Backpacker Radio Thru-Hiking for 30 Years, Working for ALDHA-West, Six Moon Designs, & FarOut, and Ridgerunning with a Dog with Whitney "Allgood" La Ruffa (BPR #312)
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, we’re joined by Whitney La Ruffa, better known in the world of backpacking as “Allgood.” Allgood is the former president of ALDHA-West, the current Chief Revenue Officer at FarOut, and a certified backpacking OG—his first thru-hike dates all the way back to the early ’90s (some of you weren’t even alive then… which is weird).
Since that first trek, Allgood has racked up an impressive list of trails, including the JMT, Wonderland Trail, Chinook Trail, Sierra High Route, PCT, CDT, and others. In this episode, we dive into stories from his countless miles on trail, his passion for backpacking food—he’s a bona fide backcountry chef, as evidenced by him freeze drying his own meals—and he spills the beans on some of his favorite trail-tested recipes.
We also chat about how a chance encounter on the AT led him to adopt his dog, Erwin, and how Erwin has deepened his love for dogs in general.
Beyond the trail, we get Allgood’s take on how backpacking has evolved since the 1990s, hear a heartfelt update on the health of former guest and beloved trail icon Renee "She-ra" Patrick, and unpack some of the recent bumps in the road for FarOut.
We wrap the show with how Damascus has bounced back in the wake of Hurricane Helene, if animals could talk, which species would be the most annoying, and the triple crown of states we'd draft in a civil war.
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Interview with Whitney “Allgood” La Ruffa
Time stamps & Questions
00:04:25 - Reminders: Listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon, hold the Trek’s tent for us, apply to blog for the Trek!
00:11:00 - Introducing Allgood
00:15:52 - How has the world of thru-hiking changed from the early 90’s to now?
00:21:05 - Do you have any strong stances in which you’re a curmudgeon?
00:28:35 - Do you think there are more entitled hikers today?
00:36:05 - Tell us about your dog
00:43:00 - What’s the key to maintaining a dog’s longevity?
00:46:30 - Do you have a strong opinion about fresh/refrigerated dog food?
00:47:30 - Tell us about ridgerunning with Erwin
00:50:13 - Did you do any thru-hiking between 1996 and 2011?
00:52:45 - Tell us about the Chinook Trail
00:54:40 - Have you picked up any parallel hobbies?
00:56:55 - What meals do you make on trail?
00:59:20 - Discussion about dehydrating and freeze-drying food
01:02:40 - Do you have a go-to dehydrated recipe?
01:04:00 - Is there an easy way to tell if meat is fatty?
01:07:20 - Is gear a passionate subject for you?
01:10:05 - What’s the latest with She-Ra?
01:12:30 - How’d you get involved with ALDHA-West?
01:16:40 - How much time did you put in weekly while you were president?
01:19:35 - How’d you get connected with Six Moon Designs?
01:21:10 - What does the typical person not know about the cottage gear industry?
01:24:35 - What’s the next step for FarOut?
01:28:30 - Is there anything cool you’ve learned about FarOut since working there?
01:32:27 - How will FarOut address some of the other beef people have had with the app?
01:35:40 - Where can people keep up with you?
Segments
Trek Propaganda: “We’re Back!” 8 Months After Hurricane Helene Devastation, Damascus Shines in Trail Days 2025 by Kelly Floro
QOTD: If animals could talk, which species would be the most annoying?
Triple Crown of states you would draft in the next civil war
Mail Bag
5 Star Review
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Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee.
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