Podcasts about Great Western Loop

In dieser Folge von Mein Abenteuer erzählt Niels Rabe von seinem unglaublichen Marsch durch den Westen der USA: 11.000 Kilometer zu Fuß auf dem Great Western Loop - und das als vermutlich erster Mensch gegen den Uhrzeigersinn! 6.000 Kalorien pro Tag, extreme Einsamkeit, wilde Natur und Nächte, in denen Wölfe um sein Zelt schlichen. Mit einer Dose Pfefferspray in der Hand und Todesangst im Nacken - Nils berichtet von den schönsten, härtesten und bewegendsten Momenten seiner Tour. Seine Geschichte hört ihr in dieser Podcastepisode von Mein Abenteuer mit Reiner Meutsch.

Thru hiker Nicholas "Chezwick" Gagnon takes a load off his sore shoulder and joins Doc in the Hiker Trash Radio Studio to share what he's been up to. Settle in and buckle up as Chezwick, the 16th person to complete the Eastern Continental Trail and the fifth (and fastest!) person to complete the Great Western Loop, talks some serious trail and Type II Fun. During the wide ranging conversation, you'll hear about vagabond walkabouts, cigs, caffeine pills, 32-pound water carries, Canadian glamping, Farts, Sloppy Joe, when not to share your Cheetos, unplanned river swims, popping tendons, 80-foot falls, heat stroke, broken metatarsals, and an eye-popping Hiking Poll score. An instant classic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Free Outside Podcast, I sit down with Matthew Shepard—better known as Shep—to talk all things trail running, ultra-endurance racing, and his incredible journey in the outdoors. From growing up wandering the wilderness with a rifle in hand to becoming a standout competitor in backyard ultras and the Director of Field Operations at Sinister Sports, Shep's story is nothing short of inspiring. Follow Shep online: https://www.instagram.com/go_shep/ We dive into the unique dynamics of backyard ultras, Shep's strategies for enduring multi-day races, and some of his wildest encounters in the Canadian Rockies—like finding a fresh moose carcass and rerouting trails to avoid bears. He shares how he balances racing with his role at Sinister Sports, including the behind-the-scenes work of creating epic 200-mile races. We also discuss the mindset it takes to embrace failure, the joy of pushing boundaries, and how challenges like these make life richer. Shep talks about his plans for the Wild Horse 200 in Wales, while I reflect on my adventures, including the Pacific Northwest Trail and Great Western Loop. takeaways -Shep has been passionate about the outdoors since childhood. -Wildlife encounters can be both fascinating and challenging during races. -The backyard ultra format allows for a unique pacing strategy. -Camaraderie among racers is crucial in long-distance events. -Mental challenges are a significant aspect of racing. -Visualization techniques can enhance performance in races. -Failure is an essential part of the racing experience. -Crew support is vital for success in long-distance events. -Shep emphasizes the importance of adaptability during races. -The trail running community is growing rapidly, with exciting new events Chapters 00:00 The Roots of a Trail Runner 14:00 Wildlife Encounters in the Outdoors 17:04 The Journey into Trail Racing 20:14 Understanding the Backyard Format 23:01 World Team Championship Explained 26:06 Camaraderie in Competition 29:00 Mental Challenges and Strategies 32:00 The Social Aspect of Racing 35:08 Navigating the Last Two 37:56 Hallucinations and Sleep Deprivation 41:02 Crew Dynamics and Support 44:58 The Struggle of Pushing Limits 50:29 Mindset and Visualization in Racing 53:01 Exploring Backyard Races 53:17 Joining Sinister Sports 56:09 Planning New Races and Routes 01:00:34 Challenges of Organizing 200-Mile Races 01:01:39 Future Plans and Upcoming Races 01:03:11 Life in Extreme Cold 01:05:07 Reflections on Adventure and Accomplishment keywords: trail running, backyard ultra, wildlife encounters, mental challenges, camaraderie, Sinister Sports, long-distance racing, Shep, World Team Championship, racing strategies

In this episode, Jeff Garmire, known as 'Legend', shares his incredible journey through the world of endurance sports. With over 30,000 miles of backpacking experience, he discusses his transition from traditional thru-hiking to tackling ultra-marathons and setting Fastest Known Times (FKTs). Jeff elaborates on his experiences with the Great Western Loop, the Colorado Trail, and the Cocodona 250, highlighting the mental and physical challenges he faced along the way. He emphasizes the importance of having a toolkit of strategies to overcome obstacles and maintain motivation during long endurance events. In this conversation, Jeff Garmire shares his insights on endurance racing, training for long-distance events, the importance of recovery, and how to set and achieve personal goals. He discusses the mental and emotional aspects of endurance sports, the significance of rest days, and how to handle pushback from others when pursuing one's passion. Jeff also reflects on his experiences with failure and the lessons learned, as well as his approach to efficiency in long-distance hiking. The discussion wraps up with Jeff's plans for the winter and how he disconnects from metrics to enjoy running. Check out the PB and Mountains Podcast Takeaways Jeff's journey began with a simple encounter with a thru-hiker. He believes in having fun while pursuing difficult challenges. The Great Western Loop is a 7,000-mile trek around the West. Mental resilience is key in endurance sports. Every challenge faced adds tools to your toolkit. The Colorado Trail was a significant test of endurance. Aid stations in races provide crucial support and motivation. Jeff's humor and unique style set him apart in the endurance community. He emphasizes the importance of micro-goals during tough times. New goals and ideas keep Jeff motivated in his pursuits. The energy of the environment can greatly enhance performance. Long-distance races require a different training approach than shorter ones. Recovery is crucial for improvement and should be prioritized. It's important to manage external opinions when pursuing personal passions. Setting goals involves transforming dreams into actionable plans. Taking time off from metrics can help maintain the joy of running. Failures can provide valuable lessons and insights for future attempts. Efficiency in long-distance hiking can be achieved through structured planning. Creativity can help break the monotony of long hikes. Connecting with the audience is essential for sharing experiences. Sound Bites "I want something really hard." "I just enjoy in the moment when it's tough." "I just dove into this." "You just never want to run out of tools." "I didn't even know how drop bags worked." "I love interacting with the other runners." "The first 40 miles don't really matter." "You need to take rest days every so often." "Dreams, goals, plans." "Disconnecting from all the metrics." "Where can people catch up with you?" Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Jeff Garmire: The Legend 02:53 The Evolution of Endurance: From Thru-Hiking to Ultra Running 05:46 The Great Western Loop: A 7,000-Mile Challenge 12:06 Breaking Records: The Colorado Trail Experience 17:59 Mental Strategies for Endurance Challenges 20:50 Cocodona 250: A Unique Ultra Experience 29:27 The Energy of Endurance Racing 30:53 Training for Long-Distance Races 32:43 The Importance of Recovery 36:36 Overcoming Pushback and Pursuing Passion 40:52 Goal Setting: Dreams, Goals, and Plans 43:45 Winter Training and Disconnecting from Metrics 45:15 Learning from Failures 48:56 Efficiency in Long-Distance Hiking 57:04 Connecting with the Audience

Triple Crowner and casually employed marine biologist Garry "Phish Out of Water" Teesdale takes a breather to join Doc in the Hiker Trash Radio studio to kick off Season 8 of the podcast. Settle in and buckle up as Phish relates how he was finally able to break free from the Golden Handcuffs of business ownership so he could pursue he true passions. During this far ranging conversation, Phish shares stories from his Triple Crown hikes, finally being able to make choices without worry, the process of letting go, living with less, soul adventuring, Hiker Trashdom, food and food disposal, and completing the Great Western Loop via the Hayduke Trail. An epic start to Season 8! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thru hiker, route creator, adventure athlete, writer, and outdoor legend Andrew Skurka takes a brief break from his guided expeditions to join Doc in studio and share some of what's between his ears. Settle in and buckle up as Skurka talks about his most important tool out there, refusing to be a corporate cog, early mistakes, necessary skills, and the Big 3: the Sea-to-Sea Route (7,775 miles), the Great Western Loop (6,875 miles), and the Alaska-Yukon Expedition (4,700 miles). Epic guest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Dawson and Clint dig through the 2023 episodes and pull out a handful of their favorite stories to reshare with you! Enjoy! Story 1 - Episode 198 Ghost Fireflies with Catey McClary from the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont! This was so cool and we should all plan on going to see it if possible! Story 2 - Episode 202 Rigging and Cameras for the Olympics with Chris Watford! There is WAY more that goes into it than we thought! Story 3 - Episode 200 with Ben Friberg! Ben has traveled the world. This story is about his trip to Papua New Guinea and asking the Shaman the meaning of life! It's all about the translation in this story! Story 4 - Episode 199 with Kim Smith came on Day Fire to talk about caving and this story centers around access and best practices! Story 5 - Episode 191 The Great Western Loop with Nick "Chezwick" Gagnon! Skydiving and LSD - that is all that needs to be said! Thanks for listening! Find all our episodes at dayfirepodcast.com This podcast is powered by ZenCast.fm

Niels Rabe hat sich auf den Weg durch die USA gemacht. 11.000 Kilometer ist er auf dem Great Western Loop gewandert mit reichlich Grenzerfahrungen. Wie hat er es über die Rocky Mountains geschafft und was hat die Reise mit Niels gemacht? Reisereporter Joris Krug hat mit Niels über seine Fernwanderweg gesprochen. Was ist der Great Western Loop? (2:59) 45 Länder und einige Jahre Backpacking-Erfahrung waren eine gute Vorbereitung für das Fernwandern (6:19) So hat Niels das Wetter auf seiner Reise bedacht (11:15) Warum die Länge der Strecke nicht das Entscheidende ist (12:35) Mentaler Druck und Vermeidung von körperlichen Verletzungen - so ist Niels vorgegangen (13:45) Nach drei bis vier Monaten nah an Waldbränden erreicht Niels den Tiefpunkt seiner Reise - was passiert ist (16:09) Niels hat auf seiner Strecke alles an Flora und Fauna erleben dürfen - so schön war es landschaftlich (20:11) So wurde Niels in Kalifornien ausgebremst (21:51) Begegnungen der besonderen Art gab es für Niels auf seiner Reise auch (24:31) Die meisten Tiere wollen nichts mit Wanderern zu tun haben. Dennoch gab es auch tierische Begegnungen für Niels (28:53) Schnee und steile Hänge - Niels hat sich seine eigenen Routen gesucht und stand plötzlich an einem Abgrund (32:10) Allein in einer Wüste ohne Wasserquelle. Wie viel Wasser hatte Niels dabei? (35:46) Sturheit, Hoffnung und Optimismus - das nimmt Niels für seinen Alltag vom Trail mit (40:02) Selbst die Koyoten sind zum Teil der Erfahrung geworden und Niels konnte sich sicher und wohlfühlen im Wald (42:02) So sehr vermisst Niels den Trail (43:41) *** Rausgehört in die Natur und in den Globetrotter Outdoor Podcast! Einmal im Monat trifft Reisereporter Joris Alexander Krug auf Weltenbummler, Forscher und Abenteurer, die gemeinsam mit uns ihre bewegenden Geschichten teilen. Wir sprechen über die Leidenschaft fürs Draußen sein, die Faszination für die Natur und natürlich auch Höhen, Tiefen und einschlägige Outdoor-Erlebnisse, die man so schnell nicht vergisst. Ihr habt Wünsche oder Kritik, dann freuen wir uns auf eure Nachricht an podcast@globetrotter.de. Rausgehört, der Podcast der Globetrotter Ausrüstung GmbH.

Wandern, so weit einen die Füße tragen: Niels Rabe ist den Great Western Loop in Amerika gelaufen, gegen den Uhrzeigersinn, 11.000 Kilometer weit. Uns erzählt er von diesem Weltrekord. Wir besteigen den Annapolis Rock, mit Kindern. Und hören die Story von John Muir, Legende unter Nationalpark-Rangern.

Chezwick, the 16th person to complete the Eastern Continental Trail and the 5th person to complete the Great Western Loop, takes a load off and sits down with Doc to talk trail. During the discussion, the two range wide and far, covering topics like the state bird of Oregon, the Pyramid of Pain, unique uses for toothpaste in the Himalayas, trail romances ending badly, Doc Campbell's Outpost, Type III fun, and No One and Nothing. You won't believe your ears. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/johnfreakinmuir/support

This week Clint and Dawson sit down with Nick "Chezwick" Gagnon. Nick completed the 6800 Mile Great Western Loop in Less than 200 days becoming the fastest person to hike the enormous route. The Great Western Loop is a 6875-mile hiking route that passes through several states of the Western US and links together five established long distance hiking trails: the PCT, Pacific Northwest Trail, CDT, Grand Enchantment Trail and the Arizona Trail. Thanks for listening! Find all our episodes at dayfirepodcast.com This podcast is powered by ZenCast.fm

Nick Gagnon is an elite level hiker. He completed the Great Western Loop in 2022 in under 200 days, a remarkable achievement in that the loop is just shy of 7,000 miles. Virtually by definition, Nick spent a lot of time by himself, and he shares with us his coping mechanisms for such a solo endeavor. He was so disciplined in his approach, sharing why this is so necessary for this particular trail. You can find out more about Nick by visiting his website at https://chezwicktreks.com/. He has a foundation that helps provide funds for water projects in countries that are in desperate need of such projects to provide their citizens with water security. Scroll down on Nick's website to read about–and donate to–the foundation. Steve Nota–a friend of the show from past years–joins our Mighty Blue Class of 2023. He came from Australia in 2022 to do the AT but had to spend time off the trail for a family emergency. He'll be heading back to complete the trail in March. If you'd like to find out more about "Then The Hail Came," check out George's website at https://georgesteffanos.webador.com/. You can also find George's book on Amazon at this link. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09QFG4ZR6. If you like what we're doing on the Hiking Radio Network, and want to see our shows continue, please consider supporting us with either a one-off or monthly donation. You'll find the donate button on each Hiking Radio Network page at https://www.hikingradionetwork.com. If you prefer NOT to use PayPal, you can now support us via check by mailing it to Mighty Blue Publishing, PO Box 6161, Sun City Center, FL 35751. Any support is gratefully received. You can also support our shows by visiting our online "Merch" store. Check it out at https://hrntradingpost.com/, or click on the store button on our network website at https://www.hikingradionetwork.com. If you'd like to take advantage of my book offer (all three of my printed hiking books–with a personal message and signed by me–for $31, including postage to the United States) send a check payable to Mighty Blue Publishing at the address just above.

https://slasrpodcast.com/   Welcome to the Sounds Like a Search and Rescue Podcast! Also known as SLASR. Join an experienced search and rescue volunteer and his friend as they discuss all things related to hiking and search and rescue in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. This week we welcome back Nick “Chezwick” Gagnon to the show. Chezwick  just became what I believe is the 3rd person to successfully complete a documented hike of this loop. We first  spoke with Chezwick back in March on Episode 50. At the time he was planning his second time on the Great Western Loop Trail. This trail covers a number of long trails as well as some sections of open desert and mountains. Some of the familiar sections include the Pacific Crest, Pacific Northwest, Continental Divide, Grand Enchantment, and Arizona trails. This hike includes Nine states, 12 national parks and more than 75 wilderness areas. All told Chezwick covered close to 7000 miles in a little under 200 days. Chezwick's Info Chezwick Treks Donate to the Fill It Up Foundation Sponsors and Partners Fieldstone Kombucha  Rek-lis Brewing Company Retail locations Spinners Pizza Parlor in Andover Massachusetts Eastern Mountain Sports Friends of the show to Support TJS Foundation Website Tay's Summit Challenge website 48 Peaks Secrets of Aging Well: GET OUTSIDE Flags on the 48 Hiking Buddies Order Free Stickers Fill out the form for free SLASR Stickers (last shipment was on Nov 12) Topics Stomp is back and now has to answer for his crimes Hiking Buddy Hike in January Road closures Alex Honnold video Snow is coming Beer talk Chezwick talks about the Great Western Loop Trail Show Notes Apple Podcast link for 5 star reviews Rescue Me 5k to benefit LARSAR Road Closures  Climbing with Alex Honnold Overview of the Great Western Loop Trail Great Western Loop - Chezwick Outside Magazine Article about Chezwick Nashville Packs

We have the privilege today of speaking with the one and only, Starburst! Today we begin the show or more accurately jump right into it! Skipping over our usual first open ended question that begins the show, Cal quickly lets us know who they are with some amazing stories and insights into the mind of a perpetual mile stepper. Cal is set to become the first (known) trans hiker to complete the Triple Crown and Great Western Loop. More importantly they are doing it for a reason, for themselves and for others. Being inspired from a hiker they met along the way named Sandman, Cal tells us the story of how they began to germinate the idea of connecting their footpath in a loop called the Great Western Loop. A 7,000+ mile trail system that combines the PCT, CDT, PNT and other pieces together. Yet, more importantly, we talk on what this means to them, not as a "physical goal" but instead what it means to them to stand up for what they believe in. Cal tells us of the feeling of responsibility they feel as a trans/queer person to use the platform they have to help create more inclusion, acceptance, and awareness in the trail community. We unpack this feeling of responsibility and learn about its growth and how it has affected them along with the hikers their story touches. We chat about the Trevor Project, an organization that creates a home for LGBTQ youth and builds projects and community while spreading awareness. We chat about how Cal's hike is more than "just a hike" for themself, and is a way to give back to this community through a fundraiser, as well as to give back to the hiking trans/queer community. Magpie and Cal compare and contrast the growth of the hiking community at large over the past few years from stories from both of their hikes and experiences. They talk about the change they have both seen, and talk about the continuation of finding a place of comfort and safety inside of the outdoors. We talk about the connection/disconnection pursuit of long distance hiking has on friends, family, and community back home. How do you stay in touch with a community when you are nomadic? How do you have the time? A question we ask every guest, and a question that never has just one answer. We talk about how there are only three reasons a healthy person should be urinating blood. A kidney stone, rigorous sex, or too much exercise, and how Cal's partner after a 50~ mile day is still trying to figure out which one it was... We chat about Lil Buddha, we chat about the feeling of home while being on trail, we chat about the responsibilities of having a voice for change and using it, we chat about meeting a partner in this community, we chat about Instagram, and we chat about the "linear ladder" of pursuing goals and breaking this "perfectionist" mold. To name a few. Truly a wonderful chat with Cal, as we wish them luck on many great adventures ahead! FAVORITE QUOTES: "I lost my extended family not became I came out as trans...but because I came out as a thru-hiker!" "Pursuing your dreams is professional development." "Everyone knows queer/trans people, and if you don't think you do, you definitely do." "When I am on trail, I am home and I feel like I return to who I am supposed to be." To learn more about Cal and support the Trevor Project: Instagram: @cal_hikes Trevor Project: A Penny Per Mile by Cal Dobbs To learn more about us click below: Website: www.ElevenSkys.com

https://slasrpodcast.com/  Welcome to the Sounds Like a Search and Rescue Podcast! Also known as SLASR.  Join an experienced search and rescue volunteer and his friend as they discuss all things related to hiking and search and rescue in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. This week we are excited to be joined by Chezwick who is here to share his stories of long distance hiking. Chezwick has covered a lot of miles in his life including being one of the few people to hike the Eastern Continental Trail. Chezwick is now focused on the Great Western Loop which is an almost 7000 mile loop in the western united states consisting of the pacific crest trail and continental divide trail along with a number of connecting trails creating a giant loop that covers 9 states. Later in the show - the Cog Railway is proposing a plan for lodging just below the summit and everyone is losing their minds. Chezwick's Info Chezwick Treks Donate to the Fill It Up Foundation Topics SLASR Turns 50  Podcast Advertising  Mike's disastrous return to Hiking Facebook groups Food Drops and Pile of Gear around Franconia - Franconia Hermit? Infinite Storm Trailer - Mount Washington looks funny Josh Neuman, Plane crash in Iceland Iceland talk, golden circle Sponsor and Coffee Talk Beer Talk Recent Hikes Welcome Chezwick,  Everest Base Camp Long Distance Hiking, Eastern Continental Trail, Florida, AT, Shenanigans in Canada Great Western Loop Trail - PCT, Continental Divide, 2021 Attempt Great Western Loop - Second attempt Documentary Cog Railway wants to put lodging on Mount Washington Recent Search and Rescue Show Notes Rek-lis Brewing Company Retail locations Apple Podcast link for 5 star reviews Podcorn  Reddit Thread about pile of gear on Skookumchuck Infinite Storm Trailer Josh Neuman, plane crash in Iceland Josh Neuman Skateboard Crash Mike's Iceland Trip Video Iceland Golden Circle Spinners Pizza Bunker Brewing - Machine Barewolf Brewing - Amesbury, MA Franconia Ridge GPS Track - OBP to Falling Waters Eastern Continental Trail Great Western Loop Donavon Decesare  Proposing lodging just below the summit Change.org petition Cog crash from 1967 Ownership history of Mount Washington  Guy rescued twice on same mountain in Arizona

Jeff Garmire gives backpacking and thru hiking a whole new name. He is also a writer, blogger and marathon runner who pushes his body to the limits. After completing a thru hike of the Pacific Crest Trail back in 2011, he decided to take his outdoor career to the next level. In 2016, he became the youngest person to complete a Calendar Year Triple Crown. In 2018, he completed the 7,000 mile Great Western Loop in under 7 months. He has over 17 trail records including multiple FKT's. In this episode we talk about the importance of a positive mindset when facing hardship, how the younger generations are all about seeking out experiences, and why everyone should have a fun costume on trail.

We have the privilege of speaking with the one and only, Legend! A real chicken and egg scenario here, did the trail name come first, or was he always a Legend? Who is to say. What we can say is this man has done some incredible things. The Calendar Year Triple Crown, the Great Western Loop, and countless FKTs including the Arizona Trail and Long Trail FKT to name a few. Yet, who is he, and where does he find his drive and passion? That's what we dive into today. What is he up to now? Well he is continuing to pursue his love in the outdoors while being a fashion icon with tiger clothing, creating and routing beautiful hikes for any skill level and any distance, and generally just living his best life while being in the outdoors. FAVORITE QUOTE: "I got out of the 9-5, so I now get to work 24/7" To learn more about Legend check out the links below: Website: FreeOutside Website: Backpacking Routes Instagram: @thefreeoutside Facebook: Free Outside To learn more about who we are click the link below: ElevenSkys

In this episode of Walking Distance presented by The Trek and hosted by Blissful Hiker (Alison Young), we are joined by Andrew Skurka, one of the best traveled and fastest hikers on the planet, and a National Geographic and Outside Magazine Adventurer of the Year. Skurka has hiked enormous distances, including 4700 miles on the Alaska-Yukon expedition, 6900 miles on the Great Western Loop. and 7700 miles on the Sea-to-Sea route. As a result of his travels, Skurka has developed a system for fast and light backpacking, with a kit weighing under 10 pounds; he's also the author of The Ultimate Hiker's Gear Guide: Tools and Tips to Hit the Trail.  Blissful Hiker covers the phrase “Hike Your Own Hike,” how to protect food from bears while backpacking, and how to develop navigation skills for the trail. Gossamer Gear discount code: Use code “walkingdistance” to save 15% off your cart at GossamerGear.com. Walking Distance is sponsored by John Reamer and Associates. Go to www.johnreamer.com to learn more. Interview with Andrew Skurka 0:59 - What does Hike Your Own Hike mean? 3:00 - Should you always Hike Your Own Hike? Is there actually a right and wrong way to backpack? 6:24 - Why did the idea of a right way and wrong way to backpack stir things up with some people? 8:40 - In your blog you wrote that “Backpackers should have gear, supplies, and skills that are appropriate for their trip objective and the conditions,” which is pretty obvious. You're teaching a course on planning, which I struggle with, and I'd like to know why and how you're doing it. ​​11:20 - I have a precursory understanding of trail conditions and researching this, and I find myself in unexpected weather. But you're actually fine tuning that research to plan your trips. ​​14:10 - I am about to do the Continental Divide Trail, and I've been researching how to protect food from bears. You wrote something about that a while ago too, what's your perspective? ​​18:15 - Andrew Skurka has huge miles under his belt from hiking and running. He owns a company that guides people through their own adventures; Andrew says that leading others has informed his own trips. ​​20:04 - Making the leap from roaming off trail and building orienteering skills is daunting for most of us, but Andrew has experience with navigating off trail. What is route finding and how do you do it? ​​23:03 - While hiking in Africa, we had to route-find in order to get where we needed to go. I found it interesting that European hikers were much more comfortable with a map and compass than the Americans. You spoke earlier about Guthook; do you think it would be better if everyone used maps and compasses? ​​25:50 - There's a lot of discussion about people not using paper maps at all, especially during thru-hikes. Most people argue that paper maps are heavy and it's easier to use Guthook. What's your perspective? ​​28:50 - How do you print your maps? ​​31:30 - Going back to your clients, what was it like hiking your many miles of trail alone, to guiding others? ​​34:20 - How has it changed you as an adventurer to work with other people? Is it humbling? Is it satisfying? Mentioned in this episode: Andrew Skurka's website and blog “Actually, there is a ‘right way' to backpack: the limits of Hike Your Own Hike” Andrew Skurka on Instagram The Ultimate Hiker's Gear Guide: Tools and Tips to Hit the Trail National Center for Environmental Research Get all of the Walking Distance Podcast episodes. About Alison Young Alison Young, aka Blissful Hiker, is a former host and producer at American Public Media and professional flutist. She's thru-hiked New Zealand's Te Araroa and the Pacific Crest Trail, as well as long trails in South America, South Africa, Europe, Pakistan and all over the US. In her podcast Blissful Hiker, she shares personal essays from the trail along with collected sound. Her goal in life is to hike until she drops. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)!  Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts. Follow Walking Distance on Facebook and Instagram. Follow The Trek on YouTube.

Jeff "Legend" Garmire comes on the Pod to talk about the Calendar Triple Crown, the Great Western Loop, FKTs, and his upcoming attempt at the Barkley Marathons. Along the way, he shares the hilarity and heart-stopping moments from 30,000 trail miles. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/johnfreakinmuir/support

Andrew is an adventure athlete, guide, and writer based in Boulder, CO. He's well known for his extremely long and difficult thru hikes. He's done too many cool expeditions to list, but some notable ones are his Alaska-Yukon Expedition (6 months, 4,700 miles), Great Western Loop (7 months, 6,875 miles), and the, Sea-to-Sea Route (11 months, 7,775 miles). Incredible stuff. Andrew also runs guided trips, which we talk about in this episode. Check out Andrew's website here: https://andrewskurka.com/ Buy Andrew's book, Ultimate Hiker's Gear Guide: Tools and Trips to Hit the Trail Check out Andrew's Instagram here: @andrewskurka Learn more about this podcast at: https://www.longwayradio.com/

Hey monkiis. I'd like to welcome the Wildman Andrew Skurka (@andrewskurka) to the show. I've been following Andrew for many years now and I was psyched for the opportunity to chat. Andrew has traveled by foot for thousands of miles through some of the wildest terrain imaginable. For these 'firsts', he received several accolades including the prestigious National Geographic Adventurer of the Year. Check out his adventure-resume below. This past August 2020, he set the FKT (Fastest Known Time) for a route called the Pfiffner traverse right here in Colorado. In the introduction to the episode, there is an audio clip of him completing this 76-mile journey and when I heard this back in August I've been wanting to chat ever since. Alaska-Yukon Expedition (6 months, 4,700 miles), Great Western Loop (7 months, 6,875 miles), and the Sea-to-Sea Route (11 months, 7,775 miles). National Geographic, March 2011. Circling Alaska in 176 Days. Outside, April 2011. Adventurers of the Year. National Geographic Adventure, December 2007. Adventurer of the Year. Backpacker, August 2005. Person of the Year. Men’s Journal, December 2005. Adventurer Hall of Fame. Some of Andrew's other athletic achievements include: a marathon personal-best of 2:28:24, and placing 73rd at the 2017 Boston Marathon. He has completed six 100-mile races, and has finished Top 3 at the Leadville 100, Run Rabbit Run 100, Bighorn 100, and Vulcano Ultra Trail 100K. Please enjoy our conversation and thanks again to Andrew for joining me! If you have questions, please send a note to info@monkii.co or send us a DM to @monkii.co on Instagram we can get more monkii Q&A sessions going. Thanks for tuning in and if you are enjoying the episodes we would be eternally grateful if you could leave a 5-star review. It helps to grow the monkii family and spread the good word of the Wild. Thank you. See you out there and monkii on, -monkii Dan www.monkii.co

This week Andy talks with writer and hiker Katie "Oats" Houston about gear, getting injured on trail, and how hiking has changed her life! Katie got bit by the thru-hiking bug in 2019 on her trek of the AT. After meeting her partner 1,100 miles into her journey, she now lives in Texas with her partner and two pups and is currently converting a school bus into a tiny home. She has also thru-hiked the Colorado Trail and has goals including completing the Great Western Loop in 2022 and hiking 10,000 miles by 25. Follow Katie on IG: www.instagram.com/mosspetal Follow Katie On Facebook: www.facebook.com/mosspetal Read what Katie Writes: www.thethrucrew.com Each week new hiker Andy Neal, takes you on a journey to demystify hiking.   Andy sits down with voices in the outdoor and hiking community, getting to know the hikers behind the trekking poles.  Hikers tell stories of how hiking has inspired them to grow, create, and better the environment, getting past the how and to the why of hiking.  A show for those first starting out on the trail and for experienced thru-hikers!   Email Andy andy@hikerpodcast.com  Go to www.hikerpodcast.com for all our social media accounts, email, and all the ways to listen to The Hiker Podcast Follow Host Andy Neal on Instagram: @andyfilmsandhikes --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hikerpodcast/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/hikerpodcast/support

On this weeks episode of the Hiker Podcast we talk with new Colorado Trail FKT holder Jeff “Legend” Garmire. Jeff has completed the Calendar Year Triple Crown (AT, PCT, CDT in one year), climbed all the Colorado 14ers, The Great Western Loop, Nolans 14 in 59 hours, and broke the Arizona Trail self-supported FKT (Fastest Known Time), Pinhoti Trail self-supported FKT, Long Trail Unsupported FKT, and the Colorado Trail Unsupported FKT among 9 other records. You can go to https://freeoutside.com/ to find out where to buy his book or where to follow him on the various social media networks. Also this week on the “Sawyer Segment” we  talk with “The Prodigy” about what Sawyer Products has to offer to keep you insect free while on the trail. This weeks episode is brought to you by Sawyer Products, makers of the Sawyer Squeeze water filter. Go to https://sawyer.com for where to buy all of their amazing products that help keep us safe on the trail! Leave a voice message for Andy: https://anchor.fm/hikerpodcast  Email Andy andy@hikerpodcast.com Go to www.hikerpodcast.com for all our social media accounts, email, and all the ways to listen to The Hiker Podcast Follow Host Andy Neal on Instagram: @andyfilmsandhikes Each week new hiker Andy Neal, takes you along on the trail, reviewing gear, exploring hiking trends and most importantly talking with voices in the outdoor and hiking community finding stories of how hiking has inspired them to grow, create, and better the world and environment around them. A show for those first starting out on the trail and for experienced thru-hikers! Go to www.hikerpodcast.com for all the ways to listen or to follow us on social media. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hikerpodcast/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/hikerpodcast/support

Originally aired March 8, 2019 Andrew is essentially a "professional backpacker" who is best known for his long-distance backpacking trips, many of which are firsts. For instance, his 6,875-mile Great Western Loop, his 7,778-mile Sea-to-Sea Route and his 4,679-mile "loop" of Alaska on foot, raft, and ski. He also has completed a plethora of shorter adventurers that would be on anyone's bucket list. He's been considered the John Muir and Henry David Thoreau of Generation Y, was Backpacker Magazine Person of the Year, and National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, among other awards. However, today's episode is not specifically about those adventures, but about what life has been like after those achievements. How has he built a sustainable career from backpacking? What future adventures is he planning? Listen in to find out. www.andrewskurka.com ( http://www.andrewskurka.com/ ) Instagram: @andrewskurka ( https://www.instagram.com/andrewskurka/?hl=en ) Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Andrew Skurka is a long-distance backpacker, guide, and writer, who lives in Boulder, CO. As a twenty-something he hiked three notable long-distance trips including the Alaska-Yukon Expedition (6 months, 4,700 miles),Great Western Loop (7 months, 6,875 miles), and the Sea-to-Sea Route (11 months, 7,775 miles). Only one of these has been repeated, and only once. For these trips, Andrew was named “Adventurer of the Year” by both Outside and National Geographic, as well as “Person of the Year” by Backpacker. National Geographic described him as “a superman among trekkers” and “one of the best traveled and fastest hikers on the planet.” On the podcast, I talk with Andrew about his epic hikes, how he got to that point in his life, and how he's sharing his expertise with others.

In this episode, Dennis and Kevin are joined by Andrew Skurka. Andrew is a prolific long distance thru hiker, guide, and writer. His notable trips include: The Alaska-Yukon Expedition (6mo and 4700 miles), Great Western Loop (7mo and 6875 miles) and the Sea-to-Sea Route (11 mo and 7775 miles). He is also a National Geographic "Adventurer of the Year", Outside Magazine "Adventurer of the Year" and Backpacker "Person of the Year". We talk about gear, long hikes, cold weather, bear hangs, vapor barriers and adult onset hunting.Andrew Skurka Websitehttps://andrewskurka.com/Big Tripshttps://andrewskurka.com/adventures/Bear Hangshttps://andrewskurka.com/argument-against-hanging-bear-bag/Alchohol Stovehttps://andrewskurka.com/backpacking-alcohol-stove-system-gear-list-ultralight-premium/Vapor Barriershttps://andrewskurka.com/vapor-barrier-liners-theory-application/Be Preparedhttps://andrewskurka.com/be-prepared-but-against-what/Hunting Motivationshttps://andrewskurka.com/motivations-deer-elk-season-opens-in-two-weeks/

In this episode, Dennis and Kevin are joined by Andrew Skurka. Andrew is a prolific long distance thru hiker, guide, and writer. His notable trips include: The Alaska-Yukon Expedition (6mo and 4700 miles), Great Western Loop (7mo and 6875 miles) and the Sea-to-Sea Route (11 mo and 7775 miles). He is also a National Geographic "Adventurer of the Year", Outside Magazine "Adventurer of the Year" and Backpacker "Person of the Year". We talk about gear, long hikes, cold weather, bear hangs, vapor barriers and adult onset hunting. Andrew Skurka Website https://andrewskurka.com/ Big Trips https://andrewskurka.com/adventures/ Bear Hangs https://andrewskurka.com/argument-against-hanging-bear-bag/ Alchohol Stove https://andrewskurka.com/backpacking-alcohol-stove-system-gear-list-ultralight-premium/ Vapor Barriers https://andrewskurka.com/vapor-barrier-liners-theory-application/ Be Prepared https://andrewskurka.com/be-prepared-but-against-what/ Hunting Motivations https://andrewskurka.com/motivations-deer-elk-season-opens-in-two-weeks/

This season, we have the following big-time guests lined up for you:Gulnur Tumbat – a dear friend of mine, and expert mountaineer. Gulnur, who goes by G, has climbed 6 of the 7 tallest summits in the world, having only Vinson in Antarctica left. She’d be the 1st Turkish women to accomplish this. In G’s episode, we talk training – mental and physical – and in depth about her 7 summits journey, including recapping her most recent summit of Mt. Everest.Andrew Skurka – I got tipped off by Andrew from an article of a man who is inventing a new long-distance route in the High Sierras. I thought to myself, “yeah, this is a guy who knows a thing or two about hiking/backpacking”.  Turns out Andrew made a name for himself doing, super long-hikes (we’re talking 5-7K miles) that no one had documented before. These include the Sea-to-Sea route, including one from Quebec to Washington, the Great Western Loop, and the Alaska Yukon Loop (reminder, Alaska is a large state!). Listen in for the stories, and long-distance hiking tips --- I know 5-7K mile hikers are not a prime audience, but someone who has that many miles will definitely drop a tip or two for us 10 mile hikers.Ryan Branciforte – Ryan and I met a few years back, where I learned about his personal journey in utilizing the tech in our hand to connect us to the wilderness we all play in. I know that feels oxymoronic, using tech to connect to wild places, but his mobile app, Outer Spatial, is helping Parks and Preserves alike stand up their profiles by helping users plan, get alerts, and connect with the people that actually visit the park. It’s a great tool, just getting traction and users!Liz Thomas – Liz!  In researching Liz, her bio mentions that she wrote what others called “the bible of thru-hiking”. I read that, and knew I needed to have her on, and then order the book. Liz has many accomplishments --- triple crown hiker, author, and recently, dubbed the Queen of Urban hiking.  She’s an inspiration, and an energetic, just plain happy guest, and one who is really trying to help people connect to places in the wild, and in their cities, simply by walking. Even if you don’t plan on hiking 100s of miles, she’ll make you want to walk around your local town/parks a bit more.Chase Huntley – I heard Chase talk about public lands, the BLM, and climate change a few years back and have been pinging him non-stop to have a chat. Have you ever been confused by what the BLM does? Do you have strong feelings or interest in how public lands are used? Chase is here to provide the history and some of the ongoing developments towards how public lands – primarily in the West – are being used and what we can do to help.And yours truly, sharing some of my favorite hikes from last season and some on the trail “intermediate expertise” along the way. Hit the favorite/subscribe button on your favorite podcast service and please tell your friends to do the same.

The Almost There Adventure Podcast is a celebration of outdoor activities both local and epic. Discussing the big topics and talking to adventurers, artists, legends and activists within the outdoor community.Ever wonder what it’s like to hike a really long hike? Maybe the Pacific Crest Trail isn’t long enough? In this episode we talk to Jon Schwartze, aka Airborne about really long distance hiking, with a follow-up interview on hiking in the age of Coronavirus.Show Notes01:15 – Introducing Jon Schwarze (Airborne)01:35 – Yo-yo hike of the Pacific Crest Trail in 2018 (5,300 miles)02:05 – Hoka One One Challenger ATR shoes02:25 – T-Rex syndrome03:45 – Battling the caloric deficit05:18 – How did you become a thru-hiker?08:32 – Hypothermia in the Sierra Nevada mountains10:28 – Finishing the PCT yo-yo and adjusting to life at home13:05 – The Great Western Loop (7,000+ miles)16:02 – Training for a super-long thru-hike17:09 – Planning an “encore”18:45 – The one piece of gear that you would never go without21:13 – Other types of adventures23:18 – April 2020 update from Airborne off the Great Western Loop25:37 – The shock of coming off trail to a world changed by pandemic37:12 – Plans to get back out on the trail?39:08 – What do you do to stay positive and motivated?42:30 – Hiking out to civilization and a ride home (safely)47:43 – Threats of getting shot50:27 – How far did you get on the Great Western Loop?Mentioned in this EpisodeFollow Jon Schwarze on InstagramGreat Western Loop – Andrew SkurkaThru-hiker lingoSuperior Wilderness DesignsonX Hunt AppConnect with us!Like Almost There on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/almostthereadventurepodcast/Follow Almost There on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostthere_ap/ Our Co-hostsJason Fitzpatrick – IG: @themuirprojectSaveria Tilden – IG: @adventuruswomen  web: AdventurUsWomen.comJeff Hester – IG: @thesocalhiker  web: SoCalHiker.netTheme song by Opus Orange. Courtesy of Emoto Music. 

Going lightweight saves a ton of energy, but how best to do that? Andrew Skurka was a National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, and created monster routes, such as the Great Western Loop and Alaska-Yukon Expedition. He now runs a guiding business (when not racing Marathons), with 29 trips this year alone. Alan Dixon is an engineer and adventurer who helped co-found Backpacking Light, and will be a guide on three Andrew Skurka Adventures this year. These two know the drill! Interestingly, they both say how you use the gear is more important than the gear itself. Andrew and Alan also gave advice for the PCT, and the listed the gear that has changed the sport in the last 5 years including: Andrew and Alan listed the gear that has changed the sport in the last 5 years, including: 1. Garmin Mini: https://amzn.to/2Tzwe8o 2. Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite Ultralight Mattress: https://amzn.to/2U0yMva

Airborne, known off trail as Jon Schwarze, started his thru hiking career with a yo-yo of the PCT. For 2020 he’s set his sights on the Greatest Western Loop. Yep, you heard that correctly. He’s adding a few extra miles to the Great Western Loop in order to complete 4 out of the 5 trails in the same year. In this episode we talk about severe calorie deficits, being the first through the Sierras, pushing your limits and resilience.

Legend, known off trail as Jeff Garmire, took a break from college in 2011 to hike the PCT and figure out his life with gear that his family would bring on weekend hikes. A 50 pound pack and quite impressive list of just in case gear redundancies on his back, he was off to great places. Fast forward, he has since completed the Calendar Year Triple Crown and the Great Western Loop, as well as Fastest Known Times on a number of trails. In this episode, he shares the lessons he’s learned as well as a few of the misadventures.

Today’s guest is Jeff Garmire (trail name Legend). In the summer of 2019 Jeff achieved the fastest known time on Vermont’s iconic Long Trail, clocking all 272 miles in five days, twenty- three hours, and forty-eight minutes. Prior to that he set unsupported and over-all FKT on the Arizona Trail, completed the Great Western Loop, and completed a Calendar Year Triple crown, among other accomplishments.  When he isn’t hiking, Jeff is a public speaker and hiking coach / mentor. He also just released a book called “Free Outside: A Trek Against Time and Distance,” which chronicles his Calendar Year Triple Crown. Ryan and Andrew talk to Jeff about the nuts and bolts of his Long Trail FKT before transitioning into a conversation about mental health, relationships, and the philosophy of speed records. Click here for show notes This podcast is brought to you ad-free by the subscribing members of backpackinglight.com. Please leave us a review and rating, it helps other people find our show.

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, myself plus a special guest co-host are joined by Jeff "Legend" Garmire.  He's back, and oh boy does he have new stories to share, including the time he had to superglue his foot shut.  We chat all about his previous year, which was arguably busier than anyone in the backpacking world, including his Great Western Loop, a 7,000 mile hike, and his recent Arizona Trail FKT.  We go way deep on both of these hikes, when we're not filling the airwaves with laughter.  We also unveil a new hiker of the week and a brand new segment, which will also likely be retired after this episode.   Subjects discussed in the episode include: Use code "TREK15" at GossamerGear.com to save 15% Gossamer Gear The One Gossamer Gear Gorilla Sawyer's International Website Sawyer Squeeze vs. Sawyer Micro Squeeze Use Code "trek10" at Greenbelly.co to save 10% off your order. Reflections on Stronghold's murder Weezer's back! Weezer's first episode Legend's first Backpacker Radio appearance The Great Western Loop Nolan's 14 Legend's Instagram account Legend's Arizona Trail FKT reflections Legend's Big 3 Gossamer Gear The One Gossamer Gear Kumo Katabatic Flex 22 quilt The Trek Propaganda Top 10 Things I Didn’t Expect About Thru-Hiking by Cari Pattison PR 101 with Legend Song: Walking Slow by Animal Years Check out Trail Correspondents! Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio?  Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Stitcher and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Michael W Hinkley, S11N, Todd Cartner, Sawyer Products, and Travis Smith A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Gregory Gardner and Peter Leven Follow Legend, Weezer, The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio, and Chaunce on Facebook. Follow The Trek on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter. Intro music via.

Jeff just did the Arizona Trail Self-Supported, 9 hours faster than the Supported time!  How do thru-hikers do that? "I work it out so I can go for hours without even taking off my pack - bending over to get water out of a stream takes time". Really? Yes, really - thru-hikers work to save seconds on trips that may take months.  Jeff has done the Calendar Triple Crown and the Great Western Loop, while only running one ultra - listen to how a real thru-hiker approaches these huge trips. "I was going to start the AZT on April 4, but didn't feel like it ... so I just waited and started the next day".

At only age 37, Andrew Skurka has already been there, and done that: "Hiking fast was not accepted. I was frowned upon for doing the AT in 3 months." Times have changed, and so did Andrew - he's done massive projects many people may not have even heard of: the Sea-Sea route (7,775mi), Great Western Loop (6,875mi), and the Alaska Yukon Expedition (24 days between road crossings). He's written a book, definitely has the best how-to website for backpacking (andrewskurka.com), and it's worth listening to his perspective on FKTs.

This is it. The end. Our final episode of the season. A thru-hike is- typically speaking- a half year adventure. In the midst of this journey, that feels like a very long time. Certainly long enough to adapt to an entirely different way of life. In the spectrum of one's life, however, it's just a blink of an eye (God willing). Which is why I think today's episode might be my favorite yet. Today we hear from our hikers a couple weeks (or more) removed from their treks. We learn how the lessons and habits of their former lives have bled over into "the real world". Of course soaking up the adventure for what it is, while it's happening, is of utmost importance- but in my perspective, it's how these hikes alter someone's world long after they've left the trail that's of most interest. Our correspondents reflects back on their hikes and the chasm between this former world and their current. And lastly- we'll hear from Jeffrey Garmire aka Legend, who recently completed The Great Western Loop. His update is brief, but the emotion is strong, you can hear it especially in his sign-off. In today's show, we hear from: Jacob Beaver Kate Mueller aka Sassafras  IBTAT Madeline Newel Miles to Go Kate Emmons Lukas Isaacson Sarah Mowery Rachael “Rabbit” DeLano Jeffrey "Legend" Garmire APPLICATION FOR 2019 TRAIL CORRESPONDENTS You can support the show through our Patreon page, which helps us to publish episodes more frequently. Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio?  Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co.   Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Download this podcast.  Find us on Stitcher and Google Play. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek, Chaunce, and Badger on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube Follow The Trek on Facebook, Twitter and sign up for our newsletter. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Sawyer Products and Tama Lama Ding Dong. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Gregory Gardner, Andre Oosthuizen, Randy Harter, and Peter Leven Episode produced by Pauly Boy Shallcross. Check out his coffee roaster, Old Man Murph's.   Music via.

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

Andrew Skurka is an accomplished adventure athlete, speaker, guide, and writer. He is most well known for his solo long-distance backpacking trips, notably the 4,700-mile 6-month Alaska-Yukon Expedition, the 6,875-mile 7-month Great Western Loop, and the 7,775-mile 11-month Sea-to-Sea Route. Skurka has been named “Adventurer of the Year” by both Outside and National Geographic Adventure, as well as “Person of the Year” by Backpacker. National Geographic described him as “a superman among trekkers” and “one of the best traveled and fastest hikers on the planet.” He has been featured by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Fox News Channel, National Public Radio and dozens of local media outlets. In addition to all of that, Andrew has recently become a big game hunter. In this episode of the Hunt Backcountry podcast, Andrew provides us with some excellent information on how to take your backpacking to the next level. We discuss gear, food, and more — including many do-it-yourself alternatives to what the market offers. You will discover how you can make an incredibly lightweight and economical stove, how to pack your own food so that you're not stuck with freeze-dried entrees, why waterproof footwear may not be the right choice for your next adventure, and much more. We also hear why Andrew has lost many fans and followers because of his ventures into hunting, and what we as hunters can do to find common ground with non-hunting outdoor enthusiasts. If you are familiar with Andrew, you know how valuable this interview will be. If you have never heard of Andrew — and many of your probably haven't — you are in for a treat! Show notes and resources at: http://ExoMountainGear.com/53

Andrew Skurka is an accomplished adventure athlete, speaker, guide, and writer. The 34-year-old is most well known for his solo long-distance backpacking trips, notably the 4,700-mile 6-month Alaska-Yukon Expedition, the 6,875-mile 7-month Great Western Loop, and the 7,775-mile 11-month Sea-to-Sea Route. Andrew spends most of his adventures off trail picking his way through the high mountains. I really enjoyed my time meeting Andrew. I found him to be very kind, humble, relatable and focused.   What's Andrew's #1 piece of advice? "GO" Andrew's Media Highlights & Accolades National Geographic, March 2011. Circling Alaska in 176 Days. Outside, April 2011. Adventurers of the Year. National Geographic Adventure, December 2007. Adventurer of the Year. Backpacker, August 2005. Person of the Year. Men’s Journal, December 2005. Adventurer Hall of Fame.

Andrew Skurka is an accomplished adventure athlete, speaker, guide, and writer. The 34-year-old is most well known for his solo long-distance backpacking trips, notably the 4,700-mile 6-month Alaska-Yukon Expedition, the 6,875-mile 7-month Great Western Loop, and the 7,775-mile 11-month Sea-to-Sea Route. Andrew spends most of his adventures off trail picking his way through the high mountains. I really enjoyed my time meeting Andrew. I found him to be very kind, humble, relatable and focused.   What's Andrew's #1 piece of advice? "GO" Andrew's Media Highlights & Accolades National Geographic, March 2011. Circling Alaska in 176 Days. Outside, April 2011. Adventurers of the Year. National Geographic Adventure, December 2007. Adventurer of the Year. Backpacker, August 2005. Person of the Year. Men’s Journal, December 2005. Adventurer Hall of Fame.

Andrew Skurka is a highly accomplished adventure athlete who is most well known for his long-distance solo backpacking trips, including the 4,700-mile Alaska-Yukon Expedition, the 6,875-mile Great Western Loop, and the 7,775-mile Sea-to-Sea Route. He has also completed countless fast and light trips throughout the Sierras, Wind River Range, Zion National Park, and Appalachian Trail, just to name a few. Andrew has been named "Adventurer of the Year" by both Outside Magazine and National Geographic Adventure, as well as "Person of the Year" by Backpacker Magazine. • Andrew is also a published author, having written "The Ultimate Hiker’s Gear Guide: Tools & Tips to Hit the Trail," and he is close to finishing the manuscript for the book’s second edition. He also writes extensively on his personal blog, which is full of detailed, information-rich articles about backpacking, gear reviews, and other endurance-related content. On top of everything else, Andrew is a guide, speaker, and accomplished ultra-runner, having placed second in the Leadville 100 and third in the Run Rabbit Run 100. Just this past weekend (6/25/16), he placed fourth at the San Juan Solstice 50-Mile Trail Run, one of the most difficult 50-milers in the country. • Andrew is a great guy, and we had a very fun conversation. We obviously talk a lot about many of his long-distance backpacking adventures, but we also dig into some of the mental and emotional aspects of traveling through such remote areas for long periods of time completely alone. We talk about his personal background and how he became interested in adventure sports, and also about his decision to forgo a traditional career in finance or consulting to carve out a career centered around the outdoors and adventure. As usual, I ask about his favorite books, favorite documentaries, and favorite locations in the West. • Thanks to Andrew for joining me, and thanks to you for listening to the podcast. Enjoy! • http://mountainandprairie.com/andrewskurka/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:20 - How Andrew describes his work 5:00 - Overview of Andrew’s notable trips 6:30 - “Short is the new long” trips 8:30 - Alaska-Yukon Expedition and other trips 10:35 - Details of the Great Western Loop 14:05 - Details of the Alaska-Yukon Expedition 16:30 - A scary grizzly bear encounter 17:45 - Methods for avoiding distractions, fear, uncertainty 19:35 - Adjusting from expedition life to “normal” life 22:10 - Andrew’s personal background 24:50 - Pursuing an "outside the norm” career after college 27:55 - Advice to folks pursing non-traditional careers 28:25 - Advice to his 22-year old self 30:10 - Specific mistakes that became long-term positives 33:00 - Advice to novice hikers 34:10 - Importance of first-hand experience 36:27 - Andrew’s current life and focuses 38:45 - Approach to writing 40:45 - Thoughts on ultra-running 45:50 - Favorite books 48:55 - Favorite blogs and websites 50:25 - Favorite locations in the West 52:50 - Biggest threats facing the West 55:00 - Andrew’s request of listeners 56:10 - Connect with Andrew online

The average person walks 110,000 miles in a lifetime. Andrew Skurka has probably covered that in a 10-year span. He is the only person in the world to have done the Great Western Loop, which is a series of trails that total 6,875 miles. He has also completed the 7,778-mile Sea to Sea Route, which connects the Atlantic to the Pacific through Canada and the northern part of the US. He is the author of The Ultimate Hiker’s Gear Guide: Tools & Tips to Hit the Trail, a National Geographic adventurer of the year, and now, a MTNmeister.

Andrew is essentially a "professional backpacker" who is best known for his long-distance backpacking trips, many of which are firsts. For instance, his 6,875-mile Great Western Loop, his 7,778-mile Sea-to-Sea Rou, e and his 4,679-mile "loop" of Alaska on foot, raft, and ski. He also has completed a plethora of shorter adventurers that would be on anyone's bucket list. He's been considered the John Muir and Henry David Thoreau of Generation Y, was Backpacker Magazine Person of the Year, and National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, among other awards.   However, today's episode is not specifically about those adventures, but about what life has been like after those achievements. How has he built a sustainable career from backpacking? What future adventures is he planning?  Listen in to find out. www.andrewskurka.com Instagram: @andrewskurka Save 20% off the best freeze-dried meals you’ll ever eat with Peak Refuel. Use the code ASP20 at checkout by visiting peakrefuel.com @peakrefuel If you're in need of some personalized advice before buying your gear, go to backpacktribe.com. You're not only able to purchase the gear you need on their website but talk with someone with the experience and know how. They also offer gear bundles and free shipping. @backpacktribal Support the Adventure Sports Podcast by giving as low as $1/month to our efforts to produce this show athttps://www.patreon.com/AdventureSportsPodcast Call and leave us a voicemail at 812-MAIL-POD or 812-624-5763 or send an email to info@adventuresportspodcast.com