In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Quinn Brett. Quinn was a world-class climber prior to her 2017 fall in Yosemite left her paralyzed from the waist down. Since then, Quinn being the badass athlete that she is, has found new modes to adventure, having most recently completed the 2,500-mile Tour Divide on an adaptive handbike, which she did in just 25 days. We learn all about Quinn's accident, how her adventures, friendships, and life have changed since...
Aug 22, 2022•2 hr
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Arlette "Apple Pie" Laan. Apple Pie is the first woman to hike all eleven of the National Scenic Trails in the United States, which frankly only scratches the surface on her hiking and backpacking career. We chat about some of her favorite stories from her tens of thousands of miles on trail, her favorite and least favorite of the National Scenic Trails, how she managed to become the backpacking legend that she is tod...
Aug 15, 2022•1 hr 52 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Diane "Sticks" Harsha. Diane is an AT section hiker, the author of "Sticks and Stones: How to Hike the Appalachian Trail in 13 Years", and a retired FBI agent. We of course spend a lot of time talking about Diane's career in the bureau- including questions about the rigorous training and testing required to be accepted into the FBI, negotiation tactics that could be applied to convincing a spouse to let you leave for ...
Aug 08, 2022•2 hr 28 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek we are bringing you another edition of Beginner Backpacking Mistakes. Today we're joined by our good pal and backpacking superstar, Steven “Twinkle” Shattuck, to give you a rundown of mistakes to avoid on your next backpacking trip. If you listened to the first edition of this panel, rest assured that all of the tips in this episode are brand new- backed by many thousands of miles of trail experience- we made all the mistakes so you do...
Aug 01, 2022•2 hr 42 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Shayla "Kiddo" Paradeis. Shayla is a very accomplished backpacker, with the triple crown just scratching the surface of her hiking resume, but it's her approach to backpacking that makes this conversation stand out. We chat about what it's like to backpack in today's age without a smartphone, including the differences of keeping in touch with hikers, navigating on trail, tracking the forecast, and more. Shayla also sh...
Jul 25, 2022•1 hr 59 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by RTIC, we are joined by Kathryn Miles. Kathryn is an award-winning journalist, science writer, and the author of five books, most recently "Trailed: One Woman's Quest to Solve the Shenandoah Murders", which is the focus of today's chat. We go deep on everything to do with this case, including the gruesome details of the murders, why this was not a random act of violence, why this case has yet to be solved, who Kathryn...
Jul 18, 2022•2 hr 8 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek we are joined by no one! Today's episode is all about the Tahoe Rim Trail and Badger's recent experience thru-hiking this trail. This one covers everything you'd want to know about hiking the TRT, including the trail's basics, my experience and advice for resupply, gear, pacing, permits, bear storage, the best time to hike this trail, bugs, dealing with snow, navigation, funny stories, cell service, worst chafes, best poops, and much m...
Jul 11, 2022•2 hr 15 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, brought to you by RTIC, we are joined by Mickey aka The Virtual Sherpa. The Virtual Sherpa runs a successful website and youtube channel dedicated to sharing tips, trail overviews, and more from some of his favorite trails around Colorado and the greater Southwest. We chat about what some of the most underrated 13,000 ft peaks are in Colorado, and why they might be even better than many of the state's 14ers, some of his favorite hike...
Jul 04, 2022•1 hr 47 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, brought to you by RTIC, we are joined yet again by our pal, Clay Bonnyman Evans, known on trail as "Pony". Pony is fresh off the New Mexico stretch of the CDT and full of hot takes, including a renewed interest in all things dealing with sex on trail, why he thinks the "brutality" of the CDT is overstated- at least through New Mexico, we learn all about Clay's new book, "Adrift on the Pacific Crest Trail: A Thru-Hiking Story", and wh...
Jun 27, 2022•2 hr 43 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to by RTIC, we are joined by Lauren Capone. In addition to being an accomplished triathlete and runner herself, Lauren holds a Master of Science in Applied Nutrition and works as a Functional and Integrative Health Practitioner at Flatirons Integrative Health & Nutrition in Boulder, CO. Our conversation covers a ton of ground on all things nutrition and health for backpacking and beyond, including why people end up gaining...
Jun 20, 2022•2 hr 10 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by goodr, we are joined by more AT Hiker Trash! This is volume II of our thru-hiker interviews from AT Trail Days 2022. This one concludes with a trail name origin story that is borderline too insane to believe. We wrap the show with some very sad news of a hiker's tragic fall from McAfee Knob, a Triple Crown of Passive Aggressive Statements Used in Work Emails, and how Badger's TRT plans almost fell through once again,...
Jun 13, 2022•2 hr 2 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, brought to you by goodr, we are joined by peakbagger, author, search and rescuer, and all around awesome human, Nancy East. We go through Nancy's impressive list of thru-hikes, how she manages all the backpacking with a family who only sometimes joins her, we chat in depth about her search and rescue experiences and what advice all hikers can glean from the perspective of someone trying to rescue you, and we learn all about Nancy's b...
Jun 06, 2022•2 hr 10 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek brought to by Goodr, we are joined by a gaggle of AT Hiker Trash. Today's episode comes to you from Trail Days, where we go through a series of rapid fire questions with hikers who are in the midst of their 2022 AT thru-hikes. This one is the predictable amount of chaos. We wrap the show joined alongside Mara and Leah for our favorite moments from the AT road trip, a triple crown of fast food restaurants, and a listener educates us on ...
May 30, 2022•2 hr 2 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek brought to you by Goodr, we are joined by Caet Cash. Caet first discovered backpacking back in 2014 and has been on an absolute tear ever since. We chat about why she prefers to hike SOBO, including some SOBO specific elements of both the AT and PCT, her insane list of peakbagging feats in the Adirondacks and southern Appalachians, redlining (aka mapping) the Smokies, and much more. Caet also details how her backcountry goals have shif...
May 23, 2022•2 hr 7 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by YouTube sensation, Darwin. We learn all about Darwin's rise to fame, including the turning point from when he went from a novice content creator to a full-blown trail celebrity, his advice to aspiring YouTube trail personalities, and why he ultimately fell out of love with the platform. We also learn about Darwin's new media company, Outdoor Evolution, and the plethora of projects currently coming from OE, and what li...
May 16, 2022•2 hr 1 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Carly Moree. Carly is a thru-hiker, the co-author of Pacific Crest Trials, an OG Writer at The Trek, entrepreneur and a long time friend. We chat about her transition from the cushy world of finance to backpacking, her personal pitfalls of getting into a relationship on the AT, some hilarious hallucinations during her JMT FKT attempt, and learn all about her new guiding company, Rocky Mountain Hiking Company. We wrap ...
May 09, 2022•2 hr 20 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, we are joined by author, mountaineer, and keynote speaker, Dr. Jon Kedrowski. Dr. Jon's list of accomplishments are staggeringly long, including sleeping at the summit of all the Colorado 14'ers, multiple Everest summits, playing D-1college basketball at Valparaiso, guiding and befriending Mike Posner, and much more. We catch Dr. Jon very off-guard with a well-timed, fuck, marry, kill, we learn about the standout geography features of each of the Colorado ...
May 02, 2022•2 hr 6 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Hazel Platt known on trail as Platypus. In addition to thru-hikes of the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Northwest Trail, Hazel also serves as the Volunteer Engagement Associate for the PCTA. Hazel is also a queer/trans hiker, going by the he/they pronouns. We go deep in this interview, learning about Hazel's emotional journey of coming out as a trans hiker during the height of lockdown in the less than welcoming en...
Apr 25, 2022•2 hr 14 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Nika "Early Bird" Meyers. Nika is a backpacking badass. Not only is she a triple crowner, but Early Bird has set a pair of speed records, including the unsupported FKT on the Long Trail and the self-supported FKT on the Colorado Trail, which she set last year with a time of 9 days 14 hours, and 19 minutes (keep in mind, this takes most people a full month). We get a full chronology of Nika's backpacking career, when a...
Apr 18, 2022•2 hr 24 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Linnea Delucchi, known on trail as Otter. Otter is a 2017 PCT thru-hiker, has a Masters in Adventure Education, and now serves as the Assistant Director at New Treks, an organization that teaches outdoor education to underprivileged youth. This convo covers a lot of ground, including the cognitive effects of spending time in nature and hiking specifically (and how wearing headphones could potentially negatively impact...
Apr 11, 2022•2 hr 6 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by former Trek Vlogger, Sophia "Wheelz" Garber. Wheelz was a member of the AT NOBO turned NOGO class of 2020, due to the pandemic- duh. Her shot at redemption didn't have to wait too long, as Sophia ended up completing her mission to hike the AT the very next year. We learn what it was like to be on trail during the early days of the pandemic, how it felt to deal with social media trolls when trying to decide whether to ...
Apr 04, 2022•2 hr 4 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Peter Bergman. In a nutshell, Peter is the ultimate wildcard. His hiking resume, which includes a completed section hike of the PCT and a cross country hike from his front door in Denver to Mt. of the Holy Cross- doesn't even begin to tell his story. We learn about the life of an art professor, some of most ridiculous projects, which toes the line between art and prank, and his latest release, PaCT, a series of projec...
Mar 28, 2022•2 hr 16 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Andy Laub. Andy is a thru-hiker, documentarian, cinematographer, director, editor, visual effects artist...basically all things under the sun dealing with making videos. His work has been featured on the Discovery Channel, National Geographic, BBC World, Amazon Prime, Hulu & PBS World Channel. His first trail documentary, As It Happens, has more than a million views on YouTube. We chat all about his backpacking ca...
Mar 21, 2022•2 hr 38 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are running back the Appalachian Trail panel. This time, your favorite cinnamon connection are working in tandem to share some more of their top, trail-tested advice for hiking the AT. This includes how to prevent against the biggest threat presented by the Trail, the right resupply strategy (or lack thereof), how to train for the Trail, and much more. We wrap the show with a triple crown of traits you'd want in a hiking partner an...
Mar 14, 2022•1 hr 17 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by David "AWOL" Miller. If you know anything about the AT, then that name is likely already familiar to you as AWOL is the author of not one but TWO of the most popular books related to the Trail, including Miller's Memoir, "AWOL on the Appalachian Trail", and "The AT Guide" which AWOL has since sold. We talk all about Miller's writing process, the incredible amount of work that went into bringing The AT Guide to life, w...
Mar 07, 2022•1 hr 58 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are talking all things Appalachian Trail (drink?). Everybody's favorite honorary third co-host, Jabba, joins us in a roundtable of tips we would offer someone looking to take on a long distance backpacking trip on the AT (drink). We touch on budgeting tips, ways to reduce your pack weight, advice for ensuring you complete your goal, insight on how to transition post-trail, and much more. We round out the show with a triple crown of...
Feb 28, 2022•1 hr 41 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, Andrew Skurka returns! Again. In studio. Not that you need any convincing to continue listening, but this chat starts normal and devolves into Chaunce tricking him into saying that he'll do sexual things a bug. We also talk about the new normal of backpacking in the West, we learn about the Skurka Scholarship, and we get a detailed overview of the backcountry bidet butt cleaning technique. This one has it all. We do a triple crown of ...
Feb 17, 2022•2 hr 30 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Ryan Bunting, known on trail as Constantine. Constantine may already be a familiar name, as he was recently featured on a Trek Propaganda segment about becoming the youngest person to hike all 11 National Scenic Trails at the age of 27 years. He put a bow on the achievement by setting the Fastest Known Time on the North Country Trail alongside his girlfriend, Magpie. Seeing that this is a Valentine's Day episode, we g...
Feb 14, 2022•2 hr 2 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, we are diving into all things Pacific Crest Trail related. This is another panel featuring our hero and fellow PCT hiker, Elise Ott aka Sauce, and in it we share our best advice in regards to training, logistical prep, gear advice, ideal start dates, pacing, dealing with extreme temperatures, and much more. If you're planning a long-distance trek on the PCT, whether a section hike or a thru, you will glean valuable insights from this...
Feb 01, 2022•2 hr 57 min
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Rolf Gunnar Asphaug. Rolf's adventuring career started in 1987 when he quit his cushy job as a lawyer, and set off to backpack from Tuscon, Arizona to Portland, Oregon on a route he devised using a Rand McNally road atlas. We of course go deep into this epic journey- we also learn all about the Colorado Mountain Club, for which Rolf used to serve as the organization's president, his time volunteering for Jefferson Cou...
Jan 25, 2022•2 hr 22 min
