Backpacker Radio
by The Trek
From the Appalachian Trail to the Pacific Crest Trail and everything in between, Backpacker Radio explores the wonderful, weird world of thru-hiking and long-distance backpacking. Join Zach "Badger" Davis and rotating co-hosts Double Dip, Sassafras, SOS, and Jabba for stories from the trail, interviews with unforgettable hikers, gear talk, backpacking advice, and spirited discussions about all-you-can-eat buffets. Equal parts practical advice and deeply questionable tangents, brought to you by The Trek.
Episodes
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[Segments #382] Old Trends We're Still Hung Up On, the Triple Crown of "they're a 10, but...", and Mountain Hardwear's Aluula Pack Review
Segments Trek Propaganda: Another Iconic PCT Trail Town Is for Sale: You Can Now Buy Belden, CA for $4.75 Million by Kelly Floro Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiking Stats! By Sarah J QOTD: What's one trend everyone has moved on from that you're still hung up on? Triple Crown of they're a 10, but…...
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Escaping the Amish Mennonite Church on the Appalachian Trail with Moxie Farr (BPR #382)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Moxie Farr, an Appalachian Trail thru-hiker who grew up in a strict Amish-Mennonite community, funded her hike with a chicken business, and is now living off-grid while pursuing the...
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[Segments #381] Proper Trail Name Syllable Count, Ascend 3D Cool Aerotrek Knit Hoodie Review, and Rachel's Wonderland Trail Trip Report
LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. Segments Trek Propaganda: I Swapped My $600 Ultralight Tent for a 5.5 oz Tarp by Katie Jackson QOTD: How many syllables is too many for a trail name? Triple Crown of unconventional pets you want Sun Hoodie Review: Ascend 3D Cool...
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9 Backpacking Myths Debunked: Hitchhiking, Rain Gear, Norovirus, and Ursacks (BPR #381)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by a couple of familiar faces- Katie and Elise- for a panel on backpacking myths that just refuse to die. In this one, we cover the worst ways to blow your money for a thru-hike, why finding the...
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[Segments #380] Trail Goss: Is The Triple Crown Overrated, Fart-Flavored CDT Cow Trough Water, and Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Review
Segments Trail Goss #6: Is the Triple Crown Overrated? Trek Propaganda: What 800 Miles of Fart-Flavored CDT Cow Troughs Taught Me About Water Filtration by Katie Jackson QOTD: Do you like pumpkin spice? Sun Hoodie Review: Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Triple Crown of the weirdest wedding…
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Cottage and Ultralight Gear with Garage Grown Gear Founder & CEO Lloyd Vogel (BPR #380)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Lloyd Vogel, CEO and co-founder of Garage Grown Gear, the online retailer feeding your obsessions with ultralight and cottage gear. In this one, Lloyd walks us through building the...
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Crying Baby Campground Drama, A Triple Deucer, and the Employees You Are Annoyed to Interact With
Segments Trail Goss #5 Trek Propaganda Do You Actually Like Thru Hiking, or Do You Just Like the Party Scene? By Peg Leg A Typical PCT Thru-Hike Cost $10,000 in 2025. Here's How We Did It for Just $6,000 Each by Anna McKinney Smith QOTD: Do you know what a triple deucer is? Triple Crown of...
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Designing and Sewing All of Her CDT Gear with Eliza "Swerve" Sweeney (BPR #379)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Eliza "Swerve" Sweeney, a textile design graduate who's taking on the CDT with an almost entirely homemade kit, including her backpack, tent, quilt, and even her underwear. In this one,...
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Influencer Fined for Petting a Marmot, Grey Beard's AT Success, Evading the Feds on Trail, and Minor Discomforts that are Major Problems
LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. Segments Trail Goss Episode 4: Influencer Fined for Petting Mount Rainier Marmot Trek Propaganda: Dale "Grey Beard" Sanders, 91, Becomes Oldest Person to Thru-Hike the Appalachian Trail by Katie Jackson QOTD: How long do you think...
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Sleeping in an Outhouse on Christmas, 5.5-Pound AT Baseweight, and the Arkansas Triple Crown with Austen McDaniel (BPR #378)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by our longtime pal Austin McDaniel, aka P.I., a Triple Crowner, Ultralight masochist, and full-time tennis instructor. In this one, we dive into Austin hiking the Ouachita Trail in ten…
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Thru-Hiker Death at Katahdin, Hobbies You Continue to be Bad At, Trail Magic Cravings, and the Triple Crown of "Back In My Day's"
Segments Trail News: Hiker Found Dead on Katahdin Was Reportedly an AT Thru-Hiker by Katie Jackson Trek Propaganda: Ultralight Is Taking Over Thru-Hiking … Or Is It? by Kelly QOTD: What's one hobby you wish you were good at and have actively tried but you continue to be bad? Question Thing of the...
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Thru-Hiking the AT on a $2,000 Budget with Livvy "Stumbles" Weld (BPR #377)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Livvy "Stumbles" Weld, a Triple Crown thru-hiker, Trek Writer, and budding ultrarunner. In this one, Livvy breaks down how a tub of frosting earned her the trail name "Sugar Mitts," how her own...
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Fake Hiker News AI Slop, The Most Important Gear Maintenance Tasks, and The Worst People on a Road Trip
Segments Trail Goss Episode 1 Trek Propaganda: From a Homemade Tent to Custom Shorts, She Made All Her Own Gear for the CDT QOTD: What gear maintenance task do you take the most seriously / do the most consistently? Triple Crown of people you absolutely do not want in the van for a road trip...
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The Loowit Trail: 30 Miles Around Mount St. Helens with Zach, Katie, and Jabba (BPR #376)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by onX Backcountry and Topo Athletic, myself along with, Katie, and Jabba break down our recent hike of the Loowit Trail, a 31-mile loop circumnavigating Washington's active Mount St. Helens volcano. In this one, we dive...
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The Wildest Trek Blog Ever Written, The Worst Smells, and The Most Annoyed Professions
LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. Segments Trail Goss Episode 3 Trek Propaganda: I Hiked 27.5 Miles Every Day for a Year: Here's Everything I Did To Thru-Hike Faster by Peg Leg Day 154 – This is Where I Leave You by Brock "Dubs" Miller Apply to be a Trek social...
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PCT Meltdowns, Side Quests, & Animal Encounters, and Traveling to 56 Countries with Michael "Broadway" Grant (BPR #375)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by onX Backcountry and LMNT, we are joined by Michael "Broadway" Grant, a world traveler who has visited 56 countries, cycled across America, and is currently daily-vlogging his way through the PCT. In this one, Broadway...
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Nick Fowler's PCT FKT, The 2040 Zeitgeist, Katie Devours a Big Mac, and the Triple Crown of Emojis
Segments Trail Goss: Nick Fowler's PCT FKT Trek Propaganda: Fastest PCT Hike in History: Nick Fowler's 45-Day Thru-Hike Sets New Overall FKT by Katie Jackson QOTD: Predict one aspect of the Zeitgeist in 2040 Fantasy Football Thing of the Week Triple Crown of emojis 5 Star Review [divider] Check…
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The Ultralight Subreddit, Pack Fabric Pros and Cons, and Not Triple Crowning (Yet) with Whitney "Allgood" La Ruffa (BPR #374)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by OnX Backcountry and Topo Athletic, we are joined yet again by our pal Whitney LaRuffa, known on trail as AllGood. AllGood has hiked thousands of miles with his K-9 companions over the years, including his first...
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OR Echo Hoodie Review, Women-Owned Ultralight Brands, Reasons Not to Go Backpacking, and Go-To Wedding Dance Moves
Segments OR Echo Hoodie Review Trek Propaganda 10 Women-Owned Ultralight Gear Brands We Love by Katie Jackson This Fitness App Lets You Bet Cash on Your Own Steps. Are We All About To Be Rich? by Kelly Floro Katie's Engagement Story QOTD: What's your go to wedding dance move? Dilemma Thing of the...
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Embracing Her Feral Side, Forester Pass at Midnight, and The Best Cinnamon Rolls on the PCT with Bee Corrado (BPR #373)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by onX Backcountry and LMNT, we are joined by Bee Corrado, a backpacker, public school Spanish teacher, and outdoor content creator currently pushing her way through the Pacific Crest Trail. In this one, we dive into how...
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Triple Crown Stats, Jabba's Burning Penis, and A Professional Gear Tester's Pack List
Get a free 3-month trial of Elite here (no credit card required). Segments 0:00 – Intro & Triple Crown survey discussion begins 26:02 – Tribute to Will Standish (CDT hiker who passed away) 36:08 – Bonus segment / gear talk begins 42:26 – Pacific Northwest trip best/worst stories 1:00:42 – Triple...
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From Cashier to the Face of REI, Inventing the M!GO Bottle, and the Geotagging Debate with Miranda Webster (BPR #372)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by onX Backcountry and Topo Athletic, we are joined by Miranda Webster, the creator behind Miranda Goes Outside- a former 12-year REI employee turned full-time outdoor content creator. In this one, Miranda breaks down…
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Fun Nutritional Facts, Picking One Continent's Cuisine, Batty Thing of the Week, and the Best Summer Drinks
Segments Fun Nutritional Facts Trek Propaganda: Missing CDT Thru-Hiker Found Dead in Tetons by Kelly Floro Ch. 64 – Vermilion Valley & Vitamin I by Starlight QOTD: If you could only eat one continent's cuisine for the rest of time, what would it be? Batty Thing of the Week Triple Crown of summer...
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The Yosemite High Route: Type 2 Fun, Running out of Fuel, and Mystery Swelling with Elise "SOS" Ott (BPR #371)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by our longtime pal Elise Ott, aka Sauce, who recently completed the 94-mile Yosemite High Route. She breaks down the realities of off-trail High Sierra travel, from navigating 7,000-foot vertical...
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Minus33 Sun Hoodie Review, How to Deal with Wildfire Smoke, Songs You'd Play on Repeat for an Enemy, and Cliche Instagram Captions
Segments Minus33 Sun Hoodie Review Trek Propaganda: How To Deal With Wildfire Smoke on a Thru-Hike by Katie Jackson QOTD: What one song would you play on repeat for your enemy as a form of psychological warfare? Lowdown Thing of the Week Triple Crown of cliche Instagram captions Mail Bag 5 Star...
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Quitting and Returning to Thru-Hikes, Glissading Mishaps, and Swamp Walking with Taylor "Hamilton" Santa (BPR #370)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Taylor Santa, aka Hamilton, a thru-hiker who completed the Appalachian Trail in 2017 before returning to complete both the Florida Trail and Continental Divide Trail in 2024. In this…
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Trail News: Shrinking National Monuments, Easy Colorado Trailhead Access, Egypt vs. Aliens, and the Best Disney/Pixar Movies
Segments Trail News: Shrinking National Monuments Trek Propaganda: How to Get From Denver to Waterton Canyon in Under $30 and 4 Hours by Jackson Mauser 8 Trail Foods I Never Got Tired of, Even After 22,000 Miles by Peg Leg QOTD: If you knew you were safe, would you rather spend 1 day in ancient...
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Gear Leaching PFAS, Silence Disappearing from Wilderness, and Building a Quinzhee with Steven from MyLifeOutdoors (#369)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Steven of My Life Outdoors, a gear-obsessed backpacker who grew his YouTube channel to over 1.2 million subscribers through high-production gear breakdowns and hands-on science experiments. In...
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FarPointe Sun Cruiser Review, Favorite Thru-Hiking Memories, Losing Your Spoon vs. Your Shelter, and Movies Everyone Loves that You Hate
Segments Sun Hoodie Review: FarPointe Sun Cruiser Trek Propaganda: Turkenna Saw a Black Bear by The Norris Trio Before You Read Another Thru-Hiking Horror Story, Read This by Kelly Floro QOTD: Would you rather, on day 1 of your thru-hike, lose your shelter and have to always cowboy camp on the…
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From Near-Death Sepsis to Triple Crowning while Carrying Larry the Log with Shawn Mahoney (BPR #368)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Shawn Mahoney, aka the guy who carries a 20+ pound log named Larry over his shoulders, and with Larry he's hiked the Triple Crowner, Te Araroa, and just about all of the Northeast…
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Outdoor Research Sun Hoodie Review, the Triple Crown of Shitty Beers, and Pausing vs. Rewinding Your Life
Segments Sun Hoodie Review: Outdoor Research AstroMan Trek Propaganda: Hike naked day (Day 61) by Gerjan "Hungry" Hertgers 20 Strange Things Thru-hiking Can Do to Your Body That Nobody Talks About by Livvy Weld The Triple Crowner Survey: Ranking the Best and Worst Triple Crown Trails by Katie...
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Why the PCT is Boring, Hitting SOS on the CDT, and Summitting Denali with Tina "Cash Money" Currin (BPR #367)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Tina Currin, aka Cash Money, a Triple Crown thru-hiker, Andrew Skurka guide, park ranger, wilderness EMT, and Guinness World Record holder. In this one, Tina explains how she set the world…
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Jolly Gear Sun Hoodie Review, Sounds that Trigger Happiness, and Water Filter Science
Segments Sun Hoodie Review: Jolly Gear Trek Propaganda: 2026 AT Thru-Hikers Share Their Favorite Gear So Far by Katie Jackson QOTD: When was the last time you were in a tornado warning? Switchback Recap Triple Crown of sounds that trigger happiness Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our...
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Losing 150 Lbs, An All-Time Poop Story, and Theater Hacks for Content Creators with Andrew Livingston aka Coach from Marion Outdoors (BPR #366)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Andrew Livingston, aka Coach from Marion Outdoors and host of the Chafed Outdoors podcast. In this one, Coach tells the story of losing 150 pounds his sophomore year of college largely...
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Chaunce's Live Podcast Sendoff in Denver (BPR #365)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we're live at the Skylark Lounge in Denver- and we are giving Chaunce a proper send off. For this one, we're joined by Fireball, Elise, Sassafras, Jolly, and of course Jabba. This one is a grab bag of odd games,...
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Epic Dreams, Chaunce's Last In-Studio Segments, Ways You'd Behave Differently without Ramifications, and Lots of Processing
Segments Epic Dreams Processing Trek Propaganda Teen Hiker Dies in Grand Canyon National Park Amid Extreme Heat by Katie Jackson Why You Should Never Take Gear Advice to Heart by Izzy Wagner QOTD: Would you rather A) every time you eat a particular meal, the rest of the world loses access to this...
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Getting Charged by a Moose, a Month of CDT Solitude, and Going Pro as a Hiking Photographer with Caleb "Meatball" Adcock (BPR #364)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Caleb "Meatball" Adcock, a professional photographer and thru-hiker who completed the AT last year and is currently midway through the CDT, doing it almost entirely alone. Caleb walks…
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Nasty Celebrity Encounters, Triple Crown of Things You Can Live Without But Should Be Free, and Do You Face the Showerhead?
Segments Nasty Celebrity Encounters Tribute to Bill Jensen Trek Propaganda: After 22,000 Miles of Thru-Hiking, This Is One of the Biggest Mistakes I See Beginners Make by Peg Leg QOTD: Do people face the shower head when they shower? Triple Crown of things you can easily live without, but...
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Falling 35 Feet Free Soloing, Hiking the CT in 15 Days, and What It Means to Be Navajo in America with Jeremy "Smitty" Phoenix (BPR #363)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Jeremy Phoenix aka Smitty Werbenjagermanjensen, aka Javos, a Navajo-born, Amish-country-raised, REI-employed, grave-digging, Princeton-attending thru-hiker who completed the Colorado Trail in 15...
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Tiger Facts, End of the Timberline Lodge Breakfast Buffet, and Poop, Pees, and Peen Talk
Segments Tiger Facts Trek Propaganda: Timberline Lodge Ends Breakfast Buffet Popular With Generations of PCT Hikers by James Townsend QOTD: Do poop pees count as full pees? Sun Hoodie Review: Fjällräven Abisko Wool Hoodie Triple Crown of words for penis Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out...
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Stalked by a Mountain Lion, a 25-Foot Fall in the Sierra, and Canoeing 2,400 Miles Down the Mississippi with Matthew "Masochist" Hengst (BPR #362)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Matthew Hengst, aka Masochist, an IT-professional-turned-full-time-adventurer who over the past eight-plus years has racked up 20,000 miles hiked, nearly 3,000 miles paddled, 2.5…
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Lyme Disease Research Update, Raccoon vs. Goose, the Triple Crown of Girly Gear, and 2026 Hiking Gear Trends
Segments Lyme Disease Update Trek Propaganda: 2026 Hiking Gear Trends, And Whether I Think They're Actually Worth It by Livvy Weld QOTD: Would you rather have one raccoon know all your secrets and occasionally hint at them or one goose publicly overreact to everything you do? Stupid Thing of the...
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Walking the Portuguese Camino with Her Parents to Honor Her Late Brother with Elise "Sauce" Ott (BPR #361)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by our pal Elise Ott, aka Sauce, who gives us a play by play of her recent hike on Portuguese Camino coastal route along with her parents. SOS walks us through doing the Camino as a tribute to her...
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The World's Tallest Unclimbed Mountains, Tips for Taking a Sabbatical to Hike, and Kissing vs. Sauces
Segments The Tallest Unclimbed Mountains Trek Propaganda: Roundup Is Being Sprayed in National Forests. Here's What PCT Hikers Should Know by Kelly Floro QOTD: Would you rather give up sauces or kissing? Triple Crown of Ways NOT to die Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy...
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Backpacker Radio's Origin Story, Evolution, and Behind the Scenes with Zach and Chaunce (BPR #360)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are bringing you the rare Chaunce and Zach solo pod. In this one, we tell the full origin story of Backpacker Radio, from the unofficial co-host audition at a hiker meetup, to Chaunce showing up at…
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Long Trail Trivia, the Best Town Food to Hike Out with, REI Flash Shade Review, and the Future of AI
Segments Long Trail Trivia Trek Propaganda: Check out the Trek's Youtube Processing QOTD: Everyone on earth takes a private vote by pressing a red or blue button. If more than 50% of people press the blue button, everyone survives. If less than 50% of people press the blue button, only people who...
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Chaunce VS Jabba: The Final Showdown (BPR #359)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are bringing you the final on-air fight between Jabba and Chaunce. It is mostly awkward and uncomfortable, with- I think- a dash of closure at the end. Will you enjoy it? I don't know. Maybe not. We wrap the...
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How Dangerous is Backpacking, Paka Sun Hoodie Review, the Worst Gifts for Young Kids, and the Boy Who Cried Wolf Gone Wrong
Segments Ways to Die Trek Propaganda: Hikers Discover Human Remains Near Vermont Appalachian Trail by Kelly Floro QOTD: What celebrity names can you never remember? Triple Crown of the worst gifts to give young kids Parenting Thing of the Week Sun Hoodie Review Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider]...
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Fired from the Forest Service by DOGE, Public Lands Advocacy, and Finding Joy in a World of Bad News with Liz Crandall (BPR #358)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Liz Crandall, a former US Forest Service field ranger who was fired by DOGE last February and has since transitioned into advocacy, activism, and podcasting, serving as the host of...
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Signs of Thru-Hiker Entitlement, Weird Smells, the Triple Crown of Mountain Peaks, and a "Geography" Quiz
Segments Geography Quiz Smells Associated with Health Issues Trek Propaganda: 7 All-Too Common Signs of Entitlement I've Noticed in the Thru-Hiking Community by Peg Leg QOTD: Why does a sawyer filter last a lifetime but you're supposed to swap a brita every few months? Triple Crown of mountain...
About this show
From the Appalachian Trail to the Pacific Crest Trail and everything in between, Backpacker Radio explores the wonderful, weird world of thru-hiking and long-distance backpacking. Join Zach "Badger" Davis and rotating co-hosts Double Dip, Sassafras, SOS, and Jabba for stories from the trail, interviews with unforgettable hikers, gear talk, backpacking advice, and spirited discussions about all-you-can-eat buffets. Equal parts practical advice and deeply questionable tangents, brought to you by The Trek.
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The Trek
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