Backpacker Radio The Trek

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Al Marriott, known on trail as Lookout. Lookout is a 2023 PCT thru-hiker, and one of the very few who was able to connect their footsteps on a continuous northbound hike through the Sierra. This is the main course of our conversation today as we learn all about the wild conditions Lookout and his crew of 6 fellow hikers endured, including some very close call water crosses, how slow and draining the snow travel was, what snow traction worked best for his group (and it might not be what you expect), the energy requirements for this style of trekking, and the group dynamics of traveling in such close proximity for such a long time through such stressful conditions. This one is a doozy.
We wrap the show with a quick overview of how much experience is needed to hike the AT, things that get less appetizing as we get older, and a triple crown of the best places for people watching.
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[divider]
Interview with Al “Lookout” Marriott
Lookout's Instagram Lookout's Youtube Time stamps & Questions
00:04:02 - Reminders: Apply to be a 2024 Trek Blogger, submit your poop stories, and follow us Patreon! 
00:06:59 - Introducing Lookout
00:07:27 - Tell us about your photography setup
00:08:23 - Where are you from?
00:09:56 - Did you do any long distance backpacking in Britain?
00:11:45 - How did you come to bounce between Australia and Thailand?
00:13:16 - What permits did you need to come to the US to hike the AT?
00:17:10 - Did you feel pressure on the AT to make sure your schedule worked?
00:19:27 - What snow hiking experience did you have prior to starting the PCT?
00:20:18 - When you started, did you know you wanted to maintain a continuous footpath?
00:21:55 - Did you run into issues before getting to Kennedy Meadows?
00:26:15 - How did you find a group to enter the Sierras with?
00:31:17 - Did you use snow gear going through Apache Peak?
00:32:25 - What was your start date and when did you reach Kennedy Meadows?
00:32:46 - What was the atmosphere of other hikers on trail?
00:33:49 - Tell us about who you entered the Sierras with
00:38:42 - To what extent did your group plan out your strategy ahead of time?
00:41:38 - Picture of the South Fork San Joaquin Bridge damage
00:42:00 - Were you disappointed to skip that section?
00:45:50 - Narrate your Sierra crossing
00:57:38 - Was bringing the snowshoes a good idea?
01:03:54 - How much dry ground did you see in the Sierra?
01:05:19 - Describe the obstacles you encountered before getting to Bishop
01:06:26 - Tell us about the sketchiest water crossings
01:13:54 - Did those close calls affect your confidence or strategies going forward?
01:15:33 - How much of the Sierra was Type I vs. Type II fun?
01:18:21 - Did having a limited time visa impact your thought processes?
01:21:50 - Tell us about sketchy parts of the next stretch
01:30:16 - Tell us about getting trail magic in the Sierra
01:33:40 - Discussion about conveying what it was like to others
01:37:40 - Story about Stitches
01:44:47 - Did the group stay together or break up after the Sierra?
01:49:55 - Story about getting into Tahoe
02:01:18 - What did you get out of this experience?
02:08:04 - Are there any other gaps in topics related to snow that we could cover in the future?
02:14:16 - What was the longest stretch between resupplies?
02:16:40 - Where should people go to follow you?
Segments
Trek Propaganda: Can You Hike the Appalachian Trail with No Backpacking Experience? by Diane Duffard
QOTD: What’s something that gets less appetizing the older you get?
Triple Crown of the best places for people watching
Mail Bag
5 Star Review
Patreon Austen's Hike Update
[divider]
Ch

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are giving you a thorough breakdown on all things backpacking tent related. We are joined by The Trek's Managing Editor, accomplished thru-hiker, and gear encyclopedia, Owen Eigenbrot. We introduce today's panel by giving you a thorough run-through on everything you need about backpacking tents, including the various types of tents, feature sets, terminology, material options, and more. We then do a roundtable offering our top actionable advice for picking a tent, considerations to make, and a few of our favorite specific models. Whether you're new to backpacking, are looking to level up your gear, or are curious about the various nuances of the world of tents, this podcast has something for you.
We wrap the show with a triple crown of Taylor Swift songs (Owen is a certified Swiftie), we share some of our strangest beliefs, and we offer a not-so-happy update on the status of Backpacker Radio's Iceland Trip.
Gossamer Gear: Use code “TAKELESSTREKMORE” for 15% off at gossamergear.com.
LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek.
CTUG: Use code “BACKPACKERRADIO” for 15% off at chickentrampergear.com.
[divider]
Panel with Owen Eigenbrot
Owen's Website Owen's Trek Profile Timestamps & Questions
00:03:49 - Reminders: Support us on Patreon, Iceland is off, leave us a voicemail, and apply to be a Trek blogger!
00:06:48 - Introducing Owen
00:08:07 - What’s your backpacking background?
00:10:44 - What are the basics of the Eastern Continental Trail?
00:12:32 - Introducing the structure of today’s show
00:16:10 - Tent capacity
00:21:00 - Tarps and bivvies
00:23:50 - 3 vs. 4 season
00:27:25 - Single vs. double wall
00:35:05 - Trekking pole vs. (semi) freestanding
00:46:06 - Tent weight variations
00:53:18 - Common materials
01:14:25 - Bathtub floor
01:16:05 - Door location
01:19:42 - Height
01:22:55 - Bug protection
01:23:32 - Pockets
01:24:38 - Stakes
01:31:52 - Tent terminology
01:36:30 - Footprints
01:41:36 - Zach’s Tent Tip #1: If you’re new to backpacking, go with a semi-freestanding tent
01:48:54 - Owen’s Tent Tip #1: Don’t give up on 1-person shelters
01:51:10 - Chaunce’s Tent Tip #1: Measure how tall you are when sitting straight up
01:52:30 - Zach’s Tent Tip #2: Broadest audience tent recommendation
01:55:03 - Owen’s Tent Tip #2: Have realistic expectations about tents in general
01:57:00 - Chaunce’s Tent Tip #2: Consider the terrain you’ll be hiking in
01:58:01 - Owen and Chaunce’s tent recommendations
Segments
Trek Propaganda: The 15 Best Long-Distance Trails in the US by Diane Duffard
QOTD: What is the strangest thing you believe in?
One Minute Gear Review: Free Fly Bamboo Lightweight Hoodie
Triple Crown of Taylor Swift songs
5 Star Review
[divider]
Check out our sound guy @paulyboyshallcross.
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 & Misty with Navigators Crafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, DoGoodPantry, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Liz Seger, Matt Soukup, Mike Poisel, Morgan Luke, Patrick Cianciolo, Sawyer Products, Timothy Hahn, and Tracy “Trigger” Fawns.
A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: 12 Trees Farms, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jake Landgraf, Jeanne Latshaw, Jeff LaFranier,

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Jonathon Stalls. Jonathon is a wildly interesting character who, in 2010, in search of meaning and healing, decided to walk across the length of the country. We learn all about this transformative journey, some of the standout stories along the way- including some instances of the unforeseen kindness of strangers, his alter ego of Cate Blanchett flaring up through the desert, how he was able to fund this journey, an epic poop story, how this expedition turned into his book "WALK: Slow Down, Wake Up, and Connect at 1-3 Miles Per Hour." and his current advocacy work in making urban spaces more pedestrian friendly. This is a deep and honest conversation- and we’d like to offer a trigger warning to listeners that the following interview touches on talks of suicide. 
We wrap the show with a triple crown of TV shows and movies we've watched recently, a brief comparison of the Colorado Trail vs. the John Muir Trail, and a stupidest thing of the week- Zach losing his mind due to sleep deprivation edition.
CTUG: Use code “Backpackerradio” to save 15% on your order at chickentrampergear.com
Gossamer Gear: Use code “TAKELESSTREKMORE” for 15% off at gossamergear.com 
 
[divider]
 
Interview with Jonathon Stalls
Jonathon’s Instagram  WALK: Slow Down, Wake Up, and Connect at 1-3 Miles per Hour by Jonathon Stalls Intrinsic Paths Website Intrinsic Paths/Jonathon Stalls Patreon  Jonathon on TikTok  
Time stamps & Questions
00:03:53 - If you can only go to one burger spot in Colorado for the rest of your life, where are you going? 
00:05:22 - Reminders: If you have a good poop story, submit it here. We are now accepting 2024 blogger applications for The Trek. Apply today! 
00:09:05 - Introducing Jonathon Stalls 
00:10:15 - Tell us about your dad playing in the NFL 
00:13:00 - Are you a football fan today? 
00:13:58 - Would Zach let his boys play football? 
00:15:06 - What was your sports background? 
00:16:58 - How did you get into beach volleyball? 
00:20:23 - How much of your life was portrayed in the movie Point Break? 
00:20:40 - Where does walking come into play?
00:26:31 - What in Ireland brought out the new approach to life? 
00:29:30 - What was your reaction to what you were learning in Ireland? 
00:34:57 - How did your mom respond to you coming out? 
00:37:23 - How should others approach the conversation? 
00:40:45 - Did you know nature was healing to you prior to this hike? 
00:42:12 - Walk us through deviating from the American Discovery Trail 
00:46:37 - Did you have to pay the funding back? 
00:47:30 - Do they give you feedback on what businesses you help? 
00:49:42 - How did you select your walking route? 
00:55:28 - Let’s hear a poop story! 
01:06:40 - How did you balance wanting to be in nature and wanting to engage with communities? 
01:10:25 - Did you also find healing in the interaction with others? 
01:12:37 - Explain the practices you used to find kinship with nature 
01:16:20 - Do you have a favorite tree? 
01:19:29 - Do you have a desire to reinvent yourself on a long trail? 
01:23:25 - Do you find it frustrating to see the direction of society today? 
01:26:13 - What are some wins you’ve witnessed in your work? 
01:29:42 - What parts of Denver are most walkable? 
01:33:29 - Have you walked the full length of Colfax? 
01:34:30 - Tell us about “Walk to Connect” and “Walking Leaders” 
01:38:37 - Was there a stretch of trail that wasn’t enjoyable? 
01:45:23 - Do you have a specific term for your cross-country walk? 
01:45:55 - Was there a specific moment where you felt you were healing on your journey? 
01:48:38 - Is there anything about the journey or the book you’d like to relay to listeners? 
01:50:32 - What do we need to know about pedestrian dignity? 
01:52:54 - Zach Anner & The Quest for the Rainbow Bagel
01:57:00 - Impa

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are talking all things ultralight backpacking. We're joined by our pal and thru-hiker extraordinaire, Carl Stanfield aka "Professor", as the three of us share some of our top tips for reducing pack weight. The advice in this episode covers the full spectrum, from broad-based philosophical ways to approach what should and should not be in your pack, to more granular tips for simple and cost-effective ways of going UL. Whether you're hoping to thru-hike a triple crown trail or lighten the load a bit for your weekend outing, this one has insightful and practical pointers for you.
We wrap the show with a quick overview of a new ultralight material being used for tarps and tents- and the relative pros and cons, but more importantly, we do the triple crown of the top benefits of an alien invasion which devolves into the most insane debate in Backpacker Radio history. Chaunce goes pure red face.  
CTUG: Use code “Backpackerradio” to save 15% on your order at chickentrampergear.com
Gossamer Gear: Use code “TAKELESSTREKMORE” for 15% off at gossamergear.com 
PACT Outdoors: Use code “TREK20” for 20% off and free shipping at pactoutdoors.com.
[divider]
Panel with Carl Stanfield 
Carl’s Instagram  Time stamps & Questions
00:03:58 - Reminders: Join us in Iceland for Summer of 2024! Support us on Patreon! Lastly, if you have a good poop story, submit it here! 
00:09:34 - Welcoming Carl “Professor” Stanfield 
00:09:49 - What have you been up to lately? 
00:13:23 - What do you do with your short break? 
00:14:39 - How many days did you get off? 
00:17:24 - What was your day-to-day? 
00:20:24 - Tell us about your new girlfriend!
00:22:21 - Can you give us a brief overview of your hiking resume? 
00:23:30 - Panel introduction: Ultralight Backpacking 
00:26:30 - Chaunce’s #1: Get used to doing less 
00:31:03 - Professor’s #1: Be adaptable
00:34:41 - What does everyone do when you don’t have a utensil? 
00:38:11 - Badger’s #1: Don’t carry too much water 
00:49:59 - Chaunce’s #2: Compare weights when shopping for gear 
00:53:38 - Professor’s #2: Of the big 4, invest in a lightweight tent 
01:09:30 - Shelter satisfaction results from The Trek’s hiker survey 
01:12:24 - Badger’s #2: Remove redundancy 
01:36:00 - Chaunce’s #3: You don’t need to bring your hobbies with you 
01:48:17 - Professor’s #3: Dial in your food consumption 
02:07:11 - Professor’s Hot Take: Make up for calories in town 
02:10:47 - Chaunce’s Final Thoughts: Eat your dinner to get your dessert 
02:17:00 - Zach’s #3: Use Smart Water bottles instead of Nalgenes
02:24:00 - Panel wrap-up
Segments 
Trek Propaganda: UltraTNT: The Newest Material for Ultralight Tarps & Tents By Joal and Jenny 
Triple crown of alien invasion benefits 
[divider]
Check out our sound guy @paulyboyshallcross.
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 & Misty with Navigators Crafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair (Thirteen Adventures), Brent Stenberg, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, DoGoodPantry, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Liz Seger, Matt Soukup, Mike Poisel, Morgan Luke, Patrick Cianciolo, Sawyer Products, Timothy Hahn, and Tracy “Trigger” Fawns.
A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: 12 Trees Farms, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by long-distance thru-rider Gillian Larson. Yes, thru-rider. Gillian has more than 10,000 backcountry wilderness miles via horseback, including two thru-rides of the Pacific Crest Trail, the Continental Divide Trail, the Arizona Trail, and the Colorado Trail. Gillian was the youngest person to solo-thru ride the PCT in 2014, and became the first person to thru-ride both the PCT and CDT. We of course ambush Gillian with an onslaught of ignorant questions of what it takes to complete one of these long trails via horseback. We went into this chat assuming the logistics of a thru-ride were tough, and oh boy, did we underestimate that. A fascinating conversation, we think you'll really dig this one.
We wrap the show with a recap and some of Badger's top takeaways from his recent 3-night trek through Washington's Goat Rock Wilderness, a triple crown of things that float, and what range of times are appropriate for dinner.
Visit Iceland with Chaunce and Badger: Registration is live for our 2024 trip to Iceland. Come and hike to glaciers, waterfalls, and secret lagoons with your favorite podcast hosts. More info here! 
Goodr: Use the code “Backpacker” for a free shipping discount at www.goodr.com/backpacker 
Gossamer Gear: Use code “TAKESHELTER20” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com
PACT Outdoors: Use code “TREK20” for 20% off and free shipping at pactoutdoors.com.
Interview with Gillian Larson
Gillian Larson Instagram  Gillian Larson Website  Time stamps & Questions
00:04:02 - Reminders: We’re still collecting poop stories for our book. Send your story here! Join us in Iceland for Summer of 2024!
00:08:30 - Introducing Gillian 
00:09:11 - What got you into the horse life? 
00:10:50 -Did your mom ever nudge you in the direction of competitions? 
00:12:18 - Was your mom excited about your thru-riding adventures? 
00:14:10 - Do you have siblings? 
00:14:34 - How old were you when you completed your solo ride? 
00:17:08 - How did you prepare for a thru-ride? 
00:21:09 - How do you manage two horses at a time? 
00:24:32 - What differentiates a pack horse from a riding horse? 
00:25:50 - When you get off to walk, what is generally the reasoning? 
00:27:05 - Do horses sweat? 
00:27:34 - Are they at risk for dehydration? 
00:28:40 - Do you have to hide the water caches off trail? 
00:29:31 - If you walk with the horses, do you have to guide them with a leash? 
00:30:27 - Do horses respond to their names? 
00:32:34 - Are horses spooked by thunderstorms? 
00:32:58 - How much is a horse’s personality nurture vs. nature? 
00:34:25 - How much does it cost to feed a horse a day? 
00:35:40 - After the desert, are you able to rely on grass for feeding? 
00:39:34 - How did you handle finding routes with the low meadow access? 
00:42:53 - Tell us about the camping experience 
00:44:52 - Do you have the same permit system as hikers? 
00:46:36 - Do you have to change horseshoes? 
00:49:20 - Can you replace shoes on trail? 
00:50:30 - How much does it cost for shoe maintenance? 
00:54:08 - If you didn’t have support, how did you manage trail towns? 
00:56:10 - Do you have any instances where you’d go to town without any support? 
00:57:36 - Would you say thru-riding prevents you from having a social experience on trail? 
00:58:20 - Is it ever tricky to rely on help from online fans? 
01:03:15 - Is that the common way to self-support? 
01:04:10 - Do you feel compelled to complete the whole trail, in a purist way? 
01:06:22 - Is there etiquette around horse poop on trail? 
01:08:40 - Horse poop not smelling like horse poop 
01:10:54 - Were you able to connect all the miles on the PCT in 2014? 
01:13:15 - Have you ever let hikers ride your horses? 
01:14:14 - Any wild animal encounters? 
01:16:48 - Do the horses have any favorite snacks? 
01:17:42 - How do horses r

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Sara Leibold. Sara is a solo adventurer, thru-hiker, writer, and vlogger with more than 10,000 human-powered miles under her belt. Her adventures include several thru-hikes, for which we zoom in on her hikes of the AT, Benton MacKaye, and most recently, the Hayduke. We also learn about her wild adventure of rowing the length of the Mississippi River, from source to sea. And we get a run down on Sara's many odd jobs, including ridge running on the AT, working in production for ESPN, and more.
We wrap the show with sad news of an AT hiker who turned up deceased in Vermont, the triple crown of worst appetizers, and what petty hills we are willing to die on.
But first.
Visit Iceland with Chaunce and Badger: Registration is live for our 2024 trip to Iceland. Come and hike to glaciers, waterfalls, and secret lagoons with your favorite podcast hosts. More info here! 
Range Meal Bars: Use code “THETREK” for 20% off at rangemealbar.com.
RTIC Outdoors: Shop at rticoutdoors.com.
Interview with Sara Leibold
Sara Leibold Instagram  Sara on YouTube  Sara’s Website Time stamps & Questions
00:03:38 - Reminders: We’re still collecting poop stories for our book. Send your story here! Join us on Patreon for more chaos! 
00:07:27 - Welcoming Sara 
00:08:01 - How did you get your trail name, Tide? 
00:8:48 - Tell us about your Master’s thesis 
00:10:14 - Why focus on the Arizona Trail? 
00:11:41 - Were you able to capture cause and effect? 
00:12:50 - Did your interest in low impact travel stem from your graduate program? 
00:13:45 - How do you define low impact travel? 
00:14:38 - Is there a style of outdoor adventure that’s lower impact? 
00:15:08 - Who did you pull your low impact inspiration from? 
00:15:50 - Can you give us your trail resume? 
00:18:30 - When was your AT start and finish date? 
00:19:29 - What put the AT on your mind? 
00:20:00 - Did you complete it in four months? 
00:20:26 - Did you have a light pack at least? 
00:20:38 - What was the response to doing the AT in 2011? 
00:21:44 - Did you let your hair grow throughout your hike? 
00:22:00 - Any big highlights from the AT? 
00:22:47 - Tell us about your river trip 
00:23:54 - What was your sport in college? 
00:24:10 - Tell us about the Suwannee river
00:24:40 - What was it like traveling with your dad? 
00:25:17 - Did you do the full length of the river? 
00:25:40 - How did you plan for your river trip? 
00:26:30 - Tell us about the Natchez Trail bike ride 
00:27:19 - How long did it take you?
00:27:44 - Are you a fast swimmer as well 
00:28:10 - Are all of your trips intentionally low impact? 
00:29:09 - What brought you back to that AT after your bikepacking trip? 
00:30:56 - Did you encounter a lot of weekend warriors? 
00:32:04 - What type of crash course tips could you give a new hiker? 
00:33:20 - What is that smell experience like? 
00:35:12 - What’s the turnover rate for ridge runners? 
00:36:36 - How often did you encounter bears in the Shenandoah? 
00:38:03 - What are the redeeming qualities of ridgerunning? 
00:40:10 - Do you have housing for ridgerunning? 
00:40:34 - What’s the time commitment? 
00:41:57 - Do you have insider names or terminology? 
00:44:59 - What was the best culinary experience of the Camino?
00:46:24 - Tell us about the Anna Purna Circuit? 
00:37:31 - What was drawing you to international hikes? 
00:48:07 - Did you ever feel a pull to go do the PCT or CDT? 
00:49:15 - How did you sustain a lifestyle of year-round hiking and traveling? 
00:50:12 - Did you ever have doubts living your lifestyle? 
00:51:56 - Do you have any advice for people stuck in the comparison phase?
00:53:09 - Do you foresee yourself settling for a different lifestyle? 
00:55:13 - Where do you think you gained your independence? 
00:56:13 - Tell us about your source-to-sea a