Episodes

  • Ian Mangiardi on Youtube Hit "As It Happens," Getting Dumped on Trail (Twice), and The Explorers Club

    Ian Mangiardi on Youtube Hit "As It Happens," Getting Dumped on Trail (Twice), and The Explorers Club
    Sep 30 2024
    In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Ian Mangiardi aka "Dusty". For those of you who've read Appalachian Trials, you're already familiar with Ian’s name, as he served as my pre AT thru-hike guru and therapist. Ian gives us a full rundown on his triple crown treks, including being dumped on two of the three hikes, how he and Andy Laub (former guest) formed an instant bromance on the first week of the AT, the filming of As It Happens, their PCT documentary with more than a million on YouTube, and some wild excursions in Mongolia and Bhutan. We wrap the show with whether bringing terminal food onto the plane makes you a sociopath, the triple crown of New York things, and you can now officially get your tickets for our Denver Live Podcast with Kyle Hates Hiking and Holiday Hiker Meetup Extravaganza! LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. Gossamer Gear: Use code “SNUGGLEBUG” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com. Katabatic Gear: Use code “BPR15” for 15% off at katabaticgear.com. [divider] Interview with Ian Mangiardi Ian's WebsiteIan's InstagramAs It Happens Time stamps & Questions 00:04:45 - Reminders: Join us in Denver on December 7th! Apply to be a 2025 blogger and support us on Patreon for exclusive bonus content! 00:07:10 - Introducing Ian 00:08:07 - How do Zach and Ian know each other? 00:12:13 - How did Ian and Andy meet? 00:14:12 - Tell us about your breakup 00:16:22 - What was your outdoors experience prior to the AT? 00:19:20 - How did you learn what gear you needed? 00:20:50 - Tell us about your second on-trail breakup 00:26:30 - Did you end the hike stronger than you started? 00:29:20 - Tell us about your friend fight 00:37:00 - Have you ever had a tramily other than Andy? 00:38:26 - How did you and Andy become friends? 00:40:30 - Was it an especially wet year on the AT? 00:43:45 - What fun stories do you have from the AT? 00:50:00 - Ian’s surprise trail magic 00:55:00 - Tell us about going from the AT to the PCT 00:57:01 - Chaunce’s As It Happens story 00:59:45 - Did you both film? 01:00:25 - How did you split up the workload? 01:02:17 - Tell us about getting caught in a snowstorm 01:04:20 - Tell us about kicking a rock off a cliff 01:06:00 - How did you decide what to cut out of the film? 01:09:14 - Did you hike the AT in spandex shorts? 01:10:45 - Do you still use a sleeping bag liner? 01:14:45 - Do you feel strongly about any other nontraditional gear items? 01:17:00 - Tell us about the New Explorers Award 01:20:45 - Tell us about the Kings Challenge in Bhutan 01:25:40 - What is the Explorers Club? 01:27:45 - What has changed in the world of thru-hiking? 01:30:26 - Where can people keep up with you? 01:32:28 - What’s your best poop story? Segments Trek Propaganda: Everything You Need To Know To Plan an International Thru-Hike by Kelly Floro QOTD: Is it messed up to bring airport terminal food onto the plane with the intent of eating it once you’re in your seat? Triple Crown of New York things Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/. Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Ben Love, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Liz Seger, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger’ Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bonnie Ackerman, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Joann Menzer, Katharine Rudzitis, Lauren Cain, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, and Ruth S.
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    1 hr and 54 mins
  • John Z on Making Gear, Not Filtering Water, and 50-Mile Days

    John Z on Making Gear, Not Filtering Water, and 50-Mile Days
    Sep 23 2024
    In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by thru-hiker, gear maker, YouTuber, musician, and dare I say philosopher, John Z. John Z has hiked it all, including the triple crown trails, the Arizona Trail, Colorado Trail- in 10 days, setting the unsupported FKT on the way, which was a side trip during his PCT thru-hike- the Great Divide Trail, Pacific Northwest Trail, the Death Valley Loop, amongst others. He gives us an overview of these trips, the inspiration behind starting Pa'Lante Packs and now Meadow Physics Gear, why he doesn't hike with a water filter or satellite communicator, his tendency toward being a "water princess," the time he barked at a cow and the cow fought back, his run-ins with an angry black bear and a mountain lion, and much more. We wrap the show by unveiling our adult film star names, the triple crown of campaign promises 2.0, and Chuance leaves us a mailbag. Gossamer Gear: Use code “SNUGGLEBUG” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com. PATH Projects: Use code “THETREK10” for 10% off at pathprojects.com/thetrek. Katabatic Gear: Use code “BPR15” for 15% off at katabaticgear.com. [divider] Interview with John Z Meadow PhysicsJohn's YoutubeJohn's Instagram Time stamps & Questions 00:02:40 - Reminders: Join us for a live show in Denver on December 7! Support us on Patreon for exclusive bonus content! 00:05:18 - Introducing John Z 00:06:22 - What’s your background in the outdoors? 00:08:15 - If you had to pick only bikepacking or backpacking forever, which would it be? 00:09:50 - What led you to long distance backpacking? 00:11:29 - Did you start off ultralight? 00:14:15 - How did you transition from bikepacking? 00:16:04 - What was your biggest gear mistake early on? 00:18:20 - Tell us about making gear 00:21:54 - What were the vibes like in the desert on the PCT? 00:23:35 - How do you get trail beta? 00:25:07 - In what area do you think there’s the most room for improvement in gear? 00:27:03 - Tell us about the shelter you designed 00:30:00 - Tell us about your recent engagement 00:34:45 - How do you juggle a relationship with hiking? 00:36:35 - What’s the longest food carry you’ve done? 00:38:40 - Aside from light gear, what goes into long mileage days? 00:40:20 - What kind of food do you pack? 00:44:15 - Discussion about the Colorado Trail FKT 00:47:10 - What other FKTs have you attempted? 00:49:48 - Tell us the cow story 00:52:55 - Tell us the bear story 00:54:00 - Tell us the mountain lion story 00:56:40 - Tell us about your Alaska trip 00:58:50 - Why don’t you like to use a water filter? 01:00:30 - Discussion about tea 01:02:10 - What’s something you’ve gone on a deep dive on recently? 01:04:20 - What podcasts do you listen to while hiking? 01:06:04 - What don’t you like about the AT? 01:08:20 - What’s in your pack for a thru-hike? 01:11:35 - What do you do for bug protection? 01:14:00 - How do you pack your pack? 01:17:09 - Do you ever use a pack with a frame system? 01:17:55 - Tell us about the Death Valley Loop 01:20:20 - Are you more drawn to trails or routes? 01:21:20 - Do you think about your legacy? 01:22:17 - Is there any competition in route making? 01:23:00 - Tell us about the Great Divide Trail 01:25:00 - What trails do you keep repeating? 01:27:00 - Are you still making Youtube videos? 01:30:24 - What prompted you to take your channel down? 01:31:36 - What fabrics are you excited about right now? 01:33:55 - What’s next for you? Segments Trek Propaganda 2024 Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers: Submit Your Completion Photos 272 Miles in Less Than 4 Days: William Peterson Sets New Long Trail FKT by Kimberly Fetherston QOTD: If you were an adult film star, what would your stage name be? Triple Crown of campaign promises 2.0 Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/. Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Ben Love, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Liz Seger, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger’ Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bonnie Ackerman, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Joann Menzer, Katharine ...
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    1 hr and 57 mins
  • AT vs. PCT Panel: Gear, Culture, and Logistics with Abby Evans and Hannah Goodman

    AT vs. PCT Panel: Gear, Culture, and Logistics with Abby Evans and Hannah Goodman
    Sep 16 2024
    In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek and brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are doing a thorough breakdown of the differences and similarities between the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail. We are joined by Trek Bloggers, Abby Evans, aka “Shitwater Fireball: Queer of the Salamanders" and Hannah “Spring” Goodman, who are both 2024 PCT thru-hikers, and had previously thru-hiked the AT as well. We talk about the differences in overall difficulty, including weather, terrain, logistics, and gear, the difference in trail cultures, the various highs and lows, and ultimately, each person gives which of the two trails they prefer overall. The results may surprise you. We wrap the show with some news of a positive update on the new Lyme disease vaccine, who we would trade bodies with and what we would do first, the triple crown of streaming services, and a reader prompts Chaunce into giving us a more detailed breakdown about the time she pooped into a mountain house bag in her tent. Topo Athletic: Use code “THETREK15” for 15% of topoathletic.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code “SNUGGLEBUG” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. Katabatic Gear: Use code “BPR15” for 15% off at katabaticgear.com. Duer: Get 20% off at shopduer.com/backpacker. [divider] Panel with Abby Evans aka “Shitwater Fireball” and Hannah “Spring” Goodman Spring's InstagramShitwater's Instagram Time stamps & Questions 00:05:30 - Reminders: Come to our Brooklyn meetup TODAY (September 16)! And support us on Patreon for exclusive bonus content and get your tickets for our live Denver show on December 7! 00:07:50 - Introducing Shitwater & Spring 00:09:03 - Spring, how did you get into the outdoors? 00:10:20 - Shitwater, how did you get into the outdoors? 00:12:57 - What are your trail name origin stories? 00:16:00 - What backpacking trips did you do before the AT? 00:17:08 - How has your PCT experience been? 00:18:27 - Zach & Chaunce’s AT/PCT experience 00:19:10 - AT vs. PCT: Overall difficulty 00:25:00 - Discussion about fire logistics and impacts 00:28:16 - Zach & Chaunce’s difficulty comparison between the trails 00:32:30 - Discussion about hike mindset between the AT and PCT 00:47:22 - What was the hardest part of skipping miles on the PCT? 01:01:00 - AT vs. PCT: Social experience 01:11:35 - Do you think being on trail was a good place to process the breakup? 01:18:00 - Chaunce’s trail social experiences 01:33:25 - AT vs. PCT: Gear differences 01:50:20 - How much rain did you experience on the PCT? 01:54:40 - AT vs. PCT: Highs and lows 02:14:20 - If you could only pick on trail for the rest of your life, which would you pick? 02:17:30 - Where can we keep up with you? Segments Rapid Fire Interviews James “Almost Famous” TownsendRachael “Pack Rat” DavisKatherine “Willy” BaalsSean Durkin aka TreeBeard Trek Propaganda: Lyme Disease Vaccine Passes Stage Three Trials by Kimberly Featherston QOTD: If you could trade bodies with someone for a day who would be and what would you do first? Triple Crown of streaming services Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/. Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Ben Love, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Liz Seger, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger’ Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bonnie Ackerman, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Joann Menzer, Katharine Rudzitis, Lauren Cain, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, and Ruth S.
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    4 hrs
  • Elina Osborne on “It Is The People”, Her PCT Documentary, Videography, and Storytelling

    Elina Osborne on “It Is The People”, Her PCT Documentary, Videography, and Storytelling
    Sep 9 2024
    In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Elina Osborne. Elina is a thru-hiker, filmmaker, adventurer, and storyteller. Four years ago, Elina released a 15-minute documentary about her PCT thru-hike, titled "It Is The People", which has since accumulated nearly three-quarters of a million views on YouTube. We learn all about Elina's entry into film and storytelling, her process, equipment, and advice she has for future documentarians. She also gives us a preview of a new film currently in the works about her hike of The Hayduke alongside a past guest of Backpacker Radio. We wrap the show with some rapid fire conversations with Trek bloggers we met at PCT Trail Days, the Triple Crown of things we document during a thru-hike, and the maximum number of times we can conceivably enjoy getting dressed up over the course of a year, and much more. Topo Athletic: Use code “THETREK15” for 15% of topoathletic.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code “SNUGGLEBUG” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com. Katabatic Gear: Use code “BPR15” for 15% off at katabaticgear.com. Zoleo: Use code “BACKPACKERRADIO” for free device activation at zoleo.com. [divider] Interview with Elina Osborne Elina's WebsiteElina's Instagram Time stamps & Questions 00:04:30 - Reminders: Join us in Brooklyn on September 16 and support us on Patreon for exclusive bonus content! 00:06:41 - Introducing Elina 00:08:30 - What’s your trail name story? 00:09:28 - What was your entry into the outdoors? 00:11:27 - What is the hiking and backpacking culture like in New Zealand? 00:15:40 - How did you get into storytelling? 00:18:35 - How do you realize you’re in a cult? 00:21:22 - Was there backlash when you left? 00:23:19 - How did your first documentary inform your future hiking projects? 00:25:15 - How would you describe It Is The People? 00:27:19 - What was your PCT hike like socially? 00:31:00 - Discussion about offiating weddings 00:33:40 - Did you go into the hike planning to focus on people in your documentary? 00:37:02 - Did you intend to make it a series? 00:38:56 - Is it hard to get the camera out when you’re having a fun moment on trail? 00:40:15 - How do you find a balance between filming a hike and hiking in order to film? 00:42:23 - How do you plan who needs to film what? 00:43:25 - Do you look back at the PCT film and see things you would want to change? 00:45:17 - Do you still use the same approach for current film projects? 00:48:44 - Tell us about working for the New Zealand police department 00:52:07 - What was your wildest day on the job? 00:54:30 - Is it challenging to collaborate with other filmmakers while hiking? 00:57:10 - Did you butt heads on the Hayduke? 01:02:30 - Do you have an idea of where the Hayduke documentary will land? 01:05:34 - How do you make editing work on a team project? 01:10:30 - What are your next hiking adventures? 01:15:40 - What is your process for deciding what the story will be? 01:18:10 - Are there any storytellers you’re inspired by right now? 01:21:27 - Do you have advice for others who want to document their hiking experience? 01:23:10 - Who is your primary audience? 01:24:01 - Kumo Question: What is your dream vacation destination? 01:27:50 - What is the highlights tour of New Zealand? 01:32:00 - Where can people go to keep up with you? Segments Rapid Fire Interviews Angie aka “The Little Mermaid”Elizabeth aka “Bags Bunny”Sakari aka “Paw Patrol”Christopher Smiley Triple Crown of the things you document on a long trail QOTD: What’s the maximum number of times in the year you can enjoy getting dressed up? Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/. Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Following Water Ohio, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Hailey Buckingham, Liz Seger, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger’ Fawns, and Griffin Haywood A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bonnie Ackerman, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Joann Menzer, Katharine Rudzitis, Keith Dobie Jr, Lauren Cain, Luke Netjes, Matthew Kesterson, Merle Watkins, ...
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    2 hrs and 47 mins
  • Cam Bostock on Amassing 600K+ Instagram Followers, Adventuring in Australia vs. the USA, and Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail

    Cam Bostock on Amassing 600K+ Instagram Followers, Adventuring in Australia vs. the USA, and Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail
    Sep 2 2024
    In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Cam Bostock. With more than 600K Followers, Cam is a bonafide Instagram hiking celebrity. Cam teaches us all about his home, the great country of Australia, including his adventures on the Bibbulmun Track and Munda Biddi Trail, in addition to how often someone needs to fistfight a kangaroo, the frequency of deadly snake encounters, and other stereotypically dumb American questions. We also learn all about Cam's PCT trek, including all that goes into creating a polished Instagram Reel for every day of his hike, his favorite moments from the trail, and the biggest cultural differences between hiking in the US and Australia. We wrap the show with an overview of our time at PCT Trail Days, hint: we were dangerously close to Thunder Island Brewing, if Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are odd or even, and the triple crown of meat. Gossamer Gear: Use code “SNUGGLEBUG” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com. Katabatic Gear: Use code “BPR15” for 15% off at katabaticgear.com. Zoleo: Use code “BACKPACKERRADIO” for free device activation at zoleo.com. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. [divider] Interview with Cam Bostock Cam's InstagramCam's Youtube Time stamps & Questions 00:02:30 - PCT Days Recap 00:24:40 - Reminders: Join us in Brooklyn on September 16 and support us on Patreon for bonus content! 00:28:00 - Introducing Cam 00:30:43 - Do you have a trail name? 00:31:45 - What was your intro into long distance backpacking? 00:32:23 - What are the basics of the Bibbulmun Track? 00:34:00 - Discussion about Australian wildlife 00:40:04 - What’s the ideal season for the Bibbulmun Track? 00:42:15 - How popular is the Bibbulmun Track? 00:42:53 - How does the culture of long distance hiking in Australia compare to the US? 00:45:20 - Discussion about vegemite 00:46:30 - What other cultural differences have you noticed in the US? 00:47:35 - How did you choose the PCT? 00:48:16 - Tell us about the Munda Biddi Trail 00:50:28 - What other Australian trails are you interested in? 00:53:10 - Tell us about stand up paddleboard touring 00:56:04 - What’s the culture around outdoor sports in Australia? 01:01:50 - Do you have standout stories from the Te Araroa? 01:05:28 - Who’s the biggest Australian celebrity? 01:06:50 - FMK: stand up paddleboarding, backpacking, and mountain biking 01:07:45 - How did you get so many Instagram followers? 01:10:10 - What do you think attributes to that many followers? 01:11:20 - How do you manage your content creation while hiking every day? 01:13:00 - What apps do you use? 01:14:35 - Do you think content creation adds or takes away from your hike? 01:16:50 - Discussion about monetizing content 01:18:00 - How long have you been with your tramily? 01:22:00 - What’s the strangest outreach you’ve gotten while on the PCT? 01:25:07 - What do you miss most about your wife? 01:27:05 - How have you been dealing with the fire situation on the PCT? 01:31:00 - Have you thought about hiking the Oregon Coast Trail? 01:34:02 - What is your approach to social media content? 01:37:02 - What are your top 2 or 3 stories from the PCT? 01:40:20 - What has been your best day on the PCT so far? 01:42:42 - What has been your scariest day on trail? 01:44:30 - What would your advice be for someone who wants to hike the PCT from abroad? 01:47:50 - How much would you tell someone to budget for the PCT? 01:50:15 - What’s next? 01:51:07 - Kumo Question: What is your spirit animal and why? Segments Trek Propaganda: Black Bear That Mauled 3-Year-Old Girl Near Yellowstone Has Been Euthanized by Kelly Floro QOTD: Are Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays even days and Tuesdays, Thursdays odd days or vice versa? Triple Crown of meat Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/. Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Hailey Buckingham, Liz Seger, Patrick Cianciolo, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger’ Fawns, and Griffin Haywood A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bonnie Ackerman, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Joann Menzer, ...
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    2 hrs and 15 mins
  • Jeffrey James Binney on Being a Plus-Sized Ultrarunner, TikTok Fame, and the PCT

    Jeffrey James Binney on Being a Plus-Sized Ultrarunner, TikTok Fame, and the PCT
    Aug 26 2024
    In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are at PCT Trail Days! Our guest today is Jeffrey James Binney, a modern-day renaissance man who is an award-winning filmmaker, motivational speaker, ultrarunning athlete, and PCT hiker. We learn all about Jeffrey's story, including how losing his mom at a young age inspired him to pursue endurance sports, what it's like for a gay vegetarian to grow up in a rural pig farm in the midwest, his entry into improv and stand-up comedy, how he went from not being able to run a city block to a 100-mile race, making uber-viral dance TikTok videos, his favorite moments from his PCT hike, and much more. We wrap the show by grabbing the first hiker we found off the street here in Cascade Locks and forcing her to join us for segments and being blessed with an all-time trail hookup story in the process. Zoleo: Use code “BACKPACKERRADIO” for free device activation at zoleo.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code “SNUGGLEBUG” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com. PATH Projects: Use code “THETREK10” for 10% off at pathprojects.com/thetrek. [divider] Interview with Jeffrey James Binney Jeffrey's WebsiteJeffrey's InstagramJeffrey's Youtube Once is Enough film Time stamps & Questions 00:05:25 - Reminders: Join us in Brooklyn for a hiker meetup on September 16 and support us on Patreon for exclusive bonus content! 00:07:50 - Introducing Jeffrey 00:09:08 - What’s your origin story for getting into endurance sports? 00:12:10 - Were you surprised to enjoy running the first time you did it as an adult? 00:15:45 - What was the first 100 mile race you attempted? 00:19:05 - Tell us about being a recovering comedian 00:21:02 - Which performance art makes you the most nervous? 00:23:00 - Hiking themed improv 00:25:00 - Tell us about your film 00:30:11 - Tell us about being vegetarian on trail and growing up on a pig farm 00:33:27 - Did your dad push back at all on your vegetarianism? 00:37:45 - Tell us about your TikTok dances 00:45:45 - How has thru hiking compared to ultrarunning? 00:46:40 - What advice do you have for someone interested in ultrarunning? 00:50:33 - Discussion about thru-hiking culture 00:51:54 - How do you determine your weekly volume and pacing? 00:55:57 - What have your favorite moments from the PCT been so far? 01:00:45 - If you can only do thru-hiking or ultrarunning for the rest of your life, which would you pick? 01:01:50 - Is your husband worried you’ll want to do more long distance hiking? 01:04:34 - Discussion about Jeffrey’s Brooks sponsorship 01:09:00 - Discussion about Jeffrey’s manager 01:11:30 - What do you want to convey to listeners about overcoming fear? 01:14:24 - Is losing enthusiasm for thru-hiking common on all long trails? 01:23:24 - Discussion about tramily and hiking alone 01:27:06 - How much of the trail have you spent doing your own thing? 01:29:12 - Kumo Question: What is the most boring superpower you can think of? 01:33:10 - Tell us about your upcoming TrovaTrip 01:34:30 - Where can people go to keep up with you? Segments Trek Propaganda: Is It Safe To Keep Hiking in Wildfire Smoke? by Kelly Floro Random Hiker Interview: Clumsy QOTD: I say a number, you say the color Triple Crown of recurring dream themes Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/. Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Hailey Buckingham, Liz Seger, Patrick Cianciolo, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger’ Fawns, and Griffin Haywood A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bonnie Ackerman, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Joann Menzer, Katharine Rudzitis, Keith Dobie Jr, Lauren Cain, Luke Netjes, Matthew Kesterson, Merle Watkins, Peter, and Ruth S.
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    2 hrs and 21 mins
  • Zach Hiked the Weminuchoo Choo Loop (and His Biggest Backpacking Blunder Yet)

    Zach Hiked the Weminuchoo Choo Loop (and His Biggest Backpacking Blunder Yet)
    Aug 19 2024
    In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, Zach takes on the role of guest. This episode recaps his recent hike through the Weminuche Wilderness, a 40-mile loop he’s coined the "Weminuchoo Choo Loop." It’s bound to catch on. Zach gives a full overview of the hike, covering the distance, elevation gain, alternate route options, trail highlights, wildlife, and more. He also shares a story about perhaps his biggest backcountry blunder to date—an expensive mistake, and one he had the distinct pleasure of having a witness for. Additionally, Zach discusses some new gear he tested on this trip, including a piece that will forever change his water retrieval system. The episode wraps up with sun protection tips for the backcountry, the triple crown of the easiest items to forget to pack for a backpacking trip, whether it’s acceptable to put ketchup on a hot dog, and a listener’s valuable tips about backpacking Patagonia’s O-Circuit. Zoleo: Use code “BACKPACKERRADIO” for free device activation at zoleo.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code “SNUGGLEBUG” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. [divider] Interview with Zach! Time stamps & Questions 00:05:00 - Reminders: Support us on Patreon for exclusive bonus content and join us in NYC this September 16 for a hiker meetup! 00:09:45 - Introducing Zach 00:10:20 - Overview of Zach’s original plans and adapted plans in the Weminuche 00:13:38 - The train logistics 00:19:32 - What’s the overview of the route? 00:22:10 - Zach’s big blunder 00:28:10 - What was the aftermath of the blunder? 00:31:30 - How did you navigate the remainder of the hike? 00:32:50 - Will you start using paper maps? 00:34:10 - What other blunders occurred? 00:36:24 - Day 1 00:40:45 - Day 2 00:48:00 - Day 3 00:54:04 - What other wildlife did you see? 00:55:09 - How was the water situation? 00:55:32 - Did you need permits? 00:55:45 - Would you hike it with a dog? 00:56:19 - How would you recommend making it longer? 00:57:47 - Elk Park to Needleton on AllTrails 00:58:32 - What gear did you bring? 01:01:24 - What tent did you use? 01:05:30 - What was the weather like? 01:07:14 - You wore a sun hoodie? 01:10:30 - Is it worth flying into Durango rather than Denver if you want to do this hike? 01:12:40 - Kumo Question: If animals could talk, which one would be the most annoying? 01:15:00 - Final thoughts on the Weminuchoo Choo Loop Segments Trek Propaganda: The Essential Gear for Sun Protection on Your Thru-Hike by Ariella Nardizzi QOTD: Ketchup on a hot dog? Triple Crown of easiest things to forget to pack for a backpacking trip Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/. Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg McDaniel, Hailey Buckingham, Liz Seger, Patrick Cianciolo, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger’ Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: 12 Trees Farms, Bonnie Ackerman, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Joann Menzer, Katharine Rudzitis, Keith Dobie Jr, Merle Watkins, Peter, and Ruth S.
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    1 hr and 41 mins
  • Justin Simoni, the Long Ranger, on Creating Ridge Routes and Hiking the Highest Hundred Peaks in Colorado

    Justin Simoni, the Long Ranger, on Creating Ridge Routes and Hiking the Highest Hundred Peaks in Colorado
    Aug 12 2024
    In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Justin Simoni aka the Long Ranger. In addition to established routes like the Tour Divide and Nolan’s 14, Justin also creates his own - he’s traversed the Sangre de Cristo Range, Mosquito and Tenmile Ranges, and from Milner to Berthoud Pass along the divide. And while summiting all of Colorado’s 14,000 ft peaks is an effort in itself, Justin summited the top 100 highest mountains in the state after biking to them from his home in Boulder. We talk about all of the nitty gritty details of taking on these ridgeline routes, why he lives car-free, a detailed measurement of how much weight and water he lost over the course of a grueling day hike, some of his current favorite gear, and more. We wrap the show with an overview of some of the best loop hikes in the United States, what we would telepathically say to all 8 billion people on earth, and the triple crown of things on our bedside table. Zoleo: Use code “BACKPACKERRADIO” for free device activation at zoleo.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code “SNUGGLEBUG” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com. PATH Projects: Use code “THETREK10” for 10% off at pathprojects.com/thetrek. [divider] Interview with Justin Simoni aka the Long Ranger Justin’s WebsiteJustin's InstagramJustin’s Youtube Time stamps & Questions 00:04:50 - Reminders: Mark your calendar for our Brooklyn, NY meetup on September 16, support us on Patreon, check out Chaunce & Elise’s TCT hike on Youtube, and leave us a voicemail! 00:13:10 - Introducing Justin 00:14:10 - Tell us about your water loss experiment 00:19:15 - Have you done other similar studies? 00:20:25 - What was your food intake like during the experiment? 00:22:15 - What is your primary focus in your personal trinity of mountain arts? 00:24:20 - You don’t own a car? 00:26:00 - How did you originally get into the outdoors? 00:28:50 - How many times have you summitted Green Mountain? 00:31:50 - Tell us about the Milner to Berthoud Pass Traverse 00:34:25 - Is it stressful to do high consequence moves while trying to go quickly? 00:35:50 - How does this traverse compare to others that you’ve done? 00:37:40 - Did you notice an uptick in FKTs in 2020? 00:38:31 - What was the most challenging part of the Vanishing Point? 00:41:00 - What instrument do you play? 00:43:00 - What’s your camping setup? 00:43:30 - How do you avoid thunderstorms? 00:47:00 - What does spike your anxiety? 00:48:00 - How do you prevent making careless errors? 00:50:10 - The Mosquito/Ten Mile Range Traverse 00:53:03 - How many scouting trips did you do for the Vanishing Point project? 00:54:12 - Do you get bored while hiking? 00:56:00 - What do you do for work? 00:57:50 - What are your thoughts on sun hoodies? 01:00:25 - How did it feel to be the first person to complete the Vanishing Point project? 01:01:33 - What are the most significant ways you’ve changed after completing projects? 01:03:00 - Do you experience post trail depression? 01:04:30 - What do you do for water on your trips? 01:07:50 - Tell us about the Sangre de Cristo Range Traverse 01:11:15 - What was the technicality like on this traverse? 01:13:44 - How should someone get familiar with class 5 pitches with a heavy pack? 01:17:30 - Have you noticed any drop in fitness as you’ve aged? 01:19:36 - Nolan’s 14 description 01:21:35 - Discussion about sleep apnea and asthma 01:24:00 - Tell us about the Slowlans Traverse 01:27:40 - What is it about the ridge hikes that keep you coming back? 01:29:00 - Discussion about popularity trends 01:30:15 - Tell us about the Mosquito/Ten Mile Range Traverse 01:35:00 - Could someone who doesn’t like exposure find an alternate route? 01:36:10 - Tell us about the Highest Hundred 01:39:44 - How did you logistically tackle this? 01:43:00 - Biking from Boulder to Longs Peak 01:47:45 - Do you feel pressure to keep coming up with new projects? 01:48:30 - Do you see your guides as an act of service? 01:52:00 - Discussion about the Colorado Trail FKT 01:56:00 - Do you have to train to sleep less for an FKT attempt? 01:59:45 - Do you ever plan trips based on the moon cycle? 02:00:20 - Kumo Question: What is the most useless skill you’ve ever learned? Segments Mail Bag Trek Propaganda: 12 Epic Multi-Night Loop Hikes in the US by Kelly Floro Dead Weight: 13 Thru-Hikers Reveal the Gear They Sent Home by Ariella Nardizzi QOTD: If you could telepathically say something to all 7.95 billion people on earth, what would you say? Triple Crown of things in your bedside table Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/. Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and ...
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    2 hrs and 30 mins