit. Stephen walks us through 24 years of military service, from crossing into Iraq on the first wave of the ground war in 2003 to negotiating with the number two guy in Al-Qaeda over a solitary confinement dispute, to a very geopolitically tangled deployment in Syria. He also shares how thru-hiking became the thing that finally got him to put down the bottle, why post-trail depression hit harder than anything he experienced in war, and a magical moment in the Wind River Range where he locked eyes with a bull moose. And- as Chaunce comes to grips with her impending move, she has made it her mission to make each podcast an ultra-marathon. This one is sure to give you enough content to get through the week (or year). Also, warning: this episode contains discussions of war, combat, death, PTSD, and alcohol abuse. We wrap the show with an article about thru-hiker entitlement, discussing why a Sawyer filter lasts a lifetime but you're supposed to swap a Brita every few months, the triple crown of mountain peaks, a new sun hoody review series, a detailed mailbag about a listener's experience on the San Diego Trans County Trail, and Chaunce schedules an impromptu summit of Mount Rainier. NEW Backpacker Radio Merch: https://www.bonfire.com/can-you-dig-it-15/ Apply to Guest Co-Host Backpacker Radio. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. Gossamer Gear: Use code "BACKPACKERRADIO" for $20 off LT5 Trekking Poles at gossamergear.com. OnX Backcountry: Through Memorial Day, use code "TREK70" for 70% off at onxmaps.com Hyperlite Mountain Gear: Use code "BPRADIO15" for 15% of hyperlitemountaingear.com Shady Rays: Use code "TREK" for 40% off two or more pairs of sunglasses at shadyrays.com. [divider] Interview with Stephen "Near Miss" Palazzo Stephen's Instagram Stephen's Trek Author page Time stamps & Questions 00:05:25 - Reminders: Check out our new merch, get tickets for our LIVE Chaunce send-off podcast, apply to be a guest co-host, listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon 00:13:40 - Introducing Near Miss 00:15:50 - What got you started in the military? 00:22:00 - Were you still on your five year plan when 9/11 happened? 00:26:45 - Talk to us in your drill sergeant voice 00:28:30 - Discussion about Stephen's time in the military after 9/11 00:40:50 - Did you prefer your more managerial or front-line roles? 00:45:40 - What are your go-to stories that you tell about your deployments? 00:49:18 - What was one of your near-death experiences? 00:53:00 - Discussion about post-trail depression 00:55:30 - Discussion about PTSD 00:56:00 - How did you deal with your drinking problems? 01:01:15 - Do you have any advice for hikers that want to process something on trail? 01:06:17 - Chaunce's voice memo story 01:09:50 - As a drill sergeant, what ticks you off the most? 01:14:00 - How many people left in the first few weeks? 01:21:00 - Tell us about your Ursack freezing to a tree 01:26:50 - Have you talked any of your veteran friends into hiking? 01:28:30 - Was there a moment you realized that hiking was healing you? 01:35:00 - Tell us about your trip to Ecuador 01;37:30 - Discussion about rhabdomyolysis 01:40:45 - How did you get interested in mountaineering? 01:44:16 - Do you have advice for someone who wants to save money for an adventure? 01:51:45 - How did you decide to hike the CDT next? 01:56:10 - Is there a difference between the fear you experienced while deployed versus hiking? 01:58:50 - What are your favorite stories from the CDT? 02:02:10 - What's the most real between ghosts, aliens, and mountain lions in New England? 02:14:35 - What time span did you complete all the Colorado 14ers in? 02:18:30 - Discussion about paratroopers 02:25:15 - Which was your first of the 7 summits? 02:31:17 - Discussion about summiting Denali 02:38:15 - Fuck Marry Kill: Denali, Kiliminjaro, Aconcagua 02:39:50 - If you had to cut a summit from the list, which would you cut? 02:43:00 - Discussion about deciding to quit a thru-hike and town food 02:49:50 - Tell us about the 13ers you've done recently 02:52:00 - Are you afraid of dying? 02:53:55 - What do you wear in extremely cold conditions? 02:55:45 - What advice would you give to someone interested in getting into mountaineering? 03:03:30 - Do you feel like a different person now? 03:06:00 - Zach and Chaunce have a fight 03:12:50 - What's next on the docket for you? 03:13:45 - In what way did you burnout on thru-hiking? 03:16:40 - Tell us about your Buffalo Wild Wings points 03:23:00 - Stay Salty Question: What's your hottest take in the world of backpacking? 03:25:50 - If you were 18 again, would you join the Army again? Segments Trek Propaganda: 7 All-Too Common Signs of Entitlement I've Noticed in the Thru-Hiking Community by Peg Leg QOTD: Why does a sawyer filter last a lifetime but you're supposed to swap a brita every few months? Triple Crown of mountain peaks Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek's newsletter Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Bill Jensen, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Bret Mullins aka Cruizy, Bryan Alsop, Carl Lobstah Houde, Christopher Marshburn, Clint Sitler, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Ethan Harwell, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Jackson Storm, JaredNotFromSubway, Jason Kiser, Jason "The Snail" Snailer, Luke Netjes, Matty in AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Randy Sutherland, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, The Saint Louis Shaman, Timothy Hahn, Tracy 'Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Benjy Lowry, Bonnie Ackerman, Brett Vandiver, Chris Pyle, Dakota J, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Denise Krekeler, Jack Greene, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Lloyd Harris, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, Sloan Alberhasky, and Tyler Powers.
May 14 · 1 hr 6 min
Dramatic Survival Stories, the Triple Crown of Sports, and the Funniest Word for Boobs
Segments Dramatic Survival Stories Trek Propaganda: Thru-Hiker Who Died on PCT Was Trek Blogger by Kelly Floro The Dark Side of Trail Magic: The Negative Experiences Hikers Rarely Talk About by Peg Leg QOTD: What's the best/funniest word for boobs? Triple Crown of (team) sports Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek's newsletter Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Bill Jensen, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Bret Mullins aka Cruizy, Bryan Alsop, Carl Lobstah Houde, Christopher Marshburn, Clint Sitler, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Ethan Harwell, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Jackson Storm, JaredNotFromSubway, Jason Kiser, Jason "The Snail" Snailer, Luke Netjes, Matty in AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Randy Sutherland, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, The Saint Louis Shaman, Timothy Hahn, Tracy 'Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Benjy Lowry, Bonnie Ackerman, Brett Vandiver, Chris Pyle, Dakota J, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Denise Krekeler, Jack Greene, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Lloyd Harris, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, Sloan Alberhasky, and Tyler Powers.
May 11 · 3 hr 44 min
Big Podcast News, Swimming with Hippos, Peace Corps, and the GR20 with Becca "Little Bag" Beckham (BPR #356)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we sit down with Becca Beckham, trail name Little Bag, a Peace Corps veteran, thru-hiker and all around world traveler. Becca has hiked the Long Trail and PCT, and last year tackled the Colorado Trail, the Tour du Mont Blanc, and the GR20 in Corsica. In this one, Becca shares what it's like growing up in a military family bouncing across the country, to two years in Cameroon with the Peace Corps, to teaching English in France, to landing in the wonderful world of thru-hiking. She shares stories about floating a hippo-filled river in Central Africa, accidentally eating monkey, attending a rat festival, and what it's like to build community from scratch in a new place, over and over again. If you've ever wondered what it looks like to just keep saying yes, this is your episode. We wrap the show with some very big and ungood news for the future of this podcast- hint it involves Chaunce- hint it's probably what you think it is, hint we are all processing it together- hint it's not related to health or anything serious on that level- but yes it's sad and bad. We also share the tragic news about Ian MacLurg, a thru-hiker, Trek Blogger, and Trail Correspondent who recently passed away while hiking the PCT. On a lighter note- we reveal details of a live podcast happening in Denver in late June, the triple crown of team sports, the funniest terms for boobs, and why Chaunce is looking at her phone all the time during the podcast. Topo Athletic: Use code "TREK15TOPO" at topoathletic.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code "BACKPACKERRADIO" for $20 off LT5 Trekking Poles at gossamergear.com. OnX Backcountry: Through Memorial Day, use code "TREK70" for 70% off at onxmaps.com Hyperlite Mountain Gear: Use code "BPRADIO15" for 15% of hyperlitemountaingear.com [divider] Interview with Becca "Little Bag" Beckham Becca's Instagram Time stamps & Questions 00:05:40 - Reminders: Live podcast in Denver on June 26! Listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon and subscribe to The Trek's Youtube! 00:08:17 - Chaunce's Big News 00:23:11 - Introducing Becca "Little Bag" Beckham 00:24:41 - How did you get into backpacking? 00:25:59 - What was it like growing up in a military family? 00:29:57 - What was it like making friends when moving to a new school every few years? 00:32:35 - Alabama snakes tangent 00:35:16 - How did you get from Peace Corps to the Long Trail? 00:39:08 - What brought you to the Peace Corps? 00:44:15 - What was your day-to-day life like integrating into the community in Cameroon? 00:51:30 - What kind of work were you doing in Cameroon? 00:53:27 - What is bush meat, and what was the wildlife like in Cameroon? 00:57:49 - Did you float a hippo-filled river in Cameroon? 01:03:30 - Do you feel like the Peace Corps prepared you for thru-hiking? 01:06:48 - Have you always been this adventurous? 01:08:23 - Has living a non-traditional lifestyle made it harder to find love? 01:17:15 - How did you come to the decision not to have kids? 01:20:14 - What were your biggest gear fails on the Long Trail? 01:21:25 - What did you learn from the PCT shakedown? 01:28:28 - What was the mud situation like on the Long Trail in a wet year? 01:33:02 - What happened in the gap between the Long Trail and the PCT? 01:39:54 - Did you get norovirus at Crater Lake on the PCT? 01:42:47 - What happened when you discovered you were allergic to Leukotape on the PCT? 01:51:41 - What was your best campsite on the PCT? 01:52:55 - How did you transition back to AmeriCorps after the PCT? 01:54:31 - What is the difference between AmeriCorps and Peace Corps? 02:00:56 - What was it like living in a 15-passenger van with your AmeriCorps team? 02:05:14 - What was it like doing a site visit inside an Idaho prison? 02:13:17 - What was it like installing wildlife-friendly fencing on a Montana ranch? 02:14:58 - How did the government cuts to AmeriCorps affect you personally? 02:20:27 - How did losing your job lead to an epic year of hiking? 02:21:54 - What was it like hiking the Colorado Trail? 02:27:43 - What was hiking the Tour du Mont Blanc like? 02:37:15 - Is the GR20 the hardest hike in Europe? 02:44:25 - Tell us about the pigs tearing a hole in your tent 02:51:18 - Peak Performance Question: What's your top performance enhancing or backpacking hack? Segments Trek Propaganda: Thru-Hiker Who Died on PCT Was Trek Blogger by Kelly Floro The Dark Side of Trail Magic: The Negative Experiences Hikers Rarely Talk About by Peg Leg QOTD: What's the best/funniest word for boobs? Triple Crown of (team) sports Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek's newsletter Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Bill Jensen, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Bret Mullins aka Cruizy, Bryan Alsop, Carl Lobstah Houde, Christopher Marshburn, Clint Sitler, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Ethan Harwell, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Jackson Storm, JaredNotFromSubway, Jason Kiser, Jason "The Snail" Snailer, Luke Netjes, Matty in AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Randy Sutherland, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, The Saint Louis Shaman, Timothy Hahn, Tracy 'Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Benjy Lowry, Bonnie Ackerman, Brett Vandiver, Chris Pyle, Dakota J, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Denise Krekeler, Jack Greene, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Lloyd Harris, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, Sloan Alberhasky, and Tyler Powers.
May 7 · 38 min
Lyme Disease Vaccine Update, the Best Efron, and the Triple Crown of Star Wars Characters
Segments Lyme Disease Update Trek Propaganda The First Week of Your Thru-Hike Will Probably Be the Hardest — Here's How To Prepare by Kelly Floro QOTD: Does pizza lose its luster as you get older? Triple Crown of Star Wars characters Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek's newsletter Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Bill Jensen, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Bret Mullins aka Cruizy, Bryan Alsop, Carl Lobstah Houde, Christopher Marshburn, Clint Sitler, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Ethan Harwell, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Jackson Storm, JaredNotFromSubway, Jason Kiser, Jason "The Snail" Snailer, Luke Netjes, Matty in AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Randy Sutherland, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, The Saint Louis Shaman, Timothy Hahn, Tracy 'Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Benjy Lowry, Bonnie Ackerman, Brett Vandiver, Chris Pyle, Dakota J, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Denise Krekeler, Jack Greene, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Lloyd Harris, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, Sloan Alberhasky, and Tyler Powers.
May 4 · 2 hr 12 min
Why This Pro Triathlete Quit Her Job to Hike the Appalachian Trail with Katie "Sunrise" Lance (BPR #355)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Katie "Sunrise" Lance, a civil engineer turned professional triathlete turned thru-hiker who completed the AT last year before quitting her job to pursue triathlon coaching full-time. In this one, Katie walks us through what it's like to qualify for Kona on your very first Ironman, how she was training 20 hours a week on top of 12-hour night shifts at the Tennessee Valley Authority, and what finally pushed her to leave it all behind and hike from Georgia to Maine. She also shares the full arc of a pink-blazing situation that somehow ends with a guy hiking 74 miles in 24 hours to process his feelings, how she nearly got bit by a rattlesnake while finally rinsing out her pee rag for the first time, and why she thinks anyone can finish an Ironman if they actually train for it. We wrap the show with a piece on why week one of a thru-hike is the hardest, a profile on a 70-year-old who set out to hike all three Triple Crown trails in a single calendar year, debating whether pizza loses its luster as you get older, the triple crown of Star Wars characters, and the weird places toddlers pee. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. Gossamer Gear: Use code "BACKPACKERRADIO" for $20 off UL Trekking Poles at gossamergear.com. Shady Rays: Use code "TREK" for 40% off two or more pairs of sunglasses at shadyrays.com. OnX Backcountry: Through Memorial Day, use code "TREK70" for 70% off at onxmaps.com Hyperlite Mountain Gear: Use code "BPRADIO15" for 15% of hyperlitemountaingear.com [divider] Interview with Katie "Sunrise" Lance Katie's Instagram Time stamps & Questions 00:05:15 - Reminders: Subscribe to Trail Correspondents, sign up for the Trek's newsletter, and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon! 00:09:00 - Introducing Katie 00:11:59 - Was there a moment in your childhood where you knew you were an exceptional athlete? 00:20:57 - How did you go from swimming, rowing, and engineering to considering a thru-hike? 00:22:07 - How does someone become a professional triathlete, and how did your journey start with a Boston-qualifying first marathon? 00:27:49 - What were your splits at Chattanooga Ironman, and what was it like qualifying for Kona on your very first Ironman? 00:38:07 - Were there clear breaking points or signs of burnout, like panic attacks or health scares? 00:42:46 - What finally pushed you to quit your job and hike the AT? 00:44:46 - What were the early days on trail like, starting with a 42-pound pack? 00:47:18 - What things caught you off guard on trail given your athletic background? 00:52:31 - Did you struggle with the lack of female community and "girl talk" on the AT? 00:54:20 - Tell us about the pink blazing situation that ended with a guy hiking 74 miles in 24 hours 01:15:30 - Tell us about your biggest mental breakdown on trail 01:19:23 - How does through-hike fatigue compare to Ironman training fatigue? 01:23:43 - Do you see thru-hiking as an ongoing lifestyle or a one-time chapter? 01:29:09 - What are some other standout stories from the AT? 01:36:05 - Stay Salty Question: What is your hottest take in the backpacking or triathlon world? Segments Trek Propaganda The First Week of Your Thru-Hike Will Probably Be the Hardest — Here's How To Prepare by Kelly Floro QOTD: Does pizza lose its luster as you get older? Triple Crown of Star Wars characters Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek's newsletter Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Bill Jensen, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Bret Mullins aka Cruizy, Bryan Alsop, Carl Lobstah Houde, Christopher Marshburn, Clint Sitler, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Ethan Harwell, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Jackson Storm, JaredNotFromSubway, Jason Kiser, Jason "The Snail" Snailer, Luke Netjes, Matty in AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Randy Sutherland, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, The Saint Louis Shaman, Timothy Hahn, Tracy 'Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Benjy Lowry, Bonnie Ackerman, Brett Vandiver, Chris Pyle, Dakota J, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Denise Krekeler, Jack Greene, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Lloyd Harris, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, Sloan Alberhasky, and Tyler Powers.
April 30 · 55 min
Space Facts, the Triple Crown of BBQ Foods, and the Gas Station Bathroom Debate Revived
Segments Weird Space Facts Trek Propaganda 121 Years of Forest Service Doctrine, Undone. What Comes Next? By Katie Jackson A Billionaire Game Developer Has Been Buying Up Thousands of Acres in North Carolina. Why? By Katie Jackson QOTD: Would you rather have every September off — fully paid, no PTO touched, or be able to thrive off 4 hours of sleep? Triple Crown of BBQ foods One-Minute Gear Reviews Listener Voicemail Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek's newsletter Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Bob Peoples Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Bill Jensen, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Bret Mullins aka Cruizy, Bryan Alsop, Carl Lobstah Houde, Christopher Marshburn, Clint Sitler, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Ethan Harwell, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Jackson Storm, Jason Kiser, Jason "The Snail" Snailer, Luke Netjes, Matty in AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Randy Sutherland, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, The Saint Louis Shaman, Timothy Hahn, Tracy 'Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Benjy Lowry, Bonnie Ackerman, Brett Vandiver, Chris Pyle, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Denise Krekeler, Jack Greene, Jak Hoquat, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Lloyd Harris, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, Sloan Alberhasky, and Tyler Powers.
April 27 · 2 hr 56 min
Finding Thru-Hiking Community, the Jordan Trail, and Bigfoot Trail Mishaps with Claire "Marmot" Dumont (BPR #354)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Claire "Marmot" Dumont, a mapmaker, writer at The Trek, and thru-hiker who has completed the AT, Mountains to Sea Trail, Oregon Coast Trail, JMT, and more. In this one, Marmot walks us through what it's like to spend three months on trail with your dad, how a Fulbright fellowship brought her to Jordan to research land ethics and outdoor recreation, and what happened when COVID shut down the borders and kicked her off the Jordan Trail mid-hike. She also shares the story of assisting a rescue on Mount Washington and hitching out to town in the ambulance, what it meant to find a queer trail family on the AT and how she thinks about femininity and queer identity in spaces that have traditionally skewed pretty dude-bro, and why she will never apologize for hiking in a dress with an AeroPress in her pack. We wrap the show with a new YouTube channel from The Trek, some kick ass trail days we'll be hosting, how a billionaire game developer has been buying up thousands of acres of wilderness in North Carolina, asking whether we'd rather be able to thrive off of 4 hours of sleep, or have the full month of September off each year, the triple crown of BBQ foods, why Chaunce now likes inflatable sleeping pads, we reignite the gas station bathroom debate, and we opine on whether a listener should hike the AT as a flip flop or NOBO. [divider] LISTEN Download this episode. [divider] Topo Athletic: Use code "TREK15TOPO" at topoathletic.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code "backpackerradio" for 20% off LT5 Trekking Poles at gossamergear.com. Hyperlite Mountain Gear: Use code "BPRADIO15" for 15% of hyperlitemountaingear.com [divider] Interview with Claire "Marmot" Dumont Claire's Instagram Claire's Trek Author Page Time stamps & Questions 00:05:35 - Reminders: Subscribe to The Trek's Youtube and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon! 00:11:45 - Introducing Marmot 00:14:04 - How did you get into backpacking? 00:18:15 - What is the Manaslu Circuit? 00:20:30 - How did you find the gap year program? 00:22:40 - What did you do after the gap year? 00:24:30 - Were you the youngest person you knew on the JMT? 00:29:45 - Do you have any advice for a younger person who wants to get into thru-hiking? 00:33:45 - How did you decide to do the Tahoe Rim Trail next? 00:36:00 - How did the Tahoe Rim Trail compare to JMT in terms of people? 00:38:30 - What is your career? 00:41:15 - What makes a good map? 00:44:15 - Tell us about the Oregon Coast Trail and Bigfoot Trail attempts 00:59:22 - Did you like the parts of the trail that you did see? 01:02:15 - Tell us about hiking the Long Trail 01:04:35 - Tell us about your Fulbright and the Jordan Trail 01:10:45 - Discussion about being abroad when Covid started 01:15:30 - Tell us about getting on the Long Trail 01:17:55 - Give us the elevator pitch on the Jordan Trail 01:23:45 - Tell us about the Mountains to Sea Trail 01:30:13 - Are they aiming to get the trail all on single track? 01:35:20 - How did you decide to hike the MST? 01:36:50 - What was it like to start the AT? 01:39:10 - Tell us about your tramily experience on the AT 01:42:45 - Did being queer impact you on your hikes before the AT? 01:45:25 - What were your takeaways about intentional community building? 01:48:24 - What are the biggest differences between hiking with men versus women? 01:49:44 - Tell us about hiking in a dress and practicing femininity on trail 01:52:53 - Tell us about your article, Four Things I Will Never Hike Without Again 01:56:30 - Any other standout stories from the AT? 02:05:25 - Tell us about the Teton Crest Trail 02:09:35 - Tell us about your article, Actually No, the Trail Won't Always Be There: Why You Should Thru-Hike Now 02:12:15 - Peak Performance Question: What is your top performance-enhancing or backpacking hack? Segments Trek Propaganda 121 Years of Forest Service Doctrine, Undone. What Comes Next? By Katie Jackson A Billionaire Game Developer Has Been Buying Up Thousands of Acres in North Carolina. Why? By Katie Jackson QOTD: Would you rather have every September off — fully paid, no PTO touched, or be able to thrive off 4 hours of sleep? Triple Crown of BBQ foods One-Minute Gear Reviews Listener Voicemail Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek's newsletter Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Bob Peoples Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Bill Jensen, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Bret Mullins aka Cruizy, Bryan Alsop, Carl Lobstah Houde, Christopher Marshburn, Clint Sitler, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Ethan Harwell, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Jackson Storm, Jason Kiser, Jason "The Snail" Snailer, Luke Netjes, Matty in AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Randy Sutherland, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, The Saint Louis Shaman, Timothy Hahn, Tracy 'Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Benjy Lowry, Bonnie Ackerman, Brett Vandiver, Chris Pyle, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Denise Krekeler, Jack Greene, Jak Hoquat, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Lloyd Harris, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, Sloan Alberhasky, and Tyler Powers.
April 23 · 30 min
Recapping the Unhinged Afroman Trial, A Million vs 50% of a Billion, and the Triple Crown of Jim Carrey Movies
Segments Afroman Trial Recap Trek Propaganda: Injured Hiker Rescued After Two Days on the Appalachian Trail by Katie Jackson The Gear That Lasted Me 10,000 Miles in 1 Year by Peg Leg QOTD: Would you rather get a million guaranteed or flip a coin for a billion? Triple Crown of Jim Carey movies Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek's newsletter Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Bill Jensen, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Bret Mullins aka Cruizy, Bryan Alsop, Carl Lobstah Houde, Christopher Marshburn, Clint Sitler, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Ethan Harwell, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Jackson Storm, Jason Kiser, Jason "The Snail" Snailer, Luke Netjes, Matty in AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Randy Sutherland, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, The Saint Louis Shaman, Timothy Hahn, Tracy 'Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Benjy Lowry, Bonnie Ackerman, Brett Vandiver, Chris Pyle, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Denise Krekeler, Jack Greene, Jak Hoquat, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Lloyd Harris, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, Sloan Alberhasky, and Tyler Powers.
April 20 · 2 hr 40 min
Dodging Death on the CDT, Crewing Tara Dower's AT FKT, and Triple Crowning with Megan "Rascal" Wilmarth (BPR #353)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Megan "Rascal" Wilmarth, a triple crowner who has completed a long trail every year since 2019, including the triple crown, TA, Long Trail, JMT, Tahoe Rim Trail, and Wonderland Trail. Rascal also served as crew chief for Tara Dower's supported southbound FKT on the AT in 2024. In this one, Rascal walks us through what it actually takes to crew a 40-day record attempt, how a near-death situation in the San Juans changed the way she thinks about approaching the backcountry, what goes into a 109-mile push through the Wyoming Basin, and the gear, mindset, and mile-eating habits she's refined across thousands of miles on trail. This one is just a good old fashioned hiker trash chat we think you'll enjoy. We wrap the show with the 411 that Trail Correspondents is coming this week, news of a hiker rescue on the AT, what gear lasted the full length of Peg Leg's 10K mile year, whether we'd rather get a million guaranteed or flip a coin for a billion, the triple crown of Jim Carrey movies, and reminiscing about movies with leeches. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. Gossamer Gear: Use code "backpackerradio" for 20% off LT5 Trekking Poles at gossamergear.com. Shady Rays: Use code "TREK" for 40% off two or more pairs of sunglasses at shadyrays.com. Hyperlite Mountain Gear: Use code "BPRADIO15" for 15% of hyperlitemountaingear.com [divider] Interview with Megan "Rascal" Wilmarth Megan's Instagram Megan on Hiker Trash Radio Time stamps & Questions 00:04:56 - Reminders: Listen to Season 5 of Trail Correspondents, suggest a guest for the podcast, and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon! 00:08:52 - Introducing Rascal 00:12:29 - Give us a specific example of childhood mischievousness 00:13:55 - Discussion about ADHD and why backpacking works well for neurodivergent people 00:15:47 - How did you get into hiking? What put the AT on your radar? 00:19:50 - Do you remember a specific moment where the lightbulb went on? 00:22:24 - Discussion about shedding your old life/identity after the AT 00:24:23 - How quickly did you find your trail family on the AT? 00:25:47 - At what point did Tara surpass you in speed? 00:29:53 - What does a week look like for Tara training-wise? 00:31:22 - What is your overall goal with hiking every year since 2019? 00:32:50 - What are your favorite day hikes in Durango? 00:35:47 - How did you get so dialed in, gear-wise? 00:39:05 - Do you have tips on do's and don'ts for someone accumulating gear for a thru-hike? 00:46:41 - Discussion about Rascal's AT hitch gone wrong in Maine 00:49:31 - What are the red flags that trigger you not getting in a car? 00:50:41 - Any other standout stories from the AT? 00:51:27 - What brought you to the Long Trail after the AT? 00:55:02 - Tell us about hiking the JMT 00:58:59 - Discussion about the Half Dome cables experience 01:02:17 - You set the intention to do the PCT after the JMT — did that happen? 01:07:30 - Discussion about tracking stats 01:09:30 - What alternates did you take on the CDT to increase your mileage? 01:12:50 - Tell us about the rescue you almost needed in the San Juans 01:21:49 - Discussion about reconnecting with your trail family 01:27:32 - Discussion about the 109-mile push through the Wyoming Basin in 38 hours 01:31:00 - Had you done any ultras by this point leading up to the CDT? 01:33:31 - Do you have any non-obvious tips for pulling a big mile day? 01:36:11 - Discussion about getting giardia on the CDT 01:41:25 - Fuck, Marry, Kill: AT, PCT, CDT 01:43:10 - Discussion about the Te Araroa 01:47:10 - Tell us about the Tahoe Rim Trail and Wonderland Trail 01:48:37 - At what point did your world collide again with Tara for her AT FKT? 02:00:01 - How exhausting is crewing compared to your own thru-hike? 02:01:32 - Is there any part of you that wants recognition? 02:06:17 - Do you have any advice for someone looking to get into running after thru-hiking? 02:08:52 - What do you look for in a running vest? 02:09:40 - What's next for you trail-wise? 02:10:25 - Stay Salty Question: What's your hottest take in the world of backpacking/trail running? Segments Trek Propaganda: Injured Hiker Rescued After Two Days on the Appalachian Trail by Katie Jackson The Gear That Lasted Me 10,000 Miles in 1 Year by Peg Leg QOTD: Would you rather get a million guaranteed or flip a coin for a billion? Triple Crown of Jim Carey movies Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek's newsletter Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Bill Jensen, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Bret Mullins aka Cruizy, Bryan Alsop, Carl Lobstah Houde, Christopher Marshburn, Clint Sitler, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Ethan Harwell, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Jackson Storm, Jason Kiser, Jason "The Snail" Snailer, Luke Netjes, Matty in AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Randy Sutherland, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, The Saint Louis Shaman, Timothy Hahn, Tracy 'Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Benjy Lowry, Bonnie Ackerman, Brett Vandiver, Chris Pyle, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Denise Krekeler, Jack Greene, Jak Hoquat, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Lloyd Harris, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, Sloan Alberhasky, and Tyler Powers.
April 16 · 42 min
Snake Island, Potato Foods, and Why The Trail Won't Always Be There
Segments Snake Island Trek Propaganda: Actually No, the Trail Won't Always Be There: Why You Should Thru-Hike Now by Claire Dumont QOTD: Fuck marry kill: rain, wind, snow Triple Crown of potato foods Mail Bag 5 Star Review Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek's newsletter Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Bill Jensen, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Bret Mullins aka Cruizy, Bryan Alsop, Carl Lobstah Houde, Christopher Marshburn, Clint Sitler, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Ethan Harwell, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Jackson Storm, Jason Kiser, Jason "The Snail" Snailer, Luke Netjes, Matty in AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Randy Sutherland, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, The Saint Louis Shaman, Timothy Hahn, Tracy 'Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Benjy Lowry, Bonnie Ackerman, Brett Vandiver, Chris Pyle, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Denise Krekeler, Jack Greene, Jak Hoquat, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Lloyd Harris, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, Sloan Alberhasky, and Tyler Powers.
April 13 · 2 hr 38 min
A Hiker's History of the Appalachian Trail with Mills Kelly (BPR #352)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Mills Kelly, a historian, podcaster, professor, and author. Mills taught at George Mason University for 24 years, produced the acclaimed podcast The Green Tunnel, and just published his latest book, A Hiker's History of the Appalachian Trail. In this one, Mills takes us deep into the stories most hikers never hear: why the AT was never designed for through hiking, the surprisingly dark history of some of its founding figures, and why the hundred-mile wilderness used to be a network of fishing camps and steakhouses. We also get into dynamite soup, onion sandwiches, copperheads in fire pits, and the original purism debate, which dates back to 1948. Anyone who loves history and/or the AT is guaranteed to enjoy this one. We wrap the show with a last call for the Denver Area hiker meetup, why- actually no- the trail won't always be there, a bang marry kill for rain, wind, and snow, the triple crown of potato foods, and some very important seafood tips from a listener. Topo Athletic: Use code "TREKWINTER15" at topoathletic.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code "BACKPACKERRADIO" for $20 off LT5 Trekking Poles at gossamergear.com. Hyperlite Mountain Gear: Use code "BPRADIO15" for 15% of hyperlitemountaingear.com [divider] Interview with Mills Kelly Mills' Website Time stamps & Questions 00:05:14 - Reminders: Join us for the hiker meetup, apply to vlog or blog for the Trek, and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon! 00:08:18 - Introducing Mills 00:10:48 - Did you ever thru-hike the AT? 00:18:45 - When you do hope to hike the Maine section? 00:20:04 - Who was Ed Garvey and why does he matter to AT history? 00:22:53 - What did backpacking gear look like in the early 1970s? 00:25:21 - What were onion sandwiches? 00:26:39 - What is Dynamite Soup? 00:28:32 - Discussion about Paul Fink's dark history and his connection to the AT's founding 00:29:20 - Discussion about race on the AT and what the historical record reveals 00:34:12 - Discussion about sundown towns and race on trail 00:39:22 - Discussion about women's early and prominent role in hiking clubs and trail building 00:41:20 - Tell us about the history and significance of trail clubs 00:45:50 - Discussion about Mills' course on historical hoaxes and internet misinformation 00:53:30 - How do you evaluate sources and verify truth as a historian? 00:58:15 - Are you scared about the future of truth in the age of AI and social media? 01:01:05 - Tell us about your experience with hearing loss 01:05:00 - Discussion about the history of killing snakes on the AT 01:10:30 - Discussion about the AT's trash problem in the 60s & 70s 01:16:00 - What does maintaining an AT shelter actually entail? 01:23:10 - What are your other pet peeves? 01:25:30 - What are your most popular podcast episodes? 01:28:25 - Why was southwestern Virginia the hardest part of the AT to route? 01:39:40 - Whas was Damascus like during its timber-industry heydey? 01:43:20 - How does the AT economically impact small rural towns? 01:45:40 - How did the trail come to start at Springer Mountain? 01:48:35 - What did Benton MacKaye actually intend tthe AT to be? 01:50:40 - What is the Warrior Path? 01:52:08 - Discussion about Katahdin's sacred history to the Abenaki 01:56:00 - Tell us about the history of the Katahdin sign 01:58:00 - How was the trail in Maine different historically than it is today? 01:59:42 - What was it like having to actually prove that you hiked the entire trail? 02:04:00 - Discussion about the original purism debate and Early Shafer's 1948 thru-hike 02:06:35 - What's next for you? 02:11:40 - Peak Performance Question: What's your top performance-enhancing or backpacking hack? Segments Trek Propaganda: Actually No, the Trail Won't Always Be There: Why You Should Thru-Hike Now by Claire Dumont QOTD: Fuck marry kill: rain, wind, snow Triple Crown of potato foods Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek's newsletter Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Bill Jensen, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Bret Mullins aka Cruizy, Bryan Alsop, Carl Lobstah Houde, Christopher Marshburn, Clint Sitler, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Ethan Harwell, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Jackson Storm, Jason Kiser, Jason "The Snail" Snailer, Luke Netjes, Matty in AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Randy Sutherland, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, The Saint Louis Shaman, Timothy Hahn, Tracy 'Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Benjy Lowry, Bonnie Ackerman, Brett Vandiver, Chris Pyle, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Denise Krekeler, Jack Greene, Jak Hoquat, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Lloyd Harris, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, Sloan Alberhasky, and Tyler Powers.
April 9 · 49 min
Trail Trivia, 11 Dangerous Animals on the AT, and Leaving Your Kid for the Triple Crown
Segments Trail Trivia Trek Propaganda: The 11 Most Dangerous Animals on the Appalachian Trail by Katie Jackson QOTD: How do you feel about someone hiking a triple crown trail while leaving a young kid at home? Triple Crown of people at the gym Mail Bag 5 Star Review Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek's newsletter Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Bill Jensen, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Bret Mullins aka Cruizy, Bryan Alsop, Carl Lobstah Houde, Christopher Marshburn, Clint Sitler, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Ethan Harwell, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Jackson Storm, Jason Kiser, Jason "The Snail" Snailer, Luke Netjes, Matty in AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Randy Sutherland, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, The Saint Louis Shaman, Timothy Hahn, Tracy 'Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Benjy Lowry, Bonnie Ackerman, Brett Vandiver, Chris Pyle, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Denise Krekeler, Jack Greene, Jak Hoquat, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Lloyd Harris, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, Sloan Alberhasky, and Tyler Powers.
April 6 · 3 hr 22 min
The Ultimate Thru-Hike Training Plan: Strength, Cardio, Protocols, and Common Injury Prevention with Dr. Freeborn Mondello (BPR #351)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are once again joined by Dr. Freeborn Mondello to chat all things fitness, thru-hike training, and all around health. In this one, Freeborn gives us a detailed gameplan about how to best train for a thru-hike, including why the best time to start is today, time to allocate to cardio vs. strength, what kind of cardio is king, and specific protocols and exercises for strength training. Freeborn also shares advice about how to prevent and treat some of the most common thru-hiking injuries, including IT band syndrome, sore knees, a host of foot related ailments, and more. Grab your notebook, this one is full of practical advice ready your body for the trail and improve your health at large. We wrap the show the 11 most dangerous animals on the Appalachian Trail, how we feel about someone hiking a triple crown trail while leaving a young kid at home, the triple crown of people at the gym, and Chaunce gets mildly peeved at a mailbag. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. Mountainsmith: Use code "TAKEAHIKE" for 20% off at mountainsmith.com. Shady Rays: Use code "TREK" for 40% off two or more pairs of sunglasses at shadyrays.com. Hyperlite Mountain Gear: Use code "BPRADIO15" for 15% of hyperlitemountaingear.com [divider] Interview with Dr. Freeborn Mondello Freeborn's Instagram RunFreePT Trail Strong 18: The Progressive Thru-Hiker Durability System: An 18-week clinical strength program built by a Doctor of Physical Therapy to keep your body on trail — through the descents, the consecutive days, and the accumulated load that ends most hikes early. Eccentric strength, hip hinge capacity, core stability, and real recovery. Available to Backpacker Radio listeners for $199 for the first three weeks after the episode drops. Time stamps & Questions 00:05:34 - Reminders: Join us for a hiker meetup in Golden, apply to vlog or blog for the Trek, listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon, and a surprise announcement! 00:13:30 - Introducing Dr. Freeborn Mondello 00:14:50 - Remind us of your personal endurance background 00:18:31 - Which sports yield the most injuries? 00:21:52 - Are there specific fitness styles that pair best with backpacking? 00:26:37 - What is zone two training? 00:28:39 - How do you find your heart rate zones? 00:36:28 - Is it better to use a weighted vest, incline, or flat for zone two? 00:37:27 - What is the minimum zone two training for a thru-hike? 00:43:00 - Discussion about calming the central nervous system and recovery techniques 00:49:48 - Discussion about why stretching might be doing more harm than good 00:54:05 - What should you do at breaks and the start of day on trail instead of stretching? 01:04:15 - Should you start training years before a thru-hike? 01:11:17 - What does a minimum strength training program look like? 01:14:59 - What home gym equipment should you buy and what should you skip? 01:18:26 - Should older athletes still do heavy squats and deadlifts? 01:23:35 - Walk us through a basic strength program with specific lifts 01:39:44 - What are the most common thru-hiking injuries? 01:48:31 - Discussion about dry needling and digital rehab 01:51:58 - Can you still run with missing meniscus? 01:58:22 - What should you prioritize on a town day to recover faster? 02:09:22 - Discussion about nutrition, protein goals, and intermittent fasting 02:20:39 - Discussion about BPC-157 peptides and GLP-1 weight loss drugs 02:25:40 - Where can people keep up with you? 02:28:10 - Stay Salty Question: What's your hottest take in the world of backpacking or the outdoors? Segments Trek Propaganda: The 11 Most Dangerous Animals on the Appalachian Trail by Katie Jackson QOTD: How do you feel about someone hiking a triple crown trail while leaving a young kid at home? Triple Crown of people at the gym Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek's newsletter Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Bill Jensen, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Bret Mullins aka Cruizy, Bryan Alsop, Carl Lobstah Houde, Christopher Marshburn, Clint Sitler, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Ethan Harwell, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Jackson Storm, Jason Kiser, Jason "The Snail" Snailer, Luke Netjes, Matty in AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Randy Sutherland, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, The Saint Louis Shaman, Timothy Hahn, Tracy 'Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Benjy Lowry, Bonnie Ackerman, Brett Vandiver, Chris Pyle, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Denise Krekeler, Jack Greene, Jak Hoquat, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Lloyd Harris, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, Sloan Alberhasky, and Tyler Powers.
March 30 · 3 hr 21 min
Working Art into a Thru-Hike: Inside the ATC and CDTC Artist Residencies with Mallory Weston & Leslie Boyd (BPR #350)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, Chaunce and Elise are joined by Mallory Weston and Leslie Boyd. Mallory and Leslie are best friends, thru-hikers, hiking partners, artists, metalsmiths, teachers, and most recently, two inaugural artists-in-residence for the CDTC and ATC. The conversation goes into all things art, including how to best pursue your artistic passions on trail, what exactly an artist-in-residence does, their creative processes, and much more. We wrap the show with how to thru-hike the CDT for less than $5,000, info on the upcoming Denver-area Hiker Meetup, our favorite personal art projects, the triple crown of stimulants, and the best mail bag of all time. Topo Athletic: Use code "TREKWINTER15" at topoathletic.com. Mountainsmith: Use code "TAKEAHIKE" for 20% off at mountainsmith.com. [divider] Interview with Mallory Weston and Leslie Boyd Mallory's Website Mallory's Instagram Leslie's Website Leslie's Instagram Time stamps & Questions 00:05:55 - Reminders: Sign up for the Trek's newsletter, join us for a hiker meetup in Golden, apply to vlog or blog for the Trek, and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon! 00:11:56 - Introduction of guests Mallory Weston and Leslie Boyd 00:12:47 - How did Mallory and Leslie meet and become best friends? 00:14:58 - How did you get into metalsmithing and jewelry as an art form? 00:21:07 - What is it like to become a professor, and the pros and cons of academia? 00:30:45 - How did you both get into backpacking? 00:55:27 - Mallory, tell us about your PCT southern border lash 01:00:00 - The Tahoe to Yosemite Trail / Tahoe Rim Trail lollipop hike and karaoke on the PCT 01:08:24 - Tell us about the Grafton Loop Trail in Maine 01:17:22 - Tell us about the Alta Via 1 in Italy and hiking with your husband 01:23:56 - How did you start the artist residency programs with the ATC and CDTC? 01:30:00 - What is an artist residency, and what do the trail organizations get out of it? 01:41:30 - What do the residency workshops entail? 01:48:01 - Leslie's cyanotype art practice on the CDT and the creative process on trail 01:53:36 - Leslie's fundraising cyanotype project tied to border issues and No Más Muertes 02:03:10 - Discussion about National Defense Areas at trail southern termini and how Leslie finished the CDT 02:05:58 - What did you create on trail during your residency, Mallory? 02:12:38 - Advice for artists who want to integrate their creative practice with backpacking 02:23:12 - Leslie's Tyvek ground sheet art project using security envelope patterns 02:30:12 - Peak Performance question: What is your top backpacking hack? Segments Trek Propaganda: How I Thru-Hiked the CDT for Under $5,000 by Katie Jackson QOTD: What's your favorite art project you've ever done? Triple Crown of stimulants Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek's newsletter Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Bill Jensen, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Bret Mullins aka Cruizy, Bryan Alsop, Carl Lobstah Houde, Christopher Marshburn, Clint Sitler, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Ethan Harwell, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Jackson Storm, Jason Kiser, Jason "The Snail" Snailer, Luke Netjes, Matty in AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Randy Sutherland, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, The Saint Louis Shaman, Timothy Hahn, Tracy 'Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Benjy Lowry, Bonnie Ackerman, Brett Vandiver, Chris Pyle, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Denise Krekeler, Jack Greene, Jak Hoquat, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Lloyd Harris, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, Sloan Alberhasky, and Tyler Powers.
March 23 · 3 hr 2 min
Spirituality and Backpacking with Vicar Lyndsay "Wreckage" Monsen (BPR #349)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek brought to you by LMNT, Jess and Chaunce are joined by Lyndsay "Wreckage" Monsen. Wreckage is a pastor in training and civil rights advocate and she reflects on what it means to bring spirituality into the backcountry in a way that resonates even with those wary of organized religion. We also touch on formative spiritual moments in Colorado, why the Superior Hiking Trail earned a spot on her hate list, and how her foot got fudged up real good on the Long Trail, complete with photographic evidence. We wrap the show with news of a climber who's accused of manslaughter after leaving his girlfriend near a mountain summit, we discuss whether my getting a carwash is diva behavior, the triple crown of pies, and an unhinged tangent into the subject of AI. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. Mountainsmith: Use code "TAKEAHIKE" for 20% off at mountainsmith.com. [divider] Interview with Lyndsay "Wreckage" Monsen Lyndsay's Instagram Lyndsay's Sermons Lyndsay's sermon referencing her CT hike Lyndsay's sermon about getting arrested Time stamps & Questions 00:08:25 - Reminders: Sign up for the Trek's newsletter, subscribe to The Trek's Youtube, apply to vlog or blog for the Trek, and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon! 00:13:39 - Introducing Lyndsay 0:17:10 - Do your hikes help you in any way in your seminary work? 0:18:25 - Have any of your religious beliefs changed based on your hiking? 0:19:25 - Tell us about who you were when starting the AT 0:24:45 - What are your thoughts on body image as it relates to thru-hiking? 0:28:37 - What other standout moments did you have on the AT? 0:32:05 - What is seminary school? 0:39:55 - Tell us about doing the Long Trail 0:43:57 - Did you find that you were more spiritually challenged on the Long Trail? 0:45:35 - Tell us about the connection between the outdoors and spirituality 0:51:10 - What are your dates more shocked by? 0:52:25 - Discussion about the Lake City Hiker Center 1:00:31 - Did you find that your discussions on trail naturally veer towards spirituality? 1:05:09 - What was your confession at the Priest Shelter? 1:11:55 - What did you think about the Superior Hiking Trail? 1:22:05 - Tell us about the Colorado Trail 1:30:25 - Tell us your pee story 1:37:37 - Any standout stories from the Colorado Trail? 1:40:45 - Lyndsay's raccoon story 1:43:55 - Tell us about the relationship between nature access and church attendance 1:55:40 - What are your thoughts about the concept of sex? 1:58:00 - What are your future hiking plans? 2:00:25 - Tell us about getting arrested 2:11:55 - Stay Salty Question: What is your hottest take in the world of backpacking or the outdoors at large? Segments Trek Propaganda Climber Accused of Manslaughter After Leaving Girlfriend Near Summit of Austria's Highest Peak by Kelly Floro Hiker Rescued From Appalachian Trail in the Smokies After Emergency SOS by Katie Jackson QOTD: Is getting a car wash diva behavior? Triple Crown of pies Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek's newsletter Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Bill Jensen, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Bret Mullins aka Cruizy, Bryan Alsop, Carl Lobstah Houde, Christopher Marshburn, Clint Sitler, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Ethan Harwell, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Jackson Storm, Jason Kiser, Luke Netjes, Matty in AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Randy Sutherland, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, The Saint Louis Shaman, Timothy Hahn, Tracy 'Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Benjy Lowry, Bonnie Ackerman, Brett Vandiver, Chris Pyle, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Denise Krekeler, Jack Greene, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Lloyd Harris, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, Sloan Alberhasky, and Tyler Powers.
March 9 · 2 hr 15 min
9 Tips for Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in 2026 (BPR #348)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek brought to you by LMNT, we are breaking things down for the class of 2026 PCT thru-hikers with another edition of our top tips for hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. Chaunce and I are joined by everyone's favorite sauce/SOS, Elise Ott to share some brand new tips for trekking between Mexico and Canada, including advice about managing the sun, thoughts for approaching the trail during a high snow year, tips for dealing with wildfire, the beauty of cowboy camping, the importance of rolling with the punches, and much more. We wrap the show with some important news from the PCT southern terminus, the most overrated month for backpacking, the bucket list of animal sightings, and I give my one minute gear reviews on a slew of new items I tested on the SDTCT, including the a new pack, shelter, and trekking poles. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. Mountainsmith: Use code "TAKEAHIKE" for 20% off at mountainsmith.com. [divider] Panel with Elise "SOS" Ott Elise's Instagram Time stamps & Questions 00:05:25 - Reminders: Apply to vlog or blog for the Trek, sign up for the Trek's newsletter, and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon! 00:08:17 - Introducing Elise 00:13:53 - Tell us about your upcoming running goals 00:22:30 - Introducing today's panel 00:24:01 - Elise's Tip #1: Roll with the punches 00:27:06 - Chaunce's Tip #1: Look up side quests in advance 00:30:41 - Zach's Tip #1: Have a plan for the sun 00:34:44 - Elise's Tip #2: Save more money than you think you need 00:36:45 - Chaunce's Tip #2: Prepare for encountering wildfires 00:48:40 - Zach's Tip #2: Consider going southbound in high snow years 00:56:05 - Elise's Tip #3: See it for yourself before making decisions 01:03:15 - Chaunce's Tip #3: Cowboy camp if you haven't yet 01:05:40 - Zach's Tip #3: Break it down into small sections 01:08:00 - Honorable mentions 01:13:52 - Stay Salty Question: What is your hottest take in the world of backpacking? Segments Trek Propaganda: Barrier Construction Set To Begin at CDT Southern Terminus by Kelly Floro QOTD: What's the most overrated month for backpacking? Triple Crown of bucket list animal sightings One-Minute Gear Reviews Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek's newsletter Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Bill Jensen, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Bret Mullins aka Cruizy, Bryan Alsop, Carl Lobstah Houde, Christopher Marshburn, Clint Sitler, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Ethan Harwell, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Jackson Storm, Jason Kiser, Luke Netjes, Matty in AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Randy Sutherland, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, The Saint Louis Shaman, Timothy Hahn, Tracy 'Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Benjy Lowry, Bonnie Ackerman, Brett Vandiver, Chris Pyle, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Denise Krekeler, Jack Greene, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Lloyd Harris, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, Sloan Alberhasky, and Tyler Powers.
March 2 · 4 hr 42 min
The San Diego Trans County Trail with Jabba, Jolly, Zach, and Jess (BPR #347)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, myself, along with Jabba, Jolly, and Jess are giving you a rundown of our recent hike of the San Diego Trans County Trail. And this one is about as long as the trail itself, as we give a detailed daily overview of our hike, including the standout LOL stories, the biggest challenges associated with this trail - namely the amount of private land the route takes you though, the highlights- including some gorgeous desert terrain, an epic western terminus, and how our torrid hiking pace and some mismanaged fueling lead to the on-trail demise of our beloved Sassafras. Buckle in. We wrap the show with the triple crown of jobs if money weren't an issue and whether a 30-second random drop in the ocean every day for 5 years is worth a $100 million. Topo Athletic: Use code "TREKWINTER15" at topoathletic.com. Mountainsmith: Use code "TAKEAHIKE" for 20% off at mountainsmith.com. [divider] Interview with Jabba, Jolly, and Jess Jabba's Instagram Jolly's Instagram Jess's Instagram Time stamps & Questions 00:05:35 - Reminders: Apply to vlog or blog for the Trek, subscribe to The Trek's Youtube, and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon! 00:12:42 - Introducing the SDTCT hikers 00:13:40 - Why wasn't Chaunce invited? 00:16:14 - How did you choose to hike this trail? 00:19:00 - What are the fast stats of the SDTCT? 00:30:00 - Discussion about the water cache situation 00:36:05 - How do you get to and from the trail? 00:40:40 - What's the ideal season to hike this trail? 00:42:30 - SDTCT Day 1 00:54:14 - How do you handle navigation on this trail? 01:00:20 - What were the vibes at the end of day 1? 01:03:26 - How did Jess get so many blisters? 01:10:00 - Guess the Day 1 elevation 01:14:30 - SDTCT Day 2 01:44:30 - SDTCT Day 3 01:52:40 - Jolly's rash 01:56:10 - Zach's most difficult stretch of the trail 02:05:00 - Second half of day 3 02:09:00 - The end of day 3 02:17:00 - SDTCT Day 4 02:20:00 - Discussion about the cold and hand warmers 02:25:40 - Day 4 elevation guesses 02:26:30 - Jess's demise 02:39:40 - Zach's perspective of Jess's demise 02:45:25 - Night 4 02:55:00 - Chaunce's patent pending 02:56:16 - The end of day 4 03:03:52 - SDTCT Day 5 03:11:00 - Discussion about ticks 03:12:45 - Ramona Creek Trailhead 03:19:00 - SDTCT Day 6 03:36:50 - Discussion about the private land portions of the trail 03:50:40 - SDTCT Day 7 03:54:45 - Debate about publicizing the SDTCT 04:01:25 - Discussion about the final 40 miles of the trail Segments QOTD: $100 million but you have to survive 30 seconds in the ocean every day Triple Crown of jobs if money wasn't an issue Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek's newsletter Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Bill Jensen, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Bret Mullins aka Cruizy, Bryan Alsop, Carl Lobstah Houde, Christopher Marshburn, Clint Sitler, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Ethan Harwell, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Jason Kiser, Krystyn Bell, Luke Netjes, Matty in AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Randy Sutherland, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, The Saint Louis Shaman, Timothy Hahn, Tracy 'Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Benjy Lowry, Bonnie Ackerman, Brett Vandiver, Chris Pyle, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Denise Krekeler, Jack Greene, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, Sloan Alberhasky, and Tyler Powers.
February 23 · 2 hr 9 min
9 Tips for Hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2026 (BPR #346)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are once again firing off our best advice for the upcoming class of Appalachian Trail thru-hikers. Chaunce and I are joined by Trek Community Ringleader, Jess Stone, to bring you 9 tips for thru-hiking the AT in 2026. Because this is not the first time we've done this subject, Chaunce and I are unveiling brand new advice for this one (with an asterisks)- and today's tips cover advice to ensure you don't lose your precious media (which is more common than you might think), trail name advice, the importance of training, how to maximize the adventure, how to be intentional about getting what you want out of this experience, and much more. We wrap the show with the top tents used on the Appalachian Trail in 2025, what two week Trek Chaunce should take on at the end of March, the triple crown of things that get our goat (v2), and why food delivery services might be pure evil. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. Mountainsmith: Use code "TAKEAHIKE" for 20% off at mountainsmith.com. [divider] Panel with Jess Stone Jess's Instagram Time stamps & Questions 00:10:40 - Reminders: Apply to vlog or blog for the Trek, subscribe to The Trek's Youtube, and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon! 00:16:45 - Introducing today's panel 00:18:45 - Summarizing past advice 00:23:20 - Jess's Tip #1: Find a meaningful way to document your hike and commit to it 00:26:20 - Chaunce's Tip #1: Regularly upload your photos and videos to the cloud 00:29:45 - Zach's Tip #1: Don't start with a trail name 00:34:10 - Jess's Tip #2: Train. Just train. 00:39:43 - Chaunce's Tip #2: Don't marry your start date 00:44:10 - Zach's Tip #2: Wean yourself off your phone addiction 00:47:14 - Jess's Tip #3: Embrace the new and the weird 00:50:55 - Chaunce's Tip #3: Group listen to audiobooks 00:58:40 - Zach's Tip #3: Mentally prepare 01:11:10 - Stay Salty Question: What is your hottest take in the world of backpacking or the outdoors at large? Segments Trek Propaganda: Top Tents and Shelters on the Appalachian Trail: 2025 AT Thru-Hiker Survey by Katie Jackson QOTD: What soft hiking can Chaunce do at the end of March? Triple Crown of things that get your goat Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek's newsletter Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Bill Jensen, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Bret Mullins aka Cruizy, Bryan Alsop, Carl Lobstah Houde, Christopher Marshburn, Clint Sitler, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Ethan Harwell, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Jason Kiser, Krystyn Bell, Luke Netjes, Matty in AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Randy Sutherland, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, The Saint Louis Shaman, Timothy Hahn, Tracy 'Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Benjy Lowry, Bonnie Ackerman, Brett Vandiver, Chris Pyle, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Denise Krekeler, Jack Greene, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, Sloan Alberhasky, and Tyler Powers.
February 16 · 2 hr 4 min
Valentine's Day 2026: Pistol and Lobo's Appalachian Trail Love Story, McAfee Knob Engagement, and Advice for Courting on Trail (BPR #345)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, in honor of Valentine's Day, we are once again putting love front and center-stage. We're joined by Annie and Jake, known on trail as Pistol and Lobo, who met at mile 166 of the Appalachian Trail in 2021 and are about to come full circle, getting married at Fontana Dam, the exact spot where they first met. We get the low down on how this romance was absolutely love at first sight, how and where things evolved from flirtation to romance to a full-blown committed relationship on trail, moving into a school bus post-trail, their attempt at recreating the magic on the PCT a few years later (spoiler alert: it was less magical), and tips to aspiring romantic hiker trash on how to find and sustain love on trail. We wrap the show with which pieces of gear a Trek Writer with more than 10,000 miles has eliminated from her pack, our internal dialogue while eating ice cream (and why maybe I have a problem), my ENEMY of the week (fitness influencer edition), and the triple crown of relationship hacks. Topo Athletic: Use code "TREKWINTER15" at topoathletic.com. Mountainsmith: Use code "TAKEAHIKE" for 20% off at mountainsmith.com. [divider] Interview with Annie & Jake Annie's Instagram Jake's Instagram Time stamps & Questions 00:09:05 - Reminders: Apply to vlog or blog for the Trek, enter the Badger Sponsorship, listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon, and subscribe to The Trek's Youtube! 00:11:50 - Introducing Annie & Jake 00:14:22 - Discussion about wedding planning 00:17:55 - How did you each individually get into the outdoors? 00:22:35 - Walk us through the first parts of your hikes 00:28:20 - Did you have any major fuckups at the beginning of your hike? 00:29:45 - Tell us about the day you met 00:32:14 - Did you have a conversation about making it "one tent official"? 00:34:00 - More about the day Annie & Jake met 00:37:46 - Walk us through your first meeting to your first kiss 00:42:25 - What was the next level up in your relationship? 00:45:10 - Did it feel like you were venturing into real relationship territory? 00:46:25 - Why do you think you vibed together so quickly? 00:49:20 - How soon did you start discussing your plans for after the trail? 00:53:50 - Discussion about living in a bus over the winter 00:55:24 - What are green flags or red flags for couples approaching the end of a trail? 01:00:00 - What advice do you have for fellas to court a fellow thru-hiker? 01:03:00 - Did you have any moments where you unexpectedly learned a lot about the other person? 01:06:20 - Do you have advice for managing petty arguments on trail? 01:11:40 - What grocery store recommendations do you have? 01:16:00 - Tell us about doing the half gallon challenge 01:17:40 - Tell us about your scariest day on trail 01:23:00 - In what ways is your second thru-hike different from the first? 01:26:10 - Were you on the same page about leaving the PCT? 01:27:00 - Are you interested in trying the PCT again? 01:29:45 - What questions should someone ask their partner on trail? 01:34:20 - Do you plan on having kids? 01:35:10 - Peak Performance Question: Do you have a top performance enhancing or backpacking hack? 01:36:20 - Tell us your proposal story Segments Trek Propaganda: After 10,000 Miles on Trail, These Are the 10 Pieces of Gear I'll Never Carry Again by Livvy Weld QOTD: What is your internal dialogue while eating ice cream? Enemy Thing of the Week Triple Crown of relationship hacks Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek's newsletter Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Bill Jensen, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Bret Mullins aka Cruizy, Bryan Alsop, Carl Lobstah Houde, Christopher Marshburn, Clint Sitler, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Ethan Harwell, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Jason Kiser, Krystyn Bell, Luke Netjes, Matty in AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Randy Sutherland, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, The Saint Louis Shaman, Timothy Hahn, Tracy 'Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Benjy Lowry, Bonnie Ackerman, Brett Vandiver, Chris Pyle, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Denise Krekeler, Jack Greene, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, Sloan Alberhasky, and Tyler Powers.