Backpacker Radio

The Trek
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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. 2D AGO

    Budget Backpacking Gear: Saving Money on Tents, Backpacks, Clothing for Thru-Hiking (BPR #298)

    In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we’re joined by former guest, Trek writer, and certified gear nerd Alex “GPS” Brown. The focus of this one is how to save money on your backpacking kit. We break this one down category by category, sharing the best ways to cut costs, pinpointing which items aren’t worth pinching pennies on, offering specific product shoutouts, and discussing overall strategies to ensure more of your hiking budget goes toward your hike. Whether you're on a shoestring budget or just looking to save a few bucks, this episode is for you.  We wrap the show with news on a partial reversal of NPS layoffs, a debate on whether we'd prefer to be chased by a bizarrely fast turtle or lug around a backpack full of jelly, and the triple crown of foods we wish we had discovered sooner. Topo Athletic: Use code “TREKWINTER15” at topoathletic.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code “BACKPACKER20” for 20% off packs at gossamergear.com.  Ombraz: Use code “BACKPACKER30” for $30 off at ombraz.com/discount/backpacker30. Purple Rain Skirts: Use code “BACKPACKER20” for 20% off at purplerainskirts.com. Bear Mattress: Use code “BACKPACKER” for 40% off at bearmattress.com. [divider] Interview with Alex “GPS” Brown Alex's Trek Bio Budget Gear (Low) Lighterpack Budget Gear (Mid) Lighterpack 2024 AT Hiker Survey 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! And sign up for the Trek’s newsletter! 00:13:30 - Introducing Alex 00:14:07 - Tell us about the Haute Route Pyrenees 00:19:00 - Disclaimers for this episode 00:31:50 - Budget backpacks 00:36:40 - Budget tents 00:44:00 - Budget sleeping bags 00:50:40 - Budget groundcloths 00:54:00 - Budget sleeping pads 01:02:20 - Budget footwear 01:20:16 - Budget socks 01:26:30 - Budget rain gear 01:38:00 - Budget clothing 01:50:05 - Budget cookware 01:55:10 - Honorable budget mentions 02:01:45 - Peak Performance Question: What is your top performance-enhancing or backpacking hack? Segments Alex’s Poop Story Trek Propaganda: Trump Administration Partially Reverses National Park Layoff Decision by Katie Jackson QOTD:  Would you rather hike 100 miles while being chased by a slightly-too-fast tortoise or while wearing a backpack full of jelly? Triple Crown of foods you wish you knew existed sooner Mail Bag 5 Star Review (suggest a guest!) [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 45m

  2. MAR 17

    Triple Crowning in Three Years, Ultralight Tips, and Cold Soaking with Austen McDaniel (BPR #297)

    In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Austen McDaniel, known on trail as PI. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because we’ve been reading it off at the end of every episode for years, as Austen is one of our Chuck Norris Award-winning Patreon supporters.  But in addition to being a longtime patron, Austen is also one hell of a backpacker, having completed the Triple Crown in three consecutive years. He approached his first thru-hike as prepared as anyone we’ve ever talked to, hitting the Appalachian Trail with a six-pound base weight after years of fine-tuning his setup on various shakedown hikes. He walks us through how he’s managed to shave additional ounces and grams off his pack, shares some fun ultralight hacks, and offers tips for making cold soaking suck less. Of course, we also dive deep into his three thru-hikes.  Beyond hiking, Austen gives us a glimpse into his life as a professional tennis instructor, if he's seducing moms at the country club, and how he managed to squeeze in some disc golf in various trail towns during his CDT trek.  We wrap the show with news of an massive new FKT on New Zealand’s Te Araroa, a breakdown of just how much Irish heritage runs through our DNA, including some truly deranged family tree math from Chaunce, the triple crown of food combinations, and possibly the greatest limerick in the history of the written language. 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.  Purple Rain Skirts: Use code “BACKPACKER20” for 20% off at purplerainskirts.com. Ombraz: Use code “BACKPACKER30” for $30 off at ombraz.com/discount/backpacker30. AG1: Get your free $79 gift at drinkag1.com/backpacker. [divider] Interview with Austen McDaniel Austen's Instagram Austen's Youtube Time stamps & Questions 00:06:27 - Reminders: Join us for our live show in Austin, listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon, and apply to blog for the Trek! 00:11:32 - Introducing Austen 00:13:40 - At what age could you serve over 100 miles per hour? 00:17:43 - Who’s the GOAT in tennis? 00:18:20 - Tell us about disc golf 00:20:20 - What were the best courses you played on the CDT? 00:21:54 - How much is aiming versus distance? 00:23:01 - What is the distance like on a par 5 course? 00:26:01 - How did you get into hiking? 00:27:40 - Did you see any wild hogs while waterfall hunting? 00:33:30 - Discussion about preparing for thru-hiking 00:35:00 - What were your Big 3 for the AT in 2022? 00:37:05 - Did you test any items that you didn’t end up liking? 00:39:17 - Why do you prefer sleeping bags over quilts? 00:41:25 - Did you find any interesting ways to combine functionality of items? 00:45:55 - Do you have any other gear hacks? 00:49:00 - What are your go-to cold soaking meals? 00:50:10 - Spinning the Wheel 00:52:33 - What’s your trail name? 00:54:50 - What about ultralight makes it worth it to you? 00:56:30 - Discussion about AT pace and budget 01:00:30 - Tell us about your goal of hiking three trails in three years 01:02:10 - What does your tennis instructing work look like? 01:03:20 - Did you coach interesting people at country clubs? 01:05:30 - How did you decide to hike southbound on the CDT? 01:10:00 - Discussion about fires on the PCT in 2024 01:14:18 - Tell us about the loneliness on the CDT 01:20:20 - Would you change anything if you hiked the CDT again? 01:21:30 - Anything else to share about the CDT? 01:25:25 - What was your budget for the 3 hikes? 01:27:40 - How did the PCT hike compare to the CDT? 01:30:00 - Do you have tips for dealing with loneliness on trail? 01:31:05 - How was the air quality on the PCT? 01:34:37 - Discussion about ultralight versus mileage 01:37:45 - What were your other takeaways from the PCT? 01:42:08 - What advice do you have for someone who wants to Triple Crown in three years? 01:43:47 - F**k Marry Kill: AT, PCT, CDT 01:46:18 - What’s next for you? 01:48:28 - Stay Salty Question: What’s your hottest take in the world of backpacking? Segments Trek Propaganda Karel Sabbe Destroys Te Araroa FKT, Averaging 60 Miles per Day To Set Jaw-Dropping New Record by Katie Jackson 2025 Badger Sponsorship Winners by Kendra Slagter QOTD:  Does either of your ginger-ness come from Irish heritage? Do you celebrate St Patrick's Day? Triple Crown of food combinations Listener Voicemail Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek’s newsletter Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)!  Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok.  Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, 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 33m

  3. MAR 10

    10+ International Hikes and a Continuous Yo-Yo of the AT and Long Trail with Curtis Himstedt (BPR #296)

    In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Curtis Himstedt, known on trail as Easily Forgotten. Easily Forgotten’s backpacking resume is bananas. A partial list of his adventures includes the Annapurna Circuit, Pembrokeshire Coastal Path in Wales, the GR10, Tour du Mont Blanc, Yorkshire Dales High Way, South Downs Way, and Cotswold Way in England, the Triple Crown in the U.S., the Tahoe Rim Trail, and a continuous yo-yo of the Appalachian Trail and Long Trail between 2023-2024. Curtis takes us through these treks, especially the ones we haven't covered on the podcast before, shares how his first divorce inspired him to get into thru-hiking, explains why he feels more like himself on trail than in “the real world,” and gives us a preview of his upcoming adventures as he continues trekking strong into his 60s.  We wrap the show with news of a major gear retailer accused of ties to forced labor, a new navigation app you’ll want on your radar for 2025, the triple crown of the worst fashion trends, a debate on how to inform someone of their LNT violation, what we’d replace our hands with if given the choice, and much more. Topo Athletic: Use code “TREKWINTER15” at topoathletic.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code “BACKPACKER20” for 20% off packs at gossamergear.com.  Ombraz: Use code “BACKPACKER30” for $30 off at ombraz.com/discount/backpacker30. [divider] Interview with Curtis Himstedt aka Easily Forgotten Curtis's Website Curtis's Trek Profile Curtis's Instagram Time stamps & Questions 00:06:10 - Reminders: Join us for our live show in Austin, listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon, and apply to blog for the Trek! 00:09:45 - Introducing Curtis 00:11:20 - What was your weight loss story? 00:12:55 - How did you get into long distance backpacking? 00:14:53 - How old were you when you were in Boy Scouts? 00:16:57 - Is there a part of you that’s grateful to your initial divorce for getting you into hiking? 00:19:00 - What learning lessons did you have on the Annapurna Circuit? 00:23:00 - What was life like on your farm? 00:24:00 - From an engineer’s perspective, what was hiking the West Highland Way like? 00:27:05 - Would you recommend the West Highland Way to others? 00:28:52 - Has it ever backfired on you to not plan too much of your hikes? 00:30:40 - Do you feel more comfortable when hiking long trails? 00:32:20 - What advice do you have for someone about to get married? 00:35:00 - Discussion about planning international hikes 00:35:44 - Tell us more about the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path 00:37:33 - Tell us about the Grey Wolf Loop 00:40:20 - Tell us more about hiking in England 00:42:56 - Tell us more about the GR10 00:49:05 - Tell us about hiking the AT in 2018 00:54:50 - Tell us about hiking the PCT in 2019 00:57:08 - How did you like the Oregon Coast Trail? 01:00:10 - At what point do you start planning future hikes? 01:01:50 - Do you feel a sense of fulfillment exploring new trails each year? 01:04:20 - Tell us about the South Downs Way 01:05:48 - What were your top 3 favorite trails in the UK? 01:08:50 - Tell us about the Kerry Way 01:10:53 - Discussion about the Portuguese Camino 01:12:15 - What does your gear look like today? 01:15:01 - Tell us about your hiking in the Azores 01:22:25 - Discussion about not planning lodging on European trails 01:23:28 - Tell us about the Cinque Terre 01:25:25 - Tell us about the Via Degli Dei 01:26:55 - Tell us about your MEGA GAME LT^2 adventure 01:33:00 - Story about Curtis’s father 01:38:25 - You don’t like FKTs but you like endurance hiking? 01:39:42 - What’s the northern section like in the winter? 01:42:50 - How many miles are you typically hiking in a day? 01:44:20 - What about the AT do you love so much? 01:46:05 - What do your next 4 years of hiking look like? 01:49:20 - Peak Performance Question: What is your top performance-enhancing or backpacking hack? Segments Trek Propaganda Outdoor Gear Retailer Decathlon Accused of Ties to Forced Labor in China by Katie Jackson Could This New Mapping App from the Founders of Gaia GPS Become a Thru-Hiker Staple? by Katie Jackson QOTD:  If you had to replace your hands with something else, what would you pick? Triple Crown of the worst fashion trends 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 34m

  4. MAR 3

    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

  5. FEB 24

    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

  6. FEB 17

    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

  7. FEB 10

    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 a*****e 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

  8. FEB 3

    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
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    Hosts & Guests

    4.6
    out of 5
    1,624 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
      318
    • Rating
      Explicit
    • Copyright
      © The Trek
    • Show Website
      Backpacker Radio

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