Backpacker Radio

In today's episode -we are back to recording in person(!)- and joined by Jamey Mossengren, also known as The Unicycling Unicorn.  Jamey traded in his cushy 9-5 job to pursue the glamorous lifestyle of a street performer, and hasn't looked back since.  Not only does Jamey make a living by putting on unicycle shows, he's also unicycled both the Colorado Trail and Arizona Trail!   We talk about these very unique trips, his thru-hikes of the AT and Camino del Norte, and what goes into being a successful street performer- for which, we got a personal show after the interview. We also talk about the return of AT thru-hikes in 2020 (maybe), we introduce a new segment- Hiker's Horoscopes, and close out the show with another edition of Backcountry Matchmaking.  [divider] Backcountry.com discount code: Use code: Backpacker15 to save 15% on your first purchase from Backcountry.com/backpackerradio Zpacks discount code:Use code: HEXAMIDBPR for $25 discount at Zpacks.com [divider] The Trek's Pledge to Do Better BACKPACKER RADIO MERCH Interview with Jamey Mossengren "The Unicycling Unicorn Website Instagram Twitter Youtube QOTD: How are your summer backpacking plans shaping up? Hikerlink! Intro Song: Walking Slow by Animal Years Intro beats: Pauly Boy Shallcross Check out Trail Correspondents Check out The Attempt!  The Trek's store [divider] 00:00:00 – Intro to Jamey Mossengren – The Unicycling Unicorn 00:04:00 – Backpacker Radio is back in person and it is _________ 00:06:00 – QOTD: How are your summer backpacking plans shaping up? 00:10:00 – Jamey, the Unicycling Unicorn 00:10:31 – Do you know how many people make a living on a unicycle? 00:12:20 – Did competing with your brother motivate you to be better at unicycling? 00:12:40 – How did you make unicycling a career? 00:15:00 – What goes into the performing side of a street performance? 00:15:45 – Examples of what does and doesn’t work in street performing? 00:16:20 – Do you do a lot of crowd work? 00:16:48 – Have you thought about doing a show at protests? 00:17:40 – Did you pick other performer’s brains to see what they were doing? 00:18:17 – Do you write out sets? 00:18:38 – What encompasses/started the Unicorn? 00:19:45 – What are the costume pieces of the Unicycling Unicorn? 00:20:44 – What was your first long outdoors feat? 00:21:35 – How do you mountain unicycle the Colorado Trail?? 00:22:21 – Do you ride or walk up big climbs? 00:23:26 – Backpacker Radio crossed paths with Jamey Mossengren? 00:24:51 – How long did it take to mountain unicycle the Colorado Trail? 00:25:00 – How much did your gear weigh? 00:25:40 – Did you get a lot of media attention for the hike? 00:26:00 – Did the backcountry give you good ideas for your act? 00:26:28 – What was your next trail? 00:28:18 – Did you have any nasty falls? 00:29:40 – How does the comfort of a unicycle compare to a bike? 00:30:25 – Are there any standard unicycle issues? 00:30:50 – How did you like hiking (on the SHT) compared to unicycling? 00:31:34 – How long is the Superior Hiking Trail? 00:32:00 – how did you pick the Superior Hiking Trail? 00:33:41 – What’s next? Arizona Trial on a unicycle? 00:34:04 – Where do you meet other unicyclists to thru-unicycle the Arizona Trail? 00:35:00 – What is it like unicycling in a group? 00:35:30 – Differences between unicycling the Colorado and Arizona Trail? 00:36:00 – How much does your unicycle weigh? 00:40:00 – Does your performance experience help when trespassing? 00:41:00 – What is the argument for a unicycle being considered a pedestrian? 00:42:05 – What’s next? Appalachian Trail? 00:42:45 – Why another hiking trail and not a unicycling trail? 00:44:30 – Any AT highlights? 00:48:15 – What about lowlights? 00:51:23 – Shitting? 00:53:25 – Burned down bar? 00:56:23 – Hiker meet up at a Cracker Barrel? 00:58:30 – Sex on the Camino del Norte? 00:59:20 – Any good trail sex stories? 01:01:00 – Untapped 5,000 beers? 01:03:01 – Your next muni-pack? 01:04:05 – Preparation for the Oregon Timber Trail? 01:05:30 – In which direction of the PCT is the OTT? 01:08:40 – Are you less afraid of rattlesnakes on a unicycle? 01:09:45 – How long have you been doing van life? 01:10:14 – Tell us about doing your performances in different continents? 01:11:11 – You perform in Australia as well? 01:11:44 – Do you build the vans out yourself? 01:12:25 – Have you thought about doing stuff on Tik Tok? 01:16:30 – Do you think you could chug a beer while riding your unicycle and juggling two other beers? 01:17:08- Do you ever aspire to snag unicycling records? 01:18:25 – Have you ever unicycled on a tight rope? 01:19:14 – What are the fan favorite tricks? 01:21:11 – Unicycling Unicorn – he’s single, find him on the socials   Segments The Trek Propaganda! ATC is likely to recommend AT thru-hikes soon, by Hugh Owen CDTC article Virtually Hiking the AT: Hitting Some Snafus Pupdate! Episode Horoscopes: Know Your Stars Mail Bag 5 Star Reviews Backcountry Matchmaking Paige Pasquini | Instagram: @paigepasquini Cris “Indiana Bones” | Instagram: @cris.on.a.boat, email: cristopher.macdonald@gmail.com Taryn | Instagram: @Tarynwem, Facebook: Taryn Wem [divider] Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)!  Find us on Stitcher and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Christopher Marshburn, Janelle L, Paul Packman Sealy, S11N, Sawyer Products, and Thomas Fullner A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Dcnerdlet, Jacob Northrup, Jason Lawrence, Jeff LaFranier, Jeffrey Miller, Mark Snook, Mitchell, Peter, Peter Ellenberg, and Zoe Jenkins Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio, and Chaunce on Facebook. Follow The Trek on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter. Buy Chaunce's Book on Amazon. Get a free account at Hikerlink.

Today, we are joined by Doug Laher, the father of Trevor Laher, the hiker who tragically passed near Apache Peak on the Pacific Crest Trail earlier this year. Doug reads his beautiful tribute to Trevor, we talk about what lessons are to be learned from Trevors passing, and what can be done to prevent further tragedy on this dangerous stretch of the PCT. We also chat with Kaitlyn Purington, a volunteer and the PR rep at the Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit, a rescue non-profit based in Riverside County.  She walks us through what the organization does exactly, requirements for getting involved, and some examples of standout rescue missions from the last couple of years. We close out the show with some Trek Propaganda, how to check your bung for deer ticks, and our favorite creature comforts. Backcountry.com discount code: Use code: Backpacker15 to save 15% on your first purchase from Backcountry.com/backpackerradio Zpacks discount code:Use code: HEXAMIDBPR for $25 discount at Zpacks.com [divider] The Trek's Pledge to Do Better BACKPACKER RADIO MERCH Interview with Doug  Laher, Trevor Laher's Father  and  Kaitlyn Purington  from  Riverside  Mountain  Rescue  Unit Trevor's Eternal Trail  Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit  Hikerlink! Intro Song: Walking Slow by Animal Years Intro beats: Pauly Boy Shallcross Check out Trail Correspondents Check out The Attempt!  [divider] Doug Laher, father of late Trevor Laher 00:03:55 – Doug reads his article about Trevor 00:26:40 – The Article was written six weeks ago, what has happened since then? 00:28:00 – The intentions behind telling Trevor’s story 00:29:20 – How are you doing now? 00:31:34 – What do you want people to take away from Trevor’s story? How do we carry on his legacy? 00:35:25 – Any advice or words of wisdom for parents of aspiring thru-hikers? 00:38:30 – Possibility of reworking the trail at Apache Peak? 00:39:30 – Guthook put a warning in Trevor’s honor 00:46:10 – Can you tell us about the fundraiser you did with RMRU? 00:49:00 – The Trek readers donated roughly $5,000 to RMRU 00:50:30 – You can donate to RMRU here 00:55:20 – Circus and Snapshot made a memorial to Trevor 01:00:26 – Two rescuers retrieved all of Trevor’s belongings 01:07:40 – “You’ve got one fucking life, you better live that shit.” - IBTAT   Kaitlyn Perington of RMRU 01:11:00  – Can you tell us about RMRU? 01:12:20 – Is there an area that requires the majority of RMRU’s rescue missions? 01:12:55 – Is there a busier season? 01:13:26 – How many calls do you usually get from PCT hikers? 01:13:44 – How did you specifically get involved with RMRU? 01:14:35 – What was the process like for becoming a volunteer? 01:16:30 - Are there specific requirements for joining the unit? 01:18:00 – What skills/training/certifications are people required to have? 01:19:30 – How does a shift work? 01:20:30 – Is there a certain number of people you need for a mission? 01:21:50 – How has coronavirus impacted SAR? 01:23:49 – Would you still do mouth-to-mouth during COVID? 01:24:34 – How many missions do you do per year? 01:24:56 – Is there one mission you were involved with that stands out to you? 01:29:17 – Does it frustrate you when people are unprepared? 01:13:51 – Do you ever get frequent callers? 01:33:30 – If you keep getting repeat places you’re called back to, can you put a sign in a specific spot? 01:34:30 – What kind of funds are required to keep RMRU going? 01:37:10 – Aside from monetary donations are there things RMRU could use gear wise? 01:38:20 – donate at RMRU.org SEGMENTS Trek Propaganda – Effie Drew’s “Changing the Narrative and Amplifying Voices: Resources for Education and Inclusivity in the Outdoor Industry” Mail Bag Favorite lightweight entertainment / creature comforts on trail [divider] Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio?  Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)!  Find us on Stitcher and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Christopher Marshburn, Janelle L, Paul Packman Sealy, S11N, Sawyer Products, and Thomas Fullner A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Dcnerdlet, Jacob Northrup, Jason Lawrence, Jeff LaFranier, Jeffrey Miller, Mark Snook, Mitchell, Peter, Peter Ellenberg, and Zoe Jenkins Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio, and Chaunce on Facebook. Follow The Trek on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter. Buy Chaunce's Book on Amazon. Get a free account at Hikerlink.

Today we are joined by Luke “Strider” Jordan.  Strider has a couple of very impressive treks on his resume including the North Country Trail (NCT), which is more than twice the length of the Appalachian Trail, as well as the 3,100 mile Great Plains Trail (GPT), which runs from Texas to North Dakota.  We also discover the wild world of naked pooping, a fan-submitted poop paradise on the John Muir Trail, and another edition of Backcountry Matchmaking.   [divider] Listen   Download this episode. [divider] The Trek's Pledge to Do Better BACKPACKER RADIO MERCH Interview with Luke Jordan "Strider" Facebook  North Country Trail  Great Plains Trail QOTD: “What is the proper poop dress code?" Hikerlink! Intro Song: Walking Slow by Animal Years Intro beats: Pauly Boy Shallcross Check out Trail Correspondents Check out The Attempt!  [divider] 00:02:00 – Gardening Updates! 00:04:18 – QOTD: What is the proper poop dress code? 00:10:00 – BPR Merch! 00:12:11 – Intro to Strider (Has hiked the North Country Trail and the Great Plains Trail) 00:12:47 – Where does your interest in backpacking come from? 00:17:30 – Did you have any mentors that told you how crazy it was to start with the NCT? 00:19:24 – How road walks affect the NCT. 00:20:40 – Where the NCT goes! 00:21:30 – Mosquitoes in the upper peninsula 00:27:09 – Support for the North Dakota section 00:30:15 – Inspiration from Andrew Skurka and Nimblewill Nomad 00:31:15 – “We Build Trail in Low Places” – NCT music video on vimeo 00:32:59 – Did Strider meet all 8 people who live in North Dakota? 00:34:40 – Is Strider affiliated with the NCT? 00:36:15 – How big is the non-profit team at the NCT? 00:38:08 – Plans to move the road walks to trail? 00:41:40 – Snow in Minnesota 00:49:39 – Patent Pending: A Dinner Knife that Attaches to Your Shoe to Make Ice Skates 00:58:18 – Any issues with deer ticks/ticks in general? 01:02:45 – What's it like having celebrity status as a thru-hiker on a less travelled trail? 01:07:30 – Ohio and the Buckeye Trail 01:15:00 – Blazes in the NCT Backcountry 01:17:13 – Hiking with maps instead of a smart phone 01:17:40 – How many people have thru-hiked the NCT? 01:19:00 – Stopping his trans-Ozark trail 01:22:00 – Hundreds of tiny ticks in Strider’s ankles 01:28:11 – How is New York? 01:31:30 – Could you do the Finger Lakes section as a wine hike? 01:40:08 – Strider met Ron Strickland 01:44:00 – James Lunning did 5 scenic trails back to back 01:46:10 – Is Strider the only person to have thru-hiked the Great Plains Trail? 01:54:00 – Starting in the desert was a new experience 01:57:30 – You need a support crew to get through New Mexico 01:59:00 – What is there to look forward to walking through Kansas? 02:00:00 – What is the wind like? 02:06:00 – Have you done the cave tours in Wind Cave National Park? 02:23:30 – If you want ______ you should hike the Great Plains Trail 02:25:00 – Where should people go to help out with the NCT or GPT? SEGMENTS Trek Propaganda: The Ultimate Guide to Backpacking Sleeping Bags and Quilts by Kelly Floro A Complete Guide to Resupply on the John Muir Trail by Inga Aksamit Pupdate: Harper is Huge and Misbehaving Triple Crown of Things That Make You Uneasy (?) Mail Bag! 5 Star Review Backcountry Matchmaking: Jeff aka "Chef Boy R.D.": @Pieceof_jake Kate "Stickerz": @katieb3th11 Buckeye: @therealjyoungs Buy Chaunce's book! Find Strider on Facebook: @StriderNCT   [divider]   Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio?  Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)!  Find us on Stitcher and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Christopher Marshburn, Janelle L, S11N, Sawyer Products, and Thomas Fullner A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Dcnerdwallet, Jacob Northrup, Jason Lawrence, Jeff LaFranier, Jeffrey Miller, Mark Snook, Mitchell, Peter, Peter Ellenberg, Zoe Jenkins Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio, and Chaunce on Facebook. Follow The Trek on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter.

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, we are joined by Sarah Jones Decker, author of the new gorgeous photobook "The Appalachian Trail: Backcountry Shelters, Lean-tos, and Huts".  We learn what goes into a project as massive as doing a photo essay of all of the AT's shelters, Sarah's personal favorites, the history of these structures, which have the best privies, and much more.  Sarah is also the co-owner of Root Bottom Farms, an organic farm based in North Carolina, and we selfishly pick her brain on how to suck less as plants.   We close out the show with a triple crown of things that start with "W", a pupdate, some suggestions for using trail runners on rocky terrain, and another edition of Backcountry Matchmaking.  BACKPACKER RADIO MERCH Interview with Sarah Jones Decker "Harvest"  Website Rottbottom Farm Website AT Shelter Book Instagram QOTD: “Why is it so hard to keep houseplants alive?"  Save 15% at GossamerGear.com by using code "ATDRINK15" at checkout. Save 5% at Zpacks.com by using code “THANKSZACH” at checkout. Hikerlink! Backpacker Radio Merch! Intro Song: Walking Slow by Animal Years Intro beats: Pauly Boy Shallcross Check out Trail Correspondents Check out The Attempt!    [divider] 00:03:00 - Sarah’s Backpacking Resume  00:04:00 - Sarah has hiked the AT twice! 00:05:15 - Differences on the AT in 2008 vs. 2018-2019? 00:07:37 - What was your inspiration to thru-hike the AT? 00:08:25 - Are thru-hikers now the same as when you were 16?  00:08:50 - What is your educational background? 00:10:37 - Give us the intro to your AT Shelters book! 00:13:00 - Have you always been into history? 00:14:00 - How did you document while hiking?  00:14:38 - What are the most inconvenient shelters to get to?  00:18:40 - Is breastfeeding ever an issue on trail?  00:19:30 - When did the initial shelter book idea come to you?  00:20:00 - Did you fall into any type of routine? 00:21:00 - Additional contributors  00:23:00 - Elevator Pitch of AT shelters 00:26:34 - How many shelters can you get pizza delivered to?  00:31:00 - Camera Gear Setup 00:32:55 - What’s your favorite shelter?  00:37:47 - What’s the most underrated shelter?  00:40:00 - Double Shelters 00:45:00 - What shelter has the most history?  00:47:00 - What is it like to release a book during a pandemic?  00:48:00 - How many events did you have to cancel?  00:49:15 - What is the oldest shelter? 00:54:09 - What’s the biggest shelter?  00:54:54 - Which shelter has the best view?  00:57:00 - Conflicting Information 00:58:50 - Best Privy on the AT?  01:07:20 - One shelter you wouldn’t sleep in?01:11:57 - What shelter has the best water source? 01:14:33 - What is the Priest shelter?  01:15:03 - Top tips for trail shelter etiquette  01:17:27 -  The Shelter Graveyard 01:18:20 - The Only Shelter That Was Ever Stolen  01:19:20 - Tips for people who want to pitch a book to the ATC?  01:30:12 - Someone had a baby in her house and lied about it  01:33:18 - What tips do you have for starting photographers? 01:36:30 - You are a mom?  01:37:50 - Carrying a baby  01:39:54 - How does hiking change with a child? 01:41:38 - What about Falling with a baby?  01:43:17 - Advice for hiking with a baby?  01:45:17 - How do you manage diapers while hiking?  01:46:29 - Tell us about your poster of 444 different AT signs?  01:47:35 - The AT poster 01:50:25 - Can we talk about gardening? Introduction to Rootbottom Farm. 01:54:20 - What’s killing our plants?? 01:56:30 - Tricks for a Fiddle Leaf Fig?  02:01:03 - Which plants are friends?  02:02:30 - 101 for starting a raised bed garden? 02:07:33 - Can you tell us about microgreens? 02:16:00 - Where to find Sarah?   SEGMENTS   02:17:00 - Triple Crown of things that start with W. 02:23:42 - Pupdates 02:31:20 - Did Chaunce watch the Last Dance?  02:32:50 - Mail Bag 02:37:28 - 5 Star Review  02:39:29 - Stickers?  02:40:26 - Backcountry Matchmaking Katie, @katiecoryell Ross, @Ross_Berry Debi, Email: debirodriguez4@gmail.com Instagram: @Bluemoonrising2021,  or Facebook: Debi Rodriguez (BlueMoon). Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio?  Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)!  Find us on Stitcher and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Christopher Marshburn, ineedcoffee 17, S11N, Sawyer Products, and Thomas Fullner. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Dcnerdwallet, Jacob Northrup, Jason Lawrence, Jeff LaFranier, Jeffrey Miller, Mark Snook, Mitchell, Peter, Peter Ellenberg, Zoe Jenkins Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio, and Chaunce on Facebook. Follow The Trek on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter.

Today we are joined by Shug Emery.  In addition to being a hammock enthusiast, with almost 100,000 YouTube subscribers, Shug's previous profession was as a circus clown for Barnum and Bailey.  We obviously go way down the traveling circus rabbit hole, and we promise you his stories do not disappoint.  Shug also shares his top tips for beginning hammockers, what his setup looks like, and what goes into making a successful YouTube channel. We close out the show with some Trek propaganda, a triple crown of things we will no longer take for granted, and, another edition of backcountry matchmaking. Interview with Sean "Shug" Emery YouTube: ShugEmery QOTD: “What's the one thing you've learned about yourself during this pandemic?"  Save 15% at GossamerGear.com by using code "ATDRINK15" at checkout. Save 5% at Zpacks.com by using code “THANKSZACH” at checkout. Hikerlink! Intro Song: Walking Slow by Animal Years Intro beats: Pauly Boy Shallcross Check out Trail Correspondents Check out The Attempt!  [divider] 00:03:00 - Chaunce is BORED 00:08:45 - Zach doesn’t like pandemics. 00:09:06 - Interview with (and intro of) Shug (Sean Emery)! 00:10:42 - How Shug got started as a clown 00:12:20 - Clown College is competitive! 00:18:08 - Clown College Know-It-Alls 00:20:10 - Stories from the Circus  00:25:40 - How many days a week is the circus? Do you get time off?  00:28:06 - Spotlight guys always know where the good weed and food is! 00:28:48 - Is there a hierarchy in the circus?  00:33:20 - Why do people get into clowning? It’s not for the pay, so what’s the draw?  00:41:30 - What was your clown name?  00:43:20 - Where did the name Shug come from?  00:48:55 - What are the top skills for becoming a great clown? 00:53:08 - You went on to do a solo clown show?  00:59:00 - At the end of Clown College you get selected for contracts, and not everyone goes! 01:07:20 - Any circus secrets you can reveal?  01:14:10 - Why do you hammock?  01:16:07 - What is your backpacking background?  01:23:11 - If someone had a free week, what would you recommend for the Boundary Waters?   01:26:22 - Why hammock over tenting?  01:29:51 - What should someone look for in a good hammock?  01:35:16 - What is a good hammock hang vs. a bad hammock hang? 01:45:26 - Is Minnesota a wet state? 1:46:30 - What’s your setup on a -40 night?  01:48:28 - Advice from someone in your age range (early 60’s) who wants to start backpacking?  01:52:30 - Shug does art, too! 01:59:08 - Putting out content is hard! 2:00:20 - Any parting advice?  02:15:00 - Find Shug on YouTube   SEGMENTS 02:18:30 - Trek Propaganda 02:19:30 - Triple Crown of Things We Took For Granted! 02:30:22 - Did Chaunce watch the last dance?  02:31:57 - Things that aren’t Coronavirus  02:33:15 - Zach has never heard of cookie cake??  02:37:00 - Pupdates (also a poop story)  02:44:50 - Mail Bag  02:48:08 - Backcountry Matchmaking! Contestants:  Kyle "Birdman"'s Instagram: @kylecwicks Lauren's Instagram: @xlaurenx04 Joe's Email: rebelweather@gmail.com  02:57:11 - 5 Star Reviews! [divider] Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio?  Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)!  Find us on Stitcher and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Christopher Marshburn (who got us that awesome Katahdin sign from TrailSigns), ineedcoffee 17, S11N, Sawyer Products, and Thomas Fullner A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: dcnerdlet, Jacob Norhtrup, Jeff LaFranier, Mark Snook, Peter, Peter Ellenberg, Zoe Jenkins. Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio, and Chaunce on Facebook. Follow The Trek on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter.

In episode 69, we are joined by Will Robinson, AKA Akuna.  Akuna is an army veteran, the first known African-American male to complete the triple crown, and an all around awesome guy.  We talk about his experiences in managing chronic pain, how hiking interfaced with his PTSD, what it's like hiking through rural America as a black man with dreadlocks, and some of the highlights and lowlights of each of his thru-hikes. We also have some listener emails, we learn how people are keeping busy during the apocalypse, and introduce a new segment, Backcountry Matchmaking- our new on-air dating service.  Giggity. Interview with Will "Akuna" Robinson Instagram: @AkunaHikes QOTD: “Do dogs know what other dogs are saying when they bark or because they don’t “learn” a language does it all just sound like babbling? Save 15% at GossamerGear.com by using code "ATDRINK15" at checkout. Hikerlink! Intro Song: Walking Slow by Animal Years Intro beats: Pauly Boy Shallcross Check out Trail Correspondents Check out The Attempt! [divider] 00:04:30 - Meet Will “Akuna” Robinson and learn how he got started in hiking 00:05:44 - How he ended up on the PCT 00:06:30 - The closest long trail to Akuna in Louisiana 00:07:11 - How did growing up in New Orleans make you resilient?  00:08:42 - How did you end up in the military?  00:11:18 - Did your academic achievements have any bearing on your military experience?  00:12:40 - His Job in the Military (and how that became an electrical engineering degree) 00:14:00 - What was it like coming home from the military? 00:15:30 - Was PTSD treatment helpful? 00:16:20 - What are your injuries from the military? And how does that affect your backpacking?  00:19:00 - Healing through thru-hiking 00:24:50 - Why doesn’t the military talk more about mental health?  00:26:40 - Barriers to unorthodox treatments  00:27:37 - People thinking of long-distance backpacking with chronic pain 00:32:45 - Did you have to deal with withdrawals?  00:33:57 - Does backpacking alleviate pain? Or distract from it?  00:34:51 - Having flashbacks on trail 00:38:16 - Does your hiking family know about your flashbacks? Can they help in any way? What is the right way to help?  00:41:45 - How the thru-hiking community deals with mental health issues 00:45:00 - How Akuna Ended up on the PCT 00:49:00 - Tell us about your first PCT hike 00:51:00 - Akuna dislocates his knee on Mt.Whitney 00:54:00 - What was 2017 like on the PCT? 00:56:35 - Triple digit temperatures are no problem for Akuna 00:57:50 - How did you get your trail name on the PCT?  00:59:30 - Tell us about your 2017 Sierra experience 01:06:01 - Do you crave life-fearing moments? 01:10:00 - Akuna Hated the AT (at first)  01:15:19 - What is it like hiking the AT as an African American?  01:22:23 - Did you notice a difference in the way you were treated between the AT, PCT, and CDT?  01:26:00 - How does your trail family react when people are racist? 01:30:30 - Do you have any advice for Afircan Americans thinking about thru-hiking? 01:31:15 - Any advice for how the hiking community can help make thru-hiking more welcoming and inclusive? 01:32:00 - Notable AT moments 01:37:40 - Akuna’s AT Merrel Film & Akuna’s CDT Merrel Film 01:41:30 - Akuna’s CDT Hike 01:46:40 - The brutality of the CDT  01:48:15 - Gnarly weather on the CDT, PCT, and AT 01:50:25 - Falling in the Gila River on the CDT 01:55:05 - Akuna and Undecided almost get arrested 02:00:00 - How does it feel to be the first African American man known to finish the triple crown? 02:04:00 - Akuna’s postponed North Country Trail thru-hike 02:11:30 - Any plans for later this year if things clear up? 02:15:30 - Where to find Akuna: @AkunaHikes 02:17:11 - NZ borders closed for an entire year.   SEGMENTS 02:18:10 - The Trek Propaganda: Clay Bonnyman Evans reviews Chaunce’s Book 02:19:00 - Mail Bag!  02:20:00 - Things people are doing to stay sane during quarantine 02:26:30 - Akuna weighs in on if Carol Baskin killed her husband 02:28:07 - Pupdates from Chuance: Harper is Getting Crate Trained  02:36:38 - Five Star Reviews: Poop Stories and Horse Facts (& Impromptu Gear Reviews) 02:45:00 - Backcountry Matchmaking: Zach “Beta” Terpstra, Emily Mydlowski, Erica “Spitfire” [divider] Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio?  Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)!  Find us on Stitcher and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Christopher Marshburn (who got us that awesome Katahdin sign from TrailSigns), ineedcoffee 17, S11N, Sawyer Products, and Thomas Fullner A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: dcnerdlet, Jacob Norhtrup, Jeff LaFranier, Mark Snook, Peter, Peter Ellenberg, Zoe Jenkins. Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio, and Chaunce on Facebook. Follow The Trek on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter.

Today we are joined by Jean Muenchrath, mountaineer, escaper of death, author, and spiritual being.  Simply put, Jean's story is remarkable.  Jean gives us a play by play of the time she nearly died after catastrophic fall near Mt Whitney in winter conditions.  She walks us through not only this harrowing tale, but the long process to physical, emotional, and spiritual recovery, the subject of her book If I Live Until Morning: A True Story of Adventure, Tragedy and Transformation.   Chaunce and Badger wrap up the show with some listener emails, Poop Stories, and a new segment One Line Movie Reviews.  This is our last in-person podcast until the apocalypse blows over, so please do savor the flavor of this one.  Interview with Jean Muenchrath Her book: If I Live Until Morning: A True Story of Adventure, Tragedy and Transformation  QOTD: What is your least favorite animal? Save 10% at AppalachianGearCompany.com by using code "BACKPACKERRADIO" at checkout. Save 5% at Zpacks.com by using code "THANKSZACH" at checkout. Hikerlink! Intro Song: Walking Slow by Animal Years Intro beats: Pauly Boy Shallcross Check out Trail Correspondents Check out The Attempt! [divider] Interview with Jean Muenchrath 00:03:14 - QOTD: What is your least favorite animal? 00:05:18 - Intro to Jean (backpacking, mountaineering, and skiing background)  00:08:50 - The Cross Country John Muir Trail Ski Expedition 00:10:16 - Muenchrath’s Backpacking Experience 00:11:12 - How did Ken and Jean meet? 00:14:14 - How many miles were you doing per day (during the XC JMT Ski Expedition)? 00:15:10 - Going up Mt.Whitney 00:18:22 - Ken goes sledding down the mountain all of a sudden 00:24:00 - The Fall on Mt.Whitney 00:30:00 - Jean’s Extensive Injuries 00:32:40 - After the Fall (Jean Woke Up The Next Morning) 00:34:25 - A Detailed List of Jean’s Injuries 00:36:40 - Getting Out  00:39:40 - Getting a Ride to the Hospital 00:42:00 Jean Had a Bad Feeling Before Leaving  00:43:40 - If you could do it again, would you?  00:49:00 - Jean’s Journal 00:51:25 - How did Jean and Paul meet? 00:53:00 - The Second Half of Jean’s Book 00:54:00 - The Himalayas 00:58:20 - Returning to Asia 00:59:30 - Have you always been a spiritual person? 01:02:40 - Jean’s Spiritual Transition 01:05:00 - Opioid Withdrawals 01:12:45 - Getting Started with Meditation  01:14:10 - Final Thoughts?   SEGMENTS: 01:17:00 - Sign up for Hikerlink! 01:17:40 - Trek propaganda - Kelly Floro - How to Choose the Proper Rain Gear For Your Hike  01:18:20 - One sentence movie plots  01:26:00 - Mail Bag 01:29:37 - Buy Chaunce’s book (on her website or from Amazon)!!   [divider] Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio?  Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)!  Find us on Stitcher and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Cristopher Marshburn, ineedcoffee17, S11N, Sawyer Products, and Thomas Fullner A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: dcnerdlet, Jacob Norhtrup, Jeff LaFranier, Mark Snook, Peter, Peter Ellenberg, Zoe Jenkins. Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio, and Chaunce on Facebook. Follow The Trek on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter.

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are once again flipping the script.  This episode is dedicated to all things COVID-19.  We chat with a pair of experts on infectious disease and epidemiology.  Dr. Amesh Adalja is an infectious disease specialist at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security.  And Jagdish Khubchandani is a Professor of Health Science at Ball State University with a PhD in Health Education and Epidemiology.  Both of our experts share their opinion on the latest data surrounding this virus, including the million dollar question of when they think it will be safe to resume our backpacking ways. We also are joined by a pair of 2020 NOBO turned NOGO thru-hikers (and Trek contributors), one from the AT, one from the PCT, to share their experiences of how this pandemic played out from their perspectives.  Taylor Frint had only been on trail for two days before making the decision to get off, while John Mecklin was a few hundred miles into his hike when shit really started hitting the fan. Also---it's worth stating here---after today's episode, we will likely drop the coronavirus subject for a while.  There's plenty of information out there regarding this virus, and although we're not about to pretend like it isn't impacting everything, we're hoping to provide a venue where you can go to escape the firehose of doomsday information.  The reason for today's episode is that we wanted to provide some expertise on this subject and how it pertains to backpacking along with shine a spotlight on those who made the difficult decision to hit the indefinite pause button on their hikes. In this episode: Specialist Dr.Amesh Adalja  Twitter Specialist Dr.Jagdish Khubchandani Twitter Hiker: Taylor Frint The Trek Vlogger Hiker: John Mecklin The Trek Blooger Save 5% at Zpacks.com by using code "ThanksZach" at checkout. Save 10% at AppalachianGearCompany.com by using code "BACKPACKERRADIO" at checkout. Hikerlink! Intro Song: Walking Slow by Animal Years Intro beats: Pauly Boy Shallcross Check out Trail Correspondents Check out The Attempt! [divider] Interview with Dr.Amesh Adalja  00:04:00 - Intro of Dr.Amesh Adalja  00:05:26 - What is Dr.Adalja optimistic about (in regards to COVID-19)? 00:06:30 - Fatality estimate rates (is it overstated?)  00:08:26 - Why is antibody testing important? Are there any areas already doing this?  00:10:31 - What percentage of people do you think could get this and be asymptomatic? 00:12:00 - Do you have a rough estimate for when we will resume normalcy? 00:13:24 - Potential relaxation in May  00:16:40 - If you were running a municipality, what metrics would you be looking for in regards to  COVID-19 regulation? 00:18:00 - How far away do you think we are from a vaccine?  00:19:00 - How long until people with existing conditions (asthma, etc.) can expect to resume normal life?  00:20:00 - Will we all have to get COVID-19 eventually? 00:21:20 - Are there any promising treatments you are seeing happen? 00:22:14 - Should we be hiking with masks on? 00:24:10 - Is there fear mongering going on? What is serious about this virus? 00:25:50 - Where do we get more info from Dr.Amesh Adjala?   Interview with Jagdish Khubchandani    00:26:44 - Intro to Dr.Khubchandani  00:28:00 - How long does the virus live on surfaces (like wood, etc.)? 00:29:30 - Concerns for Trail Towns 00:31:00 - Vitamin D Deficiencies 00:32:00 - How long will we be self-quarantined? When will travel return to normal? 00:33:18 - Will there be a second peak when we all start going out and travelling again? 00:33:58 - Another Peak in September 00:34:15 - Will there be another self-quarantine? 00:34:48 - What’s your take on countries who have taken more severe measures on quarantine?  00:37:00 - Thoughts on the current state of the Coronavirus vaccine? 00:38:25 - What are your thoughts in terms of immunity with this virus?  00:40:00 - Should people be able to live their life normally after they are infected?  00:41:00 - What is the risk of reinfection? 00:42:17 - Do you have hope for any treatments in the pipeline? 00:43:25 - Testing!  00:44:00 - What are the right kinds of sanitizers to kill COVID-19? Hydrogen Peroxide, Rubbing Alcohol, Bleach 00:45:00 - Who’s at a higher risk for COVID-19? 00:46:00 - What kind of symptoms should people be on the lookout for?  00:47:30 - How many people are infected, realistically?  00:48:30 - What’s the difference between all the buzz words being thrown around right now (social distancing, socially irresponsible, self-quarantine)?  00:50:00 - When will groups of friends be able to get back together?  00:51:20 - Thoughts on making your own hand sanitizer? 00:52:45 - Do you have to leave your groceries in the car?  00:55:50 - What is one thing you’d convey to BPR listeners?    Interview with Taylor Frint: The Trek Design Intern, The Trek Vlogger, 2020 PCT hiker who had to get off a few days into her hike due to COVID-19.  00:59:58 - Start from the Top 01:02:00 - What did you have to put on hold or sacrifice for the hike? 01:03:00 - Walk us through the days leading up to your thru-hike! 01:04:00- What was it like when you got to the southern terminus? 01:07:10 - Did you know what it would take for you to get off trail? 01:08:27 - What were the opinions of people already on trail as far as getting off once the PCTA announced?  01:10:26 - Had you already made friends?  01:11:51 - how did you feel when you decided to get off trail? 01:13:11 - What was the mood like in the airport when going home?  01:14:23 - How does your age impact your fear of the virus?  01:16:00 - Where did you end up when you went home?  01:18:23 - Thoughts about people still on trail? 01:22:45 - Do you have plans to try again?  01:23:41- Southbound hike?  01:28:50 - How are you feeling now?    Interview with John Mecklin: The Trek Blogger,  Left trail 1 month into his thru-hike of the AT due to COVID-19 01:33:25 - Intro / How did you decide to thru-hike? 01:34:59 - What was the financial situation like leading up to your hike?  01:35:00 - When did you first start hearing about the coronavirus?  01:36:50 - When did you start being really concerned about the virus? 01:38:00 - Did behavior change on the trail because of the virus?  01:38:50 - What was the first moment that it started to feel real?  01:41:00 - When did you make the decision to get off trail?  01:42:48 - Did your hiking group stay on trail or get off?  01:42:18 - Are people you were hiking with still on trail? 01:44:20 - Why do you think people are still on trail?  01:48:45 - Was the trail experience living up to what you wanted it to be?  01:49:20 - In what ways do you think you became a better person while on trail?  01:51:30 - What is Memphis like right now?  01:55:43 - What are your plans for thru-hiking?  01:57:20 - How do you feel about having to get off trail? How are you feeling overall?  01:59:00 - What are you going to school for?  02:01:20 - Zach is proud of John and the thru-hikers who have gotten off this year.  [divider] Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio?  Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)!  Find us on Stitcher and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Cristopher Marshburn, ineedcoffee17, S11N, Sawyer Products, and Thomas Fullner A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: dcnerdlet, Jacob Norhtrup, Jeff LaFranier, Mark Snook, Peter, Peter Ellenberg, Zoe Jenkins. Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio, and Chaunce on Facebook. Follow The Trek on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter.

Backpacker Radio is making good on their promise to get weird.  Today we bring you a drunk Q&A.  Backpacker Radio's new intern, Elise Ott, navigates us through a series of questions, including COVID-19, how we're handling the self-quarantining, a lot of poop related subjects, thru-hiking purism, and much more.  At the top of the show, one of Chaunce's friends gives us the poop story to end all poop stories.  This one is our most feral podcasts to date.  Because that's what you do during an apocalypse.  [divider] Drunk Q&A with  Badger & Chaunce Save 10% at Greenbelly.co by using code "TREK2020" at checkout. Save 15% at Gossamergear.com by using code "ATDRINK15" at checkout. Save 10% at AppalachianGearCompany.com by using code "BACKPACKERRADIO" at checkout. Hikerlink! Intro Song: Walking Slow by Animal Years Intro beats: Pauly Boy Shallcross Check out Trail Correspondents Check out The Attempt! [divider] Drunk Q&A 0:03:52 - Intro, Welcome to BPR (long-distance style)  0:05:00 - Elise Ott Introduction (new BPR intern), articles on the Trek  0:05:50 - Casey’s Poop Story to End All Poop Stories 0:24:30 - We Meet Harper (after she pees on the floor)  0:26:44 - What are your favorite TP substitutes?  0:30:00 - What would you do if you were on trail right now? Even if you were 400 miles in? 0:41:43 - What international long hikes are Chaunce and Zach hiking or dreaming about? 0:45:00 - Only ramen for an entire trail or only mashed potatoes? 0:47:17 - If you ran out of toilet paper during your quarantine, what would you use to wipe?  0:54:22 - If you had to drink one celeb’s bath water whose would it be? 0:56:00 - If you had to pick another sport besides hiking to invest your time, energy, and money into, what would it be? And why? 1:00:00 - Is it okay to day hike right now?  1:09:00 - Ad break!  Save 10% at AppalachianGearCompany.com by using code "BACKPACKERRADIO" at checkout. 1:17:45 - If you had to shelter in place would you use a tent or build a shelter? What food would you bring? 1:28:28 - What kind of mud is Chaunce using to build her hut? 1:32:00 - The question, “what is your most memorable road walk?” turns into a discussion on thru-hiking purity.  1:50:09 - Are people as mean on the trail as they are on facebook? 1:55:09 - The Final Question (there are two): If you could name a pet or child after a place on trail? 1:58:15 - The Final Question (the second one): Could you do a major thru-hike backwards? And if you did, what gear adjustments would you make?  2:02:00 - Actually The Final Question: Will Chaunce take Harper on a thru-hike?  02:12:55 - Follow us on social media! (Chaunce's Instagram, YouTube, Facebook | Badger's Instagram, Elise's Instagram) [divider] Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio?  Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)!  Find us on Stitcher and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Cristopher Marshburn, S11N, Sawyer Products, Thomas Fullner, and Travis Smith. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Gregory Gardner, Jacob Northrup, Jeff LaFranier, Mark Snook, Michelle Pugh, Peter Leven, Peter Ellenberg. Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio, and Chaunce on Facebook. Follow The Trek on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter.

We're joined by Sandi Marra, the president and CEO at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.  As noted in our previous podcast, the news and guidelines around COVID-19 and the trail system has been evolving rapidly.  At the time of the previous recording, the ATC asked people to postpone their thru-hikes.  Since that recording, the ATC has increased the severity of their recommendations- urging people to avoid the Appalachian Trail altogether, even for day hikes. Today's interview will largely center around that subject, including how the ATC arrived to this decision, when Sandi predicts that the trail will be safe to hike and backpack again, amongst many other Coronavirus related questions.  Sandi Marra of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy Why was this decision reached to ask all people to stay off the Appalachian Trail?  Both in the context of backpacking and day hiking. What does she have to say to those who are still on the trail? What guidance does she have for those who want to get off but are having trouble finding resources? When does she foresee the trail reopening? Her thoughts on hiking in general right now? The Trek will be helping to put together a resource for those who are looking for a ride from the trail in the near future. Save 10% at Greenbelly.co by using code "TREK2020" at checkout. Save 15% at Gossamergear.com by using code "ATDRINK15" at checkout. Save 10% at AppalachianGearCompany.com by using code "BACKPACKERRAD10" at checkout. Hikerlink! Intro Song: Walking Slow by Animal Years Check out The Attempt! [divider] Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio?  Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)!  Find us on Stitcher and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Christopher Marshburn, ineedcoffee17, S11N, Sawyer Products, and Thomas Fullner A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: dcnerdlet, Jacob Northrup, Jeff LaFranier, Mark Snook, Michelle Pugh, Peter Leven, Peter Ellenberg, and Zoe Jenkins Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio, and Chaunce on Facebook. Follow The Trek on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter.