Backpacker Radio

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Jabba and Lt Cookoo for another BPR classic. This one, in expected fashion, is all over the map. We start by getting a brief update of what Cookoo has been up to since his last appearance on the show followed by a more detailed update from Jabba, primarily about a once-in-a-lifetime bikepacking trip through Iceland, a trip that nearly robbed his soul in the best and worst way possible. We then dive into a QA format, including the top advice they'd give to themselves before their first backpacking trip, their favorite treks that take one month or less, the best stories from the trails they've hiked together, the inevitable point at which they butt heads and much more. The boys stick around for segments, which is also predictably weird. We provide our wiping techniques in alarming detail, the triple crown of things a dentist can say but not a gynecologist, and Viking gives Chaunce wedding advice.  Top

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to by LMNT, we are breaking down our recent hike of the Northville Placid Trail. Chaunce, Elise, and yours truly recently set out south from Lake Placid to trek as much of the trail as we could in a 5-day period. Spoiler alert- I was forced off trail first, Chaunce did the full thing, Elise split the difference between the two of us. We give you a day by day breakdown of our trek, including a not so fun first day, a family fight on day two featuring a midday meltdown, our favorite moments from the trail (like an epic campsite off Long Lake) and much more. We also give you the rough and dirty on the NPT, including the distance, elevation gain, resupply options, terrain, water, etc yatta yatta. We wrap the show with the triple crown of John Travolta movies, whether we'd prefer the perfect stick or the perfect rock, and a one-minute gear review! LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. Gossamer Gear: Use code “SNUGGLE

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by James Appleton. James is a walking encyclopedia on all things Adirondacks, hosting a podcast dedicated to the park, having authored a book about its lore, and he serves as a hiking guide throughout the region. James gives us the rundown on these rugged 46ers, including superlatives like his favorite, the most underrated, the most overrated, and the best for beginners. He also provides a primer on the Northville-Placid Trail, shares the best and worst times to experience the park, and offers an overview of the Lake Placid 9’er, a challenge he created. James also gives us the lowdown of how awkward it is to be on a film set during a sex scene.  We wrap up the show with the news of Hurricane Helene's historic destruction throughout the southern Appalachias, and how people can contribute to the relief and recovery efforts, the triple crown of commercials (including how our editor's dad is the commercial GOAT), w

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Jen Jacobsson-Melo & Livio Melo, co-founders of Allmansright, an ultralight gear company located in the Bronx. We learn all about their humble beginnings, including when Allmansright's gear was made in the corner of their 500-square-foot apartment, how a serendipitous run in with a fellow backpacker in Colorado's backcountry led to their first pre-order, how they've scaled up their operation, what it's like running a gear shop in the Bronx, where they draw inspiration for their designs, other small cottage brands doing interesting and good work from around the world, and much more.  We wrap the show with what the contents of our body and blood would be, the triple crown of the worst places to have raging diarrhea, and some teasers from our Northville Placid Trail Hike. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. Gossamer Gear: Use code “SNUGGLEBUG” for 20% off shelters at gossamerge

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.  Kat

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:

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

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”

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 “BP

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. 

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 zol

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 d

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, Chaunce and Elise give us a thorough rundown on their recent trek of the Teton Crest Trail. We learn all the requisite facts about this trail, including length, landscape highlights, permitting, travel, wildlife, the best campsites, water availability and more. We also get a play by play of some of the best stories from the duo's hike, including a misfortunate start to the journey, Elise's serendipitous reunion with a Wyoming dive bar, how Chaunce managed her extreme grizzly anxiety, running into a former guest of the podcast on trail, crowd surfing at a concert, and more. We wrap the show with a triple crown of PCT sections you'd take someone you hate, how we'd blow a million dollars in 24 hours, and The 1800-Mile Australian Triple Crown. Gossamer Gear: Use code “SNUGGLEBUG” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com.  Sambob: Use code “BACKPACKER15” for 15% off at sambob.biz. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. [divi

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Stuart Howe. Stu is an avid backpacker of remote and rugged Canadian treks, the proprietor of a Youtube Channel dedicated to documenting the backpacking trips he’s done with his identical twin daughters, and the nicest guy you’ve ever met! We learn all about how his entry into backpacking was spearheaded by his girls, the best trails he’s done across Canada and the US, how he likely encountered an aggressively grizzly bear that later tragically killed a couple and their dog, and his organization, which aims to expand safe access into the Canadian backcountry. We wrap the show with news of a missing thru-hiker on the PCT, the best outdoor temperature, the triple crown of worst TV characters, and how Chaunce's random act of kindness is giving her internet street cred. Gossamer Gear: Use code “SNUGGLEBUG” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com.  Sambob: Use code “BACKPACKER15” for 15% off at sambob.biz. [divider] Interview with Stua

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Dr. Courtney Conley. Dr. Conley is an internationally renowned foot and gait specialist, founder and creator of Gait Happens, and chiropractic physician who specializes in foot and gait mechanics. We chat all things related to foot health related to long-distance backpacking, including what to look for in footwear and what characteristics to avoid, how to best prepare your feet for a successful hike, and preventing and treating common foot injuries- including unconventional exercises to help you accomplish this. In a nutshell, Dr. Conley is a foot wizard and you will learn a great deal about setting your feet up for success on trail. We wrap the show with backpacking items to ditch to lower your base weight, what vegetable we would be, the triple crown of things that are true, but we're not buying it, and a one-minute gear review of a trail runner that's been gaining a lot of traction in the world of thru-hiking. Gossamer Gear: Use

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Helinox, we are joined by Mary "Badass" Anderson. Never has a trail name been more fitting, Mary is the most badass hiker you've likely never heard of. With nearly 19,000 miles under her feet spanning six decades, with her first thru-hike taking place in 1981, Mary has not slowed down with her adventurous ways, as she swung by the studio on her to the Pacific Northwest Trail. Some of the highlights from today's interview include a wild winter SOBO thru-hike of the AT in 1985, just a handful of months after a major back surgery where her doctor told her to give up hiking. She followed her AT SOBO winter hike by immediately hopping over to the PCT, where she battled even more snow, and killed and ate a rattlesnake. Other feats include hiking all of the 4,000 footers in New England with her young son in the 90s, completing the CDT after hitting a new low in 2020, and now she's on a quest to finish all of the National Scenic Trails, w

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Helinox, we are joined by Adam Cramer, the founding Executive Director and CEO of Outdoor Alliance, a national coalition of outdoor recreation advocacy groups revitalizing the conservation movement with modern organizing and digital engagement. We learn all about this organization, the work they've done, the conservation movement at large, some interesting data from their recent wildfire report, and much more. We wrap the show with news of a new feature from iOS 18 which could be a gamechanger for backpackers, the proper ratio of water to corpses, and the triple Crown of AT trail sections you’d take someone you hate. Helinox: Use code “BACKPACKER20” for 20% off at helinox.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code “SNUGGLEBUG” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com.  Backpacker’s Pantry: Use code “THETREK” for 20% off at backpackerspantry.com. [divider] Interview with Adam Cramer Take action for the EXPLORE Act Sign up for action alerts Outd

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, brought to you by Helinox we are joined by John Mackey. On trail he's known as "Strider", off trail he's known as the co-founder and former CEO of Whole Foods. In addition to being a world-class entrepreneur, Mackey is also a backpacking enthusiast, having hike the AT, PCT, Colorado Trail, and many trails abroad including hikes in the Alps, Patagonia, and more. This is a fun, informative, and wide ranging chat that covers his thru-hike on the AT while being the active Whole Foods CEO, how he saved Gossamer Gear from near extinction, his fascination with UL gear, including his own 6.5 lb base weight, how his love for fantasy novels spilled into his own creative endeavor at the AT's shelter logs, his favorite vegan trail snacks, and much more. We also dive into some non-backpacking talk, including how to build a successful and healthy company culture, his take on labor unions, how psychedelics played a pivotal role in his life, and we learn all abou

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by dermatologist, and my old pal, Dr. Katie Manno. This is a chat I’ve been wanting to highlight on this podcast for years now, and it lived up to my lofty expectations. Dr. Manno gives us a thorough runthrough on all things skin health related and how it pertains to extended time in the outdoors, including why sun protection is so important, the difference between chemical and mineral sunscreens and which is better for the trail, how much and what SPF sunscreen hikers should use, the safety profile of chemical sunscreens and what chemicals specifically to avoid, sun protective clothing and the science behind UPF ratings, vitamin D considerations when using sunscreen and/or sun clothing, what supplements and skin care products she recommends to optimize skin health, and much more. Needless to say, you will come away from this chat smarter than you entered it.  We wrap the show with why one former guest always uses a bear canister when

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Sawyer Products, we are joined by Katie “Oats” Houston. Oats is a solo thru-hiker, who’s completed the AT, Colorado Trail, Lone Star Trail, and most importantly for today’s recording, the 330-mile Appalachian High Route. We dive deep into the Appalachian High Route’s details, including the standout sections, resupply strategy, the best months to hike it, standout stops in Asheville (where Katie is from), and much more. Katie also shares some tips for breaking out as a freelancer in the outdoor industry, which is especially relevant, as she is also a contributor for The Trek and formerly the head of our social media. We wrap the show by teasing our next live podcast- hint, it’s not in Denver, Badger has a hilarious and misfortunate wild animal encounter at my house, the triple crown of conversations you don’t get to on trail, and a listener voicemail / tick PSA. Sawyer Products: Check out Sawyer’s Permethrin Pump at REI. Gossamer G