In this episode of the Free Outside podcast, I’m sharing my experience on the Ruby Crest Trail with Airborne, a stunning 74-mile journey through Nevada’s rugged Ruby Mountains. The trail offers incredible views, from jagged peaks to expansive valleys. But it wasn’t all easy—unexpected snowfall added a serious challenge to the hike, making it both more difficult and more memorable.

takeaways

• The Ruby Crest Trail is a beautiful and challenging 74-mile trail in the Wind River Range.
• Hiking the trail involves stunning scenery, including lakes and mountain ranges.
• Unexpected snowfall can occur even in August, so hikers should be prepared for changing weather conditions.
• Jeff also mentions his fantasy football draft and his upcoming race, the Wasatch 100.

Sound Bites

• "Let's just dive into the Ruby Crest Trail because it was pretty awesome."
• "I did not pack enough, but I was going to be okay."
• "We woke up and then in the middle of the night, I'm woken up, waking up? I'm woken, I'm woke waking up."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Setting the Stage

02:23 Hiking the Ruby Crest Trail

14:59 Challenges and Unexpected Snowfall

19:04 Repeating Miles and Recommendations

25:29 Conclusion and Fantasy Football Draft

Ruby Crest Trail, hiking, Wind River Range, scenery, challenges, snowfall, fantasy football draft, Wasatch 100

A listener asked, so I answered. In this episode, I dive into the not-so-glamorous but absolutely essential topic of wag bags—those portable, sanitary bags we use to pack out human waste in the great outdoors. But don’t worry, I add my own humor and opinions to keep it interesting! Wag bags play a crucial role in responsible outdoor adventure, helping to keep our trails clean. I throw in some wag bag jokes, explore their history and evolution, and emphasize the importance of packing out toilet paper. And of course, I wrap things up with a few wag bag puns for good measure. Tune in for a fun and informative discussion that might just change the way you think about your next bathroom break in the wild!

takeaways

• Wag bags are portable, sanitary bags used to pack out human waste when outdoors.
• They are an essential part of responsible outdoor adventure and help keep trails clean.
• Wag bags have evolved over time and are widely used by backpackers, mountaineers, and other outdoor enthusiasts.
• Packing out toilet paper is also important to minimize environmental impact.
• Wag bags are a convenient and environmentally friendly solution for waste management in remote areas.

Sound Bites

• "Give your wag bag a little nod of appreciation. It's working hard to keep nature's call beautiful."
• "Why don't wag bags make good comedians? Because all their jokes are a little down in the dumps."
• "The term wag bag is often associated with waste alleviation and gelling."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Topic Suggestion

02:24 What is a Wag Bag?

05:43 Benefits and Uses of Wag Bags

08:04 Wag Bags and Leave No Trace Principles

10:28 Packing Out Wag Bags: A Responsible Practice

19:26 History and Evolution of Wag Bags

23:39 Packing Out Toilet Paper

27:01 Wag Bag Puns and Conclusion

Sign up for Montana Meltdown: https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?eid=17896

In this podcast episode, I sit down with Aaron Barber to dive into his experiences in trail running and race directing. We chat about the challenges of racing in extreme heat, like the Circle of Hell and the Phoenician 50k, and explore international events like a hundred in the Philippines.

Aaron shares some wild stories, including his unique hallucination experiences during races and the hurdles of racing in a different culture.

Follow Aaron on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/aaron.goes.up/ We also talk about how he got into trail running, his transition from road running and triathlons, and how he made his way into race directing.

Towards the end, we offer tips and advice for anyone looking to break into the trail running industry. We wrap up by discussing the importance of putting runners first and ensuring a positive race experience. I believe trail running will continue to grow, with more competitive races and greater national exposure on the horizon.

takeaways

Aaron Barber shares his experiences in trail running and race directing

He discusses races in extreme heat and international races

Aaron talks about his unique hallucination experiences during races

He explains the challenges of racing in a different culture

Aaron shares how he got into trail running and his transition from road running and triathlons

The episode ends with tips and advice for getting into the trail running industry

Transitioning from one sport to another requires a shift in training mindset and approach.

Volunteering and being involved in the community can lead to opportunities in the outdoor industry.

Race directing involves logistical challenges and the need to prioritize the runner's experience.

Trail running is experiencing growth and may see more competitive races and increased national exposure.

Sound Bites

"The Circle of Hell: A race in Phoenix in July with 110+ degree heat"

"The Phoenician 50k: A brutal race with 11,500 feet of vert in Phoenix"

" A hardcore 100-mile race in the Philippines with 33,000 feet of vert"

"Volunteering, rubbing elbows, saying yes to giving someone a ride back to town. You never know who that's going to be."

"Seeing elites or fast people in general at an aid station is such a huge bonus to runners."

"Everyone shares the same start line and has to run the same route. It's pretty crazy that there's a sport like that."

Chapters

00:00 Racing in Extreme Heat: Circle of Hell and Phoenician 50k

07:10 International Races: in the Philippines

11:55 Hallucination Experiences and Challenges in Trail Running

22:54 Transitioning from Road Running and Triathlons to Trail Running

22:54 Tips and Advice for Getting into the Trail Running Industry

24:49 Transitioning from Triathlon to Trail Running

31:29 Becoming a Race Director

32:57 Dealing with Fires and Route Changes

39:08 Working at Aravipa and the Future of Trail Running Buy Merch to support: https://www.freeoutside.com/shop Buy my book "Free Outside" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39LpoSF Email me to buy a signed copy of my book, "Free Outside" at jeff@freeoutside.com Watch the movie about setting the record on the Colorado Trail: https://tubitv.com/movies/100019916/free-outside Website: www.Freeoutside.com Instagram: thefreeoutside facebook: www.facebook.com/freeoutside

trail running, race directing, extreme heat, international races, hallucinations, challenges, transition, trail running, race directing, outdoor industry, career advice, challenges, putting runners first, growth, aravipa running, mountain outpost