Backpacker Radio

What's it like to build the most ubiquitous in the hiking community?  Today we learn that answer as we're joined by Ryan Linn, more commonly known as Guthook, one of the people behind the "Guthook App", the uber-popular navigation app, especially amongst thru-hikers.  He shares his background in backpacking and thru-hiking, the inspiration for the creation of the app, his coding background, and what lies in store for the future of the app. We also talk about Jennifer Pharr Davis' wonderful article on Health Insurance Options for Thru-Hikers, an illustration outlining five ways to poop in the woods, and the ranking of New Hampshire's 48 4,000 foot peaks. We close out the show with a heated Triple Crown of Thanksgiving Foods and some mailbag questions.   Subjects discussed in today's show include: Sawyer Micro Squeeze Filter Let's talk about Treks, baby!  (also poo and pee) Chaunce stole my ice axe Chaunce is a segment short of finishing the CT Guthook's Apps AWOL's Guide Guthook or Guthooks? [VOTE] Health Insurance Options for Long Distance Backpackers APPLY to be a Trek Blogger or Vlogger 5 Ways to Poop in the Woods, an Illustration New Hampshire’s 48 4,000-Footers, Ranked Triple Crown of Thanksgiving Foods 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)! Download this podcast.  Find us on Stitcher and Google Play. Support us on Patreon! A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Sawyer Products, Tama Lama Ding Dong A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Gregory Gardner, Kate Hurley, Clint "DuctTape" Sherbet, Randy Harter and Peter Leven. Follow Guthook's Apps, Backpacker Radio, The Trek, Chaunce, and Badger on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow The Trek on Facebook, Twitter and sign up for our newsletter.

Diversity on the trail is a heavy, but important subject. It's impossible to do this subject justice in the span of an hour long podcast, but it's a conversation worth having nonetheless. Our correspondents share their thoughts about the diversity -or lack thereof- that they've encountered on trail.  Our hikers also ponder ways the community can encourage under-represented groups to get onto the trail.  Admittedly- our correspondents largely follow the demographics of the thru-hiking community at large- which is to say young and white. Though one of our hikers is visiting from across the pond and another is gay- and we've got more female correspondents than male when the trail skews the other way. But in terms of racial diversity, there's none.  We were fortunate to get the input of Elsye "Chardonnay" Walker, who's one of the few (if not the only) black woman to hike the triple crown.   She shares her take on these same questions, which offers some interesting contrast to the other stances offered in this episode.   Lastly, we get an update from Jeffrey "Legend" Garmire, who's on the tail end of his Great Western Loop journey, a 6,875-mile footpath across the western half of the USA. The path, popularized by Andrew Skurka, links five existing trails, including the Pacific Crest Trail, Pacific Northwest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, Grand Enchantment Trail, & Arizona Trail, as well as some route finding through the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts. In today's show, we hear from: Jacob Beaver Kate Mueller aka Sassafras  IBTAT Madeline Newel Kate Emmons Lukas Isaacson Sarah Mowery Rachael “Rabbit” DeLano   You can support the show through our Patreon page, which helps us to publish episodes more frequently. 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. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek, Chaunce, and Badger on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube Follow The Trek on Facebook, Twitter and sign up for our newsletter. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Sawyer Products. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Gregory Gardner, Kate Hurley, Clint "DuctTape" Sherbet, Peter Leven Episode produced by Pauly Boy Shallcross. Check out his coffee roaster, Old Man Murph's.   Music via.

What does it take to turn a thru-hike turns into an 18-month adventure?  That's the central theme of today's show, as the Cinnamon Connection is joined by Nathan "Puma" Bauman- who, after hiking the Appalachian Trail, next hiked on the Continental Divide Trail, Long Trail, and Pacific Crest Trail within a year and a half span.  We talk about the differences between the three triple crown trails, what it's like to quit on a thru-hike, why the Long Trail is the most difficult trail Puma's encountered, and some tips for aspiring trail-photographers.  We chat briefly about the 2018 AT Hiker Survey, AT completion and PCT completion photos.  The show wraps up with the second edition of The Triple Crown Of, where we share our favorite trail magic items.  Subjects discussed in today's show include: Sawyer Micro Squeeze Filter Intro to Puma His SOBO CDT hike How he finances hiking all the time Frugality on trail vs off trail Ultralight base weight Current Big 3 Palante Simple Pack V2 Enlightened Equipment Enigma 10 Degree SMD Deschutes Tarp Appalachian Trail Big 3 Osprey Exos 48 Nemo Hornet 1p Nemo Nocturne NeoAir Xlite Gossamer Gear The One Photography gear and why it’s different to bring a real camera over an iPhone Sony A7ii 85mm 1.8f 28mm f2 Rhode mic Editing photos on Trail - lightning sd to phone port - editing RAW photos on iPhones using that converter / Adobe Lightroom mobile & editing presets (filters) to make the process easier Twerk Instagram Click Instagram His failed PCT hike 2018 Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker Survey Send Completion photos to editors@thetrek.co Anonymous hiker poop stories Top Trail magic Guy proposes in The Whites video 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. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Sawyer Products A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Gregory Gardner, Kate Hurley, Clint "DuctTape" Sherbet, and Peter Leven. Follow Puma, Backpacker Radio, The Trek, Chaunce, and Badger on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow The Trek on Facebook, Twitter and sign up for our newsletter.

In today's show, our hikers discuss the evolution of their hiking groups over the course of their journeys.  Injuries occur, people grow apart, paces differ, life happens.  You get to learn the ins and outs of how and why this happens directly from the mouths of our hikers.  Also, we say farewell to another of our trail correspondents.  You'll get to hear who's getting off- and why- at the end of our hikers' updates. In today's show, we hear from: Jacob Beaver Kate Mueller aka Sassafras  IBTAT Madeline Newel Miles Bisher aka "Miles To Go" Kate Emmons Lukas Isaacson Sarah Mowery Rachael “Rabbit” DeLano You can support the show through our Patreon page, which helps us to publish episodes more frequently. 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. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek, Chaunce, and Badger on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube Follow The Trek on Facebook, Twitter and sign up for our newsletter. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Sawyer Products. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Gregory Gardner, Kate Hurley, Clint "DuctTape" Sherbet, Peter Leven Episode produced by Pauly Boy Shallcross. Check out his coffee roaster, Old Man Murph's.  Music via.

Reoccurring guest The Real Hiking Viking joins the Turmeric Team to chat about his recent attempt at an FKT (fastest known time) on the Colorado Trail.  The interview kicks off with a short discussion we had before he left for his yo-yo hike- to get a feel for his nerves going into this ambitious undertaking.  We chat about what ultimately went wrong (spoiler alert), what he would do differently in his future attempt, and FKT culture and requirements.  The show ends with the unveiling of a new series, "The Triple Crown of...", where we showcase the things that can most fuck up a hiker's day on trail. Subjects discussed in today's episode include:  Sawyer 30 SPF Sunscreen 1 oz. tubes What food Jabba carried on his attempt Jabba's overloaded pack (below) What gear was carried Mountain Smith Jabba (official name TBD) What improvements would be made for next time Trans Adirondack Route The Barkley Marathons GPS Trackers for FKTs The FKT governing website Triple Crown of things that fuck up your day 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)! Download this podcast.  Find us on Stitcher and Google Play. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Sawyer Products and Meg Jarboe A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Gregory Gardner, Kate Hurley, Clint "DuctTape" Sherbet, and Peter Leven. Follow Piers Ellison, Backpacker Radio, The Trek, Chaunce, and Badger on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow The Trek on Facebook, Twitter and sign up for our newsletter.

Before leaving for a long distance trek, it's common for people to envision worst case scenario. For Piers Ellison, on his 2016 PCT hike, this fear became a reality when he was bitten by a brown recluse spider.  In episode 19, we talk in depth about this nightmare, how he hiked the entire PCT while carrying his guitar, the challenges an international hiker must confront in order to trek one of the United States' long trails, and finally, Piers delights us by playing a pair of songs from his new EP "Distance".  Also, Chaunce is drunk.  Subjects discussed include: Sawyer Picaridin Packets Jabba Demolishes a Z-Packs Carbon Fiber Staff [Video] Piers Soundcloud Song Piers wonderful album "Distance" available on Spotify (free) and iTunes Atom Packs in the UK UL Outdoor Gear Online Outfitter B1/B2 Visa for thru-hiking Additional Considerations for International Hikers As It Happens Documentary This is Not a Beautiful Thru-Hike Video Do More with Less Piers on Instagram 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. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Sawyer Products A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Gregory Gardner, Kate Hurley, Clint "DuctTape" Sherbet, and Peter Leven. Follow Piers Ellison, Backpacker Radio, The Trek, Chaunce, and Badger on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow The Trek on Facebook, Twitter and sign up for our newsletter.

  Technology on a thru-hike.  Combining these words tends to rouse some heated debate.  Some people abstain entirely from technology during their hikes, opting only to keep in touch with loved ones while in town.  Some are nearly constantly plugged in, listening to music and/or podcasts all day, posting Instagram updates every time they get service, constantly checking Guthook's app, even watching movies in their tents at night.  Most thru-hikers fall somewhere in the middle. We check in with our hikers to get their take.  Specifically how they interact with technology on trail, how they witness their fellow hikers using it, and whether it's ultimately good or bad for the hiking community at large.  Their answers shine good insight on this seemingly paradoxical relationship with devices in the backcountry. In today's show, we hear from: Jacob Beaver Kate Mueller aka Sassafras  IBTAT Madeline Newel Miles Bisher aka "Miles To Go" Kate Emmons Lukas Isaacson Sarah Mowery Rachael “Rabbit” DeLano   You can support the show through our Patreon page, which helps us to publish episodes more frequently. 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. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek, Chaunce, and Badger on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube Follow The Trek on Facebook, Twitter and sign up for our newsletter. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Sawyer Products. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Gregory Gardner, Kate Hurley, Clint "DuctTape" Sherbet, Peter Leven Episode produced by Pauly Boy Shallcross. Check out his coffee roaster, Old Man Murph's.   Music via.

What's in store for the future of the Appalachian Trail?  This is one of the primary topics in today's episode of Backpacker Radio, as the Cinnamon Connection are joined by Andrew Downs, the Central and Southwest Virginia Regional Director at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.  We also talk about the unintended negative consequences of trail magic, thru-hiker entitlement, Leave No Trace, bear canister regulations on the Appalachian Trail, how people can most effectively give back to the AT, and embarrassing chaffing and poop stories. Subjects discussed include: The man who fatally fell off McAfee Knob A woman who got mauled by a bear in the Greyson Highlands How to manage chafing and ass hair (don't light it on fire) The pros and cons of more people hitting the trail Thru-hiker entitlement Trail angels and responsible trail magic Giving back with trail maintenance work What the ATC is and what it does Local clubs that maintain the trails Ridgerunners on the AT The biggest challenges the AT faces today Potential for bear canisters on AT ‘Hardcore’ and connecting current hikers to trail work Bob Peoples: the Chuck Norris of the AT The spending report for the ATC Golden Rules of Thru-Hikers The Thru-Hiker's Code of Conduct Mt Shasta first official PCT town article Send your question for Andrew to editors@thetrek.co 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. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Sawyer Products A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Gregory Gardner, Kate Hurley, Clint "DuctTape" Sherbet, and Peter Leven. Follow Andrew Downs, Backpacker Radio, The Trek, Chaunce, and Badger on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow The Trek on Facebook, Twitter and sign up for our newsletter.

Many people's perception of the thru-hiking lifestyle comes via social media, where people are more likely to portray the the cheery, positive aspects of this undertaking. You see the breathtaking views, the smiling faces, the slender bodies, and the hiker camaraderie. What you often don't see is the chafing, the injuries, dehydration, never ending rain, the heat, the cold, what it's like to get sick on trail, the attrition, loneliness, sleep deprivation, home sickness, a lack of motivation, and the bugs- oh god, the dense clouds of motherfucking mosquitoes. Well, that's the point of today's show. Thru-hiking is always rewarding, but it may not always be pretty. Here's some of its darker underbelly. In today's show, we hear from: Jacob Beaver Kate Mueller aka Sassafras  IBTAT Madeline Newel Miles Bisher aka "Miles To Go" Kate Emmons Lukas Isaacson Sarah Mowery Rachael “Rabbit” DeLano   You can support the show through our Patreon page, which helps us to publish episodes more frequently. 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)! Download this podcast.  Find us on Stitcher and Google Play. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek, Chaunce, and Badger on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube Follow The Trek on Facebook, Twitter and sign up for our newsletter. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Sawyer Products. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Gregory Gardner, Kate Hurley, Clint "DuctTape" Sherbet, Peter Leven Episode produced by Pauly Boy Shallcross. Check out his coffee roaster, Old Man Murph's.  Music via.

A sad, yet seemingly inevitable byproduct of long distance backpacking is pain and injury.  Though it's not a guarantee, to escape a long distance trek without one of the two or both is a rare feat. Consequently, two popular questions for thru-hikers are how to prevent injury while on trail and what to do about it once an injury manifests.  In episode 17 of Backpacker Radio, the Paprika Pals are joined by Dr. Emily Kelly, a physical therapist based in Centennial, Colorado.  She answers Badger and Chaunce's selfish injury related questions, along with a slew of others sent in from Writers and Bloggers at The Trek. If you're dealing with a hiking-related injury or are looking for ways to reduce your injury risk, there's some valuable insight in this podcast for you. Subjects discussed include: Vermont is the 14th state and insecure about its cheese quality relative to Wisconsin REI's Hawaiian shirts are too dude centric Grizel gets hit by an RV Emily Kelly DPT at Fit Physical Therapy in Centennial, CO Meniscus Bucket Handle Tear SPECIFIC QUESTIONS How long after ACL reconstruction can someone get back into hiking? If you sustain an ankle injury such as a strain or sprain while on trail, is it safe to keep hiking, and if so, what steps can be taken to promote healing and avoid further injury, while continuing to backpack? If you HAVE to get off trail, what steps can be taken at home to do the same, as well as to condition yourself to return to hiking as quickly as possible? I had an ACL reconstruction done a few months ago, and am struggling to get my quad and other “hiking” muscles to come back. What is the best way to work on getting these back so that as soon as I am cleared, I can get back on trail as quickly as possible? Knee injuries are incredibly common amongst long distance backpackers. What are the most common causes of knee pain for backpackers; how best to treat them, and what exercises can be done prior to hitting the trail to strengthen the knees? I have herniated disks between shoulder blades and in cervical spine that compress and push on spinal nerve after prolonged hiking. Strengthening muscles around area helps with daily pain but prolonged backpacking causes sharp severe pain. Is there a high potential for causing more damage by backpacking? What advice, stretches, forms, weight placement of items in backpack would they suggest to minimize pain? What are your thoughts about people starting a thru-hike while recovering from existing injuries? What kind of mobility aids they would recommend bringing on a hike to treat your own injuries? What are the top concerns you have (or deals with) regarding hikers. When should you work through pain in injury recovery vs. use pain as indicator to stop pushing? Top stretches for our aching hiker bodies?  Does time of day matter? The best way to deal with osteoarthritis in back/hip, knees and feet. The grinding of the joints is somewhat painful after a few 12-15 mile days and I cannot take ibuprofen. I got off the trail in May due to back pain. I had a spinal fusion with harrington rods at age 8 and again at 13. I've been told by chiropractor that I would cripple myself if I continued. I recently saw an orthopedic spine  specialist that said I can do anything I want as long as I could handle the pain of it. What Do I do??? I miss the trail so much. I am full out depressed being in the real world. Advice for IT band pain?  Both on trail and at home. How to Physically Prepare for a thru-hike. Achilles Tendinitis- best stretches and how to use KT tape for treatment. Best way to transition yourself back to life off the trail? Exercises, etc. Altra Lone Peak The CDT section of The Trek Apply to be The Trek's Youtube Personality Ways to get involved with The Trek Terrific Proposal Photo on the AT Patent Pending! Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio? Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co. This episode was recorded at Wayfinder Co-op. Intro song Walking Slow by Animal Years. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Download this podcast.  Find us on Stitcher and Google Play. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Sawyer Products A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Gregory Gardner, Kate Hurley, Clint "DuctTape" Sherbet, and Peter Leven. Follow Furball, Backpacker Radio, The Trek, Chaunce, and Badger on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow The Trek on Facebook, Twitter and sign up for our newsletter.