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Aria Zoner is the author of The Hot Springs Trail guidebook and a guy who sincerely wants you to experience the landscape as you wish to experience it.  In this episode, we talk about the Hot Springs Trail, where it’s at, why Aria created it, and its proposed status as a National Scenic Trail.  We also discuss how Aria went from eating junk food on long trails to eating whole foods and how that impacted his overall experiences and performance.

Show Notes and Links

• Background on the Hot Springs Trail
• Aria’s path with backpacking
• How a knee surgery was the beginning of everything
• The importance of the Hayduke Trail
• A hiking meditation
• Making the hike your own for your own reasons
• The impact that food has on a hike
• Whole food versus junk food
• The status of the Hot Springs Trail proposal
• Aria’s advice for hiking the Hot Springs Trail
• How to find your own style of hiking
• What is in Aria’s food bag
• Matching a diet to the region
• Current state of the Hot Springs Trail
• How to reach Aria
• https://www.wholefoodhiker.com/
• Hot Springs Trail https://www.wholefoodhiker.com/hot-springs-trail
• https://www.instagram.com/thehotspringstrail/
• https://www.instagram.com/ariazoner/

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• www.byland.co
• Join the newsletter
• Beginner backpacking course
• Support the show
• [email protected]

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Jimmy Funkhouser left the corporate world behind to start Feral.   Fast forward just a few short years, and Feral is growing to the point where they’re opening a second location in Denver.  Jimmy is doing things far differently than your average outdoor store - he meets the customer where they are in their journey and makes them feel at home and accepted no matter what.

Show Notes and Links

• Origin of Feral
• Outdoor gear shops as the front line to conservation
• The transition from corporate to business owner
• The desire to make a difference
• How the outdoors changed Jimmy’s life
• The draw of the Rockies
• What inspired Jimmy to get outdoors
• Meeting the customer where they’re at in their journey
• On not having an elitist attitude towards customers
• The Feral Experience
• Advice to new backpackers
• https://feralmountainco.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/feralmountainco/
• https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaSMq7RHKiiP8F_mt3xWqlQ
• https://www.facebook.com/feralmountainco/
• https://twitter.com/feralmountainco

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• www.byland.co
• Join the newsletter
• Beginner backpacking course
• Support the show
• [email protected]

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For over 2000 miles, Twerk photographed hikers along the PCT and did so unlike anything out there.  He was able to take his passion for hiking and photography and mash them together in what is now a coffee table book titled "Hiker Trash Vogue."  

Show Notes and Links

• Being hiker famous
• How HTV came to be
• How HTV became motivation to finish the trail
• Dealing with the mental struggles of the trail
• Digesting the trail and life after
• Learning to be yourself on the trail
• Thoughts on being a source of confidence to the gay community
• The Thru Hiking community is a family
• How the trail finds a way to turn you into mush
• How it felt to see Canada
• The future of Hiker Trash Vogue
• Twerk’s advice for potential thru-hikers
• https://tommycoreyphoto.com/2018/06/23/hikertrashvogue/
• https://www.instagram.com/twerkinthedirt
• https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu72dEMAOuzqsdP8j-1sjcg

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• www.byland.co
• Join the newsletter
• Beginner backpacking course
• Support the show
• [email protected]

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In this episode, I talk with Jeff Lusk about a solo moose hunt he went on this past hunting season.  While it’s always fun to recap an interesting hunt, it’s even more fun learning about the struggles involved in any such adventure. 

What Jeff learned on his hunt can directly apply to your adventures, even if you’re not into hunting.  He was alone, battling the cold, having debates in his head about whether he should be there, and left to deal with the physical toll that packing out a moose by himself.

Please enjoy this episode with Jeff Lusk. I have no doubt you’ll get some good nuggets of wisdom from it!

Show Notes and Links

• Managing expectations on a solo moose hunt
• How Jeff got to the point where he went solo moose hunting
• Dealing with the mental struggles solo hunting
• Why we find excuses to go home early
• Staying curious
• Tips to staying in the field longer when you’re alone
• Working up to a solo trip
• Self-talk when you’re solo
• The rewards of pushing yourself
• The bonds built with others in the backcountry
• Backcountry lessons applied to daily life
• The story of the solo moose hunt
• Battling the mental side of being solo
• Choosing to push yourself
• How we get past mental barriers
• Falling in love with the process of what you’re doing
• Learning to battle excuses
• Project Waypoint
• How to reach Jeff
• Project Waypoint IG https://www.instagram.com/projectwaypoint

Support the show

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• www.byland.co
• Join the newsletter
• Beginner backpacking course
• Support the show
• [email protected]

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In this episode, I chat with Co-founder Allan Henry of Atlas Packs to find out more about his company, his vision, and his designs.  Camera carry in the backcountry is a struggle, but he's found a way to make it enjoyable while pairing both a camera bag and an adventure bag together into one solution.

For camera nerds out there, this one is a must!

Show Notes and Links

• Allan’s background
• Intro to Atlas Packs
• How and why Allan built and created these packs
• Identifying pain points
• Developing the design
• Camera carry before Atlas designs
• Initial reviews of the packs
• Learning to work within the limitations of your gear
• Launching the product and garnering input
• Why understanding the limitations of gear is important to the experience
• What you get when you purchase an Atlas Pack
• How to reach Atlas Packs for more information
• https://atlaspacks.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/atlaspacks/
• https://www.youtube.com/atlaspacks

Support the show

Thanks for listening! Check out the links below to learn more, connect, and support the show.

• www.byland.co
• Join the newsletter
• Beginner backpacking course
• Support the show
• [email protected]

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If you want to learn about backpacking from someone who knows a thing or two, you’ll want to open your ears to Liz Thomas. She’s hiked over 17,000 miles of trail along the Triple Crown of Thru Hikes, captured the Fastest Known Time on the AT, and spent countless miles along many other trails in the US over the years. The good news for you is that she’s decided to open up her experiences so that others may learn from her successes and trials in the form of not only an incredible book but also an online course.

This episode is loaded with great advice and information on backpacking, so sit back, relax, and enjoy this chat with Liz Thomas.

Show Notes and Links

• Introductions
• Who is Liz Thomas?
• How Liz came to hike over 17k miles
• The first experience of a long trail
• Deciding to attempt the FKT of the AT
• Liz’s long-distance hiking book
• Benefits of long-distance hikes
• What Liz has learned in all those thousands of miles
• Learning to hike long distances and how to do it
• Mental challenges on long trails and how to deal with them
• Treeline Review - Liz’s new website!
• What to expect
• A short discussion on footwear
• Liz’s Thru-Hiking course 
• Liz’s advice to new backpackers
• http://www.eathomas.com/
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lizthomashiking
• Mastering the Art of the Thru-Hike - https://amzn.to/2JLXpq9
• https://www.treelinereview.com/
• Learn to Thru-Hike 

Support the show

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• www.byland.co
• Join the newsletter
• Beginner backpacking course
• Support the show
• [email protected]

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Rob Coughlin joins me for this episode to discuss all things Granite Gear. Rob is a great guy to spend time chatting with and shares a number of history lessons about the company, some background on himself and how he came to work with Granite Gear, as well as a couple of programs the company is working with to help make lives and wild place better.

Show Notes and Links

• Introductions
• Rob's background in the outdoor industry
• Origins of Granite Gear
• The Importance of the Boundary Waters
• How GG got involved in ultralight packs
• Retooling of the Blaze pack
• Testing and proving gear
• Grounds Keepers Program
• Warrior Expeditions
• New stuff from Granite Gear
• Advice to new backpackers
• How to reach Granite Gear
• https://www.granitegear.com/
• https://www.granitegear.com/discover/thegroundskeepers
• https://www.youtube.com/user/granitegear/
• https://www.instagram.com/granitegear/

Support the show

Thanks for listening! Check out the links below to learn more, connect, and support the show.

• www.byland.co
• Join the newsletter
• Beginner backpacking course
• Support the show
• [email protected]

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In 2018, the Crawfords hiked the  Appalachian Trail with 6 kids ranging from 2 to 17 years old.  While they might agree it sounds crazy, when you get to know them a little, you’ll find that this is nothing unusual for them. 

Ben Crawford joins me for Episode 50 to talk about how those of us with kids can redefine what it means to build a family unit.  We discuss how he and his Wife began breaking the mold of what a family can and can’t do and how those of us with families can begin taking steps to get outside more and more often with our little ones, regardless of age.

Show Notes and Links

• Introductions
• How the family decided to backpack the AT
• Building an outgoing family culture
• Dealing with safety in the outdoors with kids
• Changing the mindset of child-rearing
• Addressing fear-based mindsets
• Experiences enhanced with those closest to you
• The early days of backpacking with a family
• Where to start with family outings
• Kids can walk
• Managing the cry
• Believing in your kids
• Managing expectations and deciding outcomes
• Life after the trail
• Final thoughts
• How to find and follow the Crawfords
• YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT2WgHiawhWgbahB0CNENkg
• Instagram https://www.instagram.com/fightfortogether/
• Podcast https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fight-for-together/id1437289666?mt=2&i=1000420431040
• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/fightfortogether/

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• www.byland.co
• Join the newsletter
• Beginner backpacking course
• Support the show
• [email protected]

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In this episode, we tackle the story behind Backpackers Bistro, what they offer, why, and several other topics related to backpacking.  These meals are made by a professional chef who is also a backpacker, so you can rest assured we all speak the same language!

Show Notes and Links

• Introductions
• Origin of Backpackers Bistro
• Ingredients talk
• Choosing to dehydrate
• Why start making backpacking food?
• How Melissa got into backpacking
• Introducing others to backpacking
• Backpacking with kids
• Product lineup from Backpackers Bistro
• How to reach Backpackers Bistro
• Melissa’s “must have” when backpacking
• https://www.backpackersbistro.com
• Instagram https://www.instagram.com/backpackersbistro/
• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/backpackersbistro

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• www.byland.co
• Join the newsletter
• Beginner backpacking course
• Support the show
• [email protected]

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Luxe Hiking Gear makes quality shelters at a great price point.  Jake Morrison walks me through how he manages life in the Olympic Peninsula,  how to manage condensation, and a run-through of the products Luxe offers.  

Show Notes and Links

• Living in the Olympic Mountain Range
• Backpacking in the Olympics
• How Luxe products perform in rainy environments
• evolving gear lists
• Battling condensation
• Managing gear expectations
• Rainy backpack hunting shelter choices
• Knowing when to bring a wood-burning stove with you
• Luxe product lines
• When and how to visit the Olympic Mountains
• https://luxe-hiking-gear.com/
• Instagram https://www.instagram.com/luxehikinggear/
• YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj-mmTebK0RiX1mXT2p_NXQ
• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LuxeHikingGear

Support the show

Thanks for listening! Check out the links below to learn more, connect, and support the show.

• www.byland.co
• Join the newsletter
• Beginner backpacking course
• Support the show
• [email protected]