In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, we are joined by Jack Jones better known on trail as Quadzilla. Quadzilla has packed a lot of life into his time on this earth- he is a bonafide renaissance man with a great outlook on life. We chat about his time in the army, running a CrossFit gym in his late 20s, serving as a wildland firefighter, participating in several multi-day meditation retreats, backpacking thousands of miles including the triple crown, we touch on his bikepacking, and Chaunce and I lather him with an uncomfortable amount of praise on those giant, beautiful quads. Needless to say, this conversation covers a lot of ground- we certainly enjoyed it a lot and hope you do too. We wrap the show with a triple crown of our new year's resolutions, we give a shoutout to the youngest person to complete all eleven National Scenic Trails, and the details for the Backpacker Radio Sponsorship are officially announced. 2022 thru-hikers, you can enter today.

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Interview with Jack “Quadzilla” Jones

Time stamps & Questions

00:04:07 - QOTD: Is chewing gum a suitable substitute to brushing your teeth?

00:05:41 - Reminders: Backpacker Radio Sponsorship

00:07:30 - Introducing Jack “Quadzilla” Jones

00:07:36 - Is Quadzilla your trail name?

00:09:09 - What’s the recipe for good quads?

00:09:26 - Are the good quads genetic?

00:10:22 - Is your muscular make up a help or hindrance to hiking?

00:12:12 - What is your trail resume?

00:13:49 - Does lyme disease stay in your blood?

00:16:54 - Did you do the full Oregon Coast Trail?

00:18:08 - Do you commonly do impromptu thru-hikes?

00:19:05 - Have you tallied all your hiking miles?

00:19:41 - What was your inspiration to start thru-hiking?

00:20:49 - After almost 6 years of hiking, do you ever get lonely?

00:24:52 - What was your life like before finding thru-hiking?

00:28:55 - What is the retreat like?

00:31:58 - How long does that clarity last you?

00:33:43 - Can you give us a summary of the meditation type?

00:34:59 - How do you practice your meditation on trail?

00:37:11 - Tell us about your earlier years in the Army?

00:39:55 - Do you hold any resentment over the way your dad passed?

00:44:05 - Do you feel your time in the Army influenced your interest in hiking?

00:45:21 - Do you feel like you battle aggression issues?

00:46:06 - What do you attribute your centeredness to?

00:46:56 - What is the Deadman Peaks Trail Race?

00:49:44 - Were you pacing yourself towards the end of the CDT?

00:51:33 - We need to hear about you smashing a watermelon between your legs!

00:54:26 - Did you all eat the smashed watermelon?

00:54:44 - Are you a runner outside of hiking?

00:55:58 - Zone 2 Cardio

01:00:23 - How did you get into Wildland Firefighting?

01:04:03 - How does the intensity compare to bootcamp?

01:07:45 - How do you deal with fear on the job?

01:09:18 - How do you handle the hydration aspect?

01:10:09 - Will you return next year?

01:13:07 - What would you tell people that still have fires during fire bans?

01:15:06 - If you could redo one of the trails you’ve done, which would you do?

01:17:08 - What is your backpacking advice for new hikers?

01:18:54 - What are your big 3? Or 5?

01:25:02 - What goals do you have for 2022?

01:26:32 - Do you have any gear sponsors?

01:27:03 - Follow Quadzilla on Instagram

01:29:47 - Thank you, Quadzilla!

SEGMENTS

Trek Propaganda

Ryan ‘Constantine’ Bunting sets North Country Trail FKT and Becomes Youngest Hiker to Complete All 11 National Scenic Trail

Triple Crown of New Year’s Resolutions

5 Star Review

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