Backpacker Radio

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Minus33, we are joined by Badger’s pal, Billy Widmer.  In addition to being The Trek's go-to tech guru, Billy has an accomplished backpacking resume that includes an AT thru-hike, a lot of trekking through his native lands of New York, and a recent and very unorthodox thru-hike of the Arizona Trail.  The conversation spins off in a predictably tangential fashion, where we talk about web 3.0, the blockchain, and the mental health impacts of 100% remote work. We wrap the show with a triple crown of ways to stave off the winter blues and the news of some recent bear activity near McAfee Knob on the AT. Minus33: Head to minus33.com and use code “21backpacker15” for 15% off your order Gossamer Gear discount code: Use code “littledonkeygirl” for 15% off at Gossamergear.com. Excludes Black Friday sale. Enlightened Equipment: Save 10% off Enlightened Equipment’s Stock Revelation Quilt or Torrid Jacket with code “thetrek10” here. Code excludes holiday sale running 11/19/21 - 11/29/21, where shoppers can score 10% off customer & 20% off stock.  Organifi discount code: Go to organifi.com/backpacker, use code “backpacker” and get 25% off everything in the store and free shipping within the U.S. from 11/26-11/30. After those dates, get 20% off your entire purchase with code “backpacker”  Interview with Billy Widmer  Time stamps & Questions 00:04:13 - QOTD: What’s your death row meal?  00:07:20 - Welcome Billy!  00:07:52 - How did you get your trail name?  00:08:44 - Is that your death row meal?  00:09:00 - Were you always vegan in NY?  00:09:35 - What’s your hiking background?  00:10:24 - Was that your first long-distance hiking trip?  00:10:48 - What have you been up to since the AT?  00:12:07 - When did you do the Uinta Highline?  00:12:22 - Give us the rundown on that!  00:12:56 - Does Utah get similar weather too Colorado?  00:13:41 - Why did you choose eastbound? 00:14:10 - Is there a logistical reason why people go one way versus another?  00:14:26 - How much of it is trailed?  00:15:00 - Is there a specific difference between the East terrain and West terrain?  00:15:56 - For someone interested in the Uinta Highline, do you have any prep advice?  00:17:14 - What is the Nolan’s 14?  00:18:07 - Do you have to complete it in a certain amount of time?  00:18:26 - How many people have done it within 60 hours? 00:18:56 - What went wrong in your attempt?  00:19:57 - Did you give yourself checkpoints for pacing? 00:21:11 - What Mt. Elbert the first 14er you ever did?  00:21:28 - Would you make another attempt?  00:21:44 - Did you do Capitol Peak?  00:22:28 - What is it like going over the knife’s edge on Capitol Peak?  00:23:18 - Chaunce, would you do Capitol Peak?  00:24:19 - Have you done any other 14ers that rival Capitol Peak?  00:24:51 - How does that compare to climbing in Yosemite?  00:25:15 - What’s the most intense climbing you’ve done?  00:26:12 - Where did your idea for the AZT come from?  00:28:30 - Because of the water access, did your route work for you?  00:29:39 - What was your timeframe for hiking the AZT? 00:30:35 - Was it a fairly solo journey?  00:31:07 - Does your mind start playing tricks on you? 00:32:16 - What was the wildlife like?  00:33:24 - Do bites happen regularly? 00:34:53 - Any other wildlife encounters?  00:35:07 - What is a Gila monster? 00:35:50 - Are they endangered or just good at hiding? 00:36:02 - Do they bite?  00:36:33 - How long did it take you to hike the AZT? 00:37:43 - What was your average daily mileage?  00:38:01 - How does the AZT compare to the AT?  00:38:58 - Would you do it again? 00:39:33 - Did you encounter ridiculously hot days?  00:39:58 - Were you hiking in the evenings at all?  00:40:22 - Did you become the Guthook/Far Out hero? 00:41:11 - Any other notable highlights/lowlights from the AZT?  00:42:17 - Do you wish you would have picked a longer trail?  00:45:24 - As a vegan, what do you eat on trail?  00:48:11- What do you like about working for Zach?  00:48:55 - What do you hate about working for Zach?  00:50:27 - What has your career path looked like?  00:52:12 - Is it accurate that other companies try to lure you in with benefits or perks? 00:54:08 - What’s Chaunce’s candy count so far?  00:55:02 - How do you get started in the tech world?  00:55:40 - Is there a specific programming language someone should start with? 00:56:14 - Do you need to be proficient in math to be a good developer?  00:57:30 - What is web 3.0? 01:00:40 - It decentralizes everything right?  01:01:10 - What is proof of concept?  01:02:29 - What is a “block”? 01:04:11 - Do you believe this is the future of universal currency?  01:05:42 - What’s an NFT and is Zach one?  01:09:56 - You mentioned you think everything will be digital. What would a digital world look like?  01:11:03 - Do people think it’s bad that things will all become digital?  01:14:02 - How do you feel about remote work? 01:19:26 - What’s your major fuck up at The Trek?  01:21:50 - What’s on your outdoor bucket list for the next year?  SEGMENTS Trek Propaganda  How I Managed Chronic Depression on my AT Thru-Hike by Sarah Wolfson Bear Activity Near McAfee Knob by Kelly Floro Triple crown of ways to fight off the Winter Blues Thank you again too Minus33!  [divider] Check out our sound guy @Paulybooyshallcross. 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 The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok.  A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Ausen McDaniel, Jason Lawrence, Christopher Marshburn, Sawyer Products, Brad and Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Patrick Cianciolo, Brandon Spilker and Matt Soukup. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Cynthia Voth,, Emily Brown, Mitchell, Dcnerdlet, Jeff LaFranier, Peter Ellenberg, Jacob Northrup, Peter Leven, TraskVT, Lindsay Sparks, Liz Seger and Lisa Douglas.

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, we are joined by Andrew Hughes.  Andrew is quite possibly the most accomplished mountaineer that you have never heard of.  Some of his feats include climbing the highest summit in all seven continents and six of the seven highest volcanic summits, he's the third person ever to complete the Antarctica Trifecta, and he's very close to completing the Explorers' Grand Slam.  If you're not familiar with what these last two feats are, you're certainly not alone, we do a deep dive on all this and much more. We learn about a missing hiker who ignored rescuers' calls for a hilarious reason, a very last minute, seasonal triple crown, and we hear from Chaunce's #1 fan.  

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we bring you our first ever LIVE podcast.  And by that, we mean it was live to the fine folks who joined us at the Hop Haus in Fitchburg, Wisconsin on October 15th.  There's no way to describe this episode other than...rowdy.  If you want to feel like you were in the room with us, we recommend grabbing a blue ribbon or two and maybe an old-fashioned to boot.   Gossamer Gear discount code: Use code “gingersaregood” for 15% off at Gossamergear.com. Goodr: Use code “backpacker15” at checkout to save 15% off your first order at goodr.com/backpacker15  Vital Farms: Check out vitalfarms.com to learn more about where honest food is raised [divider] 2021 AT Hikers: Take the Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker Survey Live episode with Chaunce, Zach, and special guest, Jabba Time stamps & Questions 00:03:13- QOTD: What’s one thing from your childhood that you wish was still in full force today?  00:04:09 - Reminders & thank you to Ice Age Trail Alliance  00:05:03 - Episode Drinking Game: Any time you hear the words “hike” or “Wisconsin”, take a drink  00:06:43 - Introducing the surprise guest 00:07:38 - Welcoming Jabba  00:08:33 - Jabba’s elevator pitch  00:11:10 - Explaining the Culver’s CurderBurger  00:12:56 - What is the Ice Age Trail’s Mammoth Hiking Challenge?  00:14:42 - Jabba and his full throttle approach   00:15:57 - Can Chaunce spell “apropos”? 00:17:56 - Favorite moments from the Ice Age Trail 00:20:01 - Who knows the game of “Odds”? 00:22:14 - Is anyone familiar with the Lehigh Gap on the AT?  00:23:26 - Chaunce is interested in thru-hiking the Ice Age Trail  00:24:10 - Let’s show Elise some appreciation!  00:25:58 - Would you rather have a magical van that could teleport you anywhere you want and time travel OR magically consume the knowledge of any book you touch?  00:27:50 - Would you rather have an obsessive person love you OR hate you?  00:30:25 - Would you rather be able to eat anything you want and have it be perfect nutrition OR sleep one hour a day and be fully rested  00:31:40 - Which scenario would you want to be true: Jurassic Park Or Ghost Busters?  00:32:35 - Would you rather fight a chicken barehanded every time you get into a car OR fight an orangutan with a sword once a year?  00:35:00 - Hike Wisconsin!  00:35:20 - What animal do you think would be your exact equal in a fight?  00:36:26 - What is your definition of love?   00:38:10 - Jabba’s Colorado trail story  00:41:13 - What is the most suspicious thing to buy along with condoms?  00:42:20 - Do you open a popsicle from the stick side or popsicle side?  00:45:16 - Are hot dogs sandwiches?  00:47:20 - Would you rather win a million dollars OR gain global citizenship?  00:49:50 - Would you rather fight one hundred chicken sized horses OR one horse-sized chicken?  00:54:55 - Let’s chat about the Hayduke  00:57:57 - Who is working on the Mammoth Hike Challenge?  00:58:11 - Who has completed the challenge?  00:59:11 - Does everyone know who Scott Jurek is?  01:02:11 - Does anyone know who’s face is part of the Mike Myers mask?  01:03:30 - Let’s get back to Scott Jurek!  01:04:20 - What went wrong with the FKT attempts?  01:09:08 - At what point did you know you needed to go home?  01:11:38 - Is anyone familiar with Scott Jurek’s book, North?  01:13:31 - How do you convince your support team that you’re done?  01:15:15 - Audience Q&A Time  01:16:18 - What’s the longest you’ve been on a trail?  01:17:27 - What was home to you at that time?  01:19:48 - What do you listen to while you hike? What is your favorite Harry Styles song?  01:30:20 - Do you think it’s easier to hike, go back to a job, and know what’s out there for you OR continue working a job that you aren’t pleased with, but not know the joy hiking could bring?  01:32:25 - Tasha, blogger of The Trek, answers the above question  01:35:40 - Introducing Pauly!  01:37:48 - What is it like editing BPR?  01:38:20 - When have you edited out something Jabba said or did?  01:39:40 - What was the most painful episode to edit?  01:40:40 - Do you actually enjoy listening to the podcast?  01:42:42 - What nuances do you pick up on that the normal person wouldn’t pick up on?  01:43:42 - What “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” clip did you add to the Fancy Feast episode?    SEGMENTS Triple Crown of Wisconsin Things Get to know Mara  Ice Age Trail Spotlight  [divider] Check out our sound guy @Paulybooyshallcross. 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 The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok.  A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Ausen McDaniel, Jason Lawrence, Christopher Marshburn, Sawyer Products, Brad and Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Patrick Cianciolo, Brandon Spilker and Matt Soukup. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Cynthia Voth,, Emily Brown, Mitchell, Dcnerdlet, Jeff LaFranier, Peter Ellenberg, Jacob Northrup, Peter Leven, TraskVT, Lindsay Sparks, Liz Seger and Lisa Douglas.

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, Badger, Chaunce, and Sauce give you the full recap of our recent Wisconsin Ice Age Trail Road Trip Extravaganza.  We give you a play-by-play of the highlights from the trail, town, the live events, and all the TMI inside stories and embarrassing moments in between.  Casual warning to listeners- you will walk away from this one wanting to hike the Ice Age Trail and/or gorge yourself on fried fish. We wrap with a very brief segment discussing the new rebrand of Guthook Guides. Organifi discount code: Use code “backpacker” at organifi.com/backpacker for 20% off your purchase Gossamer Gear discount code: Use code “gingersaregood” for 15% off at Gossamergear.com. Minus33: Head to minus33.com and use code “21backpacker15” for 15% off your order ZBiotics: Use code “trek10” at zbiotics.com  Recap with Chaunce, Zach, and Elise  Time stamps & Questions 00:04:52 - QOTD: What was your biggest surprise about Wisconsin?  00:10:16 - Day 1 in Wisconsin  00:11:28 - Meeting the Travel Wisconsin crew 00:12:11 - Starting the Ice Age Trail in St. Croix   00:15:53 - Packing out Culvers every night  00:17:40 - Sunsets, beavers, and WI elevation  00:18:51 - Ice Age Trail history from Elise  00:20:42 - Beaver stories 00:23:30 - Playing “Odds”  00:27:02 - Breakfast in Cornell, WI  00:29:40 - Ice Age Trail: Ringle Segment 00:32:04 - Zach drops spider in Elise’s bag  00:35:54 - Night hiking  00:40:56 - Ice Age Trail trailhead festivity  00:41:25 - Playing “Odds” again  00:44:55 - Hilltop Pub & Grill fish fry  00:46:44 - What are the odds Zach would hike in a leather thong? 00:49:03 - Bohn Lake segment  00:50:32 - Preparing for the Delafield Meet-up  00:55:36 - Exploring Whitewater, WI 00:59:40 - Getting to know Elise better  01:00:14 - Jabba joined the group 01:01:16 - Elisa tells Chaunce’s underwear story  01:04:00 - Ice Age Trail: Blackhawk and Blue Spring Lake segment  01:06:13 - Hiking Devil’s Lake  01:11:44 - Car ferry on the Ice Age Trail  01:12:38 - Exploring Lodi, WI  01:13:32 - Live podcasting in Fitchburg, WI  01:15:12 - What happened to Chaunce’s face?  01:20:00 - Exploring downtown Madison, WI on Badge Game Day  01:20:39 - Flying back to Denver  01:22:44 - Recap wrap-up    SEGMENTS Trek Propaganda  Guthook Guides, Popular Thru-Hiking App, Rebrands as FarOut [divider] Check out our sound guy @Paulybooyshallcross. 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 The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok.  A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Ausen McDaniel, Jason Lawrence, Christopher Marshburn, Sawyer Products, Brad and Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Patrick Cianciolo, Brandon Spilker and Matt Soukup.   A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Cynthia Voth,, Emily Brown, Mitchell, Dcnerdlet, Jeff LaFranier, Peter Ellenberg, Jacob Northrup, Peter Leven, TraskVT, Lindsay Sparks, Liz Seger and Lisa Douglas.

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by world-renowned photographer and director, Pete McBride. We learn about Pete's entry into photography, including what advice he'd offer to aspiring adventure journalists, what it's like to work for NationalGeographic, the ongoing conservationist threats to the Grand Canyon and the Navajo Nation, and we learn all about his new book "Seeing Silence: The Beauty of the World’s Most Quiet Places".  We wrap the show with a triple crown of our favorite sounds from nature, another gross or not gross aimed at hazing Chaunce, and we get a listener recommendation for combining the backcountry bidet with the kula cloth. Gossamer Gear discount code: Use code “gingersaregood” for 15% off at Gossamergear.com. Enlightened Equipment: Save 10% off Enlightened Equipment’s Stock Revelation Quilt or Stock Torrid Jacket with code “thetrek10” here. ZBiotics: Use code “trek10” at zbiotics.com  Vital Farms: Check out vitalfarms.com to learn more about where honest food is raised Interview with Pete McBride Pete McBride’s Instagram  New Book: “Seeing Silence: The Beauty of the World's Most Quiet Places” Time stamps & Questions 00:04:19 - QOTD: What is the single most thing you are excited about for the Wisconsin trip?  00:07:22 - Introducing Pete McBride  00:08:05 - How did you get into photography?  00:10:46 - Was this digital photography at the time? 00:11:49 - When you went digital, was it due to the wider range of error?  00:13:04 - Do you have one go-to camera or is it based on the job?  00:13:55 - Do you have a couple go-to lens’s you use?  00:14:17 - What lens did you use for your Grand Canyon hike?  00:16:41 - What is the project proposal process for National Geographic?  00:17:38 - Would you recommend photographers focus on writing skills?  00:19:30 - What are the biggest differences between a photography and videography project?  00:21:13 - How much of the story do you build out prior to the shoot?  00:23:06 - Any favorite leaf peeping spots in Colorado?  00:26:16 - How many photography projects have you done?  00:27:27 - Do you have a favorite project?  00:29:39 - How much water did you carry for that stretch?  00:31:00 - How do you deal with the emotional response to visually seeing the rivers dry up?  00:33:28 - Tell me more about the Grand Canyon project  00:36:43 - Where does the “Grand Escalade” initiative stand today?  00:38:28 - Is there a resource you’d recommend to others interested in protecting the Grand Canyon?  00:40:45 - Was the hike of the Grand Canyon a hard sell for yourself?  00:42:21 - What is hyponatremia?  00:43:16 - What happened after you fell apart on day 5?  00:44:45 - How did you segment the Grand Canyon hike?  00:45:15 - Are you taking a trail to get in and out of the canyon?  00:46:20 - What was the stat regarding the number of tourists that could go into the canyon via the tram? 00:48:00 - Give us the pitch for your new book 00:51:31 - What is the Drake Passage?  00:52:01 - What does a 70 ft. swell feel like?  00:52:22 - Is it the motion that’s upsetting or the risk?  00:54:18 - Did you know you were capturing a once-in-a-lifetime event?  00:55:51 - Did you feel excitement or fear with the whale?  00:56:38 - Do Orcas eat any fish in mass quantities?  00:57:59 - What are your favorite sounds that get overlooked by most people?  01:01:29 - Where should people buy the book?  01:01:54 - How many photos are in the book?  01:02:53 - Do you have a favorite photo?  01:03:33 - Have you ever done anything with eels?  01:04:37 - Can you tell us the story of the The Ganges photo?  01:06:09 - What is your favorite photography subject?  01:07:11 - Have you ever felt your life was in danger when photographing wildlife?  01:09:37 - Have there been other times where you’ve felt your life was in danger?  01:12:23 - Where can people listen to your NPR interview? 01:13:02 - Anything else you’d like to direct listeners to?  SEGMENTS Trek Propaganda Congrats to 2021 PCT Thru-Hikers  Congrats to 2021 AT Thru-Hikers EcoPak – Revolutionizing Thru-Hiking Packs for a Better Planet The Trek Blogger & Vlogger Applications Triple Crown of coolest nature sounds  Gross or Not Gross: Re-wearing workout clothes for more than one workout Mail Bag 5 Star Reviews [divider] Check out our sound guy @Paulybooyshallcross. 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 The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok.  A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Ausen McDaniel, Jason Lawrence, Christopher Marshburn, Sawyer Products, Brad and Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Patrick Cianciolo, Brandon Spilker and Matt Soukup. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Cynthia Voth,, Emily Brown, Mitchell, Dcnerdlet, Jeff LaFranier, Peter Ellenberg, Jacob Northrup, Peter Leven, TraskVT, Lindsay Sparks, Liz Seger and Lisa Douglas.

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we open the show with a Hiker Trash edition of "Hot Ones", where Chaunce and Badger are grilled by Elise while eating incredibly hot wings. Tears, fear, and slamming beers ensues. We also feature our most impromptu interview to date with our new pal, Fancy Feast. Fancy Feast just wrapped a thru-hike of the Colorado Trail, after having her SOBO PCT plans thwarted by California's fires. In addition to giving us the unenviable story of finding Badger's dirty socks, she shares her experiences of working a variety of conservation jobs, including her time at the Green Mountain Club, and quite possibly the funniest trail name origin story we've ever heard. We wrap the show with a triple crown of the most beautiful spaces we've seen while backpacking, a quick n dirty gear review on the Platypus QuickDraw, and some listener feedback on period underwear.   Minus33: Head to minus33.com and use code “21backpacker15” for 15% off your order Enlightened Equipment: Save 10% off of Enlightened Equipment’s Stock Revelation Quilt or Torrid Jacket with code “thetrek10” here  Organifi discount code: Use code “backpacker” at organifi.com/backpacker for 20% off your purchase ZBiotics: Use code “trek10” at zbiotics.com [divider] Interview with Fancy Feast Fancy Feast's Instagram Time stamps & Questions 00:04:40 - QOTD: Do people attempting an FKT take the time to bury their poop? 00:06:30 - Backpacker Team Hot Ones 00:07:23 - How is everyone’s spice tolerance?  00:09:05 - Chaunce, what’s the longest you have gone without a shower? 00:11:00 - Zach, are there any big adventure plans with Leo?  00:12:20 - Chaunce, if you could co-host with someone other than Zach, who would you pick? 00:12:42 - Zach, if you could co-host with someone other than Chaunce, who would you pick? 00:14:03 - Can you name the first 10 episodes of Backpacker Radio in order?  00:18:11 - Zach, do you and Chaunce ever argue over creative differences? If so, when?  00:21:10 - Chaunce, what annoys you the most about Zach? 00:23:03 - Zach, can you explain this Tweet: “We imitate dog stretches and sexual positions, but not their affinity for goose shit. Seems arbitrary to me.” What inspired that? 00:24:23 - Chaunce, are there any episodes you wish you could erase?  00:27:29 - What’s the most annoying thru-hiking cliche?  00:31:34 - Chaunce, are you single?  00:32:07 - Zach, what was the last thing you lied to Jenna about?  00:33:39 - Chaunce, do you know what the Vas Deferens are? The seminal vesicles? The corona?  00:38:21 - Zach, can you sing “Walking Slow” by Animal Years? 00:40:11 - What’s the worst Leave No Trace error you’ve made?  00:43:13 - Out of all the guests on the show, are there any that you’d never want to hike with or have back on the show?  00:44:50 - Chaunce and Zach, will either of you triple crown?  00:49:10 - Introducing Fancy Feast 00:50:26 - Backstory of Zach’s sock search  00:53:22 - When did you finish the Colorado Trail?  00:53:39 - Give us your backpacking resume 00:57:06 - What was it like to work for the Green Mountain Club?  00:57:12 - Walk us through your job  00:58:00 - How do you go about educating other hikers?  00:58:43 - How did you handle poop stirring tasks?  00:58:57 - What do you stir the waste with?  00:59:43 - How many total privies have you stirred?  01:01:14 - What is the difference between the privies?  01:01:51 - Do you wear a N95 mask when doing those tasks?  01:02:02 - Have you ever gotten poop soup on you? 01:03:13 - What happens after the composting process begins?  01:03:34 - Where does the new soil get distributed?  01:04:34 - Do you have any advice for others looking for a similar job?  01:05:46 - Anything else on the hiking resume?  01:07:00 - What is it like to be told you need to get off trail vs. when you make the decision yourself?  01:10:05 - When you switched to the Sierra, was it a strategic decision?  01:10:48 - Did you hike the CT with other PCT hikers? 01:13:04 - What was the journey like getting from the PCT to the CT? 01:15:58 - What’s the Southwest Conservation Corp?  01:16:35 - What are some examples of the work?  01:18:00 - How did you end up getting into conservation work?  01:19:33 - Give us your pitch on why trail maintenance is rewarding  01:22:52 - How many compliments do you get on your hat?  01:23:20 - How did you find out about Zach’s socks?  01:24:04 - Did you have trouble finding them? 01:24:48 - What was appealing about the sock hunt?  01:26:44 - What hike is next?  01:27:28 - Do you have to worry about snow?  01:29:04 - What knowledge do you need to have about cows?  01:30:26 - Is this a paid role? 01:30:36 - Is there an adventure planned for after ski bumming?  01:31:29 - If you went back on the conservation end of the spectrum, do you have a dream conservation job?  01:32:15 - How did you get the name Fancy Feast?  01:34:58 - Did it taste like it smells?  01:35:24 - Have you eaten cat food since?  01:36:45 - As a listener, what is something you’ve always wanted to say to the hosts?  01:37:45 - Was it a conscious decision to not wear makeup on an episode where you’re sweating?  01:38:14 - How does the studio compare to your expectations?  01:38:56 - What was your least favorite episode?  01:39:20 - What do you do to save money?  01:40:29 - What was your favorite episode?  01:42:49 - Anything else you’d like to convey, Fancy Feast?     SEGMENTS Hot Ones Bet  Trek Propaganda  Triple Crown of the best backpacking views  Gross or Not Gross If you don't wash thrifted clothes before you wear them Mail Bag  5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @Paulybooyshallcross. 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 The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok.  A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Ausen McDaniel, Jason Lawrence, Christopher Marshburn, Sawyer Products, Brad and Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Patrick Cianciolo, Brandon Spilker and Matt Soukup. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Cynthia Voth,, Emily Brown, Mitchell, Dcnerdlet, Jeff LaFranier, Peter Ellenberg, Jacob Northrup, Peter Leven, TraskVT, Lindsay Sparks, Liz Seger and Lisa Douglas.

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are rejoined by Nicole Antoinette.  We get an update on how her Colorado Trail hike went, including some very unexpected turns, we learn more about her entry into van life, and what advice she'd give to others looking to do the same, and chat about her new book which she is reluctant to call a book, How to Be Alone, an 800-mile hike on the Arizona Trail.  Perhaps it goes without saying, but for those who were fans of Nicole's first appearance on the show, this one will not disappoint.  We wrap the show with Chaunce butchering the pronunciation of Wisconsin town names, a quick education on the bark beetle problem facing the American West, an exciting announcement about a not-yet-fully-fledged Backpacker Radio sponsorship for one lucky 2022 thru-hiker, a triple crown of stereotypical dog names, and much more. Enlightened Equipment: Save 10% off of Enlightened Equipment’s Stock Revelation Quilt or Stock Torrid Jacket with code “thetrek10” here. Organifi discount code: Use code “backpacker” at organifi.com/backpacker for 20% off your purchase Vital Farms: Check out vitalfarms.com to learn more about where honest food is raised Goodr: Use code “backpacker15” at checkout to save 15% off your first order at goodr.com/backpacker15  [divider] Interview with Nicole Antoinette Nicole’s Instagram Nicole's Food Post  Nicole's New Book Nicole's Gear List Time stamps & Questions 00:05:04 - QOTD: What’s your favorite fall activity? 00:08:26 - Wisconsin hiker meet-up updates  00:10:15 - The Mammoth Hike challenge  00:11:01 - Introducing Nicole Antoinette  00:13:03 - How did the Colorado Trail compare to the Arizona Trail and PCT?  00:13:47 - Why was the Colorado Trail the most joyful hiking experience?  00:16:27 - Emotional base weight impacts your hike  00:18:43 - Beginners on the Colorado Trail 00:21:05 - Tell us about hiking with your partner  00:24:05 - How did you handle your partner’s injury mid-hike?  00:28:45 - What did everyone else’s journey look like from that point forward? 00:32:36 - Hiking with your partner  00:35:19 - Did you have a favorite stretch or day on the Colorado Trail?  00:38:40 - Altitude sickness on the Colorado Trail 00:43:29 - Social media’s impact on preparing for a thru hike  00:46:26 - Anything else you’d want to share about the Colorado Trail? 00:48:06 - Hiking with a frameless pack  00:54:50 - Why did you move away from veganism?  00:58:08 - Any go-to, vegan thru-hiking foods? 01:01:30 - Did you experience any health changes when you re-introduced animal products? 01:04:31 - Do the symptoms of endometriosis go away immediately after you start hiking?  01:06:21 - How often are you living in your van?  01:06:48 - What year did van life start?  01:06:55 - What motivated you to get into van life?  01:09:03 - Talk us through the non-obvious pros and cons of van life  01:13:52 - If you could go back and give yourself van life advice, would you change anything?  01:18:13 - Did you retire a podcast?  01:18:26 - Tell me about the new podcast 01:22:07 - Nicole’s book 01:29:55 - Thank you, Nicole!    SEGMENTS Wisconsin Town Names Trek Propaganda  Triple Crown of most stereotypical dog names If you were to get a restaurant logo tattoo in exchange for free food, what Denver restaurant would you pick? Mail Bag 5 Star Reviews Gross or Not Gross Zach's photo of a white substance [divider] Check out our sound guy @Paulybooyshallcross. 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 The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok.  A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Ausen McDaniel, Jason Lawrence, Christopher Marshburn, Sawyer Products, Brad and Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Patrick Cianciolo, Brandon Spilker and Matt Soukup.   A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Cynthia Voth,, Emily Brown, Mitchell, Dcnerdlet, Jeff LaFranier, Peter Ellenberg, Jacob Northrup, Peter Leven, TraskVT, Lindsay Sparks, Liz Seger and Lisa Douglas.

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are talking all things social media and how it relates to the world of backpacking.  This is a long and lively conversation and we dive into some highly charged subjects including gatekeeping, is Instagram influencing a good or bad for the thru-hiking culture, the addictive nature of social media, and much much more.     Backcountry.com discount code: Use code “backpackerradio” at backcountry.com/backpackerradio to get 15% off your first full price purchase Organifi discount code: Use code “backpacker” at organifi.com/backpacker for 20% off your purchase [divider] Social Media X Backpacking Panel  Zach’s Instagram Juliana’s Instagram Elise’s Instagram Time stamps & Questions 00:02:44 - QOTD: What was the first social media app you engaged with regularly?  00:09:19 - Wisconsin reminder: Delafield & Fitchburg events  00:10:27 - Introducing today’s panel: Social Media X Backpacking  00:12:24 - Zach’s take on Instagram being an ineffective tool to learn about backpacking 00:13:45 - Chaunce’s rebuttal on using social media for research  00:15:56 - Zach’s recommendation to not use Instagram as your primary research tool  00:16:06 - How much did Chaunce research for her PCT hike?  00:17:00 - Elise’s take on applying critical thinking when viewing social media content  00:18:30 - Blogging content vs. social media content  00:21:30 - Chaunce’s defense of Instagram  00:22:52 - Elise moderates and discusses Instagram serving as a highlight reel 00:23:54 - Example of people using Instagram negatively for educational purposes  00:25:00 - Using social media tools for inspiration  00:27:11 - Discussing the impact of diving into a thru-hike unprepared  00:28:18 - Elise’s caveat to using social media for education  00:29:44 - YouTube being a powerful educator 00:30:10 - Tagging locations on Instagram  00:30:58 - Chaunce’s pro-tagging stance  00:32:43 - Elise’s tagging stance and how it relates to increase crowds in the outdoors  00:34:00 - How tagging locations relates to gatekeeping  00:35:11 - Nuances of the gatekeeping debate  00:36:46 - If you want to keep places private, why would you post about it to begin with? 00:39:25 - Chaunce’s stance on requiring permits for overcrowded areas  00:41:25 - Elise’s point on paid permits being exclusionary  00:44:23 - Pros and cons of Instagram influencing  00:46:26 - Financial motivation to be an influencer  00:53:45 - What are the benefits to growing your presence on Instagram?  00:59:00 - Elise’s pros for growing her account  01:00:39 - Elise’s cons for growing her accounts  01:01:30 - People misplacing their anger toward influencers  01:04:00 - Defining what constitutes as a “public figure”  01:07:45 - At what point do you accept you’re a public figure?  01:08:53 - Elise’s Guthook trolls story  01:11:10 - Opening yourself up to negativity  01:12:28 - Using hashtags to gain exposure  01:12:47 - Summary of pros and cons of Instagram influencing  01:14:55 - Thriving off of social media attention  01:15:45 - Pressures of entertaining fans  01:19:12 - Determining how comfortable you are with attention 01:22:12 - Can being an influencer impact your experience on trail?  01:27:42 - Instagram providing instant gratification  01:30:14 - Have you ever touched up a photo to alter your appearance?  01:31:20 - If you were sharing with friends, would you still edit the photo?  01:35:45 - Does Instagram make people more self-conscious about appearance?  01:42:11 - Is the influencer world having a negative impact in backpacking?  01:54:23 - The power of social media to influence positive change  01:59:51 - How Zach landed on his decision to decrease social media usage  02:06:51 - Zach, how do your opinions conflict with running the Trek’s social pages?  02:08:50 - “The Social Dilemma” documentary  02:10:49 - Chaunce’s social media conclusion  02:16:10 - Being a good listener vs. solutioning  02:18:05 - Defining what good social media use is for you  02:22:17- Episode wrap-up  [divider] Check out our sound guy @Paulybooyshallcross. 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 The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok.  A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Ausen McDaniel, Jason Lawrence, Christopher Marshburn, Sawyer Products, Brad and Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Patrick Cianciolo, Brandon Spilker and Matt Soukup.   A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Cynthia Voth,, Emily Brown, Mitchell, Dcnerdlet, Jeff LaFranier, Peter Ellenberg, Jacob Northrup, Peter Leven, TraskVT, Lindsay Sparks, Liz Seger and Lisa Douglas.

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Lauren and Henri de la Vega — a husband and wife southbounding the Continental Divide Trail to complete their triple crown. We take a journey down memory lane in both romance and trails and get an in-depth play-by-play on their CDT hike thus far. This chat paints an awesome picture of some of the alternates that are available, how to spot geothermal activity under the ground when in the backcountry of Yellowstone, and risk tolerances based on experiences from the PCT. It ends with the cutest Q&A, trek propaganda on a breakout of COVID in the AT portion of Maine, a heated triple crown of cereals, and more. Backcountry.com discount code: Use code “backpackerradio” at backcountry.com/backpackerradio to get 15% off your first full price purchase Gossamer Gear discount code: Use code “gingersaregood” for 15% off at Gossamergear.com. Vital Farms: Check out vitalfarms.com to learn more about where honest food is raised Enlightened Equipment: Save 10% off Enlightened Equipment’s Stock Revelation Quilt or Stock Torrid Jacket with code “thetrek10” here. Interview with Lauren & Henri de la Vega Lauren’s Instagram  Henri’s Instagram  Lauren & Henri’s Guiding Company Time stamps & Questions 00:04:15 - QOTD: How was your last week?  00:09:54 - General Reminders: Wisconsin meetups & new intern  00:11:45 - Guest introductions 00:13:18 - Did you meet on trail?  00:15:42 - Did the woman you babysat for officiate your wedding?  00:16:05 - Did you both have an interest in thru-hiking?  00:17:01 - How long had you been dating when you started the AT? 00:17:23 - Did you enjoy the transition to sharing the same tent, and giving up your personal space? 00:19:04 - How is SOBOing the CDT going?  00:19:50 - When did you start the CDT?  00:19:55 - What was the weather like at the time? 00:20:34 - Were there any big gear changes from the AT/PCT/CDT?  00:21:24 - Did the tent give you peace of mind with the bears?  00:22:20 - What was your reaction when you thought a bear collapsed the tent? 00:22:50 - Did the fires impact your hike?  00:25:28 - What was the scenery like on the Big Sky route?  00:26:03 - How many miles have you hiked?  00:27:57 - How does your mileage tracking impact your resupply?  00:30:15 - What's the most amount of people you think you’ve seen on a given day?  00:30:53 - Are you finding it’s primarily hikers on their 3rd trail, or beginners?  00:31:29 - What’s the wildlife been like? 00:35:17 - Is the pika encounter the scariest animal encounter you’ve had in your life?  00:35:34 - When you walked through Yellowstone, were you able to do some sightseeing?  00:36:36 - Weren’t you worried about the thermal areas while hiking?  00:37:32 - How do you identify thermal areas? 00:39:20 - Were you able to identify any of the thermal areas yourself?  00:41:00 - Can the thermal hot springs be used as a water source?  00:41:14 - Are people swimming in these spots?  00:42:38 - When were you passing through Yellowstone?  00:42:44 - Where do you go after Yellowstone?  00:44:49 - Was the alternate to Jackass Pass similar to Mahoosuc Notch?  00:45:36 - How long is the alternate in comparison to Mahoosuc Notch?  00:47:10 - Did you look at photos before getting to the CDT destinations?  00:48:07 - Since you didn’t see photos beforehand, were you surprised by your reaction to some of the views or spots? 00:49:02 - What were your “Oh shit!” moments on the trails? 01:04:33 - What was underneath the hole you created on Mather Pass?  01:06:46 - Did people on Facebook weigh in on what the hole was?  01:08:18 - Was it Strawberry or Tree?  01:10:54 - Did Strawberry’s accident impact your risk tolerance? 01:13:40 - Where were you Guiding in New York?  01:13:55 - Is it for kids or adults?  01:14:49 - Is it a course you take to become a Guide?  01:15:46 - What types of questions are asked that could be completed on the scantron?  01:16:36 - Back to the CDT, was there anything else to mention about the Wind River Range?  01:23:13 - Filtering cow shit water  01:24:06 - What happens after the basin?  01:25:43 - When you’re doing a stretch of roadway, where do you camp at night?  01:29:14 - What do you say to a cop when you get in trouble for camping on the road?  01:29:46 - Was there anything notable about Colorado we should hit on?  01:34:48 - Does it make you feel better to check the elevation gain of your hike? 01:35:51 - When playing fuck/marry/kill, why would you kill the CDT?  01:36:23 - When did you complete your 14ers  01:36:48 - Is Leadville the last town you were in?  01:38:06 - What are you looking forward to next?  01:39:19 - Did you go into Montbell while you were in Denver, to get puffy pants?  01:42:50 - What’s your biggest pet peeve about each other while on the trail?  01:45:40 - What is the most endearing thing the other person has done?  01:47:48 - How do you fish when on trail?  01:48:15 - If you catch something do you keep it or catch and release?  01:49:49 - What’s one thing that made you want to murder the other person while on trail?  01:52:22 - If you were to write a dating bio for the other person, in a hiking theme, what would you write? 01:55:38 - Give me your joint dating profile bio, as a couple, for a trail magic sugar momma 01:56:44 - Thanks for joining us Lauren & Henri!  SEGMENTS Trek Propaganda: AT Surge in COVID Cases Triple Crown of Cereals [divider] Check out our sound guy @Paulybooyshallcross. 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 The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok.  A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Ausen McDaniel, Jason Lawrence, Christopher Marshburn, Sawyer Products, Brad and Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Patrick Cianciolo, Brandon Spilker and Matt Soukup. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Cynthia Voth,, Emily Brown, Mitchell, Dcnerdlet, Jeff LaFranier, Peter Ellenberg, Jacob Northrup, Peter Leven, TraskVT, Lindsay Sparks, Liz Seger and Lisa Douglas.

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are bringing you another edition of the wildly popular Girl's Stuff episode.  Chaunce, Sauce, and guest panelist Lavendar share their experiences on a wide array of topics related to being a female backpacker, including safety tips when in the backcountry solo, hygiene regimens (or lack thereof), dealing with intense levels of horniness on trail, and much more.   We wrap the show with a pair of new segments- "things guys want to know about girls but are too afraid to ask" and "ambushing Zach with women's anatomy flashcards".  BRANWYN discount code: Use case “backpacker15” for 15% off at branwyn.com Gossamer Gear discount code: Use code “gingersaregood” for 15% off at Gossamergear.com. Enlightened Equipment: Save 10% off off Enlightened Equipment’s Stock Revelation Quilt or Stock Torrid Jacket with code “thetrek10” here. [divider] Interview with Chaunce, Sauce, and guest panelist Lavender Chaunce Instagram  Sauce Instagram  Lavender Instagram  Time stamps & Questions 00:04:10 - Treasure Hunt: Find Zach’s socks to win a green juice travel pack from Organifi and a new pair of socks. Check out instagram for sock location!   00:05:52 - QOTD: What’s your favorite part of being a lady backpacker? 00:09:53 - Introducing Lavender 00:12:30 - What tips do you have for hiking alone and staying safe?  00:15:59 - Can you address how you’ve felt safety-wise, while backpacking? 00:24:54 - Lavender, what was your solo travel experience prior to the AT? 00:25:22 - How do you answer the question ‘Are you hiking alone?’?  00:27:27 - Elise, how do you assess whether someone is a danger to you or not? 00:30:38 - Have you ever hiked with groups or individuals you’ve met online? 00:33:32 - How do you get a significant other more comfortable with sleeping outside?  00:35:18 - How do you overcome the fear of sleeping alone?  00:37:37 - Any recommendations for curly hair when you’re on trail?  00:39:48 - Are cleaning wipes necessary?  00:41:05 - Is there a specific brand of cleaning wipes you’d recommend? 00:42:41 - How do you approach your skincare routine on the trail?  00:43:26 - What was your hygiene routine the first few days on trail vs. the last days?  00:46:03 - Have any of you used the backcountry bidet?  00:47:33 - How is the pee rag?  00:50:57 - How do you deal with coochie stink?  00:55:13 - Would you shave your head before a thru-hike?  00:56:42 - What is an undercut?  00:57:50 - How do you pee in a bottle without a cone? 00:63:01 - Do levels of horniness ever compare to levels of hunger on the trail?  00:66:13 - Is the trail a good environment for someone who is especially horny?  01:08:33 - Lavender, when you are hiking SOBO, how many others are starting within a day of you, in either direction?  01:12:32 - Do you bring sex toys on trail?  01:13:46 - What do you do to alleviate the horniness?  01:14:46 - Did you know anyone who brought toys on the trail?  01:17:57 - What’s your favorite “girly” items you can’t live without?  01:18:26 - What luxury items can you not live without on trail?  01:19:58 - What can guys do to normalize girl stuff on trail?  01:21:22 - Do you feel like you need to hide feminine products?  01:22:56 - How did you handle PMS on the trail?  01:23:22 - Do your levels of PMS symptoms change when you’re on trail vs. off trail?  01:25:10 - What birth control do you use on trail? Check out our first Girls Stuff episode for more conversation on this.  01:26:06 - How do you encourage other girls to backpack?  01:28:19 - Do you have people trying to meet up with you on the trail when you are public with your location?  01:36:08 - How do you deal if you’re always cold?  01:40:14 - What are the best underwear and bra brands to avoid chafing and wedgies? SEGMENTS “Things guys want to know about girls but are too afraid to ask” Anatomy Flashcards  5 Star Review Mail Bag  [divider] Check out our sound guy @Paulybooyshallcross. 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 The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok.  A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Ausen McDaniel, Jason Lawrence, Christopher Marshburn, Sawyer Products, Brad and Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Patrick Cianciolo, Brandon Spilker and Matt Soukup. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Cynthia Voth,, Emily Brown, Mitchell, Dcnerdlet, Jeff LaFranier, Peter Ellenberg, Jacob Northrup, Peter Leven, TraskVT, Lindsay Sparks, Liz Seger and Lisa Douglas.