n2backpacking

This is a video slideshow of a five day hike we did on the Chilkoot Trail back in June 2001. For an interview with "The Camel" on this trip, check out this podcast link or click here for more photos, maps, and a trip report from the Chilkoot Trail.

The Chilkoot Trail is a walk back in time. It follows the trail that the stampeders used to reach the Yukon River and float their provisions to the gold fields of the Klondike over a hundred years ago. Many artifacts from the 1890's still litter the trail and there is great diversity along the way: swamps, deserts, snowy mountain passes, lush canyons, and alpine lakes.

The 33+ miles of trail take the backpacker across Alaska and into the Yukon Territory via the Chilkoot Pass. The hiker eventually winds their way down into British Columbia and completes the journey at Lake Bennett via a return trip to Skagway on a historic rail line that is often voted as one of the most scenic in the world. If you are looking for solitude, this trail is not for you since many thru-hikers complete the trek every summer. But if you seek adventure, great scenery, and Klondike history, then you will enjoy the Chilkoot.

This is a video slideshow of a five day hike we did on the Chilkoot Trail back in June 2001. For an interview with "The Camel" on this trip, check out this podcast link or click here for more photos, maps, and a trip report from the Chilkoot Trail.

The Chilkoot Trail is a walk back in time. It follows the trail that the stampeders used to reach the Yukon River and float their provisions to the gold fields of the Klondike over a hundred years ago. Many artifacts from the 1890's still litter the trail and there is great diversity along the way: swamps, deserts, snowy mountain passes, lush canyons, and alpine lakes.

The 33+ miles of trail take the backpacker across Alaska and into the Yukon Territory via the Chilkoot Pass. The hiker eventually winds their way down into British Columbia and completes the journey at Lake Bennett via a return trip to Skagway on a historic rail line that is often voted as one of the most scenic in the world. If you are looking for solitude, this trail is not for you since many thru-hikers complete the trek every summer. But if you seek adventure, great scenery, and Klondike history, then you will enjoy the Chilkoot.

In Episode 5, Ken (aka The Weasel) discusses his experiences on the Chattooga River Trail which is a nearly forty mile route that borders the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia and follows the banks of the Chattooga National Wild And Scenic River from Burrell's Ford to US 76.

In the podcast, we discuss four separate sections of the trail, some historical points (including Ellicott Rock and Commissioner Rock), some scenic waterfalls (including Spoonauger Falls and Kings Creek Falls), historical artifacts found along the river, night hiking and running in to hunting dogs on the trail,  and why the Chattooga River is one of the most scenic areas in the Southeastern U.S.

Subject: The Chattooga River TrailInterviewees: Ken (The Weasel)Interview Date: June 10, 2011Runtime: 42:08

Download Now: The Chattooga River Trail (WMA format 10.0 Meg);The Chattooga River Trail (MP3 format 30.0 Meg)

In Episode 4, Roger (aka The Camel) speaks about The Chilkoot Trail which is a 33 mile route that starts in Dyea, Alaska (near Skagway) and ends at Lake Bennett, British Columbia.

The Chilkoot Trail is a walk back in time. It follows the trail that the stampeders used to reach the Yukon River and float their provisions to the gold fields of the Klondike over a hundred years ago. Many artifacts from the 1890’s still litter the trail and there is great diversity along the way including swamps, deserts, snowy mountain passes, lush canyons, and alpine lakes.

In this podcast, The Camel talks about getting to the trail head, social experiences on the trail, crossing the Chilkoot Pass, scenery along the route, and returning to Skagway via a segregated caboose on a historic rail line that is often voted as one of the most scenic in the world.

Subject: The Chilkoot TrailInterviewees: Roger (The Camel)Interview Date: May 30, 2011Runtime: 53:50

Download Now: The Chilkoot Trail (WMA format 12.8 Meg);The Chilkoot Trail (MP3 format 38.6 Meg)

In Episode 3, Steve (aka White Lightening) talks about how he migrated from camping in his youth, to hiking with kids in his 30's, and eventually wilderness backpacking as he reached his 40's.

In this podcast, Steve talks about how he eased in to the sport with an initial trip to the Len Foote Hike Inn near Amicalola Falls State Park in North Georgia. From there, he explored the backcountry campsites along the Foothills Trail at Lake Jocassee, and eventually migrated to his first solo backpacking trip along the Kings Mountain Trail where he camped at a remote campsite (sans amenities) in South Carolina.

Steve proves that you're never too old to pick up the sport of backpacking and that with the advances in lightweight gear in the market today, you too can be hiking and backpacking well in to your 80's.

Subject: The “Ease In to Backpacking” PodcastInterviewees: Steve (White Lightening)Interview Date: May 31, 2011Runtime: 25:46

Download Now: Ease Into Backpacking (WMA format 6.1 Meg);Ease Into Backpacking (MP3 format 18.5 Meg)

In Episode 2, John (aka The Kidd) talks about the Gorges Section of the Foothills Trail in western North Carolina and northwestern South Carolina.  In this phone interview, The Kidd talks about our  2001  Foothills Trail hike (and the 10th anniversary of the trip) which took us through a 45 mile section of the 76 mile trail over the course of three days in the Spring of 2001.

The Foothills Trail traverses the the Andrew Pickens Ranger District of the Sumter National Forest, the Ellicott Rock Wilderness, and at times hugs Lake Jocassee and the Chattooga National Wild and Scenic River.   The eastern trailhead starts at Table Rock State Park in South Carolina and runs to the western trailhead at  Oconee State Park.

Subject: The Foothills Trail, North/South Carolina (Gorges Section)Interviewees: John (The Kidd)Interview Date: April 27, 2011Runtime: 18:42

Download Now: Foothills Trail (WMA format 4.4 Meg);Foothills Trail (MP3 format 14 Meg)

In Episode 1 (the inaugural episode) of the N2Backpacking podcast series, I speak with Glenn and Susan about their adventures on the John Muir Trail (JMT) in 2006.  The Helmet and Doughgirl talk about their preparations, planning, logistics, gear and favorite stops on the John Muir Trail which traverses a portion of the High Sierra in Northern California.

The John Muir Trail  follows the Sierra Nevada mountain range for 210 miles and through Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia National Parks.  The northern terminus is located at Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley, and the southern terminus is located on the summit of Mount Whitney (14,505 feet) which is the highest point in the Lower 48.

Subject: The John Muir Trail, CaliforniaInterviewees: Glenn & Susan (Helmet & Doughgirl)Interview Date: April 26, 2011Runtime: 42:52

Download Now: John Muir Trail (WMA format 10 Meg);John Muir Trail (MP3 format 30 Meg)