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

• Andrea's Instagram
• Andrea's Website
• Fowler-O'Sullivan Foundation

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.

Leave us a voicemail!

Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)!  Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play.

Advertise on Backpacker Radio

Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram.

Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube.

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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, 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

• Pony's Instagram
• Pony's Website 

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.

Leave us a voicemail!

Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)!  Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play.

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, 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

• Snakebite Foundation Website
• ASF Instagram

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.

Leave us a voicemail!

Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)!  Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play.

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, 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

• Owen's Website
• Owen's Trek Profile

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.

Leave us a voicemail!

Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play.

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, 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

• Lookout's Instagram
• Lookout's Youtube

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.

Leave us a voicemail!

Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play.

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, 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

• Owen's Website
• Owen's Trek Profile

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.

Leave us a voicemail!

Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)!  Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play.

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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.

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Jonathon Stalls. Jonathon is a wildly interesting character who, in 2010, in search of meaning and healing, decided to walk across the length of the country. We learn all about this transformative journey, some of the standout stories along the way- including some instances of the unforeseen kindness of strangers, his alter ego of Cate Blanchett flaring up through the desert, how he was able to fund this journey, an epic poop story, how this expedition turned into his book "WALK: Slow Down, Wake Up, and Connect at 1-3 Miles Per Hour." and his current advocacy work in making urban spaces more pedestrian friendly. This is a deep and honest conversation- and we’d like to offer a trigger warning to listeners that the following interview touches on talks of suicide. 

We wrap the show with a triple crown of TV shows and movies we've watched recently, a brief comparison of the Colorado Trail vs. the John Muir Trail, and a stupidest thing of the week- Zach losing his mind due to sleep deprivation edition.

CTUG: Use code “Backpackerradio” to save 15% on your order at chickentrampergear.com

Gossamer Gear: Use code “TAKELESSTREKMORE” for 15% off at gossamergear.com 

[divider]

Interview with Jonathon Stalls

• Jonathon’s Instagram 
• WALK: Slow Down, Wake Up, and Connect at 1-3 Miles per Hour by Jonathon Stalls
• Intrinsic Paths Website
• Intrinsic Paths/Jonathon Stalls Patreon 
• Jonathon on TikTok

Time stamps & Questions

00:03:53 - If you can only go to one burger spot in Colorado for the rest of your life, where are you going? 

00:05:22 - Reminders: If you have a good poop story, submit it here. We are now accepting 2024 blogger applications for The Trek. Apply today! 

00:09:05 - Introducing Jonathon Stalls 

00:10:15 - Tell us about your dad playing in the NFL 

00:13:00 - Are you a football fan today? 

00:13:58 - Would Zach let his boys play football? 

00:15:06 - What was your sports background? 

00:16:58 - How did you get into beach volleyball? 

00:20:23 - How much of your life was portrayed in the movie Point Break? 

00:20:40 - Where does walking come into play?

00:26:31 - What in Ireland brought out the new approach to life? 

00:29:30 - What was your reaction to what you were learning in Ireland? 

00:34:57 - How did your mom respond to you coming out? 

00:37:23 - How should others approach the conversation? 

00:40:45 - Did you know nature was healing to you prior to this hike? 

00:42:12 - Walk us through deviating from the American Discovery Trail 

00:46:37 - Did you have to pay the funding back? 

00:47:30 - Do they give you feedback on what businesses you help? 

00:49:42 - How did you select your walking route? 

00:55:28 - Let’s hear a poop story! 

01:06:40 - How did you balance wanting to be in nature and wanting to engage with communities? 

01:10:25 - Did you also find healing in the interaction with others? 

01:12:37 - Explain the practices you used to find kinship with nature 

01:16:20 - Do you have a favorite tree? 

01:19:29 - Do you have a desire to reinvent yourself on a long trail? 

01:23:25 - Do you find it frustrating to see the direction of society today? 

01:26:13 - What are some wins you’ve witnessed in your work? 

01:29:42 - What parts of Denver are most walkable? 

01:33:29 - Have you walked the full length of Colfax? 

01:34:30 - Tell us about “Walk to Connect” and “Walking Leaders” 

01:38:37 - Was there a stretch of trail that wasn’t enjoyable? 

01:45:23 - Do you have a specific term for your cross-country walk? 

01:45:55 - Was there a specific moment where you felt you were healing on your journey? 

01:48:38 - Is there anything about the journey or the book you’d like to relay to listeners? 

01:50:32 - What do we need to know about pedestrian dignity? 

01:52:54 - Zach Anner & The Quest for the Rainbow Bagel

01:57:00 - Impact of TikTok 

01:59:00 - Wrap up: Where to find Jonathon Stalls

Segments 

Trek Propaganda: The Colorado Trail vs. The John Muir Trail: Which Trail is Better? By Katie Jackson 

Thing of the Week

Triple Crown of shows/movies you’ve watched recently

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.

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, 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 talking all things ultralight backpacking. We're joined by our pal and thru-hiker extraordinaire, Carl Stanfield aka "Professor", as the three of us share some of our top tips for reducing pack weight. The advice in this episode covers the full spectrum, from broad-based philosophical ways to approach what should and should not be in your pack, to more granular tips for simple and cost-effective ways of going UL. Whether you're hoping to thru-hike a triple crown trail or lighten the load a bit for your weekend outing, this one has insightful and practical pointers for you.

We wrap the show with a quick overview of a new ultralight material being used for tarps and tents- and the relative pros and cons, but more importantly, we do the triple crown of the top benefits of an alien invasion which devolves into the most insane debate in Backpacker Radio history. Chaunce goes pure red face.  

CTUG: Use code “Backpackerradio” to save 15% on your order at chickentrampergear.com

Gossamer Gear: Use code “TAKELESSTREKMORE” for 15% off at gossamergear.com 

PACT Outdoors: Use code “TREK20” for 20% off and free shipping at pactoutdoors.com.

[divider]

Panel with Carl Stanfield 

• Carl’s Instagram 

Time stamps & Questions

00:03:58 - Reminders: Join us in Iceland for Summer of 2024! Support us on Patreon! Lastly, if you have a good poop story, submit it here! 

00:09:34 - Welcoming Carl “Professor” Stanfield 

00:09:49 - What have you been up to lately? 

00:13:23 - What do you do with your short break? 

00:14:39 - How many days did you get off? 

00:17:24 - What was your day-to-day? 

00:20:24 - Tell us about your new girlfriend!

00:22:21 - Can you give us a brief overview of your hiking resume? 

00:23:30 - Panel introduction: Ultralight Backpacking 

00:26:30 - Chaunce’s #1: Get used to doing less 

00:31:03 - Professor’s #1: Be adaptable

00:34:41 - What does everyone do when you don’t have a utensil? 

00:38:11 - Badger’s #1: Don’t carry too much water 

00:49:59 - Chaunce’s #2: Compare weights when shopping for gear 

00:53:38 - Professor’s #2: Of the big 4, invest in a lightweight tent 

01:09:30 - Shelter satisfaction results from The Trek’s hiker survey 

01:12:24 - Badger’s #2: Remove redundancy 

01:36:00 - Chaunce’s #3: You don’t need to bring your hobbies with you 

01:48:17 - Professor’s #3: Dial in your food consumption 

02:07:11 - Professor’s Hot Take: Make up for calories in town 

02:10:47 - Chaunce’s Final Thoughts: Eat your dinner to get your dessert 

02:17:00 - Zach’s #3: Use Smart Water bottles instead of Nalgenes

02:24:00 - Panel wrap-up

Segments 

Trek Propaganda: UltraTNT: The Newest Material for Ultralight Tarps & Tents By Joal and Jenny 

Triple crown of alien invasion benefits 

[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.

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, 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 long-distance thru-rider Gillian Larson. Yes, thru-rider. Gillian has more than 10,000 backcountry wilderness miles via horseback, including two thru-rides of the Pacific Crest Trail, the Continental Divide Trail, the Arizona Trail, and the Colorado Trail. Gillian was the youngest person to solo-thru ride the PCT in 2014, and became the first person to thru-ride both the PCT and CDT. We of course ambush Gillian with an onslaught of ignorant questions of what it takes to complete one of these long trails via horseback. We went into this chat assuming the logistics of a thru-ride were tough, and oh boy, did we underestimate that. A fascinating conversation, we think you'll really dig this one.

We wrap the show with a recap and some of Badger's top takeaways from his recent 3-night trek through Washington's Goat Rock Wilderness, a triple crown of things that float, and what range of times are appropriate for dinner.

Visit Iceland with Chaunce and Badger: Registration is live for our 2024 trip to Iceland. Come and hike to glaciers, waterfalls, and secret lagoons with your favorite podcast hosts. More info here! 

Goodr: Use the code “Backpacker” for a free shipping discount at www.goodr.com/backpacker 

Gossamer Gear: Use code “TAKESHELTER20” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com

PACT Outdoors: Use code “TREK20” for 20% off and free shipping at pactoutdoors.com.

Interview with Gillian Larson

• Gillian Larson Instagram 
• Gillian Larson Website 

Time stamps & Questions

00:04:02 - Reminders: We’re still collecting poop stories for our book. Send your story here! Join us in Iceland for Summer of 2024!

00:08:30 - Introducing Gillian 

00:09:11 - What got you into the horse life? 

00:10:50 -Did your mom ever nudge you in the direction of competitions? 

00:12:18 - Was your mom excited about your thru-riding adventures? 

00:14:10 - Do you have siblings? 

00:14:34 - How old were you when you completed your solo ride? 

00:17:08 - How did you prepare for a thru-ride? 

00:21:09 - How do you manage two horses at a time? 

00:24:32 - What differentiates a pack horse from a riding horse? 

00:25:50 - When you get off to walk, what is generally the reasoning? 

00:27:05 - Do horses sweat? 

00:27:34 - Are they at risk for dehydration? 

00:28:40 - Do you have to hide the water caches off trail? 

00:29:31 - If you walk with the horses, do you have to guide them with a leash? 

00:30:27 - Do horses respond to their names? 

00:32:34 - Are horses spooked by thunderstorms? 

00:32:58 - How much is a horse’s personality nurture vs. nature? 

00:34:25 - How much does it cost to feed a horse a day? 

00:35:40 - After the desert, are you able to rely on grass for feeding? 

00:39:34 - How did you handle finding routes with the low meadow access? 

00:42:53 - Tell us about the camping experience 

00:44:52 - Do you have the same permit system as hikers? 

00:46:36 - Do you have to change horseshoes? 

00:49:20 - Can you replace shoes on trail? 

00:50:30 - How much does it cost for shoe maintenance? 

00:54:08 - If you didn’t have support, how did you manage trail towns? 

00:56:10 - Do you have any instances where you’d go to town without any support? 

00:57:36 - Would you say thru-riding prevents you from having a social experience on trail? 

00:58:20 - Is it ever tricky to rely on help from online fans? 

01:03:15 - Is that the common way to self-support? 

01:04:10 - Do you feel compelled to complete the whole trail, in a purist way? 

01:06:22 - Is there etiquette around horse poop on trail? 

01:08:40 - Horse poop not smelling like horse poop 

01:10:54 - Were you able to connect all the miles on the PCT in 2014? 

01:13:15 - Have you ever let hikers ride your horses? 

01:14:14 - Any wild animal encounters? 

01:16:48 - Do the horses have any favorite snacks? 

01:17:42 - How do horses react when seeing a moose? 

01:19:31 - What animals are horses afraid of? 

01:20:25 - Can a horse outrun a cougar? 

01:22:11 - Do you carry bear spray? 

01:23:57 - How does your bond change with your horses when thru-riding? 

01:33:42 - What other gear do you carry that a backpacker wouldn’t? 

01:37:21 - What trail is most horse-friendly? 

01:39:11 - Is there a reason you picked the PCT for a second ride? 

01:40:48 - If someone wanted to do this, what should they budget for? 

01:43:09 - How long does a saddle last? 

01:45:48 - Do you know you share a name with someone on Survivor? 

01:47:17 - What does “retiring” a horse consist of? 

01:48:32 - What should people do if they see a horse on trail? 

01:51:16 - Is there a standard distance that a hiker should stand away from the horse? 

01:52:08 - Can you get a DUI on a horse? 

01:52:25 - What are your favorite horse-girl movies? 

01:55:08 - Where can people get in touch with you? 

01:57:05 - What is an FAQ that we haven’t asked? 

01:58:18 - Thank you Gillian! 

Segments 

QOTD: What timeframe is appropriate for dinner? 

Thing of the Week 

Triple Crown of things that float 

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.

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, 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 Sara Leibold. Sara is a solo adventurer, thru-hiker, writer, and vlogger with more than 10,000 human-powered miles under her belt. Her adventures include several thru-hikes, for which we zoom in on her hikes of the AT, Benton MacKaye, and most recently, the Hayduke. We also learn about her wild adventure of rowing the length of the Mississippi River, from source to sea. And we get a run down on Sara's many odd jobs, including ridge running on the AT, working in production for ESPN, and more.

We wrap the show with sad news of an AT hiker who turned up deceased in Vermont, the triple crown of worst appetizers, and what petty hills we are willing to die on.

But first.

Visit Iceland with Chaunce and Badger: Registration is live for our 2024 trip to Iceland. Come and hike to glaciers, waterfalls, and secret lagoons with your favorite podcast hosts. More info here! 

Range Meal Bars: Use code “THETREK” for 20% off at rangemealbar.com.

RTIC Outdoors: Shop at rticoutdoors.com.

Interview with Sara Leibold

• Sara Leibold Instagram 
• Sara on YouTube 
• Sara’s Website

Time stamps & Questions

00:03:38 - Reminders: We’re still collecting poop stories for our book. Send your story here! Join us on Patreon for more chaos! 

00:07:27 - Welcoming Sara 

00:08:01 - How did you get your trail name, Tide? 

00:8:48 - Tell us about your Master’s thesis 

00:10:14 - Why focus on the Arizona Trail? 

00:11:41 - Were you able to capture cause and effect? 

00:12:50 - Did your interest in low impact travel stem from your graduate program? 

00:13:45 - How do you define low impact travel? 

00:14:38 - Is there a style of outdoor adventure that’s lower impact? 

00:15:08 - Who did you pull your low impact inspiration from? 

00:15:50 - Can you give us your trail resume? 

00:18:30 - When was your AT start and finish date? 

00:19:29 - What put the AT on your mind? 

00:20:00 - Did you complete it in four months? 

00:20:26 - Did you have a light pack at least? 

00:20:38 - What was the response to doing the AT in 2011? 

00:21:44 - Did you let your hair grow throughout your hike? 

00:22:00 - Any big highlights from the AT? 

00:22:47 - Tell us about your river trip 

00:23:54 - What was your sport in college? 

00:24:10 - Tell us about the Suwannee river

00:24:40 - What was it like traveling with your dad? 

00:25:17 - Did you do the full length of the river? 

00:25:40 - How did you plan for your river trip? 

00:26:30 - Tell us about the Natchez Trail bike ride 

00:27:19 - How long did it take you?

00:27:44 - Are you a fast swimmer as well 

00:28:10 - Are all of your trips intentionally low impact? 

00:29:09 - What brought you back to that AT after your bikepacking trip? 

00:30:56 - Did you encounter a lot of weekend warriors? 

00:32:04 - What type of crash course tips could you give a new hiker? 

00:33:20 - What is that smell experience like? 

00:35:12 - What’s the turnover rate for ridge runners? 

00:36:36 - How often did you encounter bears in the Shenandoah? 

00:38:03 - What are the redeeming qualities of ridgerunning? 

00:40:10 - Do you have housing for ridgerunning? 

00:40:34 - What’s the time commitment? 

00:41:57 - Do you have insider names or terminology? 

00:44:59 - What was the best culinary experience of the Camino?

00:46:24 - Tell us about the Anna Purna Circuit? 

00:37:31 - What was drawing you to international hikes? 

00:48:07 - Did you ever feel a pull to go do the PCT or CDT? 

00:49:15 - How did you sustain a lifestyle of year-round hiking and traveling? 

00:50:12 - Did you ever have doubts living your lifestyle? 

00:51:56 - Do you have any advice for people stuck in the comparison phase?

00:53:09 - Do you foresee yourself settling for a different lifestyle? 

00:55:13 - Where do you think you gained your independence? 

00:56:13 - Tell us about your source-to-sea adventure 

00:58:18 - What did you do for butt padding? 

00:58:45 - Was it similar to college rowing? 

00:59:35 - Are there stretches where you could swim? 

01:00:17 - How do you manage going through a lock and dam? 

01:02:29 - Was any of this Type 2 fun? 

01:03:12 - What’s the safety like? 

01:05:30 - How long did it take you? 

01:05:53 - What job opportunity presented itself? 

01:06:48 - How did you fall into this job? 

01:09:58 - What are your top favorite seasonal jobs? 

01:13:19 - Do you ever take souvenirs from the US Open? 

01:16:51 - Anything else notable about your Mississippi voyage? 

01:18:36 - What was on your gear list for the Mississippi trip? 

01:19:52 - What do you eat? 

01:20:10 - What are redeeming qualities of cold soaking? 

01:22:09 - What do you cold soak in your resupply boxes? 

01:24:12 - How did you land in the hospital? Ramen overdose? 

01:27:30 - Tell us about the Netherlands/Belgium bikepack trip? 

01:31:18 - How much time are you spending on the bike vs. exploring cities? 

01:31:55 - What would you recommend for those hoping to do a similar trip? 

01:33:12 - Tell us about your Benton MacKaye hike

01:33:50 - What is a census job? 

01:36:15 - How did the Pinhoti compare to the Benton MacKaye trail? 

01:37:31 - What’s the elevator pitch for the Benton MacKaye trail? 

01:39:05 - Tell us about the Hayduke 

01:43:43 - Where did things get scary? 

01:46:06 - How did you prepare for the Hayduke? 

01:54:50 - At what point did you feel the imposter syndrome dissipate? 

01:56:04 - How has doing the Hayduke impacted future hikes? 

01:57:31 - Tell us about the book you’re writing? 

02:00:02 - Thank you, Sara! 

Segments 

Trek Propaganda: Missing Appalachian Trail Hiker Found Dead in Vermont by Owen Eigenbrot

QOTD: What is a petty hill you would die on? 

Triple crown of worst appetizers 

Mail Bag 

5 Star Reviews 

[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.

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, 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.