Backpacker Radio

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Kenneth Pararo, known on trail as Moron. This is a podcast we've been wanting to make happen for several years now, and let me tell you, it does not disappoint. Moron is a thru-hiker, long-distance cyclist, philosopher, hopeless romantic, futurist, and most importantly, just a real solid hang.  We learn about why he's all in on AI- as evidenced by him riding cross country rocking his Meta AI glasses, why he quit is corporate tech job to more permanently pursue adventure and experience, how he completed one AT thru-hike and quit another a couple hundred miles from the finish, turning it into an extended road walk to the Canadian border, only to turn around for some more road walking and eventually an extended bike ride, and how he plans his adventuring essentially one day at a time, letting fate largely guide his next move. We wrap the show with tips for safe and steamy tent sex, a contentious debate about using gas station bathrooms exclusively for a year for one million dollars, and the triple crown of people we just don't understand. Gossamer Gear: Check out the Type II collection at gossamergear.com.  Sawyer Products: Check out Sawyer's Cnoc collab at sawyer.com. [divider] Interview with Kenneth "Moron" Pararo Moron's Instagram Moron's Podcast Time stamps & Questions 00:04:12 - Apply to blog for the Trek, listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon, and subscribe to Backpacker Radio on Youtube! 00:09:45 - Introducing Moron 00:11:28 - Tell us about getting sober 00:17:14 - Discussion about sleeping behind a pit toilet in Golden 00:19:05 - What are you up to right now? 00:21:40 - How do you pick roads to bike on? 00:24:40 - Who isn't Moron? 00:29:00 - Discussion about Moron's past girlfriends 00:34:20 - Has nature always been more noise than signal for you? 00:36:25 - Did you start the AT with any preconceived notion about how you'd feel about it spiritually? 00:37:50 - How do you pick what trails and routes you do? 00:40:15 - Where are the best cafes? 00:41:15 - What was your former profession? 00:47:20 - What are your thoughts about AI? 00:52:40 - Would you want to live forever? 00:55:30 - How do you stay comfortable on a bike? 00:57:00 - What are the benefits of bikepacking over hiking? 00:58:55 - How do you decide where to camp each night? 01:02:00 - Discussion about Moron's AI glasses 01:07:30 - Do you worry about any of the negative consequences of AI? 01:11:15 - Do you worry about the affordability of AI? 01:19:45 - How will AI influence nature and ecosystems? 01:23:30 - Let's talk about the Florida Trail! 01:29:40 - You've carried your bike while hiking? 01:30:30 - Why is your bike so heavy? 01:33:10 - Tell us about Trail Correspondents 01:37:45 - Do you like the sound of your own voice? Do you have tips for producing audio? 01:42:40 - What are your tips for making something interesting out of monotony? 01:45:50 - Tell us about working on a horse farm 01:50:30 - Have you held onto horse culture since? 01:52:10 - Horse Facts: Give us some rapid fire horse facts 01:56:24 - Tell us about biking through a winter storm 01:59:00 - Discussion about Moron's future biking plans 02:03:40 - Gossamer Gear Question: What's your number one irrational fear? 02:05:15 - Where can people keep up with you? Segments Trek Propaganda: Tips for Safe and Steamy Tent Sex by Redacted QOTD:  You get one million dollars per year but you can only use gas station bathrooms Triple Crown of people you don't understand (ex. morning people) Mail Bag  5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek's newsletter 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 and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Bill Jensen, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Bryan Alsop, Carl Houde, Christopher Marshburn, Clint Sitler, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Ethan Harwell, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Jason Kiser, Krystyn Bell, Matt from Gilbert, AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Randy Sutherland, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, SPAM, The Saint Louis Shaman, Timothy Hahn, Tracy 'Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Benjy Lowry, Bonnie Ackerman, Brett Vandiver, Chris Pyle, David, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Denise Krekeler, Jack Greene, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, and Spencer Hinson.

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, and brought to you by Topo Athletic, we're joined by Mary "Fireweed" Kwart. Fireweed is a thru-hiker, a Deadhead, and a pioneering figure in wildland firefighting with a career spanning more than 30 years. We dive into the challenges of being one of the first women to join the elite Arrowhead Interagency Hotshots, the culture shock of entering a male-dominated field, and some of the most memorable stories from her decades on the fire line.  Fireweed also reflects on how long-distance hiking has evolved since the 1970s, her tradition of tackling a new long trail every year since retiring, and her deep love and advocacy for California's Bigfoot Trail. We wrap the show with the best backpacking trails in the Midwest, the thru-hiking advice we wish we'd never given, a debate over whether robotic legs should count as mechanical transport under the Wilderness Act, and the Triple Crown of parts of society we'd turn the clock back for. Topo Athletic: Use code "TREKFALL15" at topoathletic.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code "LT520" for 20% off LT5 Trekking Poles at gossamergear.com.  Ka'Chava: Use code "BACKPACKER" for 15% off at kachava.com. [divider] Interview with Mary "Fireweed" Kwart Mary's Instagram Mary's Blog Bigfoot Trail Alliance Time stamps & Questions 00:04:55 - Apply to blog for the Trek and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon! 00:07:00 - Introducing Fireweed 00:08:30 - Why were you a nontraditional college graduate? 00:11:40 - What was your inspiration for aligning with the feminist movement? 00:13:30 - Discussion about being the only woman in male-dominated spaces 00:16:46 - Tell us about hiking a section of the PCT in the 70s 00:18:20 - What was it like working in Yosemite in the 70s 00:23:50 - Discussion about being a Deadhead 00:25:50 - How were women being treated in general? 00:30:45 - How did you pass the heartbeat challenge? 00:32:45 - Discussion about gear differences between now and then 00:36:50 - At what point did you discover the hard-ass aspect of your personality? 00:43:25 - How did you keep spirits high while working as a firefighter? 00:46:55 - What was the culture of firefighters like? 00:52:00 - Do you have advice for women who want to get into firefighting? 00:54:34 - What was your best day on the job? 00:58:40 - Discussion about the rest of Fireweed's firefighting career 01:00:45 - What kind of schooling would you recommend for someone interested in this career? 01:02:35 - What's your take on the current situation in the Forest Service? 01:10:40 - Discussion about the state of wildfires today 01:15:30 - Tell us about your thru-hikes since retiring 01:20:30 - Discussion about getting shingles and recovering 01:23:50 - Do you have any other tips for older hikers? 01:28:50 - Tell us about the Bigfoot Trail 01:33:30 - Do you have tips for identifying trees along the Bigfoot Trail? 01:37:00 - What was your Bigfoot encounter? 01:40:02 - Do you believe in Bigfoot? 01:44:00 - Tell us about getting attacked by a bear dog 01:48:45 - Peak Performance Question: What is your top performance-enhancing or backpacking hack? Segments Trek Propaganda: The Best Backpacking Trails in Every Midwestern State by Katie Jackson 6 Pieces of Thru-Hiking Advice I Wish I'd Never Given by Katie Jackson QOTD:  Would robotic legs count as mechanical transport through the wilderness? Triple Crown of parts of society we would turn the clock back on Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek's newsletter 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 and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Bill Jensen, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Bryan Alsop, Carl Houde, Christopher Marshburn, Clint Sitler, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Ethan Harwell, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Jason Kiser, Krystyn Bell, Matt from Gilbert, AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Randy Sutherland, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, SPAM, The Saint Louis Shaman, Timothy Hahn, Tracy 'Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Benjy Lowry, Bonnie Ackerman, Brett Vandiver, Chris Pyle, David, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Denise Krekeler, Jack Greene, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, and Spencer Hinson.

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by me. Because I hiked Tour du Mont Blanc. We go through all the nitty gritty details of my trip, including how I decided on going with a self-guided tour (aka staying in hotels instead of camping), the differences across the French, Italian, and Swiss portions of the trail, the best towns, the landscape highlights, the crowds, the food, how my knees asked for a divorce from my body, and everything else. But wait, there's more. Chaunce is fresh off her wedding and honeymoon, she gives us the full scoop of her month of nuptials and romance. We wrap the show maturely by covering how many poops in a day is too many poops, my business pitch for selling farts online, the triple crown of wedding traditions, I share some new gear that I got to test on TMB, and listeners share their top TMB tips- including how I did it all wrong. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. Gossamer Gear: Use code "LT520" for 20% off LT5 Trekking Poles at gossamergear.com.  Ombraz: Send a DM on Instagram or to support@ombraz.com for $30 off at ombraz.com. [divider] Interview with Zach! Time stamps & Questions 00:04:55 - Apply to blog for the Trek, apply to be a Trail Correspondent, and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon! 00:13:05 - Introducing Zach 00:13:45 - Trail difficulty 00:16:40 - Tour du Mont Blanc Fast Facts 00:17:40 - What prep work did you have to do for the hike? 00:20:00 - More discussion about the self-guided hike option 00:22:30 - How much does the self-guided hike option cost? 00:26:30 - How did you pack and what bag did you bring? 00:30:50 - What was in your pack? 00:33:20 - Did you carry food in your pack? 00:35:00 - Discussion about the navigation app issue 00:39:30 - Discussion about daily pace and difficulty 00:42:30 - Discussion about crowding on the trail 00:47:20 - Journeying to the trail 00:51:00 - Day 1 00:57:20 - What makes this mountain range different from others? 01:01:00 - Day 2 01:08:40 - Day 3 01:22:50 - Day 4 01:36:10 - Day 5 01:51:30 - What wildlife did you see? 02:01:40 - Were you ready to be done by the last day? 02:02:50 - What were the top 3 towns to zero in? 02:05:30 - Zach got recognized! 02:07:30 - Would you have done the trail in a different direction? 02:12:00 - Closing thoughts 02:14:30 - Would you have trained differently? 02:15:15 - Wedding recap 02:26:30 - Honeymoon recap Segments QOTD:  How many poops in a day is too many?  Triple Crown of wedding traditions One-Minute Gear Reviews Listener Voicemail Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek's newsletter 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 and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Bill Jensen, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Bryan Alsop, Carl Houde, Christopher Marshburn, Clint Sitler, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Ethan Harwell, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Jason Kiser, Krystyn Bell, Matt from Gilbert, AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, SPAM, The Saint Louis Shaman, Timothy Hahn, Tracy 'Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Benjy Lowry, Bonnie Ackerman, Brett Vandiver, Chris Pyle, David, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Denise Krekeler, Greg Floravanti "Lumberjack", Jack Greene, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, and Spencer Hinson.

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by thru-hiking power couple who've hiked more than 11,000 miles together Chris and Sara, known on trail as Endless and QB. "What haven't they hiked?" is a fair question, because it's been a lot, including the AT, the PCT (twice), CDT, CT (twice), Arizona Trail, Manaslu Circuit, Hayduke, Long Trail, Cohos Trail, Loowit Trail, Wonderland Trail, Ruby Crest Trail, Why-wash, (ahl-pah-MY-oh) / Santa Cruz Trek, the GR20, and more, believe it or not. They share the story of how they met, offer tips for making a marriage work both on trail and off, discuss how they befriended Mac from Halfway Anywhere and Viking during their many trail adventures, and explain why rafting the Grand Canyon stands out as the most epic adventure of them all. We wrap the show with news of the asshat who vandalized the Katahdin sign, the triple crown of seafoods, and definitively answer the age old question of window vs. aisle.  LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. Gossamer Gear: Use code "LT520" for 20% off LT5 Trekking Poles at gossamergear.com.  Ka'Chava: Get 10% off at kachava.com/backpacker. [divider] Interview with Chris & Sara aka Endless & QB Chris's Instagram Chris's Website Sara's Instagram Time stamps & Questions 00:05:00 - Apply to blog for the Trek and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon! 00:09:10 - Introducing Endless & QB 00:15:55 - We Love Love: Where did you meet? 00:21:20 - Tell us about getting together on the CDT 00:23:55 - What's it like to be a firefighter? 00:29:11 - What are some standout firefighter stories? 00:32:15 - Would you recommend being a firefighter to others? 00:35:35 - Is it difficult to align both of your schedules? 00:36:30 - When did you know you wanted to hike more trails together? 00:37:50 - When did you meet Jabba? 00:39:50 - How did you meet Twinkle and Grace? 00:43:36 - Any stories from the AZT? 00:45:40 - Tell us about Nepal 00:51:36 - Tell us about getting married at a pool party 00:56:10 - Tell us about your road trip in 2018 00:58:00 - Discussion about their speed of hiking 01:02:15 - How many miles have each of you hiked? 01:03:40 - What do you disagree about on trail? 01:05:15 - Was it hard to transition to an off-trail relationship? 01:10:50 - Discussion about knee surgery 01:11:56 - Tell us about your honeymoon roadtrip 01:14:55 - Tell us about hiking in the Sawtooths 01:16:50 - Tell us about the Loowit Trail 01:19:20 - Discussion about trail running and transitioning from thru-hiking 01:24:15 - Tell us about backpacking in the Wallowa Mountains 01:25:40 - How do you divvy up tasks in the backcountry? 01:28:30 - Tell us about the rest of the 2020 road trip 01:32:50 - How did you decide to hike the PCT a second time? 01:34:20 - Tell us about rafting the Grand Canyon 01:43:45 - Tell us about your hikes in Peru 01:46:40 - Why'd you get off the Oregon Desert Trail? 01:48:40 - Tell us about your hiking in Europe 01:59:15 - Did you dirtbag the whole time in Europe? 02:01:10 - Are you looking to do more international hiking? 02:01:45 - What's your top 5 travel bucket list? 02:04:00 - Are you thinking about having kids? 02:05:30 - How was your recent hike of the CT? 02:06:45 - Stay Salty Question: What's your hottest take in the world of backpacking or the outdoors? Segments Trek Propaganda: Someone Vandalized the Katahdin Sign — Rangers Are Asking for Your Help by Kelly Floro QOTD: Window or aisle? Triple Crown of seafoods Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek's newsletter 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 and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Bill Jensen, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Bryan Alsop, Carl Houde, Christopher Marshburn, Clint Sitler, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Ethan Harwell, Gillian Daniels, Go Bills, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Matt from Gilbert, AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, SPAM, The Saint Louis Shaman, Timothy Hahn, Tracy 'Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Benjy Lowry, Bonnie Ackerman, Brett Vandiver, Chris Pyle, David, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Greg Floravanti "Lumberjack", Jack Greene, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, and Spencer Hinson.

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Spencer "Boiler" Dunn. Boiler, is a self-described "pro-yapper", improv leader, former employee of Parks Canada, pie enthusiast, and of course, a backpacker.  Spencer takes us through his long trail adventures across Canada, including the Bruce Trail, West Coast Trail, North Coast Trail, and Nootka Island Trail—journeys that brought him face-to-face with some incredible wildlife, from bears to whales to the elusive sea wolf.  We also dive into his recent hike on the PCT—how he broke the record for pies per mile, the notoriety that earned him on trail, navigating people's perceptions as a plus-sized hiker, how his trek deepened his connection to his queer identity, and, of course, his unapologetic hatred for gear talk (which I make him do). We wrap the show with news on New Zealand's most famous thru-hike getting a whole lot pricier, tackle the age-old question of which liquids we'd want to dispense from our fingers, we do the  Triple Crown of tummy aches, and hear a listener's compelling pitch for taking this circus to the Pacific Northwest. Gossamer Gear: Use code "LT520" for 20% off LT5 Trekking Poles at gossamergear.com.  Ombraz: Score a $30 discount by sending a DM to https://www.instagram.com/ombraz/, and letting them know that Backpacker Radio sent you. [divider] Interview with Spencer "Boiler" Dunn Spencer's Instagram Spencer's Youtube Spencer's Substack Time stamps & Questions 00:03:00 - Apply to blog for the Trek, take the 2025 AT Thru-Hiker survey, and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon! 00:06:25 - Introducing Boiler 00:08:50 - How did you get your trail name? 00:10:20 - What's your outdoors origin story? 00:12:30 - What is Parks Canada? 00:15:40 - What's the difference between national parks in the US and Canada? 00:17:10 - What is the outdoors culture like in Canada? 00:20:15 - Is there a community around the Bruce Trail? 00:23:10 - Do you think there's a hunger for more long trails in Canada? 00:25:00 - How did you end up on the PCT? 00:26:00 - What gear did you start with? 00:32:00 - Discussion about Boiler's PCT hike 00:32:53 - Tell us about making pies on the PCT 00:41:55 - What was your favorite town? 00:43:20 - More pie talk 00:45:38 - Discussion about being a fatter hiker 00:56:50 - Do you have any advice for someone who wants to follow in your footsteps? 00:58:45 - Discussion about differences between men and women on the trail 01:01:10 - Did you have any uncomfortable situations on trail? 01:06:50 - Do you feel more or less of a stigma in Canada? 01:09:12 - Life on trail as a BNOT 01:12:01 - Did you ever put yourself in a situation for the story? 01:14:17 - Discussion about being a BNOT 01:15:30 - Tell us about your hiking on Vancouver Island 01:24:55 - Discussion about campsites on Vancouver Island 01:26:45 - Tell us about seeing wolves 01:32:40 - Fuck Marry Kill: The West Coast Trail, North Coast Trail, and Nootka Trail 01:35:05 - How do the 3 trails compare to each other? 01:40:25 - Differences between Americans and Canadians 02:04:00 - Where can people keep up with you? Segments Trek Propaganda: The Hardest Thru Hike in the World is About to Get a Lot More Expensive by Lisa Slutsken QOTD:  If you could dispense different liquids from each finger on one hand, which liquids would you choose? Triple Crown of tummy aches Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek's newsletter 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 and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Bill Jensen, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Bryan Alsop, Carl Houde, Christopher Marshburn, Clint Sitler, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Ethan Harwell, Gillian Daniels, Go Bills, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Matt from Gilbert, AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, SPAM, The Saint Louis Shaman, Timothy Hahn, Tracy 'Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Benjy Lowry, Bonnie Ackerman, Brett Vandiver, Chris Pyle, David, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Greg Floravanti "Lumberjack", Jack Greene, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, and Spencer Hinson.

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Wesley Tils, known on trail as Megaman. Buckle in because oh boy does Megaman have an origin story. After growing up in the Mormon church, leaving the church to become a pro boxer, quitting boxing to give the church another shot and going on a missionary trip as his trial of faith, and ultimately leaving the church for good during this missionary trip, escaping onto the PCT with several church members essentially chasing him in pursuit, Megaman's path to thru-hiking was not exactly conventional. Since hitting the trails, Megaman hasn't stopped hiking, accumulating more than 15,000 miles across 18 long trails in 9 years. We learn about all his adventures, including hikes of the Maah Daah Hey Trail, River to River Trail, his self-made Mexico to Canada Trail called "the fourth crown route, and a goosebump inducing story about an aggressive encounter with a grizzly bear on the CDT. We wrap up the show with our one-minute elevator pitch to convince aliens that humanity deserves to survive, the triple crown of cable channels, share the news of Tara Dower's latest FKT, and deliver a five-minute one-minute gear review of a new free-standing tent from Hyperlite Mountain Gear. Topo Athletic: Use code "TREKFALL15" at topoathletic.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code "LT520" for 20% off LT5 Trekking Poles at gossamergear.com.  Ka'Chava: Get 10% off at kachava.com/backpacker. [divider] Interview with Wesley "Megaman" Tils Wesley's Instagram Wesley's Youtube Time stamps & Questions 00:05:35 - Reminders: Apply to blog for the Trek, take the 2025 AT Thru-Hiker survey, and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon! 00:07:30 - Introducing Megaman 00:08:20 - Tell us about your religious upbringing 00:11:30 - Do you ever experience anger while boxing? 00:12:40 - Why did you decide to leave the church? 00:15:25 - How did people react when you left the church? 00:18:02 - What was your mission like? 00:26:00 - How did your family feel about your decision? 00:27:30 - What did your kit look like for your first 200 miles on the PCT? 00:28:29 - How did you go from the PCT to the AT? 00:32:40 - What's your relationship with spirituality and religion now? 00:35:25 - What's your trail name origin story? 00:36:45 - Discussion about Megaman's time on the trail 00:38:30 - When did you know you'd keep thru-hiking? 00:40:20 - How was hiking through the Sierra in a high snow year? 00:45:00 - How was the CDT in 2018? 00:52:20 - Do you remember feeling an adrenaline rush? 00:54:35 - Tell us about the Black Hills/Great Plains Route 00:56:25 - You did the Triple O? 00:57:50 - Tell us about the Maah Daah Hey Trail 01:00:30 - Tell us about the evolution of your gear 01:02:45 - Tell us about your Fourth Crown Route 01:06:00 - What was the most difficult part of the route for you? 01:10:50 - What is the whole route like? 01:17:20 - Is it jarring to come back to society after the Fourth Crown Route? 01:18:10 - What's the coolest thing you've found as an archeologist? 01:20:21 - How do you make your hikes work financially? 01:23:00 - What is the River to River Trail like? 01:24:15 - Tell us about the Ruby Crest Trail 01:25:15 - Tell us about the Mojave-Sonoran Trail 01:26:00 - How was the Hayduke? 01:27:35 - How do you recommend thru-hiking cheaply? 01:29:28 - Trail Superlatives 01:32:20 - What's your hiking plan for 2026? 01:35:05 - What's your plan to document your hike? 01:37:30 - Peak Performance Question: What is your top performance-enhancing or backpacking hack? Segments Trek Propaganda: Tara Dower Smashes Overall Fastest Known Time on the Long Trail by Katie Jackson QOTD:  Aliens give you 60 seconds to convince them humanity deserves to be saved and you can only show them two items - what would they be? Triple Crown of cable channels One-Minute Gear Reviews Mail Bag  5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek's newsletter 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 and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Bill Jensen, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Bryan Alsop, Carl Houde, Christopher Marshburn, Clint Sitler, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Ethan Harwell, Gillian Daniels, Go Bills, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Matt from Gilbert, AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, SPAM, The Saint Louis Shaman, Timothy Hahn, Tracy 'Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Benjy Lowry, Bonnie Ackerman, Brett Vandiver, Chris Pyle, David, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Greg Floravanti "Lumberjack", Jack Greene, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, and Spencer Hinson.

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek brought to you by LMNT, we're joined by Jeff Oliver, better known on trail and online as IBTAT. In addition to building a large following on YouTube and Instagram, IBTAT will be a familiar voice to long-time Backpacker Radio listeners, as he was part of our first season of Trail Correspondents. We dive into IBTAT's story, including his journey to 12 years of sobriety — going from drinking two fifths of liquor a day to cutting alcohol cold turkey overnight, and the dangerous side effects that followed. We also cover his more than 11,000 miles of trekking over the past seven years, including hikes of the Triple Crown trails, the Scottish National Trail, the C&O Canal Towpath, and Sweden's Kungsleden Trail. Lastly, being a talented photographer and videographer, IBTAT shares expert advice on choosing the right camera and capturing quality photos and video during your hikes. Sassafras, Double Dip and I wrap the show with a call for this year's AT thru-hikers to take the 2025 Appalachian Trail Survey, we opine on what the AT will look like in 2035 (and look back at how it's changed over the past decade), we find the precise point at which a walk becomes a hike, Sass and Katie share how they got started in the Outdoor Industry (providing advice and inspiration for those who want to follow in their tracks), and we do the Triple Crown of cooking tips and hacks. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek.Gossamer Gear: Use code "LT520" for 20% off LT5 Trekking Poles at gossamergear.com.Ombraz: Score a $30 discount by sending a DM to https://www.instagram.com/ombraz/, and letting them know that Backpacker Radio sent you. [divider] Interview with Jeff "IBTAT" Oliver IBTAT's Youtube IBTAT's Instagram IBTAT's Website Time stamps & Questions 00:06:00 - Reminders: Apply to blog for the Trek, take the 2025 AT Thru-Hiker survey, and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon! 00:08:05 - Introducing IBTAT 00:11:15 - When did you start partying? 00:12:25 - Discussion about getting sober 00:16:35 - What was your outdoors experience prior to the AT? 00:19:15 - When did you start videography and photography? 00:22:15 - Are there differences in your audience across different mediums? 00:25:00 - At what point did thru-hiking click for you? 00:27:18 - How did you take to the AT community? 00:29:09 - How was hiking the AT with your dog? 00:31:32 - Any standout stories from the AT? 00:33:16 - When did you decide to get on the PCT? 00:34:51 - What's the most common dinner you eat on trail? 00:36:55  How was the PCT in a high snow year? 00:46:45 - Have you seen a culture change on the PCT? 00:49:05 - Tell us about the Art Loeb Trail 00:51:35 - What was your experience on the CDT? 00:55:05 - What was the most emotional moment you've captured on video on trail? 00:57:35 - How has your videography style changed over time? 00:59:25 - Tell us more about the crowds you've seen on the PCT this year 01:00:35 - Tell us about the Scottish National Trail 01:04:17 - What's been your favorite trail to photograph versus hike? 01:07:35 - Walk us through camera lenses for new photographers 01:12:35 - What's in your photography kit? 01:15:25 - Tell us about the C&O Canal Towpath 01:16:52 - Tell us about the Kungsleden Trail 01:21:31 - What's the next international trail on your bucket list? 01:22:22 - How do you like repeating the PCT? 01:23:38 - Stay Salty Question: What's your hottest take in the world of backpacking? Segments Trek Propaganda: What Will the Appalachian Trail Look Like in 2035? by Katie Jackson The Day I finished the Appalachian Trail (ECT 210) by Steve Hoekwater QOTD:  When does a walk become a hike? Advice Thing of the Week Triple Crown of cooking tips / hacks Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek's newsletter 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 and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Bill Jensen, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Bryan Alsop, Carl Houde, Christopher Marshburn, Clint Sitler, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Ethan Harwell, Gillian Daniels, Go Bills, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Matt from Gilbert, AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, SPAM, The Saint Louis Shaman, Timothy Hahn, Tracy 'Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Benjy Lowry, Bonnie Ackerman, Brett Vandiver, Chris Pyle, David, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Greg Floravanti "Lumberjack", Jack Greene, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, and Spencer Hinson.

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by social media and YouTube sensation, Liz "Handstand" Kidder. Liz is a thru-hiker, vlogger, dreadlock artist, former skydiving fanatic, and a handstand-expert. Liz gives us her full story, including the events that lead to her becoming sober in 2014, how she nearly died in a horrifying skydive gone wrong, how the internet got way too much into her biz almost immediately into her thru-hiking journey, the time she donated a kidney, and we make her choose which trail reigns supreme between the AT and PCT- for which she does not hesitate to pick a winner. We wrap the show with why you shouldn't wear underwear on a thru-hike, a call for 2026 Blogger applications, which is better- hiking steep and short and long and steady, I offer a REPEAT stupid thing of the week, and we do the triple crown of things we'd step in barefoot.  Topo Athletic: Use code "TREKFALL15" at topoathletic.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code "LT520" for 20% off LT5 Trekking Poles at gossamergear.com.  Ka'Chava: Get 10% off at kachava.com/backpacker. [divider] Interview with Liz "Handstand" Kidder Liz's Instagram Liz's Youtube Liz Kidder Studio Time stamps & Questions 00:05:15 - Reminders: Sign up for the Trek's newsletter, apply to blog for the Trek and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon! 00:08:40 - Introducing Liz 00:12:50 - Where's the most epic place you've done a handstand? 00:15:10 - Do you have tips for someone who wants to get better at handstands? 00:17:10 - What was your introduction to the world of backpacking? 00:21:05 - What is the New Hampshire uniform? 00:22:00 - Tell us about skydiving 00:31:00 - How as the first week on trail? 00:32:40 - Had you done any social media prior to the AT? 00:34:50 - What was the drama? 00:36:35 - At what point were you hooked by the AT? 00:38:24 - Why did you end the AT in a more sour mindset than the JMT? 00:39:40 - How did the trail change you? 00:43:24 - Tell us about donating your kidney 00:52:10 - Tell us about your career 00:55:35 - How do you create dread locs? 00:57:20 - Do you get a lot of business through hiking? 01:00:10 - Tell us about the Annapurna Circuit 01:04:35 - How did the Annapurna Circuit compare to your other hikes? 01:06:45 - Tell us about the Colorado Trail 01:07:45 - How has the PCT experience compared to the Colorado Trail? 01:12:00 - Tell us about the scary moments in the Sierra 01:22:24 - Tell us about the Tehachapi challenge 01:30:20 - Tell us about spraining your ankle 01:38:30 - How did you feel about going home during trail? 01:40:51 - Are you still on a continuous footpath? 01:45:00 - Did you capture either of the sprains on camera? 01:47:45 - Do you like the PCT or the AT first? 01:50:11 - Peak Performance Question: What is your top performance-enhancing or backpacking hack? Segments Trek Propaganda Day 93: The Katahdhin Stream Campground Miracle Arrives by Anniversary and the Historian Why You Shouldn't Wear Underwear on Your Thru-Hike by Kelly Floro QOTD:  Would you rather hike 2 miles uphill with no switchbacks, steep grade, or 5 miles uphill with switchbacks, moderate grade? Stupid Thing of the Week Triple Crown of things you'd step on/in barefoot Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek's newsletter 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 and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Bill Jensen, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Bryan Alsop, Carl Houde, Christopher Marshburn, Clever Innuendo, Clint Sitler, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Ethan Harwell, Gillian Daniels, Go Bills, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Matt from Gilbert, AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, SPAM, The Saint Louis Shaman, Timothy Hahn, Tracy 'Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Benjy Lowry, Bonnie Ackerman, Brett Vandiver, Chris Pyle, David, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Greg Floravanti "Lumberjack", Jack Greene, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, and Spencer Hinson.

Join Dan Durston, the founder of Durston Gear and a passionate gear designer based in the Canadian Rockies, as he shares his exciting journey from biologist to entrepreneur. He reveals how he built a cult-like following among backpackers and the challenges of scaling his business while maintaining customer connections. They dive into innovative gear designs, explore quirky backpacking ideas in a fun segment called 'Piranha Pool', and reflect on recent adventures at PCT Trail Days, showcasing the vibrant spirit of the hiking community.

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are chatting all things Wonderland Trail. The Trek's very own Jess Stone is fresh off her thru-hike of this near-100 mile lap around Mt. Rainier in Washington, and gives us a detailed breakdown of her journey and the trail at large. We cover the ideal number of days to do this hike, the standout campsites, wildlife, the permitting process, and the best games to play on trail with your hiking buddies to pass the time such as eating rocks. We wrap the show with a couple of new opportunities to get involved with The Trek, why Nova Scotia has banned all hiking for the foreseeable future, ranking a series of different hiking conditions (or- why postholing is the worst), the triple crown of gear deal breakers, we get even more input on the very controversial decision to use dry ice for resupplies, and a listener reminds us that not all owl encounters are all that interesting. Topo Athletic: Use code "TREKFALL15" at topoathletic.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code "LT520" for 20% off LT5 Trekking Poles at gossamergear.com.  Shady Rays: Use code "TREK" for 35% off sunglasses at shadyrays.com. Betterment: Learn more at betterment.com/trek. [divider] Panel with Jess Stone Jess's Instagram Time stamps & Questions 00:04:50 - Reminders: Sign up for the Trek's newsletter, apply to blog for the Trek or be a social media intern, and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon! 00:11:23 - Introducing Jess 00:13:45 - Where is the Wonderland Trail? 00:14:15 - What is the permit system like? 00:18:10 - What is the distance and are there alternates? 00:22:20 - Did you bring a bear canister? 00:23:20 - Where did you start and what direction did you go? 00:25:35 - How did this trail compare to some of your past thru-hikes? 00:29:10 - Tell us about the wildlife 00:34:45 - How do the resupplies work? 00:36:45 - Tell us about making your own food 00:40:04 - What were the best campsites? 00:43:00 - Tell us about your hike chronologically 00:47:27 - What was your hiking group? 00:51:50 - Day 3 of the hike 00:59:00 - Did you encounter rangers? 01:02:30 - Eagles Roost to Golden Lakes 01:05:50 - Golden Lakes and afterward 01:09:50 - High Low Buffalo 01:12:15 - What gear stood out to you? 01:17:50 - What footwear did you use? 01:20:40 - How was the weather and water situation? 01:23:22 - How did you get to the trail? 01:26:10 - How was the experience overall? 01:27:12 - Wonderland Trail or the best 93 miles of the Long Trail? 01:29:00 - Peak Performance Question: What's your top performance-enhancing or backpacking hack? Segments Trek Propaganda: Nova Scotia Bans All Hiking Due to Wildfire Risk by Chickpea QOTD:  How many miles would each of the following have to be for them all to feel equal? Thing of the Week Triple Crown of gear deal breakers Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek's newsletter 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 and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Bill Jensen, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Bryan Alsop, Carl Houde, Christopher Marshburn, Clever Innuendo, Clint Sitler, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Ethan Harwell, Gillian Daniels, Go Bills, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Matt from Gilbert, AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, SPAM, The Saint Louis Shaman, Timothy Hahn, Tracy 'Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Benjy Lowry, Bonnie Ackerman, Brett Vandiver, Chris Pyle, David, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Greg Floravanti "Lumberjack", Jack Greene, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, and Spencer Hinson.