We are joined by "Crazy Jack" Northam.  Crazy Jack has earned his name by summiting Mt. Whitney (the highest peak in the United States' lower 48) nearly 200 times, an endeavor he didn't begin until the ripe age of 50 years.  Today, jack now 72 years old and still going strong. He regales us with tales of his many ascents up his favorite mountain, why he chooses to summit the same peak, his yo-yo hikes on Whitney, his climbs beginning at the nearby town of Lone Pine, and how he stumbled into some seriously historic butter.  Chaunce and I close out the show by highlighting the top shelters on the Appalachian Trail, give an official ruling on the best Dorito flavor, do the Triple Crown of food items remaining in your bag when get to town, and get into a new recurring segment, Listener Poop Stories.           Backpacker Radio SoCal Road Trip Presented by Sawyer! Use code "ATDrink15" at GossamerGear.com to save 15%   Gossamer Gear The One  Gossamer Gear Gorilla Gossamer Gear Liteflex Umbrella   Sawyer Picaridin Packets We've surpassed 1,000,000 downloads!  We <3 our listeners very much. 2020 Trail Correspondents Application 2020 Trek Ambassador Program The 2020 Badger Sponsorship QOTD: How do you tie your trail runners for backpacking?  How to tie your shoes with a heel lock   Interview with Crazy Jack Northam  How he got his trail name Why he continues to hike the same peak over and again His yo-yo hikes of Mt. Whitney Search and rescue missions on Mt. Whitney Jack's time in the Marine Corps Advice for older hikers   Trek Propaganda  The Top Tents on the Appalachian Trail: 2019 AT Thru-Hiker Survey by Mariposa   Triple Crown of food left in your bag when you get to town. Cinnamon Court (Jury Edition): Cool Ranch vs. Nacho Cheese Doritos Mailbag: How to convince your boss to give you five weeks off. Listener Poop Stories 5-star iTunes Reviews Intro Song: Walking Slow by Animal Years Intro beats: Pauly Boy Shallcross Check out Trail Correspondents  Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio?  Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co.  Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Download this podcast.  Find us on  Stitcher and  Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Cristopher Marshburn, Lance Whitley, S11N, Sawyer Products, Thomas Fullner, and Travis Smith. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Gregory Gardner, Jacob Northrup, Jeff LaFranier, Mark Snook, Michelle Pugh, Peter Leven, and Peter Ellenberg Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio, and Chaunce on Facebook. Follow The Trek on Twitter and  sign up for our newsletter.

#57 | Crazy Jack Northam on Summiting Whitney ~200 Times, Listener Poop Stories, and The Top Tents on the Appalachian Trail

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

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

Sports

Wilderness

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by thru-hiker and author, Audrey “Glowstick” Payne. In addition to a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, which is the subject of her memoir, Where the Rhododendrons Bloom, Audrey has also tackled the Colorado Trail, Foothills Trail, Trans Catalina Trail, John Muir Trail, Wonderland Trail, and the Patagonia O Circuit. Audrey gives us an overview of each of these treks, and how she might be the first person on earth to not enjoy the JMT, she details a not-so-cordial breakup with her trail family on the AT, and offers some solid tips for those who want to trek Patagonia’s O Circuit. We also get an overview of Audrey’s life prior to thru-hiking, including how her treks were inspired by a back injury and her career in PR, including some fun stories of working with celebrities.  We wrap the show with the news of a nasty outbreak of Norovirus on the AT this year, whether you should store your food underwater in the backcountry, the triple crown of movies we've cried to, and some one-star trail reviews. Backpacker’s Pantry: Use code “BPR20” for 20% off at backpackerspantry.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code “SNUGGLEBUG” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com.  Shady Rays: Use code “TREK20” for $20 off polarized sunglasses at shadyrays.com. Appalachian Gear Company: Use code “BPRADIO20” for 20% off at appalachiangearcompany.com. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. [divider] Interview with Audrey “Glowstick” Payne  Audrey's Instagram Audrey's Website Audrey's Linktree  Time stamps & Questions 00:05:14 - Reminders: Come say hi to us at both AT and PCT Trail Days, support us on Patreon to get bonus exclusive episodes, and  check out our new hats! 00:06:47 - Introducing Audrey 00:09:20 - What were you doing in DC? 00:15:53 - How did you go from burnt out PR person to thru-hiking?  00:18:34 - How has your back held up? 00:20:15 - How old were you when you started on the AT? 00:22:45 - Walk us through how you rationalized leaving your career to hike the AT 00:26:57 - Are you grateful for your back issues getting you onto the trail? 00:29:28 - Did you have any midlife crises turning 40? 00:30:40 - How do you feel about your future hikes? 00:31:45 - What advice would you give to others approaching or in their 30s? 00:36:22 - Tell us about getting woken up by some ponies and bears 00:44:00 - Is there a story that resonates with readers from the book? 00:47:00 - Tell us about camping at the drive in 00:53:43 - Tell us about foraging on the AT 00:58:40 - What was your best trail magic experience? 01:03:14 - What are your thoughts about tramilies? 01:07:10 - How did the trail family breakup go? 01:09:54 - Can you give tips to people from a PR perspective on how to break up with your trail family? 01:15:52 - What happens if you encounter your broken up trail family again? 01:16:48 - What was it like post-breakup? 01:18:35 - Discussion about deciding to leave a job to hike the AT 01:20:18 - How can someone weigh the pros and cons of making a change to their life? 01:25:00 - Did you put the AT on your resume or discuss it during your interviews? 01:27:45 - What accounted for the four year gap between the AT and your next hike? 01:29:39 - Do your coworkers know you for your hiking? 01:33:02 - How did you decide to do the Colorado Trail? 01:34:17 - Did you start in the same place each time you’ve done the Four Pass Loop? 01:36:00 - Discussion about the logistics of the Four Pass Loop 01:41:55 - Tell us about your mountain lion encounter on the CT 01:50:00 - Discussion about off-roading 01:51:40 - How was your Foothills Trail hike? 01:57:10 - What insects did you see? 02:00:00 - How was your Trans Catalina Trail experience? 02:04:29 - How was the John Muir Trail? 02:07:50 - Discussion about the PCT southbound 02:12:20 - Tell us about the Patagonia O Circuit 02:14:23 - Is the O Circuit accessible for someone who isn’t an experienced backpacker? 02:15:58 - What kind of mileage and elevation gain does the trail entail? 02:17:30 - Discussion about costs, food, and gear 02:19:37 - Where do you fly into and how do you get to trail? 02:21:24 - How did you feel safety-wise? 02:22:55 - Did the structure of the hike take away from the wildness of the area? 02:25:00 - Did you feel fine traveling in that area without speaking Spanish? 02:26:50 - Discussion about the weather and clothing 02:30:29 - Kumo Question: What would your walkup song be if you were entering the Olympics for a random sport? 02:33:50 - Where can people follow you and get your book? Segments Trek Propaganda:  Norovirus Alert: Appalachian Trail Hikers Urged to Stay Vigilant Amid Outbreak by Ariella Nardizzi QOTD: Have you ever heard of storing food underwater in the backcountry? Triple Crown of movies you’ve cried to One Star Trail Reviews Listener Voicemail Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/. 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, Erik Hofmann, Greg Knight, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Jason “Snail” Snailer barely know her, Hailey Buckingham, Liz Seger, 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, Bonnie Ackerman, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Joann Menzer, Katharine Rudzitis, Keith Dobie Jr, Merle Watkins, Peter, and Ruth S.

Audrey "Glowstick" Payne on the Patagonia O Circuit, Tramily Breakups, and Balancing a Career with Hiking

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are once again joined by Bethany “Fidgit” Hughes. Fidget has hiked, paddled, and cycled more than 22,000 miles across 25 countries as one half of the Her Odyssey Expedition, a human-powered endeavor to connect the Americas following the longest chain of mountains in the world while telling the story of the land and its inhabitants, a journey she completed in August 2022.  Bethany was last on the podcast more than 5 years ago, when she had completed the South American leg of this wild expedition, she catches us up with her and her partner’s journey through Central and North America. We go deep on how she navigates the more unsafe sections of this journey, especially through Central America and Mexico and navigating the cartel, dodging crocodiles, canoeing the 3,000+ mile Arctic Drainage to reach the Arctic Ocean, and much, much more. This one is full of engaging stories, you will not be disappointed. We wrap the show with news of the first woman to complete the Barkley Marathons, a deadly mountain lion attack in California, and the triple crown of breakfasts. Gossamer Gear: Use code “SNUGGLEBUG” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com.  Jenna Davis: Email jenna@firstsummitrealty.com or call 303-946-9476 to get a free consultation. Appalachian Gear Company: Use code “BPRADIO20” for 20% off at appalachiangearcompany.com. Shady Rays: Use code “TREK20” for $20 off polarized sunglasses at shadyrays.com. Outdoor Vitals: Get 17% off the Ventus plus a free backpacking pillow at outdoorvitals.com/thetrek. [divider] Interview with Bethany “Fidgit” Hughes  Her Odyssey Website Her Odyssey Instagram Her Odyssey Youtube  Backpacker Radio Episode 25: Bethany “Fidgit” Hughes on Trekking the Length of the Americas  Time stamps & Questions 00:04:08 - Reminders: We will be at Trail Days! And…subscribe to us on Youtube! 00:05:07 - (Re)introducing Bethany 00:06:23 - Tell us about your recent 10 day silent retreat 00:16:25 - Did you have moments where you wanted to speak? 00:18:30 - Give us the summary of what part of the odyssey you’d completed the last time you were on the podcast 00:23:00 - What was the timeline of going across Central America? 00:25:58 - How would you describe your appreciation for bikepacking? 00:28:24 - Do you find that elitism is more prevalent in bikepacking than thru-hiking? 00:33:10 - If someone wanted to do a similar route, what advice would you offer? 00:37:26 - How many scenarios felt unsafe during the Central American portion? 00:42:08 - Did you find the State Department’s advisories helpful? 00:43:28 - Are there extra safety precautions for solo female travelers? 00:47:38 - What other safety methods do you recommend? 00:50:45 - What were some of the highlights of the Central American portion of your route? 00:53:33 - Is there a crocodile protocol? 00:57:50 - Where did you go after kayaking in Panama? 01:00:25 - How safe did you feel in Mexico? 01:05:50 - How did you learn these trends and strategies? 01:08:23 - Is it easy to spot a gangster? 01:10:44 - Tell us about jumping over to the Baja California Peninsula 01:13:20 - Did you have any weird encounters along the US-Mexico border? 01:20:00 - Discussion about the evolution of trail magic and entitlement 01:22:36 - How do you recommend people participate in a gift-giving culture? 01:28:07 - Tell us any standout stories from hiking the CDT 01:33:20 - Do you think Her Odyssey has made you more adaptable as a thru-hiker? 01:40:22 - Tell us about the Great Divide Trail 01:46:25 - What are Treaty Days? 01:48:38 - Discussion about climate change along the route 01:51:05 - Discussion about the paddling trip to the Arctic Ocean 01:59:00 - How did you develop paddling skills? 02:01:16 - Did your caloric needs increase on the paddling portion of the odyssey? 02:02:18 - Bethany’s hot take on umbrellas 02:05:40 - Where can people learn more about you? Segments Trek Propaganda   1 Killed, 1 Injured in California Mountain Lion Attack by Kelly Floro  Jasmin Paris Becomes First Woman Ever To Complete Barkley Marathons by Kelly Floro  QOTD: How excited are we to have Elise back on BPR? Triple Crown of breakfasts Listener Voicemail Plug Me Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/. 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, Erik Hofmann, Greg Knight, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Hailey Buckingham, Jason “Snail” Snailer barely know her, Liz Seger, 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, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Joann Menzer, Katharine Rudzitis, Keith Dobie Jr, Merle Watkins, Peter, and Ruth S.

Bethany "Fidgit" Hughes on Hiking, Biking, and Paddling 20,000+ Miles Across the Americas

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, he’s back. That’s right, The Real Hiking Viking aka Jabba aka Tom aka Backpacker Radio’s honorary third co-host joins us once again to give us an update on his life. We get the full breakdown of where the heck he disappeared to last year, how his CDT hike went, another attempt at the Wind River High Route, a brief stint on a reality TV show in Central America, updates on his backpack, and much more. If ever a guest needed no introduction, it’s this one, so we’ll just say sit down, strap in, and get ready to get Jabba’d once again. We wrap the show with a question of the day so graphic that I will not be saying it in the intro (this episode is not for kids), the triple crown of funniest farts, and this is your last chance to snag tickets for our live podcast in Denver! Gossamer Gear: Use code “SNUGGLEBUG” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com.  Outdoor Vitals: Get 17% off the Ventus plus a free backpacking pillow at outdoorvitals.com/thetrek. Appalachian Gear Company: Use code “BPRADIO20” for 20% off at appalachiangearcompany.com. Shady Rays: Use code “TREK20” for $20 off polarized sunglasses at shadyrays.com. Danner: Use code “TREK15” for 15% off Mountain 600 boots at danner.com. [divider] Interview with Jabba  Jabba's Instagram  Time stamps & Questions 00:07:17 - Reminders:  This is your last chance for tickets to our live podcast in Denver TOMORROW! 00:15:00 - Re-introducing Jabba and his desire for a sober year 00:22:25 - Are you goal setting for your birthday? 00:24:00 - What would allow you to one-up your 30s in your 40s? 00:26:22 - Is there a correlation between trying sobriety and preventing injuries? 00:29:23 - Why did you disappear? 00:33:00 - Discussion about Jabba’s flip flop on the CDT and getting off the trail 00:37:07 - Did any part of you think about getting back onto the CDT? 00:38:04 - How do you pull yourself out of a sedentary period? 00:40:55 - How do you spend six hours at the gym? 00:51:08 - What bikepacking trip are you going on? 00:54:14 - Tell us about starting on the CDT last year 00:58:35 - Do you have any mental spiraling about not being at the top of your historical physical fitness? 01:05:00 - Discussion about adding stakes to physical goals 01:12:08 - Discussion about the CDT 01:17:00 - Discussion about standards shifting over time 01:18:52 - How do you manage big adventures with maintaining a home life? 01:21:50 - Tell us about ending the CDT with the Wind River High Route 01:33:21 - What were some highlights of the northern stretch of the Wind River High Route? 01:36:45 - Should you have an ice axe and microspikes regardless of the time of year? 01:38:17 - What are the updates on the Zerk? 01:43:18 - Kumo Question: What is the smelliest thing you’ve ever encountered? Segments QOTD Triple Crown of funniest farts Trek Propaganda:  Briana DeSanctis Becomes First Solo Woman To Complete 6,800-Mile American Discovery Trail by Ariella Nardizzi Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/. 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, Erik Hofmann, Greg Knight, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Hailey Buckingham, Jason “Snail” Snailer barely know her, Liz Seger, 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, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Joann Menzer, Katharine Rudzitis, Keith Dobie Jr, Merle Watkins, Peter, and Ruth S.

The Real Hiking Viking on Why He Disappeared, His CDT Flip-Flop, and Reality TV in Central America

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Henry “Moose Juice” Lewis. In addition to hikes of the AT, Teton Crest Trail, Colorado Trail, and the PCT, Moose Juice spent a few seasons shaking down starry eyed aspiring thru-hikers at Mountain Crossings. Henry gives us a rundown of these hikes, the funniest stories from these shakedowns, including happening onto vibratos and guns, tips on how to fix a leaking inflatable sleeping pad, doing champagne shoey, and his terrifying encounter with an angry bull moose, which helped him earn his trail.  We wrap the show with an argument for starting your AT hike on the Benton Mackaye Trail, why or why not a ghost and zombie can come from the same person, and the triple crown of non-obvious smartphone apps. Gossamer Gear: Use code “SNUGGLEBUG” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com.  Outdoor Vitals: Get 17% off the Ventus plus a free backpacking pillow at outdoorvitals.com/thetrek. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. Shady Rays: Use code “TREK20” for $20 off polarized sunglasses at shadyrays.com. Danner: Use code “TREK15” for 15% off Mountain 600 boots at danner.com. [divider] Interview with Henry “Moose Juice” Lewis  Henry's Trek Author Page Henry's Instagram  Time stamps & Questions 00:03:45 - Reminders:  Attend our live podcast in Denver next week!  Apply to be a blogger for the Trek! 00:06:47 - Introducing Moose Juice 00:07:20 - Tell us about your champagne shoey 00:09:33 - Tell us the origin of your trail name 00:13:02 - Did you try to gain weight prior to the AT? 00:15:46 - We Love Love: Tell us about meeting your girlfriend on trail 00:19:50 - Why were you so oblivious to all the signs? 00:23:24 - Where did the AT and thru-hiking come onto your radar? 00:26:42 - Why did you choose to go southbound? 00:31:05 - How did starting with the Whites impact your mindset? 00:33:34 - Tell us your worst moment on the trail 00:36:40 - Discussion about packs 00:40:00 - Tell us about your experience working at Mountain Crossings 00:46:20 - Do they prepare you for working with tons of thru-hikers during the bubble? 00:47:48 - Are Mountain Crossings employees incentivized to sell gear? 00:50:00 - What can people do better while preparing to minimize needing to buy new gear during the hike? 00:52:30 - Is having a big personality a trait Mountain Crossings recruit for? 00:54:55 - Are there standout stories of people carrying outlandish things? 01:00:25 - Tell us about the Teton Crest Trail 01:08:09 - Tell us about the Colorado Trail 01:08:45 - When did you decide to hike the PCT? 01:12:06 - Did you hike all the way through the Sierra? 01:18:40 - Was she okay after going to the hospital? 01:19:55 - What is High Altitude Pulmonary Edema? 01:22:32 - Would you rather do the Sierra in high snow or low snow conditions? 01:24:54 - What were the highlights of the rest of the PCT? 01:26:24 - Tell us about your mountain lion encounter 01:31:12 - What are the steps for fixing an inflatable air pad hole? 01:34:00 - What’s the ideal start date for the AT? 01:37:25 - Kumo Question: Do you have any strange superstitions? Segments Impromptu Chaunce Poop Story Trek Propaganda:  The AT Is Crowded. Why Not Start Your Thru-Hike on the Benton Mackaye Trail Instead? by Kelly Floro QOTD: Can a ghost and a zombie come from the same person? Triple Crown of non-obvious apps on your phone Patent Pending Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/. 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, Erik Hofmann, Greg Knight, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Hailey Buckingham, Jason “Snail” Snailer barely know her, Liz Seger, Patrick Cianciolo, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, and Tracy “Trigger” Fawns. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: 12 Trees Farms, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Jeff LaFranier, Joann Menzer, Katharine Rudzitis, Keith Dobie Jr, merle Watkins, Peter, and Ruth S.

Henry "Moose Juice" Lewis on Shaking Down AT Hikers, the Teton Crest Trail, and Champagne Shoeys

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Eeland Stribling. Eeland, who’s known as the "Black Steve Iriwn" and “The Fliest Fisherman” is a wildlife biologist, educator, standup comedian, and the host of “Comedians on the Fly.” We dive deep into the world of standup comedy, including the various hazing routines, what it’s like to eat shit during an open mic, how things change as you climb the ranks, the process of crafting a joke, and more. Eeland also educates us with some fun facts about black bears and mountain lions and gives us a thorough primer on how to get started with fly fishing. This chat was both fun and informative, you will not be disappointed.  We wrap the show with five word sentences that are guaranteed to start a fight, the triple crown of shows to fall asleep to, and we have more details of our live podcast in Denver. The link to get tickets is in the show notes. Taking a pause here to give you time to snag yours.  Gossamer Gear: Use code “SNUGGLEBUG” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com.  Jenna Davis: Email jenna@firstsummitrealty.com or call 303-946-9476 to get a free consultation. Shady Rays: Use code “TREKREACT” for 2 lenses free when you buy React frames at shadyrays.com. Danner: Use code “TREK15” for 15% off Mountain 600 boots at danner.com. [divider] Interview with Eeland Stribling  Eeland's Instagram Eeland's Website Comedians on the Fly Brown Folks Fishing  Time stamps & Questions 00:03:42 - Reminders:  Get tickets to our live show in Denver on April 23! 00:04:44 - Introducing Eeland 00:05:37 - What got you into comedy? 00:09:15 - How would you describe your style of comedy? 00:14:18 - What is the easiest animal to make fun of? 00:15:45 - Tell us about your experience as a nuisance animal technician 00:18:58 - Tell us about tranquilizing and relocating bears 00:22:08 - What was the smartest bear encounter you had? 00:25:40 - How did your mountain lion work compare to that with bears? 00:28:00 - Is there an area that’s notorious for problematic bears? 00:33:31 - Are there notable comedians you’ve opened for? 00:38:05 - What is it like to hang out with comics in the green room? 00:43:20 - What’s the best advice other comedians have given you? 00:46:55 - Tell us about how you write jokes 00:48:55 - What’s it like when jokes bomb? 00:53:00 - How does a set hit with some crowds and not with others? 00:58:04 - Can you read us the most recent lines in your notebook? 01:02:17 - How frequently are you improvising on stage with new bits? 01:04:45 - When are your upcoming shows in April? 01:06:04 - Tell us about your show, Comedians on the Fly 01:09:20 -  How did you get into fly fishing? 01:12:37 - Tell us about your phone incident while saltwater fishing 01:15:55 - How do you know what flies are needed for certain areas? 01:18:00 - Are you reluctant to share your favorite tips or places? 01:23:56 - How much of fly fishing is skill vs. knowledge vs. luck? 01:27:30 - Discussion about paralells between comedy and fishing 01:31:40 - Can you talk to us about Brown Folks Fishing and why their work matters? 01:34:30 - Kumo Question: If you could live in any era of history, what would you pick? 01:37:18 - What do you recommend for someone who wants to get started in fly fishing? 01:46:06 - Do you exclusively do catch and release? 01:52:00 - Discussion about protecting released fish 01:54:00 - Where can people find you? Segments Trek Propaganda:  2024 Badger Sponsorship Winners by Kendra Slagter QOTD: In 5 words or less, start a fight without politics Listener Voicemail (leave us your own!) Triple Crown of shows to fall asleep to Plug Me: Glen Van Peski’s   Take Less. Do More: Surprising Life Lessons in Generosity, Gratitude and Curiosity from an Ultralight Backpacker Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/. 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, Erik Hofmann, Greg Knight, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Hailey Buckingham, Jason “Snail” Snailer barely know her, Liz Seger, Patrick Cianciolo, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, and Tracy “Trigger” Fawns. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: 12 Trees Farms, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Jeff LaFranier, Joann Menzer, Katharine Rudzitis, Keith Dobie Jr, merle Watkins, Peter, and Ruth S.

#57 | Crazy Jack Northam on Summiting Whitney ~200 Times, Listener Poop Stories, and The Top Tents on the Appalachian Trail

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