Backpacker Radio

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic…today's episode is pure chaos. If you've listened to any of our Hiking Viking episodes, you already know what I'm talking about. After four "Girl Stuff" episodes, Chaunce figured it was only fair to balance the scales with what we're officially calling the Guy Stuff episode, a panel-style conversation that goes off the rails almost immediately, featuring Jabba and Lt Cookoo Bird. We cover everything from trail grooming strategy (aka pube management), to whether you'd rather have boobs or a vagina for 24 hours, to making Backpacker Radio condoms as trail swag, Chaunce has a beard, and Jabba bites Chaunce's toes. If you're looking for polished thru-hiking advice… this ain't it. This is a circus. Enjoy the ride. Topo Athletic: Use code "TREKWINTER15" at topoathletic.com. [divider] Interview with Jabba and Cookoo Jabba's Instagram Cookoo's Instagram Time stamps & Questions 00:08:15 - Reminders: Apply to vlog or blog for the Trek, apply to be a Trail Correspondent, listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon, and subscribe to The Trek's Youtube! 00:12:20 - Introducing Jabba and Cookoo 00:16:35 - Cuckoo, what have you been up to since you were last on the podcast? 00:26:54 - Do you think your urge to hike quickly is a macho trait? 00:29:10 - Discussion about working out 00:32:40 - Chaunce's BPR condoms idea 00:39:10 - Jabba, what have you been up to since you were last on the podcast? 00:50:35 - Discussion about PCT Days 00:59:20 - You have 24 hours - do you want to have boobs or a vagina? 01:05:00 - Discussion about trail grooming strategy 01:16:50 - Jabba's Roku stick story 01:18:32 - Discussion about blue balls 01:24:25 - How could a woman mess with a group of men on trail? 01:30:45 - Have you Tinder-blazed? 01:35:55 - What's your most interesting trail hookup story? 01:53:45 - What do you do differently when you're interested in someone on trail? 01:56:50 - How do you deal with swamp sack? 02:01:30 - How do you maintain personal hygiene? 02:11:00 - What are some things you've learned as you've hiked? 02:14:00 - Is chafing inevitable? 02:18:30 - How do you maintain your upper body while hiking? 02:25:00 - Discussion about supplements on trail 02:28:35 - Is anyone taking testosterone on trail? 02:31:20 - What upcoming hiker fashion trends do you foresee? 02:35:05 - Would you rather encounter a man or bear in the woods? 02:47:25 - How long would you wait to tell someone you're completely lost? 02:50:57 - What's the most vulnerable moment you've had on trail? 02:59:15 - What's the best way to break the ice to a new date that you hike four months per year? 03:03:12 - Who has the better fantasy team? 03:05:30 - Peak Performance Question: What's your top performance-enhancing or backpacking hack? 03:21:40 - When do you choose trail runners versus boots? Segments Trek Propaganda: 5 Thru-Hikers Who Turned Their Passion for Hiking Into a Small Business by Chickpea The 2025 Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker Survey: General Information (Part 2) by Katie Jackson QOTD: They're a 10 but they like to turn off the game in the 4th quarter - can you make the relationship work? Triple Crown of unsung technological advancements 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, Matt from Gilbert, AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Randy Sutherland, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, SPAM, 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.

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined yet again by our pal Andrew Skurka and wayyyyy back former guest and now co-director of Skurka Adventures, Katie Gerber aka "Salty". Today's episode covers a lot of ground. Today's conversation is part backpacking advice, part gear nerd chat, part a glimpse inside the operation at Skurka Adventures. We first dive into Katie's list of the five biggest mistakes she made as a beginner backpacker and her take on why she loves her alcohol stove- after a decade of use. Andrew gives us an overview of vapor barrier layers and moisture management for cold-weather backpacking, the Ursack versus bear canister debate, he gives a framework for deciding exactly when it's time to hit the SOS button on your satellite communicator, the ethics of publicizing GPS tracks in these high consequence and fragile regions, and he shares his two cents on one of the most detailed bear-safety questions we've ever received. The duo also give us some standout stories from their years of working together, including a nightmarish and somehow hilarious story of surviving a Mojave Desert traffic jam in triple-digit heat. We wrap the show with a call for Trail Correspondents, if setting up your tent in the airport makes you a genius or an A-hole, the triple crown of winter drinks, and some fun Ibex facts from a listener. Topo Athletic: Use code "TREKWINTER15" at topoathletic.com. [divider] Interview with Andrew Skurka & Katie Gerber Skurka's Website Skurka's Instagram Katie's Website Katie's Instagram Time stamps & Questions 00:05:05 - Reminders: Apply to vlog or blog for the Trek, apply to be a Trail Correspondent, listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon, and subscribe to The Trek's Youtube! 00:10:00 - Introducing Andrew and Katie 00:13:10 - Are you still passionate about nutrition? 00:19:40 - Tell us about your recent Grand Canyon trip with Eric 00:22:45 - How did you get started on off trail routes? 00:24:10 - How did you two start working together? 00:30:50 - Describe your current role 00:33:25 - What are some things people don't know about Skurka? 00:36:40 - Discussion about beginner backpacking mistakes 00:53:20 - What are some new things you've been thinking about? 00:56:50 - What trip is in the highest demand, and what's the most underrated? 00:58:50 - How do you balance protecting sensitive environments with leading trips for your business? 01:08:35 - How do you pick who guides each route? 01:10:35 - Do you have any new guides you're really excited about? 01:12:40 - What are some tips for someone who wants to get into guiding? 01:20:45 - Grand Canyon or Escalante? 01:23:00 - Tell us your thoughts on vapor barrier layers 01:27:55 - Discussion about the backcountry bidet 01:30:30 - How many cats until you're a crazy cat dude? 01:33:14 - How do you like using an alcohol stove and how did you like the Great Basin Trail? 01:35:23 - What are the biggest differences between hiking with Dirtmonger and Andrew? 01:40:15 - Have you used AI in your business? 01:44:14 - How should a campsite be set up? 01:50:00 - What are the pros and cons of hard sided bear canisters and Ursacks? 01:52:20 - Is there a new piece of gear you're excited about? 01:56:00 - Discussion about phone technology in the backcountry 02:01:18 - What are your thoughts on plastic water bottles? 02:03:40 - How far do you need to pee from your campsite? 02:04:45 - How do you decide to press the SOS button? 02:08:20 - What are your thoughts on polartech? 02:09:50 - Are broth cubes a thing? 02:13:54 - What should people know about the upcoming guiding season? 02:20:20 - Peak Performance Question: What is your top performance-enhancing or backpacking hack? Segments Trek Propaganda: Colorado Trail vs. John Muir Trail vs. Long Trail: Which Trail is the Best? By Katie Jackson 25 More Stunning Thru-Hiking–Inspired Tattoos by Anna McKinney Smith QOTD: Is it cringe or genius to set up your tent in the airport? Triple Crown of winter drinks 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, Matt from Gilbert, AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Randy Sutherland, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, SPAM, 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.

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are talking "shorter" thru-hikes. We're joined again by our guy, Michael Grizzly Ivey, to give you an overview of eight standout US thru-hikes that you can hike in four weeks or less. We cover the Long Trail, Teton Crest Trail, Superior HIking Trail, Timberline Trail, Tahoe Rim Trail, Foothills Trail, and Uinta Highline, give you the trail overviews, relative difficulty, resupply strategy, the best time to hike, which direction, travel logistics, permit requirements, resupply strategy, standout wildlife, water availability, and our overall 30-second elevator pitch for each trail. Much like my waistline, your bucket list is about to expand. We wrap the show with tips for getting primo service at any restaurant (from a restaurant general manager), the triple crown of birds, and we prove that we will read just about anything in a 5-star review. Topo Athletic: Use code "TREKWINTER15" at topoathletic.com. [divider] Panel with Michael "Grizzly" Ivey Grizzly's Instagram Backpacker Radio # 29: Valentine's Day 2.0 with Grizzly + Jenna, Tent Orgies, and How to Hike 30 Miles in a Day Backpacker Radio #191 | Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail 2.0: High Snow Year Considerations, Gear Changes by Section, and More Time stamps & Questions 00:07:30 - Reminders: Apply to be a Trail Correspondent, apply to vlog or blog for the Trek, subscribe to The Trek's Youtube, , and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon! 00:13:00 - Introducing Grizzly 00:15:50 - What have you been up to since you were last on the podcast? 00:18:20 - Long Trail 00:29:00 - Ozark Highlands Trail (Learn more from BPR #199 and BPR #197) 00:41:15 - Superior Hiking Trail 00:56:20 - Tahoe Rim Trail (Learn more from BPR #157) 01:11:40 - Foothills Trail (Learn more from BPR #243) 01:24:20 - Uinta Highline Trail 01:36:20 - Timberline Trail 01:44:12 - Teton Crest Trail (Learn more from BPR #265) 02:04:20 - What's your top performance enhancing hack? Segments Trek Propaganda: 10 Short Trails You Can Thru-Hike in Winter by Jordan Charbonneau QOTD: What are some tips to getting the best treatment possible when eating out? Triple Crown of birds 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, Krystn Bell, Matt from Gilbert, AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Randy Sutherland, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, SPAM, 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, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Denise Krekeler, Jack Greene, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, and Spencer Hinson.

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, I'm sitting this one out because it's the fourth edition of Girl's Stuff. Chaunce is joined by former guest Christine Reed and BPR first-timer Maggie Schoemann. The three cover hiking with a partner, where to get a vag wax on trail, birth control, weird body changes, including managing a beard on trail as a woman, eating disorders and how thru-hiking can trigger or resurface disordered eating (trigger warning), and much more. These are Chaunce's notes, so I'm just going to assume they're all accurate. We wrap the show with Chaunce's take on the new Diddy doc and the triple crown of the worst parts of the holidays. Gossamer Gear: Check out the Type II collection at gossamergear.com. [divider] Panel with Chaunce, Maggie, and Christine Maggie's Instagram Christine's Instagram Time stamps & Questions 00:03:50 - Reminders: Apply to vlog or blog for the Trek, apply to be a Trail Correspondent, and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon! 00:08:45 - Introducing Maggie and Christine 00:13:26 - What is it like to do your first thru-hike while your partner finishes their Triple Crown? 00:22:30 - Discussion about making friends while thru-hiking in a couple 00:26:00 - What type of reaction did you get on the PCT? 00:32:14 - How was the Long Trail? 00:34:44 - What's it like to hike a trail that sucks with a platonic friend? 00:43:30 - Tell us about your chronic illness 00:48:30 - What specific foods did you mail yourself on the Long Trail? 00:52:35 - Discussion about PCOS 01:01:10 - Discussion about period cycles 01:09:40 - Discussion about nutrition and PCOS 01:20:00 - Discussion about PCOS and weight 01:29:50 - Trigger warning: disordered eating and body image 01:37:00 - Discussion about how thru-hiking intersects with disordered eating 02:18:20 - End trigger warning: discussion about getting waxed on trail 02:30:00 - Who determines what's cool on trail? 02:35:00 - Discussion about the evolution of women on trail 02:45:00 - Discussion about influencers on trail 02:54:00 - Recommend names of female influencers Segments Trek Propaganda This Simple Backpacking Mistake Almost Cost Me My Whole Hike by Kelly Floro QOTD: Have you seen the Diddy documentary? Triple Crown of the worst parts of the holidays Listener Voicemail Mail Bag [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, Matt from Gilbert, AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Randy Sutherland, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, SPAM, 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, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Denise Krekeler, Jack Greene, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, and Spencer Hinson.

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we're joined by Lucy Barnard. Lucy, along with her pup Wombat, has walked from the southern tip of Argentina all the way through the Great Divide Trail in Canada, and she'll be picking up the final leg of this monster journey — through northern Canada and into Alaska — later this winter. We get into what compelled Lucy to take on such an audacious mission, especially given that she had virtually zero long-distance hiking experience beforehand. She shares some truly wild stories from the trail, including being held at gunpoint by cartel members, what it's been like navigating this trek with a dog in tow, the extra hoops that come with that, the overwhelming kindness she's encountered from strangers along the way, and plenty more. We wrap the show by highlighting a 140-mile in Portugal that belongs on your bucket list, how a thru-hiker staple might be giving us all mercury poisoning, movies we definitely don't recommend, the triple crown of embarrassing foods, and the lazy person's guide to making your own dehydrated meals. Gossamer Gear: Check out the Type II collection at gossamergear.com. Ka'Chava: Get 10% off at kachava.com/backpacker. [divider] Interview with Lucy Barnard Lucy's Instagram Lucy's Youtube Time stamps & Questions 00:3:00 - Reminders: Apply to blog for The Trek, subscribe to our Youtube channel, Apply to VLOG for The Trek and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon! 00:07:10 - Introducing Lucy 00:10:00 - High Low Buffalo 00:14:40 - Discussion about nutrition 00:16:34 - How do you resupply Wombat's food? 00:18:45 - How did you get Wombat? 00:23:35 - Is Wombat a good security dog? 00:41:16 - What is your concern about sharing stories about risky times? 00:47:00 - Did you consider quitting the trail after that? 00:50:20 - Discussion about culture shock and language expressions 00:53:03 - What were you doing before this hike? 01:02:00 - What was your hiking and traveling experience prior to this hike? 01:06:20 - Were you nervous when you started the trip? 01:09:05 - What created your desire to do this? 01:14:00 - Discussion about people from other countries interested in hiking in the US 01:19:07 - Discussion about deworming 01:21:30 - What is in Wombat's first aid kit? 01:23:30 - Do you have a standout animal encounter story? 01:30:20 - How much of the trip is a logistical puzzle versus physical challenge? 01:33:50 - How have you managed family and friend relationships during this hike? 01:38:20 - What is celebrity and fame like in Australia? 01:42:30 - Why do you think this journey is going slower than you expected? 01:49:15 - How do you balance accepting good advice with not getting overwhelmed? 01:52:40 - Tell us about your overall route thus far 01:56:00 - Discussion about Lucy's navigation app 01:58:15 - What due diligence do you do ahead of time to make sure you stay safe? 02:02:00 - Lucy's stories about providing trail magic 02:04:50 - Tell us more stories about being integrated with the locals 02:13:25 - Tell us about Wombat getting sick from eating crabs on the desert 02:15:08 - Tell us about the Great Divide Trail 02:20:15 - What was your hardest day on this experience? 02:26:30 - How can listeners support your journey? 02:27:20 - What is the future of the journey going to be like? 02:35:00 - Where can people go to keep up with you? Segments Trek Propaganda: Apply to be a Vlogger for The Trek The Fisherman's Trail: A 140-Mile Luxury Thru-Hike in Europe (Complete 2026 Guide) by Chickpea Could This Thru-Hiker Staple Give You Mercury Poisoning? By James Townsend Ultralight Quilt Comparison: Enlightened Equipment Revelation vs. Katabatic Alsek vs. UGQ Bandit by JT Simmons QOTD: What are movies you definitely don't recommend to people? Triple Crown of embarrassing foods 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 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, Matt from Gilbert, AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Randy Sutherland, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, SPAM, 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, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Denise Krekeler, Jack Greene, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, and Spencer Hinson.