Backpacker Radio

The Trek
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Backpacker Radio

From the Appalachian Trail to the Pacific Crest and everything in between. Backpacker Radio is a show all about the wonderful world that is thru-hiking and long distance backpacking. Co-hosts, Zach "Badger" Davis and Juliana "Chaunce" Chauncey muse on the backpacking life and the latest from the trail every other week. Topics include but are not limited to news, trail culture, interviews, gear, advice, and all you can eat buffets.

  1. 5 DAYS AGO

    8 Tips for 2025 Appalachian Trail Hikers (BPR #295)

    In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek and brought to you by LMNT, Chaunce and Badger are serving up tips for this year’s class of Appalachian Trail thru-hikers. We’re covering everything from social dynamics and budgeting to mental prep, diet, why you should document your hike, some listener submission tips, and much more. We also give a rundown of advice from previous episodes in case you want to dig even deeper into getting ready for the Appalachian Trail. Whether you’re hitting the AT this year, planning for a future trek, or know someone who is, this episode is for you. Or for them.  We wrap the show with the latest on the mass layoffs hitting National Park and Forest Service employees, an update from our friends at Rebuild Hot Springs Area on how the funds raised through the Badger Sponsorship are helping with recovery efforts (plus ways you can still get involved), what our trail names would be if they had to be food-centric, and the Triple Crown of Backpacker Radio starter-pack episodes. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. Gossamer Gear: Use code “BACKPACKER20” for 20% off packs at gossamergear.com.  Ombraz: Use code “BACKPACKER30” for $30 off at ombraz.com/discount/backpacker30. Timeline: Get 33% off your first order at timeline.com/backpacker33. [divider] Panel with Zach and Chaunce Time stamps & Questions 00:09:50 - Reminders: Join us for our live show in Austin, listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon, and apply to blog for the Trek! Sign up for the Trek’s newsletter 00:13:30 - Introducing Zach and Chaunce 00:18:00 - Tips from past AT episodes, #138 and #140 00:30:30 - Chaunce’s Tip #1: Don’t rush to find your trail family 00:35:15 - Zach’s Tip #1: Document your hike 00:40:35 - Listener Submission #1: Your shit will dry 00:41:28 - Chaunce’s Tip #2: Don’t take things too seriously 00:43:33 - Zach’s Tip #2: Electrolytes 00:48:55 - Listener Submission #2: Don’t overplan and don’t rush 00:51:47 - Chaunce’s Tip #3: Add ⅓ to ½ over your estimated budget 01:03:20 - Zach’s Tip #3: Mentally prepare for your thru-hike 01:12:25 - Chaunce’s Honorable Mention: Train for downhills 01:17:00 - Stay Salty Question: What’s your hottest take in the world of backpacking? Segments Trek Propaganda:  Mass Layoffs of National Park and Forest Workers Threaten the Future of America’s Trails by Katie Jackson Rebuild Hot Springs QOTD: If your trail name had to be a food, what would it be and how would you earn it? Triple Crown of BPR starter pack episodes #112: Beginner Backpacking Mistakes #246: Girl Stuff 3.0: Hiking as a New Mom, Pink Blazing, and Fearmongering #14: Data, Chaunce Gets Covered in Poo, and the LWCF #4: The Real Hiking Viking Pt II, Scariest Moments from the Trail, and Thru-Hiking Nutrition #35: Weezer on Hiking Sober, Processing Grief, and Metamorphosis on the Pacific Crest Trail #205: Warren Doyle: Appalachian Trail Legend on His Record 18 Completed AT Traverses #1: The Real Hiking Viking #49: Matt “Pretzel” Mason on Shaking Down New Thru-Hikers, Gear Advice, Wildland Firefighting, and Also Everything #260: John Mackey, Whole Foods Co-Founder, on His Thru-Hiking Experience, Co-Owning Gossamer Gear, and Entrepreneurship #55: Kevin Nealon #43: Clay Bonnyman Evans on AT Cults, Trail Murder Statistics, and YouTube Vlogger Scam Artists #132: Jack “Quadzilla” Jones #17: Thru-Hiking Injury Prevention and Recovery Tips with Dr. Emily Kelly #69: Will “Akuna” Robinson Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek’s newsletter Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)!  Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok.  Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Ben Love, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Greg McDaniel, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Liz Seger, Mud Tom, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger’ Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Bonnie Ackerman, Chris Pyle, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Katharine Rudzitis, Lauren Cain, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Ruth S, and Spencer Hinson.

    2h 11m

  2. 24 FEB

    Dog Mushing, 20+ Years in the Navy, and the Triple Crown with Ben "Ginger Ballz" Vaughan (BPR #294)

    In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek and brought to you by Topo Athletic, we’re joined by Ben Vaugh, known on trail as Ginger Ballz. Ben is a Navy veteran, accomplished thru-hiker, and currently works as a dog musher, a topic Chaunce and Badger had way too much fun diving into. Ginger Ballz takes us through his transition from the military to thru-hiking, why he recommends it to fellow service members, and the parallels between the two. He shares stories from his hikes of the Triple Crown trails, the Hayduke, Superior Hiking Trail, and Long Trail. We also get a deep dive into his current gig managing a dog mushing and guiding company in Colorado, working with Iditarod-winning pups. He breaks down the process of training huskies for guiding, the biggest challenges of mushing, and the unique bond he shares with his dogs. We close out the show with a feature on a man who thru-hiked the AT while legally blind, a debate on whether airplanes have keys, why Zach is no longer allowed to enjoy pho, Chaunce’s honey grease, the Triple Crown of abbreviated insults, and more. Topo Athletic: Use code “TREKWINTER15” at topoathletic.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code “BACKPACKER20” for 20% off packs at gossamergear.com.  [divider] Interview with Ben “Ginger Ballz” Vaughan Ben's Instagram Ben's Facebook Colorado Dog Sledding Website Time stamps & Questions 00:05:12 - Reminders: Join us for our live show in Austin, listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon, and apply to blog for the Trek! 00:08:05 - Introducing Ben 00:10:00 - Tell us about your Navy experience 00:12:10 - What’s it like chasing down pirates? 00:16:06 - Tell us about transitioning between the Navy and thru-hiking 00:19:00 - How did the AT get on your radar? 00:20:38 - Did your military background help you go into the AT with confidence? 00:22:30 - Did you do thru-hiking specific research? 00:24:02 - Did you feel your purpose restored when you started the AT? 00:24:30 - Do you think thru-hikers could succeed in the military? 00:26:20 - Tell us about the Kona Ironman? 00:28:20 - Tell us about the Navy culture in Coronado 00:31:15 - Did you know right away that thru-hiking was for you? 00:34:10 - How did you feel upon finishing the AT? 00:36:00 - What other traits did you get from the Navy that aided you in thru-hiking? 00:39:44 - Tell us about going from the AT to the PCT 00:42:50 - What was it like adjusting to the high snow year on the PCT? 00:48:00 - Can you completely recover from frostbite? 00:50:00 - Did you freak out when you were stuck in a blizzard? 00:51:55 - Was it fun seeing the Sierra in a different season? 00:53:55 - When did you decide to complete the Triple Crown? 00:57:10 - What was the difference in reactions you got on the CDT versus the AT? 00:58:14 - What did your Big 3 look like on the CDT? 01:00:45 - How does a snowy Smokies compare to the snowy Sierras? 01:05:00 - Tell us about hiking the Hayduke 01:09:45 - Tell us about dropping your pack down a canyon 01:12:20 - Tell us about hiking the Superior Hiking Trail 01:15:12 - Tell us about hiking the Long Trail 01:17:00 - How did you end up in Alaska dog mushing? 01:19:30 - What are the dogs like in their off time? 01:22:00 - What does it take to win the Iditarod? 01:23:10 - How do you train the dog to do what it needs to do? 01:24:50 - How can you tell if one of the dogs is getting tired? 01:26:10 - What do the dogs eat? 01:29:15 - Story from the Iditarod 01:31:40 - How does the tour operation work in CO? 01:33:00 - What types of commands do the dogs know? 01:35:10 - Who are your dogs? 01:39:45 - What do you pack for a backcountry dog mushing trip? 01:40:50 - What is your bond like with the dogs? 01:42:00 - How long can the dogs run for? 01:43:40 - Are Huskies all not great off leash? 01:47:05 - Ben is hiring! 01:49:40 - Peak Performance Question: What is your top performance-enhancing or backpacking hack? Segments Trek Propaganda  Thru-Hiking While Blind: Completing the Appalachian Trail With A Visual Disability by Andrew Neylon The Best Trail Runners for Thru-Hiking in 2025 by the Editors QOTD: Do airplanes have keys? Thing of the Week Triple Crown of short insults Gross or Not Gross Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)!  Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok.  Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Ben Love, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Greg McDaniel, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Liz Seger, Mud Tom, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger’ Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Bonnie Ackerman, Chris Pyle, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Katharine Rudzitis, Lauren Cain, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Ruth S, and Spencer Hinson.

    2h 28m

  3. 17 FEB

    Managing Relationships while Thru-Hiking with Michele Weiner-Davis, aka Zach's Mom

    In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by acclaimed author, marriage therapist, and speaker, Michele Weiner-Davis, known in my household simply as "mom".  Being our Valentine's Day episode, this one is meant to equip you with the knowledge necessary to make your relationship flourish. We cover a range of questions, both general tips on how to improve your relationships, but also thru-hiking specific scenarios, including how to navigate when one partner is on the trail and the other is back home, encountering challenges when hiking together, and how to get buy in from nervous parents (a subject in which my mother is overqualified to speak on). Chaunce also attempts to get Badger to blush by asking embarrassing questions about his past.  We wrap the show with some sobering news about how listeners can help a past guest in her fight against cancer; Chaunce and her fiance, Garrett, air out their pettiest fights; and we search for the perfect word for that post-massive dump feeling. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. Gossamer Gear: Use code “BACKPACKER20” for 20% off packs at gossamergear.com.  [divider] Interview with Michele Weiner-Davis Michele's Website Time stamps & Questions 00:05:15 - Reminders: Join us for our live show in Austin, listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon, and apply to blog for the Trek! 00:09:00 - Introducing Michele 00:09:50 - What are you most proud of professionally? 00:12:15 - What’s the crossover between saving marriages and raising children? 00:13:27 - How does your work influence your own marriage? 00:14:35 - What is it like being mother to Zach Davis? 00:16:10 - What’s the dumbest thing you’ve ever seen Zach do? 00:19:22 - Describe why Zach is called the feral child 00:21:28 - What is something about Zach you don’t think the listeners would know? 00:22:45 - What was your advice to Zach when he was engaged and about to hike the PCT? 00:24:48 - How did you get into this work in the first place? 00:29:30 - In what other ways is your angle different from the average therapist? 00:31:00 - Should marriages always be saved? 00:33:18 - Where are the key areas where relationships go wrong? 00:36:50 - How can someone hiking make their partner at home feel valued? 00:43:50 - Discussion about parents reacting to their children's thru-hikes 00:47:30 - How long did it take you to feel comfortable with Zach being on the AT? 00:49:00 - How would you handle a situation where the person at home feels jealous? 00:54:25 - “I love hiking but my wife doesn't. She's short (under 5ft) so how big a backpack would I need to kidnap, I mean, carry her in? Seriously she hates camping and nothing I've tried works. We've been married for almost thirty years. Any suggestions?” 00:55:25 - “If a marriage is already rocky, do you think that sharing a thru-hike is more likely or less likely to help fix a relationship?” 00:58:38 - “So I’m single and not only am I getting into long distance backpacking but I also work in film where we could be hired for a project that has us traveling for months at a time within a week of being hired. I often find myself hesitant to get into a relationship with someone who has a more stable 9-5 lifestyle. How can I approach the initial conversation to set expectations of these long gaps in availability? Should I just stick to dating people in my industry/ people with less traditional lifestyles? Thanks!” 01:00:50 - How would you advise a child to get their parent’s sign off for a hike? 01:07:37 - “My partner supported me initially with my desire to do multi day backpacking trips. However, he's now made comments about how he hopes I'm not planning to make this a regular thing (I've gone away twice for ~2.5 weeks). I realize it's a lot to ask when you are a parent, even though our kids are teens, but I do want to be able to continue to enjoy these trips (he's not interested). How would you approach this situation to avoid resentment building on both sides?” 01:11:33 - “Do couples who make it through a thru-hike together really stay together?” 01:16:22 - What kind of conversations can people have prior to the end of the trail? 01:18:07 - “One of the most difficult parts of a thru hike for my wife and I is the time away from each other, but once we get over that and the trail is finished the next hardest thing for both of us is just getting used to being around each other again, we both have basically lived separate lives for the past few months and have become used to our own routines and now we’re stuck with each other again. Any tips for making that transition back into “normal” married  life any easier.” 01:21:38 - “I’m considering a thru-hike during a career break. My husband doesn’t have the same time off work so I would be hiking without him. He’s very supportive of my hiking plans but I worry about what it will do to our marriage if I have this transformational experience without him. Any advice on managing this?” 01:26:55 - “How do I deal with the guilt of leaving a spouse at home while I’m hiking like a happy forest fairy?” 01:28:10 - “Do we outgrow people and stagnate our own growth, or is this a misconception?” 01:32:42 - How much of a good relationship is meeting your soulmate and how much is working towards it? 01:33:45 - Do you think anyone can make a relationship work with anyone? 01:35:45 - Stay Salty Question: What is your hottest take in the world of relationships? 01:40:40 - Is there a book you’d recommend for thru-hikers? Segments Trek Propaganda Fundraiser to Support Renee "She-Ra" Patrick The Ultimate Guide to Making Coffee on Trail by JT Simmons QOTD: What word describes that sweet relieving feeling after taking a big dump? Triple Crown of petty things you’ve fought over Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)!  Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok.  Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Ben Love, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Greg McDaniel, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Liz Seger, Mud Tom, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger’ Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Bonnie Ackerman, Chris Pyle, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Katharine Rudzitis, Lauren Cain, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Ruth S, and Spencer Hinson.

    2h 30m

  4. 10 FEB

    Viking Q&A: First Aid Kits, Electronics, Socks, and a Beard Update

    In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are A’in your Q’s, with our pal and yours, the lightly bearded Jabba aka The Real Hiking Viking. In today’s question and answer we dive into a host of nitty gritty backpacking details, including what exactly is in our first aid kit, electronics bag (down to the cords), and our stuff sac systems, including some specific product recommendations. We also chat about our least favorite backpacking trips, our thought process in choosing socks for a backpacking trip, and what we deem as the biggest misuse of money when on a thru-hike. Jabba also updates us on what life has been like sans-beard, the fallout with his girlfriend, and if he plans to bring it back. We wrap the show with our go to movie theater orders, why corn maintains its shape when shat, the triple crown of cities we'd add an NFL team and what their mascots would be, and we once again dive down the rabbit hole of how often peepee happens during poopoo. Another very mature episode for the archive. Topo Athletic: Use code “THETREK15” at topoathletic.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code “BACKPACKER20” for 20% off packs at gossamergear.com.  AG1: Get your free $79 gift at drinkag1.com/backpacker. Timeline: Get 33% off your first order at timeline.com/backpacker33. [divider] Interview with Viking Jabba's Instagram Time stamps & Questions 00:11:45 - Reminders: Join us for our live show in Austin, listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon, and apply to blog for the Trek! 00:15:05 - Re-introducing Jabba 00:18:57 - What’s life been like since you shaved the beard? 00:26:15 - How long have you been a Joe Pesci impersonator? 00:26:58 - Will you grow the beard back? 00:30:25 - What is in your first aid kit? 00:49:00 - What’s your favorite planet? 00:52:00 - What is your full electronics kit? 01:01:25 - If you had to have an inside/desk job, what would it be? 01:02:45 - What was that in the Orange Bowl? 01:03:26 - What features of the Zerk did you have strong opinions about? 01:15:15 - What’s your least favorite trail over 50 miles? 01:32:35 - Does the carpet match the drapes? 01:33:45 - What is the biggest misuse of money on trail? 01:44:40 - How much thought do you put into your hiking socks? 01:52:00 - Who’s the biggest asshole you’ve ever met on trail? 01:53:17 - How many stuff sacks do you use? 02:08:44 - How old do you think your kids will be for their first backpacking trip? 02:10:45 - What is being married going to do to your thru-hiking career? 02:15:00 - Peak Performance Question: What is your top performance enhancing hack? Segments Trek Propaganda: Biden’s Final, Controversial Push for America’s Public Lands by Katie Jackson QOTD: What is your movie theater order? QOTD 2: Why does corn come out the same shape as corn? Triple Crown of cities you’d add an NFL team to Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)!  Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok.  Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Ben Love, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Greg McDaniel, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Liz Seger, Mud Tom, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger’ Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Bonnie Ackerman, Chris Pyle, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Katharine Rudzitis, Lauren Cain, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Ruth S, and Spencer Hinson.

    2h 51m

  5. 3 FEB

    The Rise and Fall of GoLite and Balancing Federal Budgets with Demetri "Coup" Coupounas

    In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Demetri Coupounas, aka Coup, the founder of GoLite and MyTrail Company. Coup might just be the most interesting man in the world. This conversation takes us through his incredible journey, from his work balancing the federal budget in the '80s and '90s to becoming the first person to complete unsupported hikes of the Colorado Trail and the Long Trail, and how he stumbled upon the once underground world of ultralight backpacking.  We also dive into the history of GoLite, from its role in popularizing Ray Jardine’s ultralight designs to its meteoric rise with more than 20 retail stores nationwide—without taking any investor money—and its eventual downfall, leading to bankruptcy just a few years later. Coup shares the story of MyTrail Co, his follow-up venture, and how he applied the lessons learned from GoLite while stripping away what didn’t work, and how that eventually failed to achieve launch.  This episode is an insightful history lesson on GoLite and the world of ultralight backpacking, as well as a fascinating case study on business successes and failures.  We wrap up the show with a new 2-ounce device that could replace your Garmin InReach, what we consider a satisfactory number of steps in a typical day, and the ultimate Triple Crown of best smells. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. Gossamer Gear: Use code “BACKPACKER20” for 20% off packs at gossamergear.com.  [divider] Interview with Demetri “Coup” Coupounas Coup's Instagram Time stamps & Questions 00:10:20 - Reminders: Join us for our live show in Austin, listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon, and apply to vlog for the Trek! 00:12:40 - Introducing Coup 00:15:15 - What are your favorite backpacking Youtube channels? 00:16:25 - How did you get into politics? 00:28:10 - How f****d are we currently and what’s your take on DOGE? 00:34:44 - How did you get into backpacking? 00:42:00 - How would you walk a first time hiker through packing their backpack? 00:51:22 - Do you think fun correlates directly with the weight on your back? 00:53:40 - Why did you take on unsupported hikes? 00:56:35 - Are you pursuing novel experiences or challenging experiences? 00:59:30 - How do you decide what food to bring? 01:05:20 - Tell us about the early days of GoLite 01:10:30 - Did you ever make your own gear? 01:12:02 - Did you have a personal relationship with Ray Jardine? 01:14:55 - Was Ray an owner in the business? 01:17:17 - What were the biggest initial sellers? 01:21:15 - How much effort was involved in convincing people to go lighter? 01:27:02 - What were the first 12 products? 01:38:15 - What did your typical customer look like? 01:46:00 - What was the process of scaling GoLite? 01:55:00 - Why didn’t selling direct work well? 02:01:20 - What happened in 2013 and 2014? 02:10:00 - Why didn’t you seek investors when money was running out? 02:17:00 - Discussion about the transition to My Trail Co 02:20:24 - What do you keep from the business when going through bankruptcy? 02:26:12 - What is My Trail Co and did you raise as much money as you expected? 02:30:02 - How many products did you offer? 02:32:31 - When did My Trail Co go out of business? 02:38:16 - Why didn’t My Trail work? 02:42:45 - Did My Trail investors earn dividends? 02:45:00 - How much of the growth of the cottage industry was to blame? 02:53:07 - What are your plans for the future? 03:01:50 - Stay Salty Question: What is your hottest take in the backpacking world? Segments Trek Propaganda: Could This 2-Ounce Device Replace Your Garmin inReach? By Katie Jackson QOTD:  What is a satisfactory number of steps for your average day? Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)!  Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok.  Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Ben Love, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Greg McDaniel, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Liz Seger, Mud Tom, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger’ Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Bonnie Ackerman, Chris Pyle, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Katharine Rudzitis, Lauren Cain, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Ruth S, and Spencer Hinson.

    3h 43m

  6. 27 JAN

    Making Gear for People with Boobs with Symbiosis Gear Founder Sarah Berkeley

    In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek and brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Sarah “Mellow” Berkeley, founder of Symbiosis Gear, a pack-making company designed specifically for people with boobs. Sarah shares insights into her unique upbringing in a small log cabin in rural Colorado, her adventures on the Long Trail, PCT, Colorado Trail, and half of the CDT, and her journey to creating a backpack tailored for primarily women. We dive into the inspiration behind her patented S-shaped shoulder strap, the challenges of starting a business with no prior industry experience, the help she’s received from fellow members of the cottage industry, her plans for future expansion, and much more.  We wrap the show with the announcement of the 2025 Badger Sponsorship, news of a hiker found dead near Mt. Whitney, a debate on when poop officially starts to smell like poop, and the Triple Crown of middle-aged happiness. Topo Athletic: Use code “TREKWINTER15” at topoathletic.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code “BACKPACKER20” for 20% off packs at gossamergear.com.  [divider] Interview with Sarah Berkeley New Symbiosis Gear Survey Symbiosis Gear on Instagram Symbiosis Gear Website Time stamps & Questions 00:05:15 - Reminders: Apply for the 2025 Badger Sponsorship, join us for our live show in Austin, apply to blog for the Trek, and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon! 00:09:07 - Introducing Sarah 00:10:33 - What’s your trail name origin story? 00:11:32 - Tell us about building a log cabin with your family 00:16:27 - How did you end up on the Long Trail? 00:17:50 - Did you bring any simple recipes from the wood stove to backpacking? 00:18:30 - Are you happy your parents created that experience for you? 00:20:30 - Was it psychologically easy for you to adjust to backpacking? 00:22:30 - What was the motivation to move to Leadville? 00:26:20 - Walk us through the early stages of getting into backpacking 00:29:35 - How did you manage the Long Trail with a dog? 00:31:45 - What caused you to stick with thru-hiking? 00:34:35 - Did you solve any gear problems going from the Long Trail to the PCT? 00:37:06 - Were you crafty at that point? 00:40:15 - What do you customize for your packs? 00:43:55 - What does the S-strap do? 00:47:15 - Is chafing a common issue? 00:50:00 - Discussion about the pack design 00:52:27 - Are other brands making female-specific packs? 00:56:10 - What are some common sizing questions? 00:58:45 - Who is your ideal customer? 01:04:30 - What do you see as the next way to open up the product offering? 01:08:00 - Discussion about Chaunce’s bags 01:12:00 - When did the lightbulb for this pack go off for you? 01:14:28 - What’s been the most intimidating part of this effort to tackle? 01:17:05 - What is the fabric on the pack? 01:18:05 - What’s it like to go from being new to having some reviews to support the product? 01:20:00 - Did you hike with Double Dip? 01:21:54 - Did you have other CDT hikers using your pack? 01:23:30 - Are the packs coming from a manufacturer? 01:26:05 - Have you connected with other manufacturers in the cottage industry? 01:27:30 - Do you have investors? 01:28:40 - What other frustrations do you have with female gear? 01:31:35 - Peak Performance Question: What is your top performance enhancing hack? Segments Trek Propaganda:  Missing Hiker Found Dead on Mount Whitney by Katie Jackson REI Announces Mass Layoffs and an End to a Beloved Program by Katie Jackson The Best Backpacking Tents for Thru-Hiking in 2025 by the Editors QOTD:  At what point does poop actually start smelling like shit? Triple Crown of middle aged happiness Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)!  Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok.  Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Ben Love, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Greg McDaniel, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Liz Seger, Mud Tom, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger’ Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Bonnie Ackerman, Chris Pyle, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Katharine Rudzitis, Lauren Cain, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Ruth S, and Spencer Hinson.

    2h 17m

  7. 20 JAN

    Thru-Hiking with 50-Year-Old Gear with Jared "Snackbox" Champion

    In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Jared “Snackbox” Champion. Snackbox is s a hiker, father, and Youtuber who, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Colorado Trail, hiked it almost exclusively with 50 year old gear.  We talk about the process of sourcing this gear, the hardest items to acquire, the least backpacker-friendly items of the bunch, which gear hasn’t advanced as much, and how his appreciation for gear has changed in light of this experience. Jared also shares the story of bonding with his now-wife over their shared love of the Colorado Trail, life as a professor, managing ADHD on trail, and much more.  We wrap the show with a last call for Trek Vlogger applications, Chaunce and I share our take on cowboy (and cowgirl) camping, how thin a pancake can be before it's a crepe, and the triple crown of things we've changed our minds on. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. Gossamer Gear: Use code “BACKPACKER20” for 20% off packs at gossamergear.com.  Timeline: Get 33% off your first order at timeline.com/backpacker33. [divider] Interview with Jared “Snackbox” Champion Jared's Instagram Jared's Youtube Time stamps & Questions 00:05:10 - Reminders: Support us on Patreon, get tickets to our live show in Austin on April 17, and apply to vlog for the Trek! 00:07:45 - Introducing Jared 00:08:15 - What’s your trail name origin story? 00:09:50 - What’s your favorite dad joke? 00:10:14 - Tell us about your hiking resume 00:11:45 - Tell us about meeting your wife on trail 00:16:34 - Tell us about hiking the Dodson Loop in Big Bend 00:18:33 - Sell Zach on the Collegiate Loop 00:21:50 - Where did this CT hike idea come from? 00:24:30 - Discussion about being a professor 00:27:00 - Discussion about finding sponsors 00:30:55 - Discussion about choosing the shoes 00:32:30 - What pack did you use? 00:35:40 - What tent did you use? 00:38:00 - How did you determine what gear you could cheat on a bit? 00:41:30 - What sleeping bag did you use? 00:44:37 - What did you bring for apparel? 00:45:50 - What was the weight of your pack and how did your mileage change? 00:48:50 - What’s your overarching thesis about the hike? 00:52:45 - Do you appreciate ultralight gear more now? 00:55:12 - When does the documentary come out? 00:56:50 - How does ADHD interface with your backpacking experience? 01:03:07 - What fun Colorado Trail history facts do you have? 01:05:02 - Do you know what your next project will be? 01:07:30 - Do you think thru-hiking has curbed any negative symptoms of ADHD? 01:08:40 - Stay Salty Question: What’s your hottest take in the world of backpacking? Segments Trek Propaganda Be Honest. Do Any of You Actually Like Cowboy Camping? By Kelly Floro 12,000 Miles and Counting: Peg Leg’s Backpacking Gear That Survived the Triple Crown and Beyond by Peg Leg QOTD: How thin can a pancake be before it becomes a crepe? Triple Crown of things you’ve changed your mind on Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)!  Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok.  Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Ben Love, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Greg McDaniel, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Liz Seger, Mud Tom, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger’ Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Bonnie Ackerman, Chris Pyle, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Katharine Rudzitis, Lauren Cain, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Ruth S, and Spencer Hinson.

    1h 43m

  8. 13 JAN

    Triple Crowning as a Family of 6, Parenting Teenagers on Trail, and Life Lessons with Vince & Georgie Strawbridge

    In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek and brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Vince and Georgie Strawbridge, one-third of the six-person thru-hiking family. We last caught up with the Strawbridges in early 2020, when they were freshly off their hike of the PCT. Since, they’ve conquered both the CDT and the AT, completing the Triple Crown as a full family.  We dive into the high and lowlights of these treks from the perspectives of Vince (dad) and Georgie (the youngest in the family). They share insights on navigating the CDT during COVID, overcoming multiple bouts of hypothermia, how one Strawbridge daughter managed to hike the CDT despite being severely anemic, why the AT ranked as their least favorite of the Triple Crown trails, hiking the AT as a group of seven (adding another kiddo for this one), some especially serendipitous instances of trail magic, and Vince’s unconventional—and hilarious—efforts to convince his wife, Monica, to take on another thru-hike, including a group therapy session with their friends.  We wrap the show with new of a job opening at Backpacker Radio, we ponder how far from a star you should be before it’s safe to stare, a FMK of places to get wet, a breakdown of how much more expensive it is to hike the AT these days, and the Triple Crown of human names that sound like they could double as state names. Topo Athletic: Use code “TREKWINTER15” at topoathletic.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code “BACKPACKER20” for 20% off packs at gossamergear.com.  [divider] Interview with Vince & Georgie Strawbridge Strawbridge Instagram Strawbridge Youtube Pretty Good at Walking by Vince Strawbridge Time stamps & Questions 00:05:34 - Reminders: Apply to join the BPR team or vlog for the Trek, get tickets to our live show in Austin on April 17, and support us on Patreon! 00:11:20 - Introducing Vince & Georgie Strawbridge 00:12:12 - How did Georgie break her leg? 00:13:18 - How old are all the kids now? 00:15:00 - How has your interest in hiking changed since you were last on the podcast? 00:16:06 - How do you feel about hiking as a kid? 00:18:49 - How did you find time to write the book? 00:25:25 - What did you learn through writing the book? 00:28:20 - Did Zach & Chaunce find parallels between hiking and writing? 00:32:20 - Now that you’re older, have you noticed hiking feeling different? 00:33:50 - How did you decide on the CDT next? 00:39:27 - How should Zach get his kids to like hiking? 00:43:40 - What was the result of the group referee sessions? 00:45:45 - What are some highlights of the first part of the trail? 00:48:35 - How did you manage the logistics after the first 400 miles? 00:51:00 - What was your dog encounter? 00:52:50 - How did you manage schooling on trail? 00:54:53 - What were some cool stories that overlapped with the trail? 00:59:40 - How does your homeschooling curriculum interact with applying to college? 01:03:10 - What do you want to do when you grow up? 01:04:10 - Tell us about the time you took too much Benadryl 01:07:35 - What was the tent breakup on the CDT? 01:09:22 - What was your level of enjoyment on the CDT? 01:10:30 - Did you notice your own growth between the trails? 01:11:27 - What’s the dynamic between you and your siblings? 01:14:20 - Tell us about the September storm 01:20:20 - Do you ever have meetings without Vince? 01:24:00 - Discussion about finding out June was anemic 01:26:50 - Were you hesitant to have June join you on the AT? 01:27:52 - How did you decide to go northbound on the AT? 01:29:17 - What was it like going from the CDT during covid to the AT northbound? 01:34:00 - How did you weigh the pros and cons of hiking as a large group? 01:38:20 - Did you get any negative comments online? 01:43:26 - Did it feel like you were in easy mode on the AT? 01:47:30 - Story about running out of food 01:49:50 - What was it like getting your first real trail magic experience? 01:54:40 - Did someone get trench foot on this hike? 01:55:30 - What was it like to reach the sign on Katahdin? 01:57:45 - How has the Triple Crown experience changed your kids? 02:01:30 - Would you want to be homeschooled again? 02:04:45 - Give us the highlights of the Great Divide Trail 02:08:15 - Who handles cold water better? 02:09:13 - What was it like navigating the fire season? 02:13:18 - Is the hitching culture different in Canada? 02:14:10 - Tell us about your plans for 2025? 02:16:39 - Peak Performance Question: What’s your top performance enhancing hack? Segments Trek Propaganda Is It Getting More Expensive To Thru-Hike the Appalachian Trail? by Kelly Floro Thru-Hiking With Eczema (and How My Body Surprised Me Along the Way) by Amanda Campbell QOTD: How far from a star must you be to be safe to stare? Triple Crown of (human) names that sound like they could be names of states Fuck Marry Kill: Places to get wet Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)!  Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok.  Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Greg McDaniel, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Liz Seger, Mud Tom, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger’ Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Bonnie Ackerman, Brett A, Chris Pyle, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jack Greene, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Katharine Rudzitis, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Ruth S, and Spencer Hinson.

    2h 49m
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    Hosts & Guests

    Ratings & Reviews

    4
    out of 5
    10 Ratings

    About

    From the Appalachian Trail to the Pacific Crest and everything in between. Backpacker Radio is a show all about the wonderful world that is thru-hiking and long distance backpacking. Co-hosts, Zach "Badger" Davis and Juliana "Chaunce" Chauncey muse on the backpacking life and the latest from the trail every other week. Topics include but are not limited to news, trail culture, interviews, gear, advice, and all you can eat buffets.

    Information

    • Creator
      The Trek
    • Years Active
      2018 - 2025
    • Episodes
      315
    • Rating
      Explicit
    • Copyright
      © The Trek
    • Show Website
      Backpacker Radio

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