Stay ConnectedFrom 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.
Copyright: © The Trek
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Ruth Morley. Ruth, in addition to being a Trek Blogger, is an avid backpacker, having trekked the GR5 through the south of France all the way through the Netherlands, the Florida Trail, the AT, the Buckeye Trail, and most recently a thru-hike of the Colorado Trail at the ripe age of 70! We learn about Ruth's affinity for section hiking and how it compares to thru-hiking, we get an indepth run down of her time trekking the GR5, and Ruth dives deep into her passion for her whole food plant based diet, in which she adds zero salt, oil, or sugar to. Zach and Chaunce's dietary guilt is at an all-time high in this episode.
We wrap the show with an overview of the guy who hiked the AT and PCT carrying a 20-lb log over his shoulders, activities we didn't realize would consume so much of our time as adults, the triple crown of jingles, taglines, and mottos, and more.
Vargo Outdoors: Use code "BACKPACKERRADIO" for 20% off at vargooutdoors.com.
Zoleo: Use code "BACKPACKERRADIO" for free device activation.
Gossamer Gear: Use code "TAKELESSTREKMORE" for 15% off at gossamergear.com.
RTIC Outdoors: Shop at rticoutdoors.com.
[divider]
Interview with Ruth Morley
Time stamps & Questions
00:06:35 - Reminders: Check out our new website, support us on Patreon to see exclusive content, and come to the Denver hiker meetup THIS FRIDAY, December 1st!
00:10:10 - Introducing Ruth
00:11:11 - How did you originally get interested in the outdoors?
00:15:27 - What is the Mediocre Golf Association?
00:18:45 - Tell us about your son's racing career
00:21:07 - Tell us about the GR5
00:24:36 - What are the basics for an American looking to hike the GR5?
00:29:20 - What was your favorite section of the GR5?
00:30:40 - What's the northern section like?
00:33:25 - What are the other can't-miss cultural experiences along the GR5?
00:35:39 - What percent of the time did you spend camping versus staying in hostels?
00:39:22 - Any standout stories from the GR5?
00:42:18 - Tell us about section hiking the AT
00:49:22 - Can you talk about sharing a motel room with other hikers?
00:52:10 - What set of injuries inspired your change in diet?
00:56:30 - What was your diet like before going plant-based?
01:00:30 - What are examples of common meals you eat?
01:08:20 - What are your go-to dehydrated recipes?
01:13:15 - What do you recommend for people interested in dabbling?
01:17:42 - What kind of wet foods work with your diet?
01:22:30 - What are the advantages of section hiking versus thru-hiking?
01:25:34 - What other tips do you have for older backpackers?
01:27:23 - Discussion about training methods
01:30:35 - Tell us about your first section on the Florida Trail
01:36:30 - Did you see any alligators?
01:37:33 - Did you consider skipping the road walk?
01:39:11 - Can you give us a sales pitch for the Buckeye Trail in Ohio?
01:43:55 - What were your favorite moments of the Colorado Trail?
01:47:33 - Did you deal with altitude sickness at all?
01:48:37 - What are your parting messages?
Segments
Trek Propaganda: Meet Shawn Mahoney, aka Log Man: The Thru-Hiker Who Carried a Log on the AT and PCT by Krysia Caldwell
QOTD: What's something you didn't realize was going to consume so much of your time as an adult?
Plug Me: Barney "Scout" Mann and Shayla "Kiddo" Paradeis
Triple Crown of jingles, taglines, and mottos
5 Star Review
[divider]
Check out our sound guy @paulyboyshallcross.
Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play.
Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram.
Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube.
Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok.
Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years.
A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex & Misty with Navigators Crafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Ironhike endurance productions, Liz Seger, Matt Soukup, Mike Poisel, Patrick Cianciolo, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, and Tracy "Trigger" Fawns.
A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: 12 Trees Farms, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Jeff LaFranier, Joann Menzer, Keith Dobie Jr, Peter, and Ruth S.
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Matt Berger known on trail as Sheriff Woody. If you like plants, oh boy, are you in luck today because Sheriff Woody is an experienced thru-hiker and a trained botanist who's packed to the gills with fun flora facts. We learn about some of the standout plant species along each of the triple crown trails, how to know if a berry is edible or deadly, some of the rarest flowers along the triple crown trails, interesting facts about cacti, pine cones, and trees along these trails, and much, much more. Even if you aren't a plant person, we are guaranteeing 100% satisfaction with this interview or your money back.
We wrap the show with our favorite grocery impulse buys, a shoutout to Kelly Floro who recently completed the Pyrenean Haute Route, a Triple Crown of mid life crisis hobbies, our preferred noise to mask a public dump, and more.
Vargo Outdoors: Use code "BACKPACKERRADIO" for 20% off at vargooutdoors.com.
Zoleo: Use code "BACKPACKERRADIO" for free device activation.
LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek.
Darn Tough: Use code "DTLOVE-BACKPACKERRADIO" for 10% off plus free shipping at darntough.com.
RTIC Outdoors: Shop at rticoutdoors.com.
[divider]
Interview with Matt "Sheriff Woody" Berger
Time stamps & Questions
00:05:51 - Reminders: Come to the Hiker Meetup on December 1 at Improper City, check out our new website, and watch this episode on YouTube!
00:10:09 - Introducing Sheriff Woody
00:11:26 - What's your background?
00:13:00 - What's your favorite bug?
00:15:35 - How did your parents feel about you luring insects into your yard?
00:16:45 - When did you decide to pursue horticulture and what is the career path like?
00:18:37 - What's the difference between botany and horticulture?
00:20:55 - Tell us about your Appalachian Trail hike in 2012
00:26:30 - What alpine plants are there on the northern part of the AT?
00:30:41 - Do you have to study Latin during horticulture/botany training?
00:33:45 - What can you tell us about the plant naming process?
00:35:55 - What exciting plant species are on the AT but not on the other main trails?
00:40:00 - Discussion about improving blight resistance in American chestnut trees
00:44:37 - Can you tell us about the hemlock woolly adelgid?
00:47:06 - What are some of the worst invasive species along the AT?
00:50:40 - What are your favorite plants along the PCT?
00:54:15 - Tell us about poodle-dog bush
00:59:38 - What other plants have utility for thru-hikers?
01:03:24 - Do people harvest ginseng on the AT?
01:04:30 - What should people familiarize themselves with to be able to confidently identify a plant?
01:08:06 - Do you have a favorite berry along the PCT?
01:10:00 - What are some standout cactus species along the PCT?
01:12:38 - What are some fun plants that are easy to identify?
01:16:24 - What plants do you see in northern California?
01:18:33 - Is it hard for you to hike big miles if you're looking at plants all the time?
01:20:18 - What type of camera do you normally use?
01:23:29 - Tell us about iNaturalist
01:32:00 - What are the standout plants along the CDT?
01:35:33 - How would you rank the Triple Crown trails according to plants?
01:37:20 - Tell us about pine cones
01:41:05 - What are your top 3 favorite plants you've seen while hiking?
01:43:44 - Fuck Marry Kill: American chestnut, pygmy poppy, alpine spring beauty
01:44:44 - Do you have a favorite tree?
01:47:39 - If you were a flower/tree/insect, what would you be and why?
01:49:33 - Are there any other tools or apps you'd recommend for aspiring naturalists?
01:52:27 - Tell me about your botany road trip
01:55:29 - Are there specific plants at risk from climate change along the Triple Crown trails?
01:57:42 - Where can people go to keep up with you?
Segments
Trek Propaganda: Kelly Floro's Pyrenean Haute Route Blog
QOTD: What's the most surprising impulse buy you've made while grocery shopping recently?
Triple Crown of mid life crisis hobbies
Mail Bag
5 Star Review
[divider]
Check out our sound guy @paulyboyshallcross.
Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play.
Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram.
Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube.
Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok.
Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years.
A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex & Misty with Navigators Crafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Ironhike endurance productions, Liz Seger, Matt Soukup, Mike Poisel, Patrick Cianciolo, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, and Tracy "Trigger" Fawns.
A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: 12 Trees Farms, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Jeff LaFranier, Joann Menzer, Keith Dobie Jr, Peter, and Ruth S.
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Brady Geilenfeldt. Brady, known on trail as Undies, thru-hiked the Colorado Trail this year. What makes Undies story especially interesting is that he is deaf. We learn all about Brady's inspiring story, the incredible technology that is cochlear implants, what challenges a deaf hiker has to overcome, Brady's highlights from the CT, some of the non-obvious benefits of being a deaf hiker, Brady's future trail ambitions, and much more. Brady is an inspiring young man and we think you'll really enjoy this chat. We wrap the show with things we're convinced people pretend to enjoy, a triple crown of things that are the new black, some new poop news, and we finally have the details for our Denver holiday hiker meetup, and you are invited. Vargo Outdoors: Use code "BACKPACKERRADIO" for 20% off at vargooutdoors.com. RTIC Outdoors: Shop at rticoutdoors.com. Darn Tough: Use code "DTLOVE-BACKPACKERRADIO" for 10% off plus free shipping at darntough.com. Katabatic Gear: Use code "BPR15" for 15% off at katabaticgear.com. [divider] Interview with Brady Geilenfeldt Brady's Instagram Time stamps & Questions 00:04:52 - Reminders: Join us at Improper City for the Hiker Meetup on December 1st! Apply to be a blogger or the Trek's editorial intern. Check out our merch and support us on Patreon! 00:08:32 - Introducing Brady 00:12:40 - Tell us about your experience with deafness 00:15:10 - How did your mom get CMV? 00:16:50 - Were your parents on high alert knowing your mom had CMV? 00:17:55 - Would you trade being deaf for anything? 00:18:57 - How well does a cochlear implant approximate human hearing? 00:21:04 - How do the implants work? 00:24:10 - Did you ever learn American Sign Language? 00:26:00 - Are your other senses enhanced to make up for the loss of hearing? 00:27:10 - Does it help you sleep at night while backpacking? 00:28:14 - Are the implants comfortable to wear? 00:29:40 - Can you customize the volume based on different environments? 00:31:20 - Is it a satisfying feeling to take them off? 00:32:28 - Do the implants make hiking more interesting? 00:35:32 - What's your hiking background and what made you decide to hike the CT? 00:37:18 - What was your longest backpacking trip prior to the Colorado Trail? 00:37:40 - What do you have to consider when planning for the CT? 00:40:28 - Is it disorienting to have only one implant in? 00:44:14 - Did you have any role models that inspired you beforehand? 00:46:20 - Do you have tips for making hiking more stimulating or being comfortable with yourself? 00:49:10 - Do you have to be concerned about the implants getting wet? 00:52:00 - Discussion about technological features or upgrades 00:53:40 - Do people ever use cochlear implants that aren't deaf? 00:55:05 - Does the implant need to be replaced? 00:57:17 - Did deafness or CMV cause you to be immunocompromised? 00:58:30 - Discussion about losing balance and other impacts of deafness 01:01:18 - How did you handle the weather on the Colorado Trail? 01:04:38 - Did you have to be more careful when navigating while hiking? 01:07:00 - Do you want to do future hikes with a trail family? 01:08:03 - Do you have any standout stories from the CT? 01:10:09 - What's the origin of your trail name? 01:14:54 - Would you do other things differently to prepare for a future hike? 01:17:50 - What ratio of rechargeable to disposable batteries did you use? 01:18:57 - How bad is it if you were to lose or break them? 01:21:22 - How did you handle health insurance? 01:23:55 - Have you had other people reach out since your hike? 01:25:00 - How does playing music interface with your deafness? 01:27:50 - Is there something to be done to make the outdoors more accessible for someone with implants? 01:30:41 - Are some insurance plans better than others? 01:32:33 - Is there an actionable step the listeners can take to improve the situation? 01:38:00 - Harvest General Store 01:40:15 - Brady's parting words Segments Trek Propaganda: Broken on the AT: Gear That Breaks At 2,000 miles (And The Gear That Doesn't) by Abby Evans QOTD: What are you convinced people are pretending to enjoy? Stupid Thing of the Week Triple Crown of things that are the new black Poop News Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @paulyboyshallcross. 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 & Misty with Navigators Crafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Ironhike endurance productions, Liz Seger, Matt Soukup, Mike Poisel, Patrick Cianciolo, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, and Tracy "Trigger" Fawns. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: 12 Trees Farms, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanne Latshaw, Jeff LaFranier, Joann Menzer, Keith Dobie Jr, Peter, and Ruth S. [divider] Transcript: In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, we are joined by Brady Geilenfeld. Brady, known on trail as Undies, through-hiked the Colorado Trail this year. What makes Undies' story especially interesting is that he's deaf. We learn all about Brady's inspiring story, the incredible technology that his cochlear implants, what challenges a deaf hiker has to overcome, Brady's highlights from the CT, some of the non-obvious benefits of being a deaf hiker, including a great night of sleep, future trail ambitions, and much more. Brady is an inspiring young man, and we think you'll really enjoy this chat. We wrap the show with things we're convinced people pretend to enjoy, a triple crown of things that are the new black, some new hoop news, and we finally have the details for our Denver Holiday Hiker Meetup, and you are invited. But first, I am thrilled to introduce our next sponsor, which is a brand that has been a part of my pack and through hikes, dating back to 2017. Vargo creates lightweight titanium backpacking gear that is simple, innovative, and functional. The Vargo Bot 700 was with me every step of the way during my through hike of the PCT and every backpacking trip since. The Vargo Bot is extremely lightweight, weighing less than 5 ounces, and transfers heat quickly and evenly, making it the perfect pot for your cookware setup. But this just scratches the surface for why the Bot kicks so much eff… butt. Because the Bot features a screw top lid, it's the ideal option for the cold soakers of this world. Dump your dehydrated meal and the appropriate amount of water into the Bot, screw the lid closed, insert time, and voila, dinner is ready. Also, I can't count all the times I've benefited from having an additional 700ml of emergency water storage when encountering an unexpected dry spell. In other words, this piece is incredibly versatile and may very well be the last pot you ever buy. The Bot comes in a variety of sizes, including the brand new Bot XL, which is designed to perfectly fit a full-size canister inside with extra room for a stove. I'm also a user and fan of Vargo's utensils, titanium long-handle spoon for the win, and their titanium stakes. You simply can't beat titanium's combination of strength and being lightweight, and no one does it better than Vargo. Discount time, backpacker radio listeners, head to vargooutdoors.com and use coupon code backpackerradio at checkout to score a 20% discount. Again, the code is backpackerradio, all one word, at vargooutdoors.com. This is a limited time deal, so do not wait. Whether it's a car camping trip, a bout of trail magic, or the summer road trip, a quality cooler and drinkware is essential. That's why we're thrilled to introduce our next sponsor, Artic Outdoors. Artic Outdoors makes products engineered for two things, performance and durability. And unlike other coolers on the market, Artic's high-quality coolers and tumblers won't cost you an arm and a leg. Artic's 52-quart ultralight hard cooler made the trip from backpacker radio's headquarters in Golden, Colorado, to Trail A's in Damascus, Virginia, keeping our spin drifts, root beers, and blue ribbons perfectly chilled. As the name would imply, the ultralight cooler is 30% lighter compared to other premium hard-sided coolers, which means you can be the group's beverage hero without developing a hernia in the process. And compromising on weight doesn't mean you're compromising on insulation. With up to three inches of post-self-roam insulation, your ice will remain as ice for days. For more portable adventures, Artic Outdoors soft pack coolers are the ticket. These are lightweight, durable, and ready to travel with you, keeping your drinks cold for up to 24 hours while avoiding the mess thanks to two inches of closed-cell foam and puncture and tear-resistant lining. Lastly, Artic's drinkware keeps your blue ribbons cold or your morning coffee hot for the long haul, utilizing double-wall vacuum insulation. The BPR team rocked Artic tumblers throughout the muggy afternoons of southern Appalachia, enjoying refreshingly cold beverages along the way. Head to ArticOutdoors.com to get your premium coolers and insulated drinkware at a fraction of the price of the competition today. Welcome to Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek. Today is November 13th, World Kindness Day. Aww, that's nice. I am your co-host Zach Badger-Davis, sitting to my right is... Hi, I'm Juliana Chauncey, aka Chauncey... Reminders, yes. We have the deets, finally, for our Hiker Holiday Meetup Extravaganza Palooza Supreme. A-thon. Yes. This will take place, whatever I said previously, disregard that because I think a lot of the details have changed. You guys don't care about the reasons why. But this is going down on December 1st at Improper City in Denver, in Denver, not Golden, from 530 to 8 p.m. This will be co-hosted by Backpacker Radio slash The Trek and the CDTC, which means it'll be a fundraiser for them. We're going to have some sweet raffles, or as they say, door prizes. I had to look that up. Apparently, that's the vernacular for raffle prizes nowadays. Good hangs, solid vibes, memes. What else? Carnival barking. Carnival barking, yes. Sounds like there will be some of that happening. Give at least four drinks a chance and she will stand on a chair and yell at you. I haven't stood on a chair and yelled at Improper City yet, which is something that I'm excited to do. Yeah, let's see if they welcome us back after December 1st at 530 p.m. A couple other things quickly. One is if you're through hiking in 2024 and you want your journey featured on The Trek, we are currently accepting blogger applications. I did a link in the show notes. Lastly, this is the time of the year where we will likely be adding a new editorial intern to the team. This is a highly coveted position. We get lots of people reaching out for this, so if you're listening to this and you've got some serious editorial chops and you like long distance backpacking, head to the link in the show notes. Oh, also we are still selling our awesome vintage backpacker radio tees. We've gotten some nice compliments on them. Yes, we have. They look like Saved by the Bell goes outdoors. Yeah, or if you're slightly older, Miami Vice, if you're my age, both are sufficient. Yeah, I also think if you saw the Barbie movie, this would be like that in the form of a shirt and blue. There is pink hints. There's flavors of pink in there, but it's it's I could see it being worn as like a Ken costume. Yeah, I saw a couple people recommend or ask for us to turn these into sun hoodies, which I got to figure out. Where do we find a manufacturer? That's a good question, but maybe someday. OK, well, if you manufacture sun hoodies and you're listening to this slide in our DMS. Yes. Last thing is if you want to support the show and you want some additional backpacker radio content, head on over to our Patreon page, patreon.com slash backpacker radio, where we release a new episode the first Wednesday of every month. This current month's episode was a gift guide. We went through big ticket and small ticket items that you can either gift or be gifted in the holiday season, things that we've loved having as hikers and regular humans and as well as things that we wouldn't want or like, you know, some things to avoid if you want to give that thoughtful gift to a hiker, but also don't want to give them something that they're going to smile and say thank you for and then actually never use. Yes. To the non-backpacking gift recommendations, I tried my hardest to not make it too dad-centric and I think I failed. This will be a great one for anyone who wants to gift something to a hiker or who really likes being in the kitchen. Yes. Leave it at that. Or is training to be the all-time dad. Yeah. OK, we'll leave it at that. No more beating around the bush. Let's get right to today's interview with Brady Gielenfeldt. We'll figure out how badly I butchered that pretty soon. We are joined by today's guest, Brady Gielenfeldt, which I nailed the first time, I'm pretty sure. I'm sure the tape will say otherwise, who hiked the Colorado Trail this year in part to inspire people who are deaf or hard of hearing, that they are not limited by their abilities. Brady, thank you so much for joining us here on Backpacker Radio. Hey, it's great to be here. Yeah. Can we swing the mic a little bit closer your way? There we go. About that far from your mouth. How does that sound? Good. That sounds awesome. The closer the better. You can't be too close. Yeah. I would move yourself closer rather than close. Yeah. Typically, we do all this stuff before we hit record, but we're winging it here today. He brought us food. We got distracted and we brought him food. Yeah. It was a food exchange. Let's start there. Let's give a plug to this is your folks place, the Harvest General Store in Iowa, right? Yes, in Iowa. Yeah, they just do trade shows and stuff right now and they have a Facebook page. But I mean, really, yeah, they just go around doing those trade shows. They love it. Yeah. So we're about to bust open. There was a wide variety of goodies in this box. Chonce went with her top option, currently stabbing it open with the edge of her glasses. What do we have here, Chonce? This seemed the most on-brand for us, and this is freeze-dried gummy worms. I personally have been getting a lot of algorithm on socials showing me people freeze-drying skittles, gummies, things like that. And so this is right up my current algorithm. Yeah. They look like Cheetos. It looks unique. And I was unaware of freeze-drying candy up until about 10 minutes ago. So very excited to learn about this wild world. I will say the best part about this is seeing people's reaction, eating this for the first time. ASMR. Flavors. It tastes like, texture aside, it tastes just like a gummy worm. Tastes like jello. This is very interesting. Push it against the top of your mouth. Like, I don't like chewing these things.…
Full show notes at the publisherIn today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Dr. Morgan Brosnihan. Dr. Brosnihan runs Blaze Physio, a mobile physical therapy service, from her van, where she helps ailing hikers along the Pacific Crest Trail. We learn all about this novel business idea and go deep on everything to do with injury and injury prevention, including the best training regimen, the biggest mistakes thru-hikers make in terms of inciting injury, which gizmos and gadgets she recommends for hikers, exercises hikers should focus on both before trail and during, and much more. If you're into exercise science at all, you will enjoy this one.
We wrap the show with some news of a grizzly attack in Banff National Park, the weirdest thing we refuse to buy, and a Triple Crown of little things that make you irrationally happy.
Darn Tough: Use code "DTLOVE-BACKPACKERRADIO" for 10% off plus free shipping at darntough.com.
Vargo Outdoors: Use code "BACKPACKERRADIO" for 20% off at vargooutdoors.com.
Katabatic Gear: Use code "BPR15" for 15% off at katabaticgear.com.
LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek.
RTIC Outdoors: Shop at rticoutdoors.com.
[divider]
Interview with Dr. Morgan Brosnihan
Time stamps & Questions
00:05:54 - Reminders: Submit yourself or someone else to be a guest on BPR, fill out the AT 2023 thru-hiker survey, come to the Denver hiker meetup on December 1, and support us on Patreon for bonus content!
00:09:35 - Introducing Dr. Morgan
00:11:20 - Tell us about your titles and what education they require
00:13:33 - What got you into physical therapy?
00:15:56 - Do you have any tips for someone who wants to blend business and hiking?
00:18:25 - What value do people get from telehealth physical therapy versus in person?
00:21:21 - Do you think physical therapists are better at diagnosing injuries?
00:24:20 - Discussion about Morgan's charging rates and business economics
00:27:30 - Tell us more about your van business setup
00:29:31 - How are your pre-trail injury talks received?
00:32:16 - What are the cliff notes of your pre-trail talk?
00:35:17 - Tell us about some of the most injured people you've worked with
00:39:48 - What are some of the best things people should do prior to thru-hiking?
00:42:07 - What's the best form of weight training for thru-hiking?
00:43:57 - What is the ideal training protocol for someone with gym access?
00:47:25 - Is there a way to find out what 70% of your max daily mileage is?
00:50:50 - Is there a recipe for building in enough rest days?
00:56:00 - Tell us about your Long Trail hike
00:58:10 - Are you fun to hike with or do you diagnose everything you do?
01:00:15 - Is it ever hard to take your own advice?
01:01:50 - Where should someone strike with their foot?
01:04:25 - How do you know if your gate is correct or incorrect?
01:05:23 - What's your perspective on baby deer legs?
01:08:02 - Discussion about anti-inflammatories
01:10:34 - How do you tell the difference between inflamed and swollen?
01:11:25 - What are the downsides of using ibuprofen chronically?
01:15:40 - What do you suggest future thru-hikers start doing to prepare for their hike?
01:19:50 - How should hikers think about and transition to zero drop shoes?
01:22:48 - How applicable is running to switching shoes and preparing to hike in general?
01:24:57 - How helpful is having your stride analyzed?
01:26:00 - Is there a way to know who is better suited for a thicker midsole shoe?
01:32:20 - What other prep should November listeners do?
01:34:55 - Are there things you see people doing that you know might cause injuries?
01:36:05 - What's the difference between a loaded pack or a weighted vest?
01:37:15 - Tell us about stretching
01:43:15 - Is it possible to create too much range of motion through stretching?
01:44:52 - What are the best stretches for thru-hikers?
01:47:19 - What can you do to help with restless legs?
01:51:13 - What tools could someone carry for injury prevention and how do they work?
01:57:23 - What about topicals, like CBD?
02:01:51 - What is your take on insoles?
02:04:02 - Where can people learn more from you?
Segments
Trek Propaganda:
QOTD: What's the weirdest thing you need that you just refuse to buy?
Triple Crown of little things that make you irrationally happy
Mail Bag
5 Star Review
[divider]
Check out our sound guy @paulyboyshallcross.
Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play.
Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram.
Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube.
Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok.
Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years.
A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex & Misty with Navigators Crafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Ironhike endurance productions, Liz Seger, Matt Soukup, Mike Poisel, Patrick Cianciolo, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, and Tracy "Trigger" Fawns.
A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: 12 Trees Farms, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanne Latshaw, Jeff LaFranier, Joann Menzer, Keith Dobie Jr, Peter, and Ruth S.
In today's very spooky episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Andrea Lankford, author of "Trail of the Lost: The Relentless Search to Bring Home the Missing Hikers of the Pacific Crest Trail." Andrea's book, and thus our conversation, keys in on the story of three missing hikers on the PCT, all happening in consecutive years between 2015 and 2017. We talk about the specific details of each of these cases, how the official authorities could've done better in their searches, how the community rallied to offer their assistance, Andrea's speculation of what ultimately happened in each case, specific search and rescue tactics, and much more.
We wrap the show by sharing a couple of stories about spooky incidents that have happened to us on trail, the triple crown of Halloween songs that slap, and we offer some details of the holiday hiker meetup.
We also touch on the deeply saddening news of Donna Sauffley's passing, who was not only a beloved guest on this podcast but also a renowned trail angel.
Vargo Outdoors: Use code "BACKPACKERRADIO" for 20% off at vargooutdoors.com.
Katabatic Gear: Use code "BPR15" for 15% off at katabaticgear.com.
Gossamer Gear: Use code "TAKELESSTREKMORE" for 15% off at gossamergear.com.
Darn Tough: Use code "DTLOVE-BACKPACKER" for 10% off plus free shipping at darntough.com.
[divider]
Interview with Andrea Lankford
Time stamps & Questions
00:06:00 - Reminders: take the AT hiker survey, support us on Patreon, submit your poop story for a chance to win a BPR RTIC mug, and attend our hiker meetup on December 1st!
00:10:40 - Introducing Andrea
00:11:12 - Tell us about becoming and being a National Park Service ranger
00:14:00 - At what point did finding missing people become a primary interest of yours?
00:16:45 - Do rangers get trained on communicating with the families of missing hikers?
00:18:04 - What stood out to you in the Grand Canyon case that you carried with you?
00:19:47 - Tell us the basics of the Chris Sylvia case
00:23:03 - How did you supplement the initial search?
00:24:45 - What made you want to step in and assist in the Sylvia case?
00:26:42 - What did his family think had happened?
00:27:30 - What was his roommate's part in it?
00:29:01 - Why didn't the police release the report to his family?
00:32:17 - Are you investigating as part of a larger organization?
00:34:15 - Have you dealt with reigniting families' hopes for finding answers?
00:36:06 - Why does the federal government lack data about people who go missing from public land?
00:38:00 - Tell us about the Fear Gender Paradox
00:40:20 - Did you get involved with the Sylvia case before the others had gone missing?
00:42:00 - If you had to guess, what do you think happened to Chris Sylvia?
00:43:36 - Tell us about the Twelve Tribes
00:48:26 - Tell us the basics of the Kris Fowler case
00:50:44 - What were the various witness sightings of Kris Fowler?
00:52:07 - What do you know about Kris's mindset before he disappeared?
00:55:00 - Why was Kris Fowler's case the most prominent of the three?
00:57:10 - What did the investigation into Sherpa's disappearance entail?
01:02:00 - Tell us the basics of the David O'Sullivan case
01:04:00 - What's the compelling evidence related to David's case?
01:06:20 - Why was David's case so much less well known than Kris's?
01:07:57 - What were some of the mysterious sightings related to David's case?
01:09:00 - Tell us about the various search methods used in these cases
01:12:52 - What kind of signs do people leave while hiking?
01:13:50 - Were cadaver dogs used in all three of the cases?
01:15:00 - Tell us about using drones and "squint" searching
01:17:37 - Did anyone go missing in 2018?
01:22:37 - Zach is in the book!
01:25:17 - Do you see any more information or evidence coming to light in any of these cases?
01:26:00 - How can listeners get involved?
01:27:30 - Tips for hikers preparing to thru-hike
Segments
Trek Propaganda: Beloved PCT Trail Angel, Donna Saufley of Hiker Heaven, Succumbs to Brain Cancer by Owen Eigenbrot
QOTD: What's the spookiest situation you've ever been in?
Triple Crown of Halloween songs
Mail Bag
5 Star Review
[divider]
Check out our sound guy @paulyboyshallcross.
Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play.
Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram.
Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube.
Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok.
Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years.
A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex & Misty with Navigators Crafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Ironhike endurance productions, Liz Seger, Matt Soukup, Mike Poisel, Patrick Cianciolo, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, and Tracy "Trigger" Fawns.
A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: 12 Trees Farms, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanne Latshaw, Jeff LaFranier, Joann Menzer, Keith Dobie Jr, Peter, and Ruth S.
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are re-re-re joined by listener favorite and our pal, Clay Bonnyman Evans, aka Pony.
We catch up on all that Pony's been up to since his last appearance on the show including a thru-hike of the Cape Wrath Trail, which he refers to as the AT of the UK, his trek from Edinburgh to Glasgow, his stint as a caretaker at Woods Hole Hostel, and his latest section hike of the Continental Divide Trail, which he cites as his most psychologically challenging hike to date. In typical Pony fashion, this chat is wild- we get an extended Scottish accent, some explicit poop stories, and we are introduced to the erotic world of hedging. You might be able to guess what that is, either way, you're soon about to find out.
We wrap the show with a feature from a Trek blogger about how backpacking made her less independent, a triple crown of bummer places to be, and Chaunce triggers the internet.
Vargo Outdoors: Use code "BACKPACKERRADIO" for 20% off at vargooutdoors.com.
Katabatic Gear: Use code "BPR15" for 15% off at katabaticgear.com.
LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek.
[divider]
Interview with Clay "Pony" Bonnyman Evans
Time stamps & Questions
00:03:48 - Reminders: Check out our new merch, submit your poop story for a chance to win a BPR RTIC mug, and apply to be a blogger!
00:05:35 - Introducing Pony
00:06:02 - Tell us your poop story
00:10:20 - Tell us about caretaking at Woods Hole hostel
00:12:25 - Tell us a second poop story
00:14:38 - Discussion about the murder you got interested in
00:17:35 - Did you consider writing a book about it?
00:19:38 - Tell us about the Cape Wrath trail
00:26:46 - What are the pros and cons of going south or north?
00:28:50 - Are you planning on doing the West Highland Way?
00:29:25 - Did you notice the accent change as you got further north?
00:31:03 - What was resupplying like?
00:33:28 - What was the camping like?
00:38:00 - Anything else you want to share on this hike?
00:40:12 - Do you remember any legends?
00:42:50 - Tell us about hiking from Edinburgh to Glasgow
00:46:33 - Which city would you return to if you could only pick one?
00:47:16 - What's the hiking culture like?
00:50:24 - Did you do anything between Scotland and going back to the CDT?
00:51:20 - Tell us about hiking alone for the most part
00:58:30 - What constitutes a bad day on the CDT?
01:02:03 - What other things did you do to make you realize you were losing your sanity?
01:05:52 - Is it surprising to you that you're still learning a lot about yourself?
01:07:54 - Did you have any standout favorite days?
01:11:07 - Did you do any uncommon alternates that you think more people should do?
01:14:15 - What do you attribute red line fever to?
01:17:18 - What led to you still needing to mop up some miles?
01:21:32 - Tell us about recovering from giardia
01:25:02 - How does overdoing it manifest for you?
01:30:00 - Discussion about the weather
01:31:13 - Tell us about the Glacier permit system
01:35:08 - Why don't the national parks all use the same system?
01:39:30 - Did you have any gear you loved or loathed?
01:43:30 - Do you have any hot takes for us?
01:51:40 - What's next for you?
Segments
Trek Propaganda: How Thru-Hiking Made Me Less Independent by Gillian
QOTD: What is something you've been doing recently to intentionally annoy your partner?
Trigger the Internet
Triple Crown of bummer places to be
Mail Bag
5 Star Review
[divider]
Check out our sound guy @paulyboyshallcross.
Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play.
Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram.
Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube.
Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok.
Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years.
A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex & Misty with Navigators Crafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, DoGoodPantry, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Liz Seger, Matt Soukup, Mike Poisel, Morgan Luke, Patrick Cianciolo, Sawyer Products, Timothy Hahn, and Tracy "Trigger" Fawns.
A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: 12 Trees Farms, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jake Landgraf, Jeanne Latshaw, Jeff LaFranier, Joann Menzer, Keith Dobie Jr, Kelly Heikkila, Matthew Spence, and Peter.
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Dr. Nick Brandehoff and Dr. Bryan Wilson of The Asclepius Snakebite Foundation to of course talk all things snakes. We cover everything you could want to know about dealing with snakes and snake bites including what to do if bitten by a snake in the backcountry in a variety of circumstances, what to do if your kid or dog is bitten by a snake, common myths about snakes and snake bites, a fornicate marry kill of snake species, what resources people ought to be aware of in dealing with snake safety, and much more.
We wrap the show with the best excuses to get out of work, a triple crown of items over $1,000 that aren't living, and are small enough to be manually lifted, a new segment, trigger warning, a horseback DUI, and more!
Vargo Outdoors: Use code "BACKPACKERRADIO" for 20% off at vargooutdoors.com.
Katabatic Gear: Use code "BPR15" for 15% off at katabaticgear.com.
Gossamer Gear: Use code "TAKELESSTREKMORE" for 15% off at gossamergear.com.
[divider]
Interview with Dr. Nick Brandehoff and Dr. Bryan Wilson
Time stamps & Questions
00:04:30 - Reminders: Check out our new merch, submit your poop story for a chance to win a BPR RTIC mug, and apply to be a blogger!
00:08:40 - Introducing Dr. Brandehoff and Dr. Wilson
00:10:00 - Tell us about your backgrounds and how you came to your current roles
00:13:27 - Why does Denver have a high concentration of toxicologists?
00:15:10 - How many snakes do each of you own?
00:15:55 - When you think of snake people, what is the stereotypical snake person?
00:17:15 - Have either of you been bitten by venomous snakes?
00:18:07 - What makes a snake venomous but not dangerous?
00:27:35 - If you get bit by a snake while out hiking, how do you get it to let go of you?
00:29:15 - How far do snakes lunge?
00:31:50 - Have snakes evolved not to rattle?
00:32:12 - If you get bit while hiking, what should you do?
00:35:00 - Discussion about the myth of using electricity to denature venom
00:36:55 - First aid tips
00:38:43 - Is it okay to move to get to medical care?
00:40:20 - Does it make more sense to hike or run?
00:41:48 - Is it a bad idea to try to slow the circulation or elevate the area?
00:42:54 - How does your knowledge impact your outdoor experience?
00:47:11 - Myth busting: are baby rattlesnakes more venomous than adults?
00:50:27 - What kind of venomous snakes are most prevalent in the United States?
00:52:00 - Can you rank the 4 snakes according to how bad it is to get bitten by them?
00:54:05 - Which of the 4 snakes would you most want to get bitten by?
00:57:05 - After you're bit, how long do you have before a snakebite becomes lethal?
00:59:40 - Tell us about the Appalachian snake people
01:02:00 - Discussion about the long term impacts of snake bites
01:04:40 - Is antivenom the same for all snakes?
01:07:02 - How is antivenom made?
01:09:07 - Why do the antibodies have to be taken from other animals?
01:11:45 - Are you optimistic about the technology of antivenom evolving?
01:12:08 - Is it true that not all hospitals have antivenom?
01:13:50 - Discussion about poison centers (800-222-1222)
01:16:20 - What's the craziest thing you've seen with the poison center?
01:20:57 - What should you do if a child or dog gets bit by a snake?
01:24:56 - Do you have any snake jokes?
01:25:30 - Fuck Marry Kill: water moccasins, rattlesnakes, copperheads
01:26:45 - If you could see any snake in the wild, what would you pick?
01:28:25 - What snake would come out the victor in a bracket?
01:29:55 - What are some rapid fire snake facts?
01:32:30 - Have you ever done any snake pranks?
01:33:35 - Why are people so afraid of snakes?
01:35:00 - Where can people learn more about you and your organization?
Segments
Trek Propaganda: A Camera as Company: Thru-Hiking in Scotland with a Panoramic Camera by Laura Partain
QOTD: What's your go-to excuse for getting out of work?
Triple Crown of non-living, liftable items you'd want over $1,000
Triggering the Internet
Mail Bag
5 Star Review
[divider]
Check out our sound guy @paulyboyshallcross.
Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play.
Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram.
Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube.
Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok.
Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years.
A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex & Misty with Navigators Crafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, DoGoodPantry, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Liz Seger, Matt Soukup, Mike Poisel, Morgan Luke, Patrick Cianciolo, Sawyer Products, Timothy Hahn, and Tracy "Trigger" Fawns.
A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: 12 Trees Farms, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jake Landgraf, Jeanne Latshaw, Jeff LaFranier, Joann Menzer, Keith Dobie Jr, Kelly Heikkila, Matthew Spence, and Peter.
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are giving you an in depth run through on how to choose a backpack for thru-hiking. We are joined today by The Trek's Managing Editor, serial thru-hiker, and certified gear nerd, Owen Eigenbrot. We walk you through all the features, terminology, material types, sizing tips, and more to give you a foundational knowledge on making an educated decision when purchasing a pack for the purpose of a long-distance backpacking trek. We then share some of our top tips and offer a few specific product recommendations at the end of the panel. Whether you're just getting started in the world of backpacking, you're looking to level up your gear for future trips, or you're just curious to expand your knowledge in the world of backpacks, this podcast has got something for you.
We wrap the show with a shoutout to the class of 2023 AT thru-hikers, a new segment - poop news of the week, a miserably embarrassing stupid thing of the week, and a triple crown of our preferred caffeine sources.
Gossamer Gear: Use code "TAKELESSTREKMORE" for 15% off at gossamergear.com.
Katabatic Gear: Use code "BPR15" for 15% off at katabaticgear.com.
LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek.
[divider]
Panel with Owen Eigenbrot
Time stamps & Questions
00:03:38 - Reminder 1: Get an exclusive monthly episode by supporting us on Patreon!
00:05:20 - Reminder 2: We have new merch!
00:06:28 - Reminder 3: Submit your Pooping in the Woods story!
00:07:22 - Reminder 4: Apply to be a Trek blogger in 2024, take the AT survey if you hiked in 2023, and make sure to use our sponsor discount codes when buying gear!
00:08:47 - Introducing Owen
00:09:51 - Give us an overview of your backpacking experience
00:14:31 - Can you introduce the Eastern Continental Trail?
00:17:19 - Introducing the structure of today's show
00:19:05 - Sizing a pack properly and how to measure your torso
00:25:00 - Adjustable versus fixed-size packs
00:26:55 - Sizing cottage gear packs versus larger manufacturers
00:28:52 - Volume/capacity
00:33:17 - Internal frame vs. external frame vs. frameless
00:37:23 - Men's vs. women's vs. unisex
00:40:12 - Traditional vs. ultralight
00:43:28 - Suspension
00:50:24 - Pockets
00:56:00 - Hip belt
01:00:23 - Extension collars
01:01:55 - Closure styles: roll-top vs. cinch cord vs. others
01:06:15 - Straps and buckles
01:10:45 - Price range
01:12:24 - Waterproofness
01:14:25 - Material options
01:24:35 - Bear canister compatibility
01:27:35 - Zach's Pack Tip #1: Of the big 3, the weight of the backpack is the least important
01:28:47 - Chaunce's Pack Tip #1: Consider the weight your pack is designed to carry
01:30:48 - Owen's Pack Tip #1: Use a pack liner
01:34:09 - Zach's Pack Tip #2: Zach's overall pack recommendation
01:36:22 - Chaunce's Pack Tip #2: Chaunce's overall pack recommendation
Segments
Trek Propaganda: Congratulations to these 2023 Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers: Part 4 by Kendra Slagter
Stupid Thing of the Week
Triple Crown of caffeine sources
5 Star Review
[divider]
Check out our sound guy @paulyboyshallcross.
Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play.
Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram.
Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube.
Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok.
Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years.
A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex & Misty with Navigators Crafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, DoGoodPantry, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Liz Seger, Matt Soukup, Mike Poisel, Morgan Luke, Patrick Cianciolo, Sawyer Products, Timothy Hahn, and Tracy "Trigger" Fawns.
A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: 12 Trees Farms, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jake Landgraf, Jeanne Latshaw, Jeff LaFranier, Joann Menzer, Keith Dobie Jr, Kelly Heikkila, Matthew Spence, and Peter.
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Al Marriott, known on trail as Lookout. Lookout is a 2023 PCT thru-hiker, and one of the very few who was able to connect their footsteps on a continuous northbound hike through the Sierra. This is the main course of our conversation today as we learn all about the wild conditions Lookout and his crew of 6 fellow hikers endured, including some very close call water crosses, how slow and draining the snow travel was, what snow traction worked best for his group (and it might not be what you expect), the energy requirements for this style of trekking, and the group dynamics of traveling in such close proximity for such a long time through such stressful conditions. This one is a doozy.
We wrap the show with a quick overview of how much experience is needed to hike the AT, things that get less appetizing as we get older, and a triple crown of the best places for people watching.
CTUG: Use code "BACKPACKERRADIO" for 15% off at chickentrampergear.com.
LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek.
Gossamer Gear: Use code "TAKELESSTREKMORE" for 15% off at gossamergear.com.
[divider]
Interview with Al "Lookout" Marriott
Time stamps & Questions
00:04:02 - Reminders: Apply to be a 2024 Trek Blogger, submit your poop stories, and follow us Patreon!
00:06:59 - Introducing Lookout
00:07:27 - Tell us about your photography setup
00:08:23 - Where are you from?
00:09:56 - Did you do any long distance backpacking in Britain?
00:11:45 - How did you come to bounce between Australia and Thailand?
00:13:16 - What permits did you need to come to the US to hike the AT?
00:17:10 - Did you feel pressure on the AT to make sure your schedule worked?
00:19:27 - What snow hiking experience did you have prior to starting the PCT?
00:20:18 - When you started, did you know you wanted to maintain a continuous footpath?
00:21:55 - Did you run into issues before getting to Kennedy Meadows?
00:26:15 - How did you find a group to enter the Sierras with?
00:31:17 - Did you use snow gear going through Apache Peak?
00:32:25 - What was your start date and when did you reach Kennedy Meadows?
00:32:46 - What was the atmosphere of other hikers on trail?
00:33:49 - Tell us about who you entered the Sierras with
00:38:42 - To what extent did your group plan out your strategy ahead of time?
00:41:38 - Picture of the South Fork San Joaquin Bridge damage
00:42:00 - Were you disappointed to skip that section?
00:45:50 - Narrate your Sierra crossing
00:57:38 - Was bringing the snowshoes a good idea?
01:03:54 - How much dry ground did you see in the Sierra?
01:05:19 - Describe the obstacles you encountered before getting to Bishop
01:06:26 - Tell us about the sketchiest water crossings
01:13:54 - Did those close calls affect your confidence or strategies going forward?
01:15:33 - How much of the Sierra was Type I vs. Type II fun?
01:18:21 - Did having a limited time visa impact your thought processes?
01:21:50 - Tell us about sketchy parts of the next stretch
01:30:16 - Tell us about getting trail magic in the Sierra
01:33:40 - Discussion about conveying what it was like to others
01:37:40 - Story about Stitches
01:44:47 - Did the group stay together or break up after the Sierra?
01:49:55 - Story about getting into Tahoe
02:01:18 - What did you get out of this experience?
02:08:04 - Are there any other gaps in topics related to snow that we could cover in the future?
02:14:16 - What was the longest stretch between resupplies?
02:16:40 - Where should people go to follow you?
Segments
Trek Propaganda: Can You Hike the Appalachian Trail with No Backpacking Experience? by Diane Duffard
QOTD: What's something that gets less appetizing the older you get?
Triple Crown of the best places for people watching
Mail Bag
5 Star Review
Patreon Austen's Hike Update
[divider]
Check out our sound guy @paulyboyshallcross.
Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play.
Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram.
Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube.
Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok.
Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years.
A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex & Misty with Navigators Crafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, DoGoodPantry, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Liz Seger, Matt Soukup, Mike Poisel, Morgan Luke, Patrick Cianciolo, Sawyer Products, Timothy Hahn, and Tracy "Trigger" Fawns.
A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: 12 Trees Farms, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jake Landgraf, Jeanne Latshaw, Jeff LaFranier, Joann Menzer, Keith Dobie Jr, Kelly Heikkila, Matthew Spence, and Peter.
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are giving you a thorough breakdown on all things backpacking tent related. We are joined by The Trek's Managing Editor, accomplished thru-hiker, and gear encyclopedia, Owen Eigenbrot. We introduce today's panel by giving you a thorough run-through on everything you need about backpacking tents, including the various types of tents, feature sets, terminology, material options, and more. We then do a roundtable offering our top actionable advice for picking a tent, considerations to make, and a few of our favorite specific models. Whether you're new to backpacking, are looking to level up your gear, or are curious about the various nuances of the world of tents, this podcast has something for you.
We wrap the show with a triple crown of Taylor Swift songs (Owen is a certified Swiftie), we share some of our strangest beliefs, and we offer a not-so-happy update on the status of Backpacker Radio's Iceland Trip.
Gossamer Gear: Use code "TAKELESSTREKMORE" for 15% off at gossamergear.com.
LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek.
CTUG: Use code "BACKPACKERRADIO" for 15% off at chickentrampergear.com.
[divider]
Panel with Owen Eigenbrot
Timestamps & Questions
00:03:49 - Reminders: Support us on Patreon, Iceland is off, leave us a voicemail, and apply to be a Trek blogger!
00:06:48 - Introducing Owen
00:08:07 - What's your backpacking background?
00:10:44 - What are the basics of the Eastern Continental Trail?
00:12:32 - Introducing the structure of today's show
00:16:10 - Tent capacity
00:21:00 - Tarps and bivvies
00:23:50 - 3 vs. 4 season
00:27:25 - Single vs. double wall
00:35:05 - Trekking pole vs. (semi) freestanding
00:46:06 - Tent weight variations
00:53:18 - Common materials
01:14:25 - Bathtub floor
01:16:05 - Door location
01:19:42 - Height
01:22:55 - Bug protection
01:23:32 - Pockets
01:24:38 - Stakes
01:31:52 - Tent terminology
01:36:30 - Footprints
01:41:36 - Zach's Tent Tip #1: If you're new to backpacking, go with a semi-freestanding tent
01:48:54 - Owen's Tent Tip #1: Don't give up on 1-person shelters
01:51:10 - Chaunce's Tent Tip #1: Measure how tall you are when sitting straight up
01:52:30 - Zach's Tent Tip #2: Broadest audience tent recommendation
01:55:03 - Owen's Tent Tip #2: Have realistic expectations about tents in general
01:57:00 - Chaunce's Tent Tip #2: Consider the terrain you'll be hiking in
01:58:01 - Owen and Chaunce's tent recommendations
Segments
Trek Propaganda: The 15 Best Long-Distance Trails in the US by Diane Duffard
QOTD: What is the strangest thing you believe in?
One Minute Gear Review: Free Fly Bamboo Lightweight Hoodie
Triple Crown of Taylor Swift songs
5 Star Review
[divider]
Check out our sound guy @paulyboyshallcross.
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Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years.
A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex & Misty with Navigators Crafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, DoGoodPantry, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Liz Seger, Matt Soukup, Mike Poisel, Morgan Luke, Patrick Cianciolo, Sawyer Products, Timothy Hahn, and Tracy "Trigger" Fawns.
A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: 12 Trees Farms, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jake Landgraf, Jeanne Latshaw, Jeff LaFranier, Joann Menzer, Keith Dobie Jr, Kelly Heikkila, Matthew Spence, and Peter.
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