In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Dr. Freeborn Mondello. Freeborn, who is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, explodes our brains with some non-conventional advice for hikers, backpackers, and really any endurance athlete. This includes why stretching might be a waste of time, the importance of heavy weight resistance training, and why the traditional 3 sets of 10 reps is going to be counterproductive to your goals- and yes those last two points are not con...
Apr 27, 2021•2 hr 35 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek brought to you by OnX Backcountry, we are joined by Clara "Redfeather" Hughes. Clara, in no uncertain terms, is a bonafide superstar. In addition to a multitude of thru-hikes under her belt, Clara is a world-class speed skater and cyclist, being the only athlete in history to win multiple medals at both the summer and winter Olympic Games. Let that sink in for a second. We go deep on all the things you'd want to ask an Olympic supersta...
Apr 19, 2021•2 hr 37 min
In today's episode of backpacker radio presented by the trek, we are joined by Emily Ford. Perhaps you've heard that name in the backpacking sphere of late, because Emily recently wrapped a thru-hike of Wisconsin's Ice Age Trail- in the dead of winter- becoming just the second person ever to do so, and the first woman. We do a deep dive on Emily's journey, including what gear she used, the weather conditions (spoiler alert- it was cold as hell), how she had to knock on strangers' doors to ask if...
Apr 13, 2021•2 hr 10 min
Today is our centennial show, and oh boy, is it a beast. For starters, as a thank you to you, our beautiful listeners- we are giving away some awesome prizes, including a Gossamer Gear tent, pack, and trekking poles- but really that just scratches the surface. We're chatting with Jennifer Pharr Davis and Brew Davis about their current COVID Recovery Tour- a family road trip touring the national parks, and a concerted effort to both prioritize their mental health and inspire others to do the same...
Apr 01, 2021•3 hr 32 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Patricia Cameron. Patricia is a journalist, thru-hiker, and the Founder and Executive Director at Blackpackers, a non-profit whose mission is to eliminate economic disparities of people of color in outdoor recreation. We chat in-depth about Patricia's Colorado Trail thru-hike last year, including what it was like to hike during a pandemic, how much she enjoyed the hiker trash camaraderie, some of her favorite stops al...
Mar 25, 2021•2 hr 32 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Eric Giuliani. Eric, more or less on a whim, decided to trade his unfulfilling corporate job to circumnavigate the globe without taking a single flight. Yes, 70,000 miles by boat, train, and automobile, and- to make the story even more ridiculous- he relies largely on his very nascent photography skills to barter his way around the world. We learn all about this massive adventure, including an in-depth accounting for ...
Mar 17, 2021•2 hr 10 min
In today's episode of backpacker radio presented by The Trek we are joined by Ben Lawhon the Director of Education and Research at Leave No Trace. Not that Leave No Trace needs any introduction, as this is a framework we've spoken about countless times on the show and I'm guessing you were familiar with it before Backpacker Radio entered your lives, but this interview is incredibly important and we think you'll find surprisingly entertaining. Not only do we go very deep on the proper way to shit...
Mar 09, 2021•2 hr 26 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by THE Survivorman, Les Stroud. This interview does not disappoint. We talk about Les' entry into the world of reality tv- and why he hates the genre overall, he talks a little bit of shit on Bear Grylls, we chat about some of his most precarious moments in the bush, and Les gives us a very compelling pitch on why Sasquatch is probably real. We wrap up the show wondering how we'd run amok if the world was frozen for 24 h...
Mar 02, 2021•2 hr 5 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are once again joined by Andy Downs of the ATC. For those who might be unfamiliar, the ATC has been under a bit of heat of late for the news of their accepting a very large gift from the Mountain Valley Pipeline, a project they once opposed. Andy gives us a thorough breakdown on the history of the project, why the ATC is no longer actively opposing it, and answers some of the common critical questions being lobbed in the ATC's dire...
Feb 25, 2021•2 hr 12 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Philip Carcia. Have you heard of New Hampshire? Because Philip has hiked it. All of it. Many times, in all different directions. In addition to a handful of thru-hikes, Philip has completed the New Hampshire 48 Single Year Grid, the White Mountain Direttisima (twice), and White Mountain Redline FKT. If you don't know what any of that means, good! We will learn this together during our conversation. We wrap up the show...
Feb 08, 2021•2 hr 29 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Bekah and Derrick Quirin. In 2017, the Quirins thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail with their adorable baby, Ellie, alongside. We learn how in the hell this is possible, including their diaper logistics, gear setup, nap schedule, and much more. The very next year the Quirins cycled the 2,700 mile Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, again, with Ellie in tow. We learn the of the unique challenges between thru-hiking and thru...
Jan 26, 2021•1 hr 57 min
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are once again joined by Andrew Skurka- and as you might’ve already guessed, it does not disappoint. We touch on a range of different subjects in today’s show ranging from how COVID effected his guiding business, to why wildfires have been so bad in the west over the past couple of decades (and the reason might surprise you), to Andrew’s favorite trail meals, to the intricacies of the backcountry bidet, to picking the perfect camps...
Jan 08, 2021•2 hr 14 min
Today's episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, is 2020 personified. And by that, I mean it's a genuine shit show. Today's show runs the gamut, we drunk dial some fans, introduce a slew of new segments, play some trivia (grab a drink if you'd like to play along), and are given a play-by-play of some soiled denim courtesy of The Real Hiking Viking. As if that weren't enough the trio consumes enough adult beverages to commit to getting quasi-matching butt tattoos if you, our Backpacker...
Dec 27, 2020•4 hr 3 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, we are joined by Cindy Ross. Cindy is a bonafide renaissance woman. She's published nine books, with two more on the way, she's a triple crowner, illustrator, and avid traveler. But, the bulk of our conversation today centers around Cindy's novel approach to raising children. In a nutshell, Cindy and her husband believe that kids should fold into your lifestyle, and not the other way around, as evidenced by their family of four takin...
Dec 22, 2020•2 hr 20 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek we are joined by Dr. Kristina Kiefer (that's back to back doctor episodes for those keeping score at home). Dr. Kiefer is a veterinarian with a PhD in Veterinary Regenerative Medicine from the University of Minnesota. But, of greater interest to you, not only does Dr. Kiefer have the medical expertise to advise about hiking with your dog, but she also walks the walk, having done significant miles on trail with her own pup. Although we'...
Dec 11, 2020•2 hr 3 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we chat with Dr. Alan Carpenter. Dr. Carpenter is the ultimate testament that age is just a number, as his entry into the long distance backpacking world didn't begin until the ripe age of 65. Since then, he's accumulated somewhere in the vicinity of 20,000 miles on foot and another 10,000 miles on his bike. His stories are gold, he's an injection of inspiration extract, and is as nice as could be. We also share how we would end relat...
Dec 02, 2020•2 hr 15 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Paul Barach. Paul is an avid adventurer, but today, we focus in on his trek along Japan's Shikoku Pilgrimage, a 750-mile route that visits nearly 90 temples. This was Paul's first backpacking trip, as evidenced by everything that went wrong, including suffering from heat exhaustion, dehydration, being charged by a wild boar, breaking a piece of an ancient temple, getting a leg infection, and more. Not only do we get a...
Nov 18, 2020•1 hr 40 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Nathan Hankes. Nathan is an army veteran, having served a tour in Iraq as a drone operator for the United States Army in the aftermath of 9/11. Upon returning from his tour, Nathan turned to the Appalachian Trail to sort out the residual anger and anxiety he was dealing with as a result of his time serving overseas. We go deep on Nathan's experience in Iraq, how that affected his political outlook, how the Appalachian...
Nov 11, 2020•2 hr 28 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Backcountry.com, we are joined by Neville Harris. Neville is the owner and head honcho at Woods Hole Hostel, regarded as one of the top hostels (if not the top hostel) along the entire Appalachian Trail. Neville shares a bit about her meditation practice and the impact it's had on her life, she walks us through a typical day at Woods Hole Hostel, how COVID has impacted her business, how running the hostel played a ro...
Nov 03, 2020•2 hr 16 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by India Wood. India, despite having no backpacking experience, decided to hike diagonally across the state of Colorado, from the southeast to the northwest corner of the state. Along the way she had an encounter with a bear, had soft threats of being shot by rangers, and learned the importance of digging a cat hole the night before. We learn how India went about planning her route, the challenges associated with doing s...
Oct 22, 2020•2 hr 8 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Chaunce and Fireball (who you likely remember for the Girls Stuff episode), to walk us through their hike of the John Muir Trail. In addition to learning about all of the particulars of the trail, Chaunce and Fireball regale us with tales from their trek that include nude modeling for tourists, their favorite swimming holes, and the time Chaunce pooped alongside a stranger. We have a one minute gear review, bring back...
Oct 12, 2020•1 hr 58 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Dan Durston. Dan is the gear nerd's gear nerd. In addition to hiking the PCT and being one of only two people to yo-yo the Great Divide Trail (the other being his wife as they did it together), Dan is visionary behind the new gear company, Durston Gear. We go way deep down the rabbit hole on why polyester tents are making a comeback and are possibly the ultimate fabric for shelters, how he's able to execute on his phi...
Sep 28, 2020•2 hr 22 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Tommy Corey, aka Twerk, sometimes known as Twerkinthedirt, sometimes known as the guy behind Hiker Trash Vogue. Twerk gives us a runthrough on his experiences backpacking the PCT, how the Hiker Trash Vogue project came to be, what doors this wildly popular photo project has opened for him. We also talk about his experiences of what it's like to be a gay man in the thru-hiking community. We close out the show with a Tr...
Sep 14, 2020•2 hr 44 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, Badger is joined by Anne Baker. In addition to being an experienced long distance backpacker and gear nerd, Anne has a PhD, is a licensed therapist, scientist, and someone who has done a good deal of research on post trail depression. Anne breaks down precisely what is happening when someone experiences post trail depression and offers some tips for how to avoid it or at least lessen its impact. Anne also details what 2020 NOGO thru-h...
Sep 01, 2020•1 hr 49 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, brought to you by Backcountry.com, we are joined by Mac of Halfwayanywhere.com. Mac gives us the full tour through his short, but very dense adventuring career, including his 1 and a half PCT thru-hikes, his time in Japan, his multiple trips through the Himalayas, bikepacking across Australia, and the list goes on and on. We touch on why the Arizona Trail is game off for the remainder of 2020, a one minute gear review, a point counte...
Aug 20, 2020•2 hr 42 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Backcountry.com, we are joined by Delia D'ambra. Delia is a full-time investigative journalist and the host of Park Predators, a podcast that details some of the most horrific murders that have taken place in national parks. Needless to say, maybe don't let your kids listen to this one. We cover the triple crown of Adam Sandler movies, do another round of one minute gear reviews, a point / counterpoint on inflatable ...
Aug 11, 2020•1 hr 49 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek we are joined yet again by famed Trail Angel, triple crowner, and author, Barney Scout Mann. This convo focuses largely on Scout's new book, " Journeys North ", Scout's beautiful account of his and Frodo's 2007 PCT thru-hike. We learn what went into this immense research project, how he and Frodo fended off a bear with a two-part harmony, and we're blessed with a short reading from the book. We have another one-minute gear review, intr...
Aug 03, 2020•2 hr 29 min
Today we are joined by Luke Kloberdanz, the director of philanthropy at the Ice Age Trail Alliance. As you may have guessed, we geek out very much about all things Wisconsin, so much so, that Chaunce is convinced to make this the destination of Backpacker Radio's next road trip. We talk about Luke's own thru-hike, the wonderful tradition that is the Wisconsin Fish Fry, the history of this trail, and why it might be the ideal trek during a pandemic. We address why Chaunce's face matches her hair,...
Jul 22, 2020•1 hr 44 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, we are joined by Daniel White, known on trail as The Blackalachian. We learn all about The Blackalachian's life before he became a full-time adventurer, including his days as a rapper and his time in prison, how thru-hiking was put on his map, his experiences with racism on the AT, his thru-bike of the Underground Railroad Route, His hikes of The Great Outdoors Challenge in Scotland and Camino del Norte in Spain, and what the future ...
Jul 13, 2020•2 hr 30 min
In today's episode -we are back to recording in person(!)- and joined by Jamey Mossengren, also known as The Unicycling Unicorn. Jamey traded in his cushy 9-5 job to pursue the glamorous lifestyle of a street performer, and hasn't looked back since. Not only does Jamey make a living by putting on unicycle shows, he's also unicycled both the Colorado Trail and Arizona Trail! We talk about these very unique trips, his thru-hikes of the AT and Camino del Norte, and what goes into being a successful...
Jun 29, 2020•2 hr 2 min
