n2backpacking

In Episode 40, The Camel and I continue the discussion on hiking news from 2016 in a show recorded right before our annual Klondike hike on the North Carolina side of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.  Forewarning, we talk felonies, guns, and politics - subjects that get The Camel particularly fired up.

So listen in, and we'll brace ourselves for the feedback!  'Cause we talk arson, kidnapping, self-defense, and about the political leadership of our country.  And if that doesn't make you smile (or cringe), click here for some photos from our Klondike hike to get a look at why we head in to the backcountry in the first place.

Subject: Hiking News Review (Great Smokies Show)Interviewee: The CamelInterview Date: January 26, 2017Runtime: 52:39

Download Now: Hiking News Review - Great Smokies Show (WMA format 50.8 Meg);Hiking News Review - Great Smokies Show (MP3 format 50.4 Meg)

In Episode 39, Therm Rider and I do a live winter show from the Yavapai Lodge at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.  After a day hiking on the Arizona and Rim Trails, we kick back a cold one and discuss some of the major hiking news events of 2016.

In the show, Therm Rider and I recap and debate some of the U.S. news events that were heavily publicized in the outdoor community last year - including epic fails with drones, lost lives from selfies, and wildlife issues and encounters.  We are paid a visit by two National Park Rangers during the interview, so tune in and find out what goes down in Grand Canyon Village.

Subject: Hiking News Review (Grand Canyon Show)Interviewee: Therm RiderInterview Date: January 7, 2017Runtime: 53:26

Download Now: Hiking News Review (Grand Canyon Show) (WMA format 51.6 Meg);Hiking News Review (Grand Canyon Show) (MP3 format 51.4 Meg)

In Episode 38, Theo and Bee give us all a New Years gift and tell us about their adventures on the 273 mile (440 km) Kungsleden Trail in northern Sweden.  The couple has lived out of their VW van for the last three years, but took time off from their travels to hike the Kungsleden in the fall of 2015 and release the film Distant North a year later.

Back home in the UK (and from a recently purchased boat), Theo and Bee speak to the logistics of a Kungsleden thru-hike, the arctic weather and scenery, and the abundant wildlife - including a 1000+ caribou herd that surrounded them while on the Trail.  So listen in and discover why The Kungsleden has moved to the top of my list of trails to hike.  And if you really want to tempt yourself, follow this link to watch their film on YouTube.

The Kungsleden will not stay a well-kept secret for long.  So pack your bags, head to Sweden this summer, and hike the trail before the word really gets out.  Or click here to follow Theo and Bee's next great adventure.

Subject: Distant North - The KungsledenInterviewees: Theo & BeeInterview Date: January 2, 2017Runtime: 1:00:16

Download Now: Distant North - The Kungsleden (WMA format 45.1 Meg);Distant North - The Kungsleden (MP3 format 58.1 Meg)

In Episode 37, we continue the conversation with 30 Pack.  During the second hour of our interview, we discuss his summer rim-to-rim hike of the Grand Canyon, the resulting hallucinations, ultra-marathons, and working with troubled teens in Utah.  30 lived out of his car for 2 1/2 years and tells us some of the craziest things that happened to him during this time - including hiking with the Navajo and hearing and seeing ghosts on the trail in Arizona.

You might recall 30 Pack from Episode 13 (where we talked about his Appalachian Trail thru-hike) and Episode 19 & 20 (where he recounts his Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike), so give those shows a listen if you haven't already. Or jump right in to this second segment of this two part series and get motivated to do good deeds for others and to explore the exciting wilderness of the western U.S.

Subject: Thirty At Thirty - Part TwoInterviewees: 30 PackInterview Date: October 26, 2016Runtime: 49:53

Download Now: Thirty At Thirty - Part Two (WMA format 36.6 Meg);Thirty At Thirty - Part Two (MP3 format 48.1 Meg)

In Episode 36, 30 Pack is back!!!  And he gives us an update on his wanderlust and travels over the last 2 1/2 years - including his post-PCT adventures with Outburst and their exploration of the wild canyons, hot springs and numerous Trails of the western U.S.  30 Pack then settles briefly in Seattle where he runs his first marathon and is attacked while raising money and helping the homeless on the streets of the City.

You might recall 30 Pack from Episode 13 (where we discuss his Appalachian Trail thru-hike) and Episode 19 & 20 (where he recounts his Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike), so give those shows a listen if you haven't already.  Or jump right in to the first segment of this two part series and get motivated to do good deeds for others and to explore the exciting wilderness of the western U.S.

Subject: Thirty At Thirty - Part OneInterviewees: 30 PackInterview Date: October 26, 2016Runtime: 51:16

Download Now: Thirty At Thirty - Part One (WMA format 38.1 Meg);Thirty At Thirty - Part One (MP3 format 49.2 Meg)

In Episode 35, we discuss the most influential hikers and backpackers of all time as we sit by a campfire in North Georgia on an autumn night with coyotes running wild in the background.  First, a shout out to the trail conferences, clubs, maintainers, ridge-runners, trail angels, and financial benefactors to Trail - because you are collectively more important than any individual for your contributions.  But tonight we review some of the names that came up the most frequently in hiking and backpacking forums when we posted the question to the trail community.

On the show, we discuss those who influenced us personally to get on the Trail. Then we review some of the well known hikers, backpackers, and long-distance thru-hikers that were mentioned as "influential" to the hiking and backpacking community and planted the seed for all of us - to "Get On The Trail". We promise you a few surprises, and no doubt plenty of controversy. So listen in and let us know who we missed.

Subject: The Most Influential Hikers And Backpackers Of All TimeInterviewees: PokyBo, BeerRun, World Wide WandererInterview Date: September 30, 2016Runtime: 36:15

Download Now: The Most Influential Hikers/Backpackers Of All Time (WMA format 35.0 Meg);The Most Influential Hikers/Backpackers Of All Time (MP3 format 34.8 Meg)

In Episode 34, Alex "Money Shot" Maier talks about his film "A Sense Of Direction" which documents his travels on the Pacific Northwest Trail in the summer of 2015.  Alex chose the PNT for his first thru-hike (and first hiking film) to explore one of the newest trails in the National Scenic Trail system - which earned the status in 2009.  Only a few hundred backpackers have thru-hiked the 1200 mile trail to date, and all have had the fortune to experience the PNT while it is still in its infancy.

In the podcast, Alex talks about the early history of the Pacific Northwest Trail, the many scenic firetowers and peaks on the hike, life as a PNT thru-hiker, and his favorite (and not so favorite) moments on the Trail.  He also updates us on his latest long distance hike, and hints at a release date for his next major hiking film. For more information on Alex, you can click to his website or follow this link to watch his video for FREE on YouTube.  And to hear my conversation with "Money Shot", see below...

Subject: Pacific Northwest Trail "A Sense Of Direction"Interviewees: Alex "Money Shot" MaierInterview Date: July 18, 2016Runtime: 1:00:22

Download Now: Pacific Northwest Trail "A Sense Of Direction" (WMA format 44.5 Meg);Pacific Northwest Trail "A Sense Of Direction" (MP3 format 56.5 Meg)

In Episode 33, Alex Staniforth talks about his recently published book Icefall which details how he survived two of the deadliest seasons of record on Mt. Everest during the 2014 and 2015 climbing seasons.  Alex was picked on in his youth, but talks openly about how he channeled his energy in to outdoor activities - which eventually led him to raise funds and climb the tallest mountain in the world.

In my first international interview, we discuss backpacking in Nepal, hiking to base camp, life on the mountain, and how he managed to survive the avalanches and rock slides that took many lives over the last two climbing seasons.  We also talk about his plans for the future - including where a 20 year old goes from here and how Mt. Everest still fits in to his future.

Subject: Surviving EverestInterviewees: Alex StaniforthInterview Date: April 28, 2016Runtime: 59:48

Download Now: Surviving Everest (WMA format 47.9 Meg);Surviving Everest (MP3 format 57.4 Meg)

In Episode 32, the conversation on Rookie Mistakes continues as we sit fireside on Justus Creek along the Appalachian Trail in North Georgia. In this discussion, Beer Run, PokeyBo, and Therm Rider talk about some classic rookie moves: taking the wrong gear, hiking above your skill level, and taking too much.

“Backcountry 201” is the second installment in this mini-series where we sit around the campfire and discuss the fundamentals of backpacking.  In this episode, we go "off trail" a bit - so don't take the show too seriously.  We'll get back on track in future episodes and hopefully this is worth a few good laughs as you commute to work, crank out some Trail miles, or do what you do when you are not on the Trail.

Subject: Advanced Rookie Mistakes 201Interviewees: Beer Run, Pokey Bo, Therm RiderInterview Date: October 3, 2014Runtime: 26:21

Download Now: Advanced Rookie Mistakes 201 (WMA format 25.5 Meg);Advanced Rookie Mistakes 201 (MP3 format 25.2 Meg)

In Episode 31, we discuss the life and legacy of Emma "Grandma" Gatewood, who at 67 years old was the first woman to solo thru-hike the Appalachian Trail.  Author Ben Montgomery gives us an intimate look at this extraordinary lady who overcame financial hardship, survived domestic and sexual abuse, and had 11 children and 23 grand children when she left a small town in Ohio to walk the A.T. in 1955.

The book, Grandma Gatewood's Walk is now a New York Times best seller, and Ben gives us a look at the life and legacy of Emma Gatewood through her photos and trail journals, from interviews with her surviving children, and by tracking down some of the folks that actually met and hiked with Emma on the Trail.

Modern day thru-hikers walk with backpacks, tents, and sleeping bags - yet Emma had none of these items when she hiked the 2000+ mile Appalachian Trail three times in the 1950's.  She was one tough lady - and this is an inspiring tale of the suffering, strength, and triumph that brought much needed publicity and federal funding to the A.T. at a time when thru-hiking was in its infancy.

Subject: Grandma Gatewood's WalkInterviewees: Ben MontgomeryInterview Date: February 3, 2016Runtime: 104:00

Download Now: Grandma Gatewood's Walk (WMA format 49.3 Meg);Grandma Gatewood's Walk (MP3 format 61.4 Meg)