The Cultra Crew welcomes New Hampshire–based author and risk management executive Ty Gagne for a wide-ranging conversation on mountain rescues, decision-making, and human behavior in the backcountry. How can we have fun, and live to tell about it?

Why This Episode Matters

Whether you're an ultrarunner, hiker, or weekend adventurer, this episode digs into the uncomfortable but essential truths about preparedness, accountability, and how quickly things can go wrong in the mountains we love. We also open with some details about the Vermont 100 Lottery, and close with some Patreon love!

Hosts: AFB, Anna G, Josh G

Episode Highlights

• Ty Gagne's 2008 Franconia Ridge experience and how it changed his relationship with risk
• What mountain rescues reveal about human decision-making under stress
• Key themes from That's Where You'll Find Me, The Last Traverse, and The Lions of Winter
• Experience vs. expertise: why time in the mountains doesn't always equal good judgment
• The role of ego, optimism, and groupthink in backcountry incidents
• Leadership and communication failures that commonly precede emergencies
• Practical takeaways for runners, hikers, and winter athletes in the White Mountains

Thank you to Forrest from The Mountain Wanderer Maps and Books for lending me your personal copy of Lions of Winter!

Learn more about Ty Gagne at https://www.fullconditionsnh.com/ty-gagne-about

Follow Ty on Instagram @fullconditionsnh

Vermont 100 Info

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Phred recaps finishing the Across the Years Ultra in Arizona, logging another 100-mile effort and marking his 19th consecutive year with a 100-mile finish. The crew swaps ultra lore, legendary runner sightings, and stories from the deep end of endurance running. Plus we shout out our Cultra Fam. Then we go from hot to cold.

The conversation shifts into winter running survival mode, covering traction options, screw shoes, Gore-Tex debates, layering strategies, and knowing when to run, walk, or rethink bad ideas on ice.

They also preview the Real King of Pain trail run, discuss cold-weather mistakes, alternative winter sports, and even fire-building skills required for upcoming winter races.

Topics Covered

• Across the Years Ultra recap
• Fred's 19 straight 100-mile finishes
• Ultrarunning legends & absurd mileage
• Winter traction: spikes, screws, Yaktrax
• Layering rules that (mostly) work
• Gore-Tex pros & cons
• Real King of Pain trail preview
• Winter survival & fire-building

Coming Up

Next episode features an interview with Author Ty Gagne on decision-making in extreme winter conditions.

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Outro music by Nick Byram

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More Information on the #CUT112

This solo episode is equal parts major announcement, status update, and classic Cultra over-share. AFB checks in on where the show has been, announces a big geographic expansion for Cultra TRP, lays out full details for the 2026 #CUT112 / #CUT50, and closes with a personal update on a long-overdue shoulder replacement.

Intro music by Nick Byram

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Ian Golden from The Trails Collective, Finger Lakes Running Co., Red Newt Racing joins Evil Becky Burke to talk about the challenges of coaching runners of all ages and abilities.

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Outro music by Nick Byram

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Author Jared Beasley can tell a great story! Including his encounters with Lazarus Lake, where he earned access to cover the Barkley and Backyard World Championship. Jared shares what he learned: Laz isn't testing fitness—he's testing willpower. Jared's new book The Endurance Artist: Lazarus Lake, the Barkley & a Race with No End covers all this and more.

The Beauty of Breaking Down

Whether dropping at mile 75 or missing a story deadline, Jared finds the same lesson; failure fuels growth. He also recalls witnessing raw humanity at the Backyard, when a Japanese runner and his crew shared a powerful moment of empathy and exhaustion.

The Birth of Backyard Ultra

The crew dives into how Laz dreamed up the last-man-standing format back in high school and how it's evolved into a worldwide endurance experiment in pain, strategy, and survival.

Listen in for:

• The real story behind In Search of Al Howie
• Why Laz Lake embraces failure
• What theater and ultras have in common
• How you might win a free copy of his new book

Buy a copy of The Endurance Artist: Lazarus Lake, the Barkley & a Race with No End

Jared on Instagram: @Jaredbnewyork

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Outro music by Nick Byram

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AFB and Phred cover highlights from the Cat's Tail Marathon, NotchView Invitational, SRT and Barclay Fall Classic, and Shan Riggs's run across Connecticut (114 of 169 towns done!).

AFB shares a knee-busting White Mountains hiking story, his adventures at the Glastonbury Senior Center gym, where he scores a gift basket, and a Woodstock RV trip featuring The Black Crowes. Phred recalls a cross-country road trip full of quirky running stops — from the Corn Palace to the Spam Museum.

They rant about Patreon frustrations, pay tribute to Dr. Jack Daniels, and compare Jack LaLanne's stunts to today's fitness influencers — all with that signature Cultra chaos and trail humor.

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Outro music by Nick Byram

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Andrew Drummond is the heartbeat of the White Mountain trail running community -ultrarunner, ski mountaineer, and race director who set the FKT on the Direttissima, summiting all 48 NH 4,000-footers in under five days. We dive into his adventures in ultramarathons, backcountry skiing, and community building in Jackson, NH, including the White Mountain 100, Bubba's Backyard Ultra, and guiding Scott Jurek through the toughest terrain in the East.

As our conversation with Andrew unfolds, what emerges isn't just a tale of mountains or miles, but a love story-of place, of lifestyle, of belonging. It's about finding connection, losing it, and carrying that emptiness until the trail brings you back to what makes you whole.

White Mountain Ski Company

Video of Andrew's Ski Presi

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Outro music by Nick Byram

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AFB and Evil Becky are back with a full plate of races, mountain lore, and more than a few tangents. If you like your trail chatter served awkwardly with Swedish Fish, this one's for you.

Shan Riggs is at it again!!

Race Recaps: We dive into the Cross Connecticut Run for Mental Health Awareness and Macedonia Trailways in Kent, breaking down the 50K, 25K, and 12K finishers like we were there (spoiler: we weren't).

Cats Tail Drama: Evil Becky drops the bomb that she's skipping Cat's Tail on her birthday (Sept 27th). Send your condolences in Swedish Fish.

Mountain Madness: We talk Notch View Invitational, CT Donut Run, Escarpment, and why you *must* listen to our Dick Vincent episode if you want your trail cred card stamped. Art also tells us how Mount Washington once ate hikers for breakfast back in 1900.

Big Trail Feats: Annie Tilden crushes the Bob Marshall Traverse, and Vigo Fish takes on the Desolation Loop in NH.

Patreon Love: Our patrons keep this ship running (and stocked with candy). Huge thanks to Angela and the rest of the gang—progress, grit, and support like yours make the show possible. Wisconsin meet-up incoming!

College Cross Country: Evil Becky casually name-drops Emily Mayer at a meet, while her sons make a statement at the University of Hartford Invitational by winning races. Because if you're going to impress a college, might as well take home the W.

Community Corner:Judy Proto (yes, the first female NFL kicker), Justin Kowski's new course record, Laz's upcoming Barclays Fall Classic, plus encounters with Bill Odendall, Brian Musiak, Celeste Fong, Cherie and Christine A Chin Hing

It's everything you love about Cultra: history, hilarity, and heaps of community love—with a side of Evil Becky eye-rolls.

Shan Riggs Extremely Outside Learn more about Shan's 1100 mile Run and Medals 4 Meddle

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Outro music by Nick Byram

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Twitter @BlueBlazeRunner

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Phast Phred, Evil Becky, and AFB host Dick Vincent—the man who's been directing the Escarpment Trail Run in the Catskills for 48 years straight. That makes him the longest-serving trail race director in North America. Laddie Lawrence can have the road scene locked down with Westport's summer series, but when it comes to gnarly trails, Escarpment is Dick's kingdom. He's also a guy who kept a 34-year run streak, ran Boston back in '74, and even left seven toenails out on the course at Western States Endurance Run 100 WSER in '86

If you love trail running history, and great stories, this may be the episode for you.

Each of Dick's stories could've been its own episode. A streak like that, a Western States war story, and the creation of an iconic race... That's pure Cultra magic.

Escarpment Trail Run

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Outro music by Nick Byram

Become a Cultra Crew Patreon Supporter basic licker. If you lick us, we will most likely lick you right back

Cultra Facebook Fan Page Go here to talk shit and complain and give us advice that we wont follow

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Twitter @BlueBlazeRunner

Sign up for a race at Live Loud Running and feel better

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More Information on the #CUT112

Krista Petrie and Debbie Clouthier might just be the fastest "slow hikers" you'll ever meet. Joining forces with West Rock Ramblers Anna G(arsten), Josh Gaetjen, and AFB, these Canadian adventurers bring stories that range from the White Mountains to the Arctic and everywhere in between.

We first crossed paths with Krista and Debbie during our Owl's Head adventure in the Whites, and immediately knew we had to get them on Cultra. We expected good stuff, but at times we were flat-out speechless.

The conversation covers it all:

• Trail running and peak bagging in the Whites and Adirondacks
• Multi-day treks through Iceland, Nepal, and Patagonia
• Debbie's years cooking in the Canadian Arctic, with wolves, wolverines, and the occasional polar bear for company
• Krista's transition from competitive soccer to marathon canoe racing—and her not-so-casual run-ins with grizzlies in Kluane National Park

Somewhere between wolf attacks, soggy tents, and the classic "mile and a half" sign-off, we also discovered that progressive lenses are apparently mandatory "slide" gear once you hit your 50s. Who knew?

Gear nerds, don't worry, we also get into mountain weather prep, bear safety (Polar, Griz, Black, no Panda) and winter hiking essentials like snowshoes, microspikes, and extra layers. Along the way, we debate Adirondacks vs. Whites, swap stories about unexpected trail meetups, and laugh about why some hikers insist on packing half their house "just in case."

Spoiler alert: the legendary Debbie Clouthier is 73 years old and still hiking circles around the rest of us—even when we're "running."

Follow Krista on Instagram @KPWOUTDOORS

Check out KPW Outdoors

Follow Deb on FB

Links to Author Eli Burakian Sorry that I drew a blank during the episode

Get your official Cultra Clothes and other Cultra TRP PodSwag at our store!

Outro music by Nick Byram

Become a Cultra Crew Patreon Supporter basic licker. If you lick us, we will most likely lick you right back

Cultra Facebook Fan Page Go here to talk shit and complain and give us advice that we wont follow

Cultra Trail Running Instagram Don't watch this with your kids

Sign up for a race at Live Loud Running and feel better

Buy Fred's Book Running Home

More Information on the #CUT112