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In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are bringing back another edition of Q&A. Today we’re joined by our pal and chronic thru-hiker and adventurer, Steven “Twinkle” Shattuck to answer your burning trail-related questions. Today’s episode covers a wide range of topics, including the feasibility and necessity of carrying a gun while backpacking, the dangers of “crush it syndrome” in light of Christopher Roma’s recent tragic passing, Twinkle's top trails from around the world, the most overrated piece of gear, how we prevent blisters, and much more. Simply put, if you like your Qs being A’d, you have stumbled upon the right episode. We wrap the show with the top sleeping bags, quilts, and pads from the AT last year, the top home theft suggestions to mildly inconvenience your victim, and the triple crown of foods that are way better or worse when homemade. Jenna Davis: Email jenna@firstsummitrealty.com or call 303-946-9476 to get a free consultation. Gossamer Gear: Use code “DINGLEBERRY” for 20% off packs at gossamergear.com.  Ka’Chava: Get 10% off at kachava.com/backpacker. [divider] Panel with Steven “Twinkle” Shattuck Twinkle's Instagram Backpacker Radio Episode #6: Steven “Twinkle” Shattuck on Dirt-Bagging for a Year, The Best Headlamps for Thru-Hiking, and Curing Anxiety on Trail Backpacker Radio 61 | Grace and Steven “Twinkle” Shattuck on Their 15 Month Dirtbagging Adventure Time stamps & Questions 00:02:50 - Bid on our Tyvek wall until February 29, apply to be a blogger, and support us on Patreon! 00:05:22 - Introducing Twinkle 00:08:30 - Crush It Syndrome - check out Skurka’s article, Christopher Roma: Learning to turn back 00:28:17 - Backpacking with a gun 00:53:45 - Twinkle’s top 3 trail recommendations in the world 00:57:11 - Twinkle’s favorite international hikes 01:00:40 - What’s the most overrated piece of gear? 01:14:53 - How do you stay safe from ticks while outside? How much do you worry about them? (Check out episode 200 to learn more about Lyme disease) 01:22:50 - If you had to do a medium length trail (100-500 miles) this year, which one would it be? (Check out Eloise Robbin’s article, The Best Time of Year to Hike These 23 Popular Long Trails and Swami’s website, The Hiking Life) 01:29:51 - As a future dad, how do you instill both an interest and a respect for nature in young kids? (Check out episode 152 to hear Nancy East discuss this topic) 01:37:48 - What is your daily routine for foot care to prevent blisters while doing big miles? 01:42:30 - Can you tell us about your most emotionally draining experience on trail? 01:52:11 - What brand of instant coffee will help you poop the best? 01:53:58 - How does someone get into canyoneering? Where do you begin? 01:55:56 - What is the best 311 song or album? Segments Trek Propaganda: The Top Sleeping Bags, Quilts, and Pads on the Appalachian Trail: 2023 Thru-Hiker Survey by Kate Richard  QOTD: You’re a burglar but you can only steal things that mildly inconvenience your victims. What are you taking? Triple Crown of foods that are way better or worse when homemade Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @paulyboyshallcross. 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 & Misty with Navigators Crafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, D

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek we are joined by Kevin Koski, known on trail as “The Animal.” Kevin is the man behind the Four Corners Loop, a new 2,300 mile route circling the four corners region across Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. We learn all about this route and Kevin’s hike, including how he mapped it, his favorite stretches of trail, his favorite towns- which he saw as a standout feature of the trek, some very entertaining stories, and Kevin’s vision for this one day becoming a national scenic trail. Kevin is an engaging storyteller, you think you’ll really enjoy this one. We wrap the show by teasing some news about a live podcast we’ll be putting on in Denver this spring, words we think would make pretty baby names if not for the meaning already attached to it, the triple crown of tips to improve sleep on trail, and a new cinnamon court on whether a listeners method of cleaning their hands with spitwater is sanitary. Ka’Chava: Get 10% off at kachava.com/backpacker. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. Gossamer Gear: Use code “DINGLEBERRY” for 20% off packs at gossamergear.com.  [divider] Interview with Kevin “the Animal” Koski Four Corners Loop Association Website Four Corners Loop Instagram Time stamps & Questions 00:04:17 - Reminders: Live podcast in Denver is in the works, the hair wall launches TODAY, get exclusive content on Patreon, and sign up for BPR’s email list to get a free sticker! 00:08:04 - Introducing Kevin 00:10:27 - What’s your background in the outdoors? 00:14:26 - Tell us about your CDT hike in 2004 00:17:06 - What’s the story behind your trail name? 00:18:51 - What’s the most luxurious thing in your pack? 00:20:04 - What was the CDT like in 2004? 00:23:20 - What accounted for the big gap between the CDT and PCT? 00:26:08 - Tell us what made the PCT a “walking party”? 00:29:25 - How did you transition from the main trails to doing more isolated ones? 00:32:42 - How did you plan the specific Four Corners Loop route? 00:37:40 - Did you plan it to be a trail others could replicate? 00:39:30 - Tell us more details about the route 00:44:40 - Discussion about the Arizona portion of the route 00:46:00 - Discussion about the Utah portion of the route 00:48:30 - Discussion about the trail magic along the route 00:51:18 - What was the typical length of your water carries? 00:54:00 - Continuation of the Utah portion of the route 00:58:58 - Discussion about resupplies and pacing along the route 01:02:20 - Discussion about hiking into Colorado 01:05:10 - Story about almost falling off a cliff and rerouting the trail 01:06:30 - Discussion about the Colorado portion of the route 01:10:50 - Discussion about hiking from Salida to New Mexico 01:14:04 - How much of the trail was road walking? 01:14:30 - Discussion about the New Mexico portion of the route 01:17:33 - What was your typical water source in the dry sections? 01:20:17 - What’s the optimal weather window for this trail? 01:22:15 - Discussion about cell service along the route 01:23:20 - What was your favorite trail town in each state? 01:24:16 - Is the route well outlined enough for someone else to follow? 01:25:44 - What are some of your standout stories from hiking? 01:29:03 - What one week stretch of this trail would you relive or eliminate? 01:32:10 - Do you have tips for someone getting into route finding? 01:33:30 - How much of this route is on no trail at all? 01:34:24 - Tell us your best poop story 01:35:41 - Where can people go to keep up with you? Segments Trek Propaganda: Top Tents and Shelters on the Appalachian Trail: 2023 Thru-Hiker Survey by Kate Richard QOTD: Which word do you think would make a pretty baby name if it didn’t mean what it meant? Triple Crown of things that improve your sleep on trail Cinnamon Court 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @paulyboyshall

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are once again loving love. That's right, it's the 4th edition of our Valentine's Day-themed show. Today we catch up with Wesley and Marie Black, known on trail as Yeti Legs and Basecamp. Less than two years after meeting, they were not only married but together taking on a thru-hike of the PCT. Wesley and Marie pull no punches in sharing the nitty-gritty of making a relationship work during a thru-hike and are especially candid about their on-trail sex life including their hygiene practices, foreplay, what they use for lubrication, best positions in a tent, and more. This one is entertaining, enlightening, and slightly erotic. Strap in. We wrap the show with what we would do if we could be our significant other for a day, the triple crown of petty fights we have with our partners, Marie shares a plastic melting shit story, and Chaunce has a very dumb stupid thing of the week. Ka’Chava: Get 10% off at kachava.com/backpacker. Gossamer Gear: Use code “DINGLEBERRY” for 20% off packs at gossamergear.com.  [divider] Interview with Wes & Marie Wes & Marie's Instagram Wes & Marie's Linktree Time stamps & Questions 00:04:55 - Reminders: Last call to apply for the BPR internship, Tyvek wall goes on sale next week, and the Badger Sponsorship launched today! 00:09:35 - Introducing Wes & Marie 00:11:40 - Story of how Wes & Marie met 00:14:30 - When did you get engaged? 00:19:42 - Did you have any concerns about getting engaged so quickly? 00:24:00 - Did you have any doubts in the first six months? 00:26:01 - Do you have baby fever? 00:28:53 - What led to deciding to thru-hike together? 00:32:05 - What outdoor experience did you have before meeting each other? 00:35:30 - How did you transition from running to hiking? 00:38:16 - When did you realize you had a lot of heavy gear? 00:40:30 - What was it like hiking in a high snow year? 00:43:28 - How did your mileage change between the desert and the Sierras? 00:44:50 - What did you learn about each other on the PCT you didn’t know before? 00:50:40 - How did you handle the time stress? 00:56:20 - Tell us about your career in film 01:01:25 - What were your best fights on trail? 01:13:20 - What other tips do you have for couples on trail? 01:15:12 - What’s your sex life like on trail? 01:18:32 - What are your tips for having great sex on trail? 01:24:27 - Did you bring any toys? 01:26:00 - Why didn’t you have sex during the day? 01:27:23 - Did you take any of your PCT lessons into the Tour du Mont Blanc or the CT? 01:29:24 - Raise the shoe game! 01:47:44 - Tell us about the Colorado Trail hike 01:52:50 - F**k Marry Kill: PCT, TMB, CT 01:54:40 - Will you share one of your favorite hidden gem hikes? 01:56:11 - Tell us about your podcast 01:58:35 - Tell us about how you met Dirt Diva Segments Trek Propaganda: The Ultimate Guide to Thru-Hiking Electronics by Alex “GPS” Brown QOTD: If you could wake up and be your significant other for a day, what would you do that day? Stupid Thing of the Week Triple Crown of petty fights you have with your partner Gross or Not Gross Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @paulyboyshallcross. 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 & Misty with Navigators Crafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, Eric Casp

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Bailey “PseudoSloth” Bremner. In addition to hikes of the CDT, Great Divide Trail, Pinhoti, and Benton Mackaye, we do a deep dive on a pair of custom routes that Bailey mapped out herself. The Columbine Route, which crosses the full length of Colorado, and another custom route extending all the way from Canada to Mexico, both of which she completed with her two dogs by her side. We learn all about the specifics of these routes, the tools and strategies she used to design them, the various geographical high and lowlights, her favorite stories from these hikes, and how she manages this unconventional style of trekking alongside her pair of pups. We wrap the show with a follow-up on the technical glitches iPhone users experienced with FarOut's app this year, the number of owls we'd have to see in a day before we knew something was wrong, and the triple crown of words we will never be able to spell correctly. Ka’Chava: Get 10% off at kachava.com/backpacker. Gossamer Gear: Use code “DINGLEBERRY” for 20% off packs at gossamergear.com.  LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. [divider] Interview with Bailey “PseudoSloth” Bremner Bailey's Instagram Bailey's Youtube Time stamps & Questions 00:03:50 - Reminders: Apply to be a BPR intern or a Trek blogger! 00:06:40 - Introducing Bailey 00:09:20 - What’s your background? 00:10:42 - Tell us about your dogs! 00:12:11 - How important is cleaning their teeth? 00:13:07 - How do you accommodate your hiking for your smaller dog? 00:15:05 - What does your daily mileage look like? 00:17:40 - What do you do for their feet during your hikes? 00:19:14 - What changes did you make to your dogs’ gear and food? 00:23:05 - How much weight are you typically carrying? 00:25:43 - What type of treats and toys do you bring for the dogs? 00:28:00 - Tell us your trail resume 00:29:22 - How did you decide to hike the Great Divide Trail after the Colorado Trail? 00:31:27 - Can you give us a brief overview of the Great Divide Trail? 00:33:18 - Did you have any points where you felt in over your head? 00:36:15 - What do you like about less conventional hikes? 00:39:04 - What advice does an orienteering class include? 00:41:52 - Discussion about creating routes using Gaia 00:42:52 - Tell us about hiking your custom 750-mile loop 00:48:15 - How did you come up with the Columbine Route’s name? 00:49:08 - What takeaways from your first custom route did you bring to the Columbine Route? 00:50:20 - How do your dogs handle blowdowns? 00:51:16 - Give us an overview of the Columbine Route 00:57:30 - How much of the trail is trail, roads, or bushwacking? 01:00:41 - Have you thought about tweaking the route at all? 01:02:24 - Do the dogs get any special town treats? 01:03:08 - Any parting thoughts about the Columbine Route and general route finding? 01:05:00 - What section of the Columbine Route would you want to relive? 01:08:12 - Discussion about pace and timing 01:11:54 - Tell us about the inspiration and planning for your custom Mexico to Canada route 01:17:22 - What percent of the route was on road? 01:19:25 - Do you have any scary road stories? 01:20:35 - Did you do the Arizona Trail besides the Grand Canyon section? 01:23:39 - Do you have any good wildlife or spooky stories? 01:27:35 - Tell us the bat story! 01:33:04 - Any other standout stories? Segments Trek Propaganda How FarOut’s 2023 Glitches Highlight the Drawbacks of Backcountry Tech Reliance by Maggie Slepian The Top Footwear on the Appalachian Trail: 2023 Thru-Hiker Survey by Kate Richard QOTD: How many owls would you have to see in a singular day before you knew something was wrong? Triple Crown of words you will never be able to spell correctly Mail Bag 5 Star [divider] Check out our sound guy @paulyboyshallcross. Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by David “Moondog” Roop. Moondog, alongside his buddy, has done the Natchez Trace Trail, Florida Trail, and 500 miles through New Mexico, not on foot, but instead on skateboard which he refers to as a thru-skate. We learn all about what goes into such a unique adventure, including how his gear differs relative to traditional backpacking, what terrain is skateboardable and what isn’t, how sore his push muscles get over the course of a full day of skateboarding, and more. We wrap the show with the first edition of the 2023 AT thru-hiker survey results, the weirdest things we’ve brought home after a night out, and our triple crown of campaign promises. Sawyer Products: Check out Sawyer’s Permethrin Pump at REI. Gossamer Gear: Use code “DINGLEBERRY” for 20% off backpacks at gossamergear.com. Ka’Chava: Get 10% off at kachava.com/backpacker. [divider] Interview with David “Moondog” Roop Moondog's Instagram Time stamps & Questions 00:03:01 - Reminders: Subscribe to the Trek’s newsletter to hear when the Tyvek wall is available, subscribe to us on YouTube, and apply to be a 2024 blogger! 00:05:35 - Introducing Moondog 00:06:00 - Tell us about Madrid, NM 00:09:21 - How did you get your trail name? 00:11:18 - How does thru-skating work? 00:16:00 - How many miles can you normally skate in a day? 00:16:44 - What was your backpacking experience prior to starting skateboarding? 00:17:50 - What muscles get sore after a full day of skateboarding? 00:19:06 - Do you factor in the weight of the board? 00:21:00 - How hard was the learning curve? 00:22:06 - How much of the trail do you need to skate to consider it a thru-skate? 00:24:38 - Tell us some wipeout stories 00:27:08 - Do wipeouts make you consider more what you wear? 00:29:20 - Compare and contrast the Florida Trail and the Natchez Trace 00:32:00 - Discussion about skating effort and strategy 00:34:03 - How was your experience doing a full trail end to end? 00:36:00 - Discussion about wildlife on the Florida Trail 00:37:05 - Do you ever have gear malfunctions with the skateboard? 00:38:23 - Discussion about ultra skating 00:40:10 - Are there any interesting things skaters do that hikers don’t? 00:42:13 - Tell us about your New Mexico thru-skate 00:45:12 - What portion was hiking versus skating? 00:46:50 - What’s a standout moment you’ve had while thru-skating? 00:49:30 - How did you land on the Natchez Trace Trail? 00:51:12 - What’s the best time of year to do it? 00:52:22 - Have you considered using a mountain board to do something more rugged? 00:53:20 - How do you protect your board? 00:55:00 - How would you design your dream board? 00:55:45 - What did you do in Puerto Rico? 00:57:26 - What thru-skates are on your bucket list? Segments Trek Propaganda: The 2023 Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker Survey: General Information Part 1 by Kate Richard QOTD: What’s the weirdest thing you’ve brought home on a night out? Triple Crown of our presidential campaign promises Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @paulyboyshallcross. 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 & Misty with Navigators Crafting, 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, Greg Knight, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to h

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by someone you are likely already following on Instagram, Matt Lyons known on trail as "Schmutz". Schmutz is a thru-hiker, social media comedian and celebrity. He gives us an overview on his process for making short comedic skits, how life has changed during his rise to fame, and all that's gone into growing his Instagram and TikTok to nearly a half million followers. We also learn about Matt's backpacking journey, including the time he had to tearfully chase a fellow thru-hiker who was carrying his tent in the wrong direction. Schmutz also gives us a preview of his forthcoming documentary about southbound thru-hiking the PCT. We wrap the show opining on why there aren't wild chickens, the triple crown of things that have made us question our own IQs, and some details about how you can get your hands on Backpacker Radio's infamous hair wall. Sawyer Products: Check out Sawyer’s Permethrin Pump at REI. Gossamer Gear: Use code “TAKELESSTREKMORE” for 15% off at gossamergear.com.  Ka’Chava: Get 10% off at kachava.com/backpacker. Badger + Chaunce Signed Book Package: Use code “LITTLEDONKEYGIRL” for $5 off and get a BPR sticker at store.thetrek.co. [divider] Interview with Matt “Schmutz” Lyons Matt's Instagram Matt's Merch Time stamps & Questions 00:03:48 - Reminders: Support us on Patreon for bonus content, subscribe to the Trek’s newsletter to hear when the Tyvek wall is available, and apply to be a 2024 blogger! 00:06:45 - Introducing Matt 00:07:35 - How long do you spend planning out the names in your videos? 00:09:20 - Do you have a background in comedy? 00:11:33 - Have you been told your voice is good for audio? 00:12:38 - Does your girlfriend think you’re funny? 00:14:32 - What’s your background in the outdoors? 00:16:30 - How many of your videos involve making fun of yourself? 00:19:26 - Have you ever made too much fun of a group or activity? 00:23:48 - How would you describe your skits? 00:25:55 - Was there a turning point when your comedy became more professional? 00:27:20 - What’s it like to make social content while teaching middle schoolers? 00:32:54 - Tell us the story of you forgetting your tent in Stehekin 00:37:30 - Tell us about getting a boat hitch 00:39:30 - Tell us about starting the AT in 2019 00:42:36 - Would you describe yourself as an extrovert? 00:44:00 - What were your biggest fuckups and standout stories on the AT? 00:47:17 - How did you get your trail name? 00:50:08 - What’s your most embarrassing moment from trail? 00:51:01 - What years did you hike the PCT? 00:53:25 - What was your social experience like on the PCT? 00:57:30 - What was your motivation for thru-hiking? 00:58:20 - Have you ever shit your pants? 01:00:40 - Discussion about Schmutz’s diet off and on trail 01:02:40 - What are some other firm beliefs you have? 01:03:35 - Have you built up your dream gear? 01:07:18 - Do you have a next trail on the bucket list? 01:08:20 - Tell us about the documentary 01:13:20 - Will the documentary be comedic? 01:15:14 - Is it hard to pass off footage to other people? 01:17:20 - How did you manage your knee? 01:19:10 - Tell us about Frontcountry Apparel 01:21:00 - Which videos did better than you expected? 01:23:05 - Are thru-hiking videos too niche for your audience now? 01:25:00 - Discussion about Matt’s video making process 01:29:01 - How often do people recognize you? 01:30:27 - How do you handle working with brands? Segments Trek Propaganda: How Fast is too Fast? 6 Lessons from a Sub-80 Day Thru-Hike by Isabel Koran QOTD: Why aren’t there wild chickens? Triple Crown of things that have made you question your own IQ Mail Bag [divider] Check out our sound guy @paulyboyshallcross. 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 Pat

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by the very highly requested Kyle O'Grady, known in the world of YouTube as Kyle Hates Hiking. Kyle is an experienced backpacker, having hiked the Long Trail, Appalachian Trail, Northville Placid Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Ouachita Trail, amongst many others. In addition to learning about his many trail tales, we dive deep into his passion for video creation especially on the subjects of true crime and trail mysteries. From humble beginnings as a Writer for AppalachianTrials.com to having more than 300,000 subscribers on YouTube, this is an entertaining detailing of Kyle's rise in the world of backpacking media. We wrap the show with some details about the impending sale of Backpacker Radio's famous hair wall, what we would do with an elephant, and the triple crown of social media hiking stereotypes. Ka’Chava: Get 10% off at kachava.com/backpacker. Appalachian Gear Company: Use code “BPRADIO20” for 20% off at appalachiangearcompany.com. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. Gossamer Gear: Use code “TAKELESSTREKMORE” for 15% off at gossamergear.com.  Feathered Friends: Use code “BACKPACKER” for 10% off at featheredfriends.com. Badger + Chaunce Signed Book Package: Use code “LITTLEDONKEYGIRL” for $5 off and get a BPR sticker at store.thetrek.co. [divider] Interview with Kyle O’Grady Kyle's Instagram Kyle's Youtube Trail Tales Podcast Time stamps & Questions 00:05:14 - Reminders: Support our editor, Pauly, and his coffee roastery, subscribe to the Trek’s newsletter, and apply to be a Trek blogger! 00:08:50 - Introducing Kyle 00:11:10 - Discussion about Kyle writing for Appalachian Trials 00:14:20 - Do people know you more from podcasting or Youtube? 00:15:15 - Give us a rundown on your Youtube 00:18:00 - What’s the process of writing and recording a trail mystery? 00:22:35 - How did you decide to pursue trail mystery stories? 00:26:00 - Give us the overview of the Scott Lilly story 00:27:51 - Give us the overview of the Bismarck story 00:32:00 - Discussion about the perception of the trail as dangerous 00:35:35 - Fuck Marry Kill: True crime, gear breakdowns, general thru-hiking advice 00:37:57 - Discussion about clickbait 00:40:02 - How do you decide how to portray your videos? 00:41:30 - Are you a gear nerd? 00:44:11 - Where do you get your footage? 00:45:45 - What sort of marketing education do you have? 00:49:48 - How do you maintain motivation despite negative comments? 00:52:37 - How did you transition to full time? 00:56:40 - Do you get anxious when a video doesn’t do as well as you expected? 00:59:08 - How much of a video’s success is due to the content versus the algorithm? 01:03:40 - Tell us about your podcast titles 01:06:45 - Discussion about asking AI questions about thru-hiking 01:08:50 - What’s the origin of the name Kyle Hates Hiking? 01:15:40 - What’s the latest thru-hiking social media gossip? 01:19:52 - Are you doing a lot of hiking in Hawaii? 01:23:57 - What’s your hot take about tramilies? 01:26:04 - Why should someone hike the Northville Placid Trail? 01:30:00 - Discussion about the Lone Star Trail 01:33:38 - Tell us about your podcast 01:36:07 - What are the primary differences between making a good video versus a good podcast? 01:41:26 - Story about Zach and Kyle’s near miss interaction 01:50:55 - Story about a bad fan interaction 01:55:25 - What’s the hiker scene like in Burlington? 01:58:00 - Is there an underrated Long Trail mystery? 02:06:20 - Discussion about Kyle writing for the Trek 02:08:30 - What’s next for you? Segments Trek Propaganda: The Best Thru-Hiking Tents of 2024 by the Editors QOTD: You’ve been given an elephant. You can’t give it away or sell it. What would you do with the elephant? Triple Crown of social media hiking stereotypes 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound gu

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Nicole “ShotGun” Kulovitz. Nicole only recently began long distance backpacking, but in just the last few years, has thru-hiked the CDT, Arizona Trail, Florida Trail, Hayduke, Pacific Northwest Trail, Oregon Desert Trail, Grand Enchantment Trail, Long Trail, Timberline Trail, Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail, and the Low to High Trail. In other words, she somehow has packed a lifetime of miles into a four year span. We learn all about her instant infatuation with backpacking, learning lessons from a failed thru-hike attempt, how she financially is able to make long distance backpacking a lifestyle, her experiences as a wildland firefighter, some epic stories of degeneracy, and more. This is a fun chat, good news for the sort of person who’s into fun. We wrap the show with some standout winter thru-hikes for those who hate snow, our go-to Taco Bell orders, a triple crown of undesirable camp chores, and a fun pee story courtesy of a listener. Appalachian Gear Company: Use code “BPRADIO20” for 20% off at appalachiangearcompany.com. Sawyer Products: Check out Sawyer’s Permethrin Pump at REI. Feathered Friends: Use code “BACKPACKER” for 10% off at featheredfriends.com. Ka’Chava: Get 10% off at kachava.com/backpacker. Gossamer Gear: Use code “TAKELESSTREKMORE” for 15% off at gossamergear.com.  [divider] Interview with Nicole “ShotGun” Kulovitz Nicole's Instagram Time stamps & Questions 00:07:12 - Reminders: Apply to be a blogger or a BPR intern and support us on Patreon for exclusive content! 00:12:20 - Introducing Nicole 00:15:09 - What’s your trail name origin story? 00:18:07 - Tell us about being a wildland firefighter 00:21:57 - How does the end of a day as a firefighter compare to the end of a day hiking? 00:23:05 - How did you become a wildland firefighter? 00:25:33 - Discussion about firefighting tasks, housing, and scheduling 00:29:04 - Is there a high burnout rate for firefighters? 00:31:49 - Do you look at trees differently now? 00:33:17 - How is the pay and what is your cost of living like? 00:38:40 - At what point did backpacking become your lifestyle? 00:41:27 - Tell us about hiking the PCT in a high snow year 00:47:30 - What’s the drama in Kennedy Meadows? 00:51:14 - Which portion of the trail did you hike last year? 00:51:35 - Why do you hate California? 00:53:08 - Take us from there to your first successful thru-hike 00:58:16 - How did you transition from the desert trails to the Long Trail? 01:00:37 - What were your best fun activities on trail? 01:07:41 - What does your average drinking night look like? 01:11:16 - Tell us about hiking the Long Trail 01:14:14 - What kind of hiking schedule do you keep? 01:18:00 - Discussion about rain gear 01:20:05 - How does the AZT compare to the Long Trail in difficulty? 01:23:35 - How many miles have you gotten out of your shoes? 01:25:43 - Tell us about the Hayduke 01:29:55 - How did you develop routefinding skills? 01:34:01 - How many miles do you do on average per day? 01:38:32 - Was the Florida Trail boring compared to the Hayduke? 01:41:54 - Did the dogs make you want to skip the road walks? 01:42:50 - Tell us about the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail 01:48:46 - Tell us about the Pacific Northwest Trail 01:52:45 - How did routefinding on the PNT compare to the Hayduke? 01:54:10 - Did you have any standout experiences on the Oregon Desert Trail? 01:56:23 - Would you recommend the Oregon Desert Trail to newer thru-hikers? 01:57:14 - Tell us about the Grand Enchantment Trail 01:59:02 - What are some of Brett Tucker’s other routes? 02:01:00 - Discussion about optimal trail lengths 02:02:55 - What do you do to make ends meet during the off season? 02:13:10 - How did you like the CDT if you normally prefer shorter trails? 02:20:28 - Where can people follow you? Segments Trek Propaganda: 10 Awesome S

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Lauren Roerick. Lauren has hiked both the Colorado Trail and Sunshine Coast Trail along with a solid chunk of the PCT, but the focus of today’s episode is her recent thru-hike of the nearly 1,900-mile HexaTrek across France. Lauren gives us an in-depth run down of her trek and the trail at large, including the HexaTrek’s specific geography, the resupply and vibe of the country's quaint villages, the unique, French cultural quirks (including happening upon a nudist camp), the campsites, hitchhiking in France, the food and wine, camping next to castles and on ridgelines in the Alps, and much more. In a nutshell, this trail which you’ve likely never heard of is about to rocket up your bucket list. You’ve been warned. We wrap the show with our predictions and hopes for 2024, the triple crown of things we hoard, and how an iconic point of the AT's viewshed was saved by a former guest of the podcast. Appalachian Gear Company: Use code “BPRADIO20” for 20% off at appalachiangearcompany.com. Ka’Chava: Get 10% off at kachava.com/backpacker. Feathered Friends: Use code “BACKPACKER” for 10% off at featheredfriends.com. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. Gossamer Gear: Use code “TAKELESSTREKMORE” for 15% off at gossamergear.com.  [divider] Interview with Lauren “Long Way” Roerick Lauren's Instagram Lauren's Website Time stamps & Questions 00:05:45 - Reminders: Support us on Patreon for exclusive content, apply to blog for the Trek, and check out our merch! 00:08:24 - Introducing Lauren 00:10:07 - Tell us about living in Taiwan and Germany 00:15:10 - What is your musical experience? 00:18:27 - How did you get into backpacking? 00:22:42 - How did you decide to go southbound? 00:24:00 - What were the first few weeks of trail like? 00:27:00 - What was your mindset like? 00:30:40 - Rank the five sections of the PCT 00:32:58 - Tell us about the Colorado Trail and your favorite stretches 00:35:35 - Were you disappointed when you got home? 00:37:13 - Why did you finish the Colorado Trail with fewer people than you started with? 00:39:48 - Tell us about the Sunshine Coast Trail 00:41:55 - What other hidden gems are in British Columbia? 00:46:08 - What are the basics of the HexaTrek? 00:48:50 - Did you learn French prior to the hike? 00:51:06 - What was it like going from town to town? 00:52:30 - How did you learn about and decide to hike the HexaTrek? 00:56:25 - How did you determine how far to hike each day? 00:58:20 - Tell us about the other people you hiked with 01:00:56 - Were you or your parents concerned about you hiking in another country? 01:03:08 - Compare the backcountry experiences of the PCT and HexaTrek 01:04:48 - What kind of wildlife did you encounter? 01:05:45 - What were the resupplies like? 01:12:55 - Do you recommend carrying cash along the trail? 01:13:53 - What region of the trail had the best wine? 01:14:46 - How long would you recommend to complete the trail? 01:16:50 - Tell us about the route finding you had to do? 01:18:40 - If you could repeat a section of the trail, which would it be? 01:19:30 - Were there any sections of scrambling or exposure? 01:20:50 - Did you change any of your gear between the PCT and the HexaTrek? 01:24:45 - Tell us some of your notable stories from the trail 01:31:40 - Did you do any hitchhiking along the HexaTrek? 01:35:15 - What preparation would you recommend for people interested in the HexaTrek? 01:39:00 - Did you set up cell service? 01:40:00 - Discussion about budgeting for the HexaTrek 01:41:50 - What do you want to do next? 01:44:00 - Tell us your poop stories! 01:49:20 - Tell us about your video equipment and process 01:51:09 - Where can people follow you? Segments Trek Propaganda: Iconic Appalachian Trail Viewshed Officially Preserved After ATC’s Multi-Year Effort by Colleen Goldhorn QOT

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Liz Thomas, known on trail as “Snorkel.” Liz has backpacked more than 20,000 miles, including an FKT on the AT, many trails internationally, and is likely the most experienced “urban hiker” on earth. We learn Snorkel’s top advice on how to pull big miles, her current gear favorites, what she considers to be the hardest hike in the US, how she advises to backpack often while keeping a desk job, and more. We also dive deep on Snorkel’s many urban hikes, which essentially amount to long-distance treks through some of the biggest cities in the US, including how she chooses her routes, which hikes have been her favorites, elements to avoid, and more. We wrap the show Badger drinking Chaunce’s toe juice, and yes that’s likely as gross as it sounds, how to stay safe in a lightning storm while in the backcountry, the Christmas gift we were most excited to receive or gift this year, the triple crown of holiday traditions, and an epic listener email. Badger + Chaunce Signed Book Package: Use code “LITTLEDONKEYGIRL” for $5 off and get a BPR sticker at store.thetrek.co. Vargo Outdoors: Use code “BACKPACKERRADIO” for 20% off at vargooutdoors.com. CTUG: Use code “BPR15” for 15% off at chickentrampergear.com. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. [divider] Interview with Liz “Snorkel” Thomas Snorkel's Instagram Snorkel's Website Treeline Review Time stamps & Questions 00:05:12 - Reminders: Watch us on YouTube, support us on Patreon, and suggest a guest through our form! 00:08:10 - Introducing Liz 00:09:30 - What’s your go to Big Three? 00:10:34 - How did you get your trail name? 00:12:40 - What was your first long hike? 00:17:17 - What work did you do at a field station outside Yosemite? 00:18:58 - What was going to an Ivy League school like? 00:21:30 - What was the process for getting a grant to hike the PCT? 00:24:20 - Do you have advice for someone who wants to hike a long trail during college? 00:26:00 - How do you backpack and keep your desk job? 00:33:50 - What is the hardest hike in the US? 00:35:56 - What’s your best pitch for urban hiking? 00:41:35 - What does camping in a city look like? 00:43:00 - What urban hikes have you done? 00:49:00 - Discussion about finding urban staircases and creating urban routes 00:53:00 - What was your favorite urban hiking experience? 00:54:58 - How do you go to the bathroom on an urban hike? 00:59:00 - Discussion about pee keeping your body warm 01:01:55 - Are there other notable themes you’ve designed urban hikes around? 01:03:15 - What are some standout moments you’ve had along urban hikes? 01:06:18 - What’s the list of urban hikes you’ve done? 01:09:14 - Tell us about your AT FKT in 2011 01:10:57 - What are your tips for someone who wants to increase their mileage? 01:13:25 - Is it hard to get excited for an urban hike with all your backcountry experience? 01:15:02 - What do you do as a solo hiker to keep your mind entertained? 01:17:41 - What midlayers stand out to you? 01:19:30 - If you had to get rid of a piece of gear, what would you cut? 01:22:50 - Any other gear item you’re especially excited about? 01:26:04 - What are the biggest lessons learned from gear reviews? 01:29:49 - What’s a gear item from another sport that’s underrated in thru-hiking? 01:31:09 - What do you like about alpaca over merino? 01:34:40 - What’s the most underrated trail in the US? 01:35:48 - Tell us about your close encounter with a grizzly 01:41:30 - Are there other conservation lessons learned? 01:42:29 - Do you foresee bear cans becoming required on the AT? 01:45:33 - What international trails have you done? 01:49:20 - Are there any tech gear items you’re excited about? 01:51:24 - Tell us more about the hiking you’ve done in Japan 01:58:35 - What gear category has the most room for improvement? 01:59:

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Nick Fowler. Nick went from 1-2 mile day hikes in 2019 to setting the self supported PCT FKT in 2023, with many learning lessons, mistakes, and miles in the four year span in between. We learn all about his experiences on the Hayduke, Pacific Northwest trail (which was another FKT hike for him), the Arizona Trail, and of course go deep on his PCT hike from this year. We also learn about how Nick is able to financially swing being basically full-time hiker trash, outlining how some specific entrepreneurial decisions and savings strategies enable him to dirtbag around the clock. Even if FKTs aren’t your jam, we think you’ll really enjoy this conversation, as we feel it does a good job of normalizing this extreme style of trekking. We wrap the show with how Zach endangered his family with a black widow, news of the removal of an iconic AT shelter, things that are normal at 3pm but terrifying at 3am, and the triple crown of drunk regrets. Badger + Chaunce Signed Book Package: Use code “LITTLEDONKEYGIRL” for $5 off and get a BPR sticker at store.thetrek.co. Vargo Outdoors: Use code “BACKPACKERRADIO” for 20% off at vargooutdoors.com. CTUG: Use code “BPR15” for 15% off at chickentrampergear.com. Interview with Nick “DJ” Fowler Nick's Instagram Nick's PNT book Time stamps & Questions 00:05:47 - Reminders: Get Zach and Chaunce’s signed book bundle by January 15th, support us on Patreon, and check out our new website! 00:08:05 - Introducing Nick 00:08:49 - Tell us your poop stories 00:15:20 - Discussion about shower frequency 00:19:20 - How did you go from a clean cut corporate guy to setting an FKT? 00:22:40 - What was the first big animal you encountered? 00:25:40 - What would you say to people who think FKT hikers are missing the point? 00:30:04 - What does a day of hiking look like emotionally? 00:34:00 - Tell us about peeing red 00:39:58 - What was the biggest breakdown you had on trail? 00:45:35 - Has not quitting been a theme across your life? 00:47:12 - What did you learn on the PNT that helped you on the PCT? 00:49:27 - What packing mistakes did you correct on the PNT? 00:52:40 - What’s your footwear system? 00:54:50 - Discussion about road walks and bushwacking on the PNT 00:55:50 - What do you commonly lose? 01:00:17 - Discussion about dealing with Tropical Storm Hilary 01:11:38 - What was your sketchiest moment of the Hayduke? 01:16:35 - How did you get your trail name? 01:18:20 - Discussion about footwear 01:26:50 - What type of pain did you deal with on a daily basis on the PCT? 01:30:30 - What are your strongest food cravings? 01:41:00 - Discussion about diet and food 01:42:45 - How much time did you have off between hikes and before the PCT? 01:43:40 - How did you transition from a regular job to full time hiking? 01:47:45 - What do you do for passive income? 01:51:28 - What steps did you take to feel confident enough to make these moves? 01:54:20 - What tips do you have for someone who’s interested in this topic? 01:59:10 - What ventures would you recommend people get into? 02:01:33 - What mental tools are you using to stay determined? 02:04:45 - Discussion about the classifications of FKTs 02:11:11 - When would you say enough is enough? 02:13:30 - Tell us about your book, Itch Segments Trek Propaganda: Appalachian Trail Landmark, Overmountain Shelter, to be Removed by Diane Duffard QOTD: What’s normal at 3pm but terrifying at 3am? Stupid Thing of the Week Triple Crown of drunk regrets 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @paulyboyshallcross. 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

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Ryan Sylva, known on trail as Dirtmonger. Let me tell you, this one is an instant classic. Dirtmonger has so many miles under his trail runners that he’s lost count, but it’s comfortably deep into the 5-digit range. We learn about all the trails and routes Dirtmonger has tackled, including the PCT, CDT, Vagabond Loop, Low to High Route, the Great Basin Traverse, Sky Island Traverse, and more. But in addition to and likely more importantly, we go deep into the inspiration and philosophy behind Dirtmonger’s backpacking career, which sheds some really interesting new perspectives into this wild world of long-distance walking. This one will eventually be a two-parter, and we’re supremely confident that you’ll enjoy this first edition. We wrap the show by learning about the marathon for cake on the AT in Virginia, where we're hiding our FBI's most wanted paperclip, and I get another vote of confidence in my highly anticipated rumble with an alien. Zoleo: Use code “BACKPACKERRADIO” for free device activation.  Sawyer Products: Check out Sawyer’s Permethrin Pump at REI. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. RTIC Outdoors: Shop at rticoutdoors.com. [divider] Interview with Ryan “Dirtmonger” Sylva Dirtmonger's Instagram Dirtmonger's Blog Dirtmonger's Patreon Watch this interview on YouTube! Time stamps & Questions 00:06:20 - Reminders: Get exclusive content on Patreon, submit your poop story, and subscribe to Backpacker Radio on YouTube! 00:12:30 - Introducing Dirtmonger 00:17:00 - What does Shitmonger mean? 00:20:55 - Dirtmonger’s poop stories 00:29:11 - The ghost poop 00:31:28 - What is your hiking origin story? 00:45:40 - How did your family struggle with you being a backpacker? 00:49:30 - What advice do you have for thru-hikers struggling to complete a trail? 00:53:54 - Discussion about intentions 00:56:12 - Did you ever contemplate giving up on the dream? 01:02:15 - Do you experience any diminishing returns with your hikes? 01:06:03 - Where did you get the first sense of chasing a nontraditional challenge? 01:11:13 - How do you feel about other people following in your footsteps? 01:16:45 - How do you finance your hikes? 01:19:15 - What guidance do you have for turning a seasonal job into a career? 01:26:30 - Have you considered trying to monetize your hiking? 01:36:46 - Tell us about the Vagabond Loop 01:42:40 - What is the attraction of social hiking? 01:48:20 - Do you experience loneliness on trail? 01:51:25 - What are you afraid of? 01:55:15 - Tell us about the Great Basin Traverse 02:02:00 - How many hours of prep do you think you did? 02:06:42 - How do you handle finding water sources in the desert? 02:13:10 - Do you have a story about getting to a water source that didn’t work out? 02:15:35 - Do you find yourself taking chances for the thrill of problem solving? 02:19:00 - What was your biggest fuckup while hiking? 02:25:30 - Have you had any regrets? 02:28:05 - What’s your typical mileage and pace? 02:31:40 - What’s in your backpack? 02:41:15 - Tell us about the Sky Island Traverse 02:45:00 - What else did you do in 2016? 02:53:40 - What do you want listeners to take away from this interview? 02:57:54 - What are your tips for people new to backpacking? Segments Trek Propaganda: What Virginia Blues? 10 Can’t-Miss Landmarks in VA by Jamie Angle QOTD: You have 20 minutes to hide a paper clip before the FBI comes to your house to look for it - where are you hiding it? You must be able to retrieve it after they leave. Triple Crown of holiday movies 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @paulyboyshallcross. 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