Impacts of Climate Change on the Colorado Trail with Triple Crowner and Scientist Karl Ford (BPR #315)

Jul 21, 2025

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In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Karl Ford. Karl is a retired environmental scientist, conservationist, and author of Triple Crown Hiking Adventures and The Colorado Trail in Crisis: A Naturalist's Field Report on Climate Change in Mountain Ecosystems.

In this conversation, we dive into Karl’s experiences hiking the Triple Crown, his perspective on the current state of conservation and what the future may hold, and how climate change is already impacting our beloved long trails, with a special focus on the Colorado Trail. We also talk about what individuals can do to help combat climate change, and how Karl personally walks the walk when it comes to protecting our planet.

We wrap the show with some convo on pre-hike anxiety, what the Hiker Trash four houses are, the triple crown of gingers, a blood boiling thing of the week, and a listener voicemail about UTIs.

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[divider]

Interview with Karl Ford

Time stamps & Questions

00:05:20 - Reminders: Sign up for the Trek’s newsletter, apply to blog for the Trek or to run Trail Correspondents, and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon!

00:10:55 - Introducing Karl

00:11:34 - What’s your trail name?

00:13:04 - What’s your outdoors origin story?

00:23:45 - Do you have a standout story about Colorado Trail history?

00:26:45 - Where did the Ute tribe get sent to?

00:28:40 - Are there popular spots along the CT that retain Ute names?

00:29:38 - Where do you think we’re headed in regards to public lands?

00:33:55 - Do you remember a shift towards conservation when you were young?

00:40:50 - What got you into thru-hiking?

00:47:40 - Discussion about Karl’s tick experiment on the AT

00:49:50 - Have you followed the Lyme disease vaccines that are in development?

00:51:30 - Did you know you wanted to do more thru-hikes after the AT?

00:55:45 - What advice do you have for people who want to start thru-hiking in retirement?

01:00:30 - How do you prevent injury and recover well?

01:04:25 - Discussion about hiking the CT during the pandemic

01:08:20 - What is forest mortality?

01:09:03 - How are beetles related to climate change?

01:15:10 - What’s your level of optimism in slowing the effects of climate change?

01:20:52 - Do you have any optimism about technological solutions?

01:22:40 - Discussion about deforestation and reforestation

01:26:10 - What does the future of the CT look like?

01:30:00 - What are the downstream effects of a primarily lodgepole pine forest?

01:33:25 - Wilderness areas along the CT

01:34:20 - What can we do?

01:39:38 - Stay Salty Question: What is your hottest take in the world of backpacking or the outdoors at large?

Segments

Trek Propaganda: I’ve Dreaded Every Hike I’ve Ever Done — But I Go Anyway by Kelly Floro

QOTD: When you’re a hiker what are the four houses you are sorted into?

Triple Crown of gingers

Blood Boiling Thing of the Week

Listener Voicemail

Mail Bag

4 Star Review

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