Backpacker Radio

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 and where the idea of attempting FKTs first entered her world, her background in competitive skiing, the most important lesson she's learned when attempting thru-hikes, her incredible artwork, and much more. We wrap the show with a series of Elise-centric segments (as she's sitting in for Chaunce today), including how she's preparing, what gear she's using, how she's budgeting for the CDT, and much more.  We also chat about some 4-6 day backpacking trips in the West to put on your bucket list, how thru-hiking has cha