Backpacker Radio

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 Triple Crown of Autumn Ahhhhs, talk about how much it costs to pee on Chaunce's face every morning for the rest of her life, a one minute gear review, and we try to determine how much money Chaunce can make by selling foot photos.   Gossamer Gear discount code: Use code: PoopStory for 15% off your entire cart at gossamergear.com.  Backcountry discount code: Use code: Backpacker15 for 15% off your first purchase at backcountry.com/backpackerradio. Greenbelly discount code: Use code: Trek2020 for 10% off your first purc

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-hikers went through this year and how their grief was tied to a loss of identity.  I found the subject matter of today's show super interesting, and I think you will too. We close out the show with a triple crown of trails we have not yet hiked, highlight some standout day hikes in the Salt Lake City area, and give Martin his much deserved 15 seconds of fame. Gossamer Gear discount code: Use code: PoopStory for 15% off your entire cart at gossamergear.com.  Backcountry discount code: Use code: Backpacker15 f

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 counter point on quilts vs. sleeping bags, and our last Backcountry Matchmaking for a hot minute.     \ Greenbelly discount code: Use code: Trek2020 for 10% off sitewide at greenbelly.co. Backcountry.com discount code: Use code: Backpacker15 for 15% off your first purchase at backcountry.com/backpackerradio. [divider] Please fill out this survey if you’d like to help BPR! The Trek's Pledge to Do Better BACKPACKER RADIO MERCH Interview with Mac from Halfway Anywhere HalfwayAnywhere.com @HalfwayAnywhere on Instagram

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 vs closed cell foam sleeping pads, and learn about diarrhea inducing gummy bears.     Greenbelly discount code: Use code: Trek2020 for 10% off sitewide at greenbelly.co. Backcountry discount code: Use code: Backpacker15 for 15% off your first purchase at backcountry.com/backpackerradio. Please fill out this survey if you’d like to help BPR! The Trek's Pledge to Do Better BACKPACKER RADIO MERCH Interview with Delia D'Ambra Find Park Predators wherever you listen to podcasts @DeliaDambraTV on Twitter @del

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, introduce a new segment- point / counter point, a triple crown of summer foods, and once again start to lose our minds at the show's close.  This one is a full boat. \ [divider] Listen Download this episode. [divider] Zpacks discount code:Use code: HEXAMIDBPR for $25 discount at Zpacks.com Greenbelly discount code: Use code: Trek2020 for 10% off sitewide at greenbelly.co. [divider] Apply to be The Trek's Full-Time Content + Marketing Specialist The Trek's Pledge to Do Better BACKPACKER RADIO MERCH Interview with

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, get sucked down a Taco Bell Vortex, announce a new full-time opening at The Trek, and just generally lose our minds toward the end of this episode.  I highly recommend having a PBR handy for this one.     [divider] Listen   Download this episode. [divider] Backcountry.com discount code: Use code: Backpacker15 to save 15% on your first purchase from Backcountry.com/backpackerradio Zpacks discount code:Use code: HEXAMIDBPR for $25 discount at Zpacks.com Greenbelly discount code: Use code: Trek2020 for 10% off

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 has in store for him.  This conversation is both heavy and hilarious, informative and fun; we hope you enjoy it as much as we did. We wrap up the show with the Triple Crown of Summer Wins, we learn what a thunderbox is, a fan indulges my undying love for the 90s Bulls, and we have a Backcountry Matchmaking.  This one has it all.   [divider] Backcountry.com discount code: Use code: Backpacker15 to save 15% on your first purchase from Backcountry.com/backpackerradio Zpacks discount code:Use code: HEXAMIDBPR for $25 di

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 street performer- for which, we got a personal show after the interview. We also talk about the return of AT thru-hikes in 2020 (maybe), we introduce a new segment- Hiker's Horoscopes, and close out the show with another edition of Backcountry Matchmaking.  [divider] Backcountry.com discount code: Use code: Backpacker15 to save 15% on your first purchase from Backcountry.com/backpackerradio Zpacks discount code:Use code: HEXAMIDBPR for $25 discount at Zpacks.com [divider] The Trek's Pledge to Do Better BACKPACKER

Today, we are joined by Doug Laher, the father of Trevor Laher, the hiker who tragically passed near Apache Peak on the Pacific Crest Trail earlier this year. Doug reads his beautiful tribute to Trevor, we talk about what lessons are to be learned from Trevors passing, and what can be done to prevent further tragedy on this dangerous stretch of the PCT. We also chat with Kaitlyn Purington, a volunteer and the PR rep at the Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit, a rescue non-profit based in Riverside County.  She walks us through what the organization does exactly, requirements for getting involved, and some examples of standout rescue missions from the last couple of years. We close out the show with some Trek Propaganda, how to check your bung for deer ticks, and our favorite creature comforts. Backcountry.com discount code: Use code: Backpacker15 to save 15% on your first purchase from Backcountry.com/backpackerradio Zpacks discount code:Use code: HEXAMIDBPR for $25 discount at Zpacks.com [divider] The Tr

Today we are joined by Luke “Strider” Jordan.  Strider has a couple of very impressive treks on his resume including the North Country Trail (NCT), which is more than twice the length of the Appalachian Trail, as well as the 3,100 mile Great Plains Trail (GPT), which runs from Texas to North Dakota.  We also discover the wild world of naked pooping, a fan-submitted poop paradise on the John Muir Trail, and another edition of Backcountry Matchmaking.   [divider] Listen   Download this episode. [divider] The Trek's Pledge to Do Better BACKPACKER RADIO MERCH Interview with Luke Jordan "Strider" Facebook  North Country Trail  Great Plains Trail QOTD: “What is the proper poop dress code?" Hikerlink! Intro Song: Walking Slow by Animal Years Intro beats: Pauly Boy Shallcross Check out Trail Correspondents Check out The Attempt!  [divider] 00:02:00 – Gardening Updates! 00:04:18 – QOTD: What is the proper poop dress code? 00:10:00 – BPR Merch! 00:12:11 – Intro to Strider (Has hiked the North Country Trail

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, we are joined by Sarah Jones Decker, author of the new gorgeous photobook "The Appalachian Trail: Backcountry Shelters, Lean-tos, and Huts".  We learn what goes into a project as massive as doing a photo essay of all of the AT's shelters, Sarah's personal favorites, the history of these structures, which have the best privies, and much more.  Sarah is also the co-owner of Root Bottom Farms, an organic farm based in North Carolina, and we selfishly pick her brain on how to suck less as plants.   We close out the show with a triple crown of things that start with "W", a pupdate, some suggestions for using trail runners on rocky terrain, and another edition of Backcountry Matchmaking.  BACKPACKER RADIO MERCH Interview with Sarah Jones Decker "Harvest"  Website Rottbottom Farm Website AT Shelter Book Instagram QOTD: “Why is it so hard to keep houseplants alive?"  Save 15% at GossamerGear.com by using code "ATDRINK15" at checkout. Save 5% at Zpacks

Today we are joined by Shug Emery.  In addition to being a hammock enthusiast, with almost 100,000 YouTube subscribers, Shug's previous profession was as a circus clown for Barnum and Bailey.  We obviously go way down the traveling circus rabbit hole, and we promise you his stories do not disappoint.  Shug also shares his top tips for beginning hammockers, what his setup looks like, and what goes into making a successful YouTube channel. We close out the show with some Trek propaganda, a triple crown of things we will no longer take for granted, and, another edition of backcountry matchmaking. Interview with Sean "Shug" Emery YouTube: ShugEmery QOTD: “What's the one thing you've learned about yourself during this pandemic?"  Save 15% at GossamerGear.com by using code "ATDRINK15" at checkout. Save 5% at Zpacks.com by using code “THANKSZACH” at checkout. Hikerlink! Intro Song: Walking Slow by Animal Years Intro beats: Pauly Boy Shallcross Check out Trail Correspondents Check out The Attempt!  [divi

In episode 69, we are joined by Will Robinson, AKA Akuna.  Akuna is an army veteran, the first known African-American male to complete the triple crown, and an all around awesome guy.  We talk about his experiences in managing chronic pain, how hiking interfaced with his PTSD, what it's like hiking through rural America as a black man with dreadlocks, and some of the highlights and lowlights of each of his thru-hikes. We also have some listener emails, we learn how people are keeping busy during the apocalypse, and introduce a new segment, Backcountry Matchmaking- our new on-air dating service.  Giggity. Interview with Will "Akuna" Robinson Instagram: @AkunaHikes QOTD: “Do dogs know what other dogs are saying when they bark or because they don’t “learn” a language does it all just sound like babbling? Save 15% at GossamerGear.com by using code "ATDRINK15" at checkout. Hikerlink! Intro Song: Walking Slow by Animal Years Intro beats: Pauly Boy Shallcross Check out Trail Correspondents Check out The Attempt!

Today we are joined by Jean Muenchrath, mountaineer, escaper of death, author, and spiritual being.  Simply put, Jean's story is remarkable.  Jean gives us a play by play of the time she nearly died after catastrophic fall near Mt Whitney in winter conditions.  She walks us through not only this harrowing tale, but the long process to physical, emotional, and spiritual recovery, the subject of her book If I Live Until Morning: A True Story of Adventure, Tragedy and Transformation.   Chaunce and Badger wrap up the show with some listener emails, Poop Stories, and a new segment One Line Movie Reviews.  This is our last in-person podcast until the apocalypse blows over, so please do savor the flavor of this one.  Interview with Jean Muenchrath Her book: If I Live Until Morning: A True Story of Adventure, Tragedy and Transformation  QOTD: What is your least favorite animal? Save 10% at AppalachianGearCompany.com by using code "BACKPACKERRADIO" at checkout. Save 5% at Zpacks.com by using code "THANKSZACH" at

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are once again flipping the script.  This episode is dedicated to all things COVID-19.  We chat with a pair of experts on infectious disease and epidemiology.  Dr. Amesh Adalja is an infectious disease specialist at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security.  And Jagdish Khubchandani is a Professor of Health Science at Ball State University with a PhD in Health Education and Epidemiology.  Both of our experts share their opinion on the latest data surrounding this virus, including the million dollar question of when they think it will be safe to resume our backpacking ways. We also are joined by a pair of 2020 NOBO turned NOGO thru-hikers (and Trek contributors), one from the AT, one from the PCT, to share their experiences of how this pandemic played out from their perspectives.  Taylor Frint had only been on trail for two days before making the decision to get off, while John Mecklin was a few hundred miles into his hike when shi

Backpacker Radio is making good on their promise to get weird.  Today we bring you a drunk Q&A.  Backpacker Radio's new intern, Elise Ott, navigates us through a series of questions, including COVID-19, how we're handling the self-quarantining, a lot of poop related subjects, thru-hiking purism, and much more.  At the top of the show, one of Chaunce's friends gives us the poop story to end all poop stories.  This one is our most feral podcasts to date.  Because that's what you do during an apocalypse.  [divider] Drunk Q&A with  Badger & Chaunce Save 10% at Greenbelly.co by using code "TREK2020" at checkout. Save 15% at Gossamergear.com by using code "ATDRINK15" at checkout. Save 10% at AppalachianGearCompany.com by using code "BACKPACKERRADIO" at checkout. Hikerlink! Intro Song: Walking Slow by Animal Years Intro beats: Pauly Boy Shallcross Check out Trail Correspondents Check out The Attempt! [divider] Drunk Q&A 0:03:52 - Intro, Welcome to BPR (long-distance style)  0:05:00 - Elise Ott Intr

We're joined by Sandi Marra, the president and CEO at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.  As noted in our previous podcast, the news and guidelines around COVID-19 and the trail system has been evolving rapidly.  At the time of the previous recording, the ATC asked people to postpone their thru-hikes.  Since that recording, the ATC has increased the severity of their recommendations- urging people to avoid the Appalachian Trail altogether, even for day hikes. Today's interview will largely center around that subject, including how the ATC arrived to this decision, when Sandi predicts that the trail will be safe to hike and backpack again, amongst many other Coronavirus related questions.  Sandi Marra of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy Why was this decision reached to ask all people to stay off the Appalachian Trail?  Both in the context of backpacking and day hiking. What does she have to say to those who are still on the trail? What guidance does she have for those who want to get off but are hav

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, we are joined by Erik Schlimmer.  Erik might be the hiker's edition of Forest Gump, in that he's somehow squeezed five lifetimes worth of events into his four plus decades on this earth.  If you're a fan of the Adirondack, you are in luck, because Erik is not only one of the most experienced hikers in this region, but also a historian of the range at large.  We also learn all about toponyms, including, what that word means, and he offers some truly fascinating examples.  Erik also shares about his time as a Coach on the show MTV Made, his time as a paratrooper, and his thriving career as a bird catcher.  Prepare to be filled with entertainment and knowledge.  We also dive into the history of peak bagging in the northeast, introduce a new segment- Fox News, learn about ultralight vibrators, how to ask an employer for time off to thru-hike, and wrap it up with a listener poop story.  Also, at the top of the show, Badger offers his two cents on the l

The Cinnamon Connection is joined by ultra running legend, Courtney Dauwalter.  For those who might not be into the ultra-running scene, Courtney is an absolute powerhouse long distance runner, with a young race resume that's hard to fathom, including wins at the Moab 240 (which the 2nd place finisher was more than 10 hours behind her), the Javelina Jundred 100K, Run Rabbit Run 100-mile race *twice*, Western States 100, Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc- referred to as the super bowl of ultramarathons, amongst others.  Courtney is incredibly humble, Chaunce and Badger had to act as her hype team throughout the episode, a blast to chat with, and a fellow Goldenite.  There are some gems in this conversation, including when Chaunce told Courtney her poop story (like a good movie, it's even better the second time), how Courtney sees giraffes and flying eels on trail, that time she went blind, and how she continues to chisel away at her pain cave. Chaunce and Badger wrap up the episode with a triple crown of spring things

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, we are joined by five sixths of the Strawbridge Family.  The Strawbridges successfully thru-hiked the PCT SOBO in 2018 with four kids in tow- ages 11, 13, 14, and 17.  We chat about everything you can dream of regarding hiking as a family, including how they handled school, gear, their pace, everyone's emotional and physical well being, and so on.  Vince and Monica, aka mom and dad, are fact checked by Georgie, Henry, and June, the youngest three of the four kids.  This is a fun interview, Chaunce and I laughed in excess, and hopefully serves as inspiration for young families looking to inject more adventure into their lives. We close out the show with a triple crown of ways to pass time on trail and of course, more listener poop stories.   Save 10% at Greenbelly.co by using code "TREK2020" at checkout. Save 5% at Zpacks.com by using code "THANKSZACH" at checkout. Code expires on 3/31. Hikerlink! Backpacker Radio Internship Application QO