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In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by thru-hiking power couple who've hiked more than 11,000 miles together Chris and Sara, known on trail as Endless and QB. “What haven't they hiked?” is a fair question, because it's been a lot, including the AT, the PCT (twice), CDT, CT (twice), Arizona Trail, Manaslu Circuit, Hayduke, Long Trail, Cohos Trail, Loowit Trail, Wonderland Trail, Ruby Crest Trail, Why-wash, (ahl-pah-MY-oh) / Santa Cruz Trek, the GR20, and more, believe it or not. They share the story of how they met, offer tips for making a marriage work both on trail and off, discuss how they befriended Mac from Halfway Anywhere and Viking during their many trail adventures, and explain why rafting the Grand Canyon stands out as the most epic adventure of them all. We wrap the show with news of the asshat who vandalized the Katahdin sign, the triple crown of seafoods, and definitively answer the age old question of window vs. aisle. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. Gossamer Gear: Use code "LT520" for 20% off LT5 Trekking Poles at gossamergear.com. Ka'Chava: Get 10% off at kachava.com/backpacker. [divider] Interview with Chris & Sara aka Endless & QB Chris's Instagram Chris's Website Sara's Instagram Time stamps & Questions 00:05:00 - Apply to blog for the Trek and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon! 00:09:10 - Introducing Endless & QB 00:15:55 - We Love Love: Where did you meet? 00:21:20 - Tell us about getting together on the CDT 00:23:55 - What's it like to be a firefighter? 00:29:11 - What are some standout firefighter stories? 00:32:15 - Would you recommend being a firefighter to others? 00:35:35 - Is it difficult to align both of your schedules? 00:36:30 - When did you know you wanted to hike more trails together? 00:37:50 - When did you meet Jabba? 00:39:50 - How did you meet Twinkle and Grace? 00:43:36 - Any stories from the AZT? 00:45:40 - Tell us about Nepal 00:51:36 - Tell us about getting married at a pool party 00:56:10 - Tell us about your road trip in 2018 00:58:00 - Discussion about their speed of hiking 01:02:15 - How many miles have each of you hiked? 01:03:40 - What do you disagree about on trail? 01:05:15 - Was it hard to transition to an off-trail relationship? 01:10:50 - Discussion about knee surgery 01:11:56 - Tell us about your honeymoon roadtrip 01:14:55 - Tell us about hiking in the Sawtooths 01:16:50 - Tell us about the Loowit Trail 01:19:20 - Discussion about trail running and transitioning from thru-hiking 01:24:15 - Tell us about backpacking in the Wallowa Mountains 01:25:40 - How do you divvy up tasks in the backcountry? 01:28:30 - Tell us about the rest of the 2020 road trip 01:32:50 - How did you decide to hike the PCT a second time? 01:34:20 - Tell us about rafting the Grand Canyon 01:43:45 - Tell us about your hikes in Peru 01:46:40 - Why'd you get off the Oregon Desert Trail? 01:48:40 - Tell us about your hiking in Europe 01:59:15 - Did you dirtbag the whole time in Europe? 02:01:10 - Are you looking to do more international hiking? 02:01:45 - What's your top 5 travel bucket list? 02:04:00 - Are you thinking about having kids? 02:05:30 - How was your recent hike of the CT? 02:06:45 - Stay Salty Question: What's your hottest take in the world of backpacking or the outdoors? Segments Trek Propaganda: Someone Vandalized the Katahdin Sign — Rangers Are Asking for Your Help by Kelly Floro QOTD: Window or aisle? Triple Crown of seafoods Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek's newsletter Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Bill Jensen, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Bryan Alsop, Carl Houde, Christopher Marshburn, Clint Sitler, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Ethan Harwell, Gillian Daniels, Go Bills, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Matt from Gilbert, AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, SPAM, The Saint Louis Shaman, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Benjy Lowry, Bonnie Ackerman, Brett Vandiver, Chris Pyle, David, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Greg Floravanti “Lumberjack”, Jack Greene, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, and Spencer Hinson.
The U.S.'s Jim Walmsley emerged with the win at the 2025 Trail World Championships Long Trail after spending much of the race running with the French duo of Benjamin Roubiol and Louison Coiffet. In this interview, Jim talks about what it was like to run with the Frenchmen over the more technical first half of the course, what he thought of the course at race pace versus scouting pace, some of the strategies he used to play to his strengths, and how he finally opened the gap he was able to hold until the end. For more on how the race played out, read our in-depth 2025 Trail World Championships Long Trail results article: https://www.irunfar.com/2025-trail-world-championships-long-trail-results
Katie Schide of the U.S. put on a dominant performance at the 2025 Trail World Championships Long Trail, leading the race from start to end. In this interview, Katie talks about how she stayed motivated to push while running much of the race alone at the front, how she was able to move much faster than expected on the terrain, her appreciation for all the fans, and if she feels she's succeeded at being the versatile runner she wants to be in 2025. For more on how the race played out, read our in-depth 2025 Trail World Championships Long Trail results article: https://www.irunfar.com/2025-trail-world-championships-long-trail-results
Nepal's Sunmaya Budha ran a strong race to finish second at the 2025 Trail World Championships Long Trail. In this interview, our first with Sunmaya, she talks about growing up in Nepal, how she got into trail running, how her race played out — including running with Italy's Fabiola Conti for the middle part of the race — and her goals for future world championships events. For more on how the race played out, read our in-depth 2025 Trail World Championships Long Trail results article: https://www.irunfar.com/2025-trail-world-championships-long-trail-results
It was a French tie for second place at the 2025 Trail World Championships Long Trail with Benjamin Roubiol and Louison Coiffet crossing the finish line together. In this interview, Benjamin and Louison discuss running so long with men's eventual champion Jim Walmsley, what happened when the trio finally separated after the 50-kilometer mark, how the pair came back together and decided to finish in a tie, and how they feel about Team France's dominance at the world championships. For more on how the race played out, read our in-depth 2025 Trail World Championships Long Trail results article: https://www.irunfar.com/2025-trail-world-championships-long-trail-results
Fabiola Conti of Italy placed third at the 2025 Trail World Championships Long Trail after running in that position for most of the race. In this interview, our first with her, Fabiola talks about switching from road running to trail running, her work in the Italian military, how she approached this race's 82-kilometer distance, and how she took it out too fast but dealt with late-race fatigue and cramps to hold onto third position. For more on how the race played out, read our in-depth 2025 Trail World Championships Long Trail results article: https://www.irunfar.com/2025-trail-world-championships-long-trail-results
Canfranc acoge el Campeonato del Mundo de Mountain/ Trail Running. Eso incluye las pruebas Uphill, Classic, Short Trail y Long Trail. Aquí paso revista al Top10 y medallero por selecciones de la Short y la Long. También comparto cinco reflexiones a propósito de sendas carreras. Si quieres ver más contenidos en esta línea (y apoyar este humilde proyecto divulgativo sin ánimo de lucro), sígueme en: https://www.instagram.com/correrporsenderos/ #canfrancpirineos2025wmtrc #worldathletics #worldathleticschamps #atletismo #españaatletismo #wmtrc2025 #wmtrc #mountainrunning #trailrunning
This show is part of Freetrail's coverage of the 2025 World Mountain & Trail Running Championships. Our shows and athlete interviews are hosted by Dylan Bowman who sits down to talk with some of the favorites from Team USA who are racing this year. This is our recap show for the Long Trail and our preview show for the Classic Trail race. Today's show is hosted by Dylan Bowman with co-host Adam Merry, who is in Spain supporting Freetrail all week. Make sure to tune into all of Freetrail's coverage leading into the 2025 World Championships: Tuesday September 23rd: Top 10 Storylines of the 2025 World Championships Wednesday September 24th: Opening Ceremony Recap + Uphill Preview Thursday September 25th: Uphill Recap + Short Trail Preview Friday September 26th: Short Trail Recap + Long Trail Preview Saturday September 27th: Long Trail Recap + Classic Preview Sunday September 28th: Short Trail Recap + Worlds Week Wrap Up Make sure to play Freetrail's own fantasy trail running at https://fantasy.freetrail.com/events for a chance to win sweet prizes including Freetrail swag and special items from our partners at Nike ACG! Our 2025 World Championships coverage is brought to you by Nike ACG (All Conditions Gear). Make sure to check out All Conditions Gear footwear and apparel. All Conditions Gear is the official partner of USA Team and the Racing Department. All Conditions Gear is designed, tested, and made on planet earth specifically for trail running. You can learn more and check out the latest ACG gear at allconditionsgear.com We're super grateful for their support! Freetrail Links: Website | https://freetrail.com/ Freetrail Pro | https://freetrail.com/pro/ Patreon | / dylanbowman Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/runfreetrai... YouTube | / @freetrail Freetrail Experts | https://freetrail.com/experts/ Dylan Links: Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dylanbo/?hl=en Twitter | https://twitter.com/dylanbo?lang=en LinkedIn | / dylan-bowman-06174380
This show is part of Freetrail's coverage of the 2025 World Mountain & Trail Running Championships. Our shows and athlete interviews are hosted by Dylan Bowman who sits down to talk with some of the favorites from Team USA who are racing this year. This is our recap show for the Short Trail and preview for the Long Trail taking place on Saturday. Today's show is hosted by Dylan Bowman with co-hosts Adam Merry and Jennifer Lichter. Make sure to tune into all of Freetrail's coverage leading into the 2025 World Championships: Tuesday September 23rd: Top 10 Storylines of the 2025 World Championships Wednesday September 24th: Opening Ceremony Recap + Uphill Preview Thursday September 25th: Uphill Recap + Short Trail Preview Friday September 26th: Short Trail Recap + Long Trail Preview Saturday September 27th: Long Trail Recap + Classic Preview Sunday September 28th: Short Trail Recap + Worlds Week Wrap Up Make sure to play Freetrail's own fantasy trail running at https://fantasy.freetrail.com/events for a chance to win sweet prizes including Freetrail swag and special items from our partners at Nike ACG! Our 2025 World Championships coverage is brought to you by Nike ACG (All Conditions Gear). Make sure to check out All Conditions Gear footwear and apparel. All Conditions Gear is the official partner of USA Team and the Racing Department. All Conditions Gear is designed, tested, and made on planet earth specifically for trail running. You can learn more and check out the latest ACG gear at allconditionsgear.com We're super grateful for their support! Freetrail Links: Website | https://freetrail.com/ Freetrail Pro | https://freetrail.com/pro/ Patreon | / dylanbowman Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/runfreetrai... YouTube | / @freetrail Freetrail Experts | https://freetrail.com/experts/ Dylan Links: Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dylanbo/?hl=en Twitter | https://twitter.com/dylanbo?lang=en LinkedIn | / dylan-bowman-06174380
This show is part of Freetrail's coverage of the 2025 World Mountain & Trail Running Championships. Our shows and athlete interviews are hosted by Dylan Bowman who sits down to talk with some of the favorites from Team USA who are racing this year. Dylan sits down with Seth Ruhling (The North Face) in advance of his race at the 2025 World Championships. David is racing the Long Trail on Saturday. Make sure to tune into all of Freetrail's coverage leading into the 2025 World Championships: Tuesday September 23rd: Top 10 Storylines of the 2025 World Championships Wednesday September 24th: Opening Ceremony Recap + Uphill Preview Thursday September 25th: Uphill Recap + Short Trail Preview Friday September 26th: Short Trail Recap + Long Trail Preview Saturday September 27th: Long Trail Recap + Classic Preview Sunday September 28th: Short Trail Recap + Worlds Week Wrap Up Make sure to play Freetrail's own fantasy trail running at https://fantasy.freetrail.com/events for a chance to win sweet prizes including Freetrail swag and special items from our partners at Nike ACG! Our 2025 World Championships coverage is brought to you by Nike ACG (All Conditions Gear). Make sure to check out All Conditions Gear footwear and apparel. All Conditions Gear is the official partner of USA Team and the Racing Department. All Conditions Gear is designed, tested, and made on planet earth specifically for trail running. You can learn more and check out the latest ACG gear at allconditionsgear.com We're super grateful for their support! Freetrail Links: Website | https://freetrail.com/ Freetrail Pro | https://freetrail.com/pro/ Patreon | / dylanbowman Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/runfreetrai... YouTube | / @freetrail Freetrail Experts | https://freetrail.com/experts/ Dylan Links: Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dylanbo/?hl=en Twitter | https://twitter.com/dylanbo?lang=en LinkedIn | / dylan-bowman-06174380
This show is part of Freetrail's coverage of the 2025 World Mountain & Trail Running Championships. Our shows and athlete interviews are hosted by Dylan Bowman who sits down to talk with some of the favorites from Team USA who are racing this year. Dylan sits down with Tyler Green (All Conditions Racing Department) in advance of his race at the 2025 World Championships. Tyler is racing the Long Trail on Saturday. Make sure to tune into all of Freetrail's coverage leading into the 2025 World Championships: Tuesday September 23rd: Top 10 Storylines of the 2025 World Championships Wednesday September 24th: Opening Ceremony Recap + Uphill Preview Thursday September 25th: Uphill Recap + Short Trail Preview Friday September 26th: Short Trail Recap + Long Trail Preview Saturday September 27th: Long Trail Recap + Classic Preview Sunday September 28th: Short Trail Recap + Worlds Week Wrap Up Make sure to play Freetrail's own fantasy trail running at https://fantasy.freetrail.com/events for a chance to win sweet prizes including Freetrail swag and special items from our partners at Nike ACG! Our 2025 World Championships coverage is brought to you by Nike ACG (All Conditions Gear). Make sure to check out All Conditions Gear footwear and apparel. All Conditions Gear is the official partner of USA Team and the Racing Department. All Conditions Gear is designed, tested, and made on planet earth specifically for trail running. You can learn more and check out the latest ACG gear at allconditionsgear.com We're super grateful for their support! Freetrail Links: Website | https://freetrail.com/ Freetrail Pro | https://freetrail.com/pro/ Patreon | / dylanbowman Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/runfreetrai... YouTube | / @freetrail Freetrail Experts | https://freetrail.com/experts/ Dylan Links: Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dylanbo/?hl=en Twitter | https://twitter.com/dylanbo?lang=en LinkedIn | / dylan-bowman-06174380
This show is part of Freetrail's coverage of the 2025 World Mountain & Trail Running Championships. Our shows and athlete interviews are hosted by Dylan Bowman who sits down to talk with some of the favorites from Team USA who are racing this year. This is our preview show for the Uphill 6k, taking place on Thursday September 25th. Today's show is hosted by Dylan Bowman with co-host Adam Merry, who is in Spain supporting Freetrail all week. Make sure to tune into all of Freetrail's coverage leading into the 2025 World Championships: Tuesday September 23rd: Top 10 Storylines of the 2025 World Championships Wednesday September 24th: Opening Ceremony Recap + Uphill Preview Thursday September 25th: Uphill Recap + Short Trail Preview Friday September 26th: Short Trail Recap + Long Trail Preview Saturday September 27th: Long Trail Recap + Classic Preview Sunday September 28th: Short Trail Recap + Worlds Week Wrap Up Make sure to play Freetrail's own fantasy trail running at https://fantasy.freetrail.com/events for a chance to win sweet prizes including Freetrail swag and special items from our partners at Nike ACG! Our 2025 World Championships coverage is brought to you by Nike ACG (All Conditions Gear). Make sure to check out All Conditions Gear footwear and apparel. All Conditions Gear is the official partner of USA Team and the Racing Department. All Conditions Gear is designed, tested, and made on planet earth specifically for trail running. You can learn more and check out the latest ACG gear at allconditionsgear.com We're super grateful for their support! Freetrail Links: Website | https://freetrail.com/ Freetrail Pro | https://freetrail.com/pro/ Patreon | / dylanbowman Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/runfreetrai... YouTube | / @freetrail Freetrail Experts | https://freetrail.com/experts/ Dylan Links: Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dylanbo/?hl=en Twitter | https://twitter.com/dylanbo?lang=en LinkedIn | / dylan-bowman-06174380
This show is part of Freetrail's coverage of the 2025 World Mountain & Trail Running Championships. Our shows and athlete interviews are hosted by Dylan Bowman who sits down to talk with some of the favorites from Team USA who are racing this year. Dylan sits down with Adam Peterman (HOKA) in advance of his race at the 2025 World Championships. Adam is racing the Long Trail on Saturday. After a disappointing summer racing season at Western States and OCC, Adam is fit and ready for a good one this week! Make sure to tune into all of Freetrail's coverage leading into the 2025 World Championships: Tuesday September 23rd: Top 10 Storylines of the 2025 World Championships Wednesday September 24th: Opening Ceremony Recap + Uphill Preview Thursday September 25th: Uphill Recap + Short Trail Preview Friday September 26th: Short Trail Recap + Long Trail Preview Saturday September 27th: Long Trail Recap + Classic Preview Sunday September 28th: Short Trail Recap + Worlds Week Wrap Up Make sure to play Freetrail's own fantasy trail running at https://fantasy.freetrail.com/events for a chance to win sweet prizes including Freetrail swag and special items from our partners at Nike ACG! Our 2025 World Championships coverage is brought to you by Nike ACG (All Conditions Gear). Make sure to check out All Conditions Gear footwear and apparel. All Conditions Gear is the official partner of USA Team and the Racing Department. All Conditions Gear is designed, tested, and made on planet earth specifically for trail running. You can learn more and check out the latest ACG gear at allconditionsgear.com We're super grateful for their support! Freetrail Links: Website | https://freetrail.com/ Freetrail Pro | https://freetrail.com/pro/ Patreon | / dylanbowman Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/runfreetrai... YouTube | / @freetrail Freetrail Experts | https://freetrail.com/experts/ Dylan Links: Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dylanbo/?hl=en Twitter | https://twitter.com/dylanbo?lang=en LinkedIn | / dylan-bowman-06174380
An interview with Hillary Gerardi before the 2025 Trail World Championships Long Trail. Coming from a mostly skyrunning background, Hillary Gerardi of France arrives at the 2025 Trail World Championships Long Trail excited for the year's technical terrain. In our first interview with her, Hillary talks about growing up in America and finding trail racing once she moved to France, her love of skyrunning, her thoughts on how the course has something for every runner, and what it's like to make a world championships team after more than a decade of racing. iRunFar is covering the 2025 Trail World Championships Long Trail. Check out all our coverage: https://www.irunfar.com/tag/trail-world-championships
An interview with Andreas Reiterer before the 2025 Trail World Championships Long Trail. With two podium finishes at the 2023 and 2022 Trail World Championships Long Trail, Italy's Andreas Reiterer arrives at the 2025 race ready to let the pressure sit on the shoulders of others. In this interview, Andreas talks about how he likes the technical and slower nature of this year's course, running like a beginner at CCC just a few weeks ago and how he hopes not to make the same mistakes again, and what he thinks about the strength of Team Italy this year. iRunFar is covering the 2025 Trail World Championships Long Trail. Check out all our coverage: https://www.irunfar.com/tag/trail-world-championships
An interview with Marion Delespierre before the 2025 Trail World Championships Long Trail. France's Marion Delespierre returns to the 2025 Trail World Championships Long Trail as the event's defending champion, having won the last edition in 2023. In this interview, Marion talks about what it feels like to come back two years later as a mother and how everything about her life is different, what it's like being part of Team France, and what a good day out on the course would look like for her. iRunFar is covering the 2025 Trail World Championships Long Trail. Check out all our coverage: https://www.irunfar.com/tag/trail-world-championships
An interview with Francesco Puppi before the Trail World Championships Long Trail. Fresh off a win at the 2025 CCC, Francesco Puppi arrives at the 2025 Trail World Championships Long Trail as part of a strong Team Italy. In this interview, Francesco talks about slowly increasing his race distances over the years, his win at CCC a few weeks ago and overall success thus far this year, the interplay between commercial running and world championships events, and finding energy from running through beautiful landscapes. iRunFar is covering the 2025 Trail World Championships Long Trail. Check out all our coverage: https://www.irunfar.com/tag/trail-world-championships
This show is part of Freetrail's coverage of the 2025 World Mountain & Trail Running Championships. Our shows and athlete interviews are hosted by Dylan Bowman who sits down to talk with some of the favorites from Team USA who are racing this year. Dylan sits down with Caleb Olson (Nike ACG) in advance of his race at the 2025 World Championships. Caleb will be racing the Long Trail on Saturday. As the reigning Western States Champion and a representative of Team USA, Caleb is a favorite heading into this weekend's race. Make sure to tune into all of Freetrail's coverage leading into the 2025 World Championships: Tuesday September 23rd: Top 10 Storylines of the 2025 World Championships Wednesday September 24th: Opening Ceremony Recap + Uphill Preview Thursday September 25th: Uphill Recap + Short Trail Preview Friday September 26th: Short Trail Recap + Long Trail Preview Saturday September 27th: Long Trail Recap + Classic Preview Sunday September 28th: Short Trail Recap + Worlds Week Wrap Up Make sure to play Freetrail's own fantasy trail running at https://fantasy.freetrail.com/events for a chance to win sweet prizes including Freetrail swag and special items from our partners at Nike ACG! Our 2025 World Championships coverage is brought to you by Nike ACG (All Conditions Gear). Make sure to check out All Conditions Gear footwear and apparel. All Conditions Gear is the official partner of USA Team and the Racing Department. All Conditions Gear is designed, tested, and made on planet earth specifically for trail running. You can learn more and check out the latest ACG gear at allconditionsgear.com We're super grateful for their support! Freetrail Links: Website | https://freetrail.com/ Freetrail Pro | https://freetrail.com/pro/ Patreon | / dylanbowman Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/runfreetrai... YouTube | / @freetrail Freetrail Experts | https://freetrail.com/experts/ Dylan Links: Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dylanbo/?hl=en Twitter | https://twitter.com/dylanbo?lang=en LinkedIn | / dylan-bowman-06174380
An interview with Caleb Olson before the 2025 Trail World Championships Long Trail. Caleb Olson of the U.S. comes to the 2025 Trail World Championships Long Trail fresh off a win at the Western States 100 earlier this summer. In this interview, Caleb talks about how he changed up his training after Western States, some of his adventures during the past six weeks in Europe, including two summits of Mont Blanc in two days, and how doing well on the world champs course will require all the skills that he aspires to have as a well-rounded runner. iRunFar is covering the 2025 Trail World Championships Long Trail. Check out all our coverage: https://www.irunfar.com/tag/trail-world-championships
An interview with Katie Schide before the 2025 Trail World Championships Long Trail. Coming off a podium finish at the 2025 Sierre-Zinal and a win at the 2025 Hardrock 100, the U.S.'s Katie Schide comes to the 2025 Trail World Championships Long Trail continuing her year of multi-distance racing. In this interview, Katie hilariously talks about her hat choices for iRunFar interviews over the years, recceing the course earlier this year, her transition between the various races she's done this summer, and what she thinks about the race course. Click here to see the hat Katie references in this interview, after her win of the 2019 Madeira Island Ultra-Trail: https://www.irunfar.com/katie-schide-post-2019-madeira-island-ultra-trail-interview iRunFar is covering the 2025 Trail World Championships Long Trail. Check out all our coverage:https://www.irunfar.com/tag/trail-world-championships
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Wesley Tils, known on trail as Megaman. Buckle in because oh boy does Megaman have an origin story. After growing up in the Mormon church, leaving the church to become a pro boxer, quitting boxing to give the church another shot and going on a missionary trip as his trial of faith, and ultimately leaving the church for good during this missionary trip, escaping onto the PCT with several church members essentially chasing him in pursuit, Megaman's path to thru-hiking was not exactly conventional. Since hitting the trails, Megaman hasn't stopped hiking, accumulating more than 15,000 miles across 18 long trails in 9 years. We learn about all his adventures, including hikes of the Maah Daah Hey Trail, River to River Trail, his self-made Mexico to Canada Trail called “the fourth crown route, and a goosebump inducing story about an aggressive encounter with a grizzly bear on the CDT. We wrap up the show with our one-minute elevator pitch to convince aliens that humanity deserves to survive, the triple crown of cable channels, share the news of Tara Dower's latest FKT, and deliver a five-minute one-minute gear review of a new free-standing tent from Hyperlite Mountain Gear. Topo Athletic: Use code “TREKFALL15” at topoathletic.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code "LT520" for 20% off LT5 Trekking Poles at gossamergear.com. Ka'Chava: Get 10% off at kachava.com/backpacker. [divider] Interview with Wesley “Megaman” Tils Wesley's Instagram Wesley's Youtube Time stamps & Questions 00:05:35 - Reminders: Apply to blog for the Trek, take the 2025 AT Thru-Hiker survey, and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon! 00:07:30 - Introducing Megaman 00:08:20 - Tell us about your religious upbringing 00:11:30 - Do you ever experience anger while boxing? 00:12:40 - Why did you decide to leave the church? 00:15:25 - How did people react when you left the church? 00:18:02 - What was your mission like? 00:26:00 - How did your family feel about your decision? 00:27:30 - What did your kit look like for your first 200 miles on the PCT? 00:28:29 - How did you go from the PCT to the AT? 00:32:40 - What's your relationship with spirituality and religion now? 00:35:25 - What's your trail name origin story? 00:36:45 - Discussion about Megaman's time on the trail 00:38:30 - When did you know you'd keep thru-hiking? 00:40:20 - How was hiking through the Sierra in a high snow year? 00:45:00 - How was the CDT in 2018? 00:52:20 - Do you remember feeling an adrenaline rush? 00:54:35 - Tell us about the Black Hills/Great Plains Route 00:56:25 - You did the Triple O? 00:57:50 - Tell us about the Maah Daah Hey Trail 01:00:30 - Tell us about the evolution of your gear 01:02:45 - Tell us about your Fourth Crown Route 01:06:00 - What was the most difficult part of the route for you? 01:10:50 - What is the whole route like? 01:17:20 - Is it jarring to come back to society after the Fourth Crown Route? 01:18:10 - What's the coolest thing you've found as an archeologist? 01:20:21 - How do you make your hikes work financially? 01:23:00 - What is the River to River Trail like? 01:24:15 - Tell us about the Ruby Crest Trail 01:25:15 - Tell us about the Mojave-Sonoran Trail 01:26:00 - How was the Hayduke? 01:27:35 - How do you recommend thru-hiking cheaply? 01:29:28 - Trail Superlatives 01:32:20 - What's your hiking plan for 2026? 01:35:05 - What's your plan to document your hike? 01:37:30 - Peak Performance Question: What is your top performance-enhancing or backpacking hack? Segments Trek Propaganda: Tara Dower Smashes Overall Fastest Known Time on the Long Trail by Katie Jackson QOTD: Aliens give you 60 seconds to convince them humanity deserves to be saved and you can only show them two items - what would they be? Triple Crown of cable channels One-Minute Gear Reviews Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek's newsletter Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Bill Jensen, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Bryan Alsop, Carl Houde, Christopher Marshburn, Clint Sitler, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Ethan Harwell, Gillian Daniels, Go Bills, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Matt from Gilbert, AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, SPAM, The Saint Louis Shaman, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Benjy Lowry, Bonnie Ackerman, Brett Vandiver, Chris Pyle, David, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Greg Floravanti “Lumberjack”, Jack Greene, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, and Spencer Hinson.
An interview with Sylvia Nordskar before the 2025 Trail World Championships Long Trail. Norway's Sylvia Nordskar comes to the 2025 Trail World Championships Long Trail just four weeks after placing a close second at CCC. In this interview, Sylvia talks about her background in Nordic skiing, her introduction to trail racing in America, how her first visit to Trail World Championships resulted in a trip to the hospital, and what she hopes to get out of her race this year. iRunFar is covering the 2025 Trail World Championships Long Trail. Check out all our coverage!
An interview with Jim Walmsley before the 2025 Trail World Championships Long Trail. The U.S.'s Jim Walmsley arrives at the 2025 Trail World Championships Long Trail after a summer slowed by injury but with a win at OCC just a month before race day. In this interview, Jim talks about his recovery since OCC, the injury that took him out of the Western States 100 earlier this year, what he thinks about the Trail World Championships course, and his motivations for racing. iRunFar is covering the 2025 Trail World Championships Long Trail. Check out all our coverage!
Grab a beer and join us tonight as we cover the Bennington Triangle! We'll walk through the five disappearances around Glastenbury Mountain from 1945 to 1950. Then we'll lay out the timelines, the searches on the Long Trail, and what officials documented. Finally, we'll separate folklore from reporting and give our thoughts. https://www.necronomipod.com https://www.patreon.com/necronomipod Sponsored by BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com/necronomipod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A UVM alum's widow helped make what is now an annual concert series that's celebrating its 70th anniversary. Plus, The head of the University of Vermont Health Network is stepping down, All three members of Vermont's congressional delegation say that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza, A school bus company and its Brattleboro drivers have come to a tentative agreement on a contract, Two women broke speed records this summer on the Long Trail and the head coach of UVM men's soccer team is celebrating his 100th career win.
Conocemos ya los nombres que competirán en distancias "maratón" y "ultra" en el Mundial de CANFRANC. Pero, aparte de sus respectivos "currículums", creo que hay tres factores que van a ser decisivos: Cohesión (individualidades versus equipos compactos) Terreno (haber reconocido el circuito y/o que su perfil se ajuste a tu perfil como corredor/a) Temporada (haber competido mucho y reciente puede funcionar en sentido positivo o negativo) Si quieres apoyar este podcast y ver más contenidos en esta línea, sígueme en https://www.instagram.com/correrporsenderos/ #wmtrc #wmtrc2025 #canfrancpirineos #mountainrunning #trailrunning #wmtrc2025canfrancpirineos
Josh Rosenthal, Taylor Spike, and Kade Wilcox dig in on the heart and act of trail running at big distances. Taylor talks about how he keeps going when he wants to quit.----Patreon | BtS Building BorderlandsBorderlands.cc | Podcast NetworkSign up: analog*Borderlands [new]letter Hyperlyte Hotline - RUNMORE649 (786.667.3649)Wylder is now available on iOS + Android.Salt Lake Foothills Trail Races | 30 May 2026PartnersHyperlyte Liquid Performance - 100g Carbs, 1000mg Sodium, Miles of Dirt______________RUNNING GEARNaked Running Band Path Projects Apparel La Sportive Prodigio Pro PODCAST GEAROSMO Pocket 3 Shure MV7 Neewer MS60B
There are two new record holders for fastest supported and unsupported Long Trial hikes. One athlete, Tara "Candy Mama" Dower, is a professional ultramarathoner from Colorado. The other, Tori "Chewy" Constantine, is a nurse from Waterbury. They'll tell us about the mental and physical preparation it takes to hike the spine of the Green Mountains at top speed.Plus: Investigators have identified the last remaining victim in the Bear Brook murder case. New Hampshire Public Radio's Jason Moon hosted a blockbuster podcast about the case. He's just released an update about this final twist in the story.
Brooke and Tyler are done hidin', now we're shinin' like we're born to be...talking about one of the most mystical group of voyagers in the Cosmere. We look at Dyel's interlude from Wind and Truth and investigate her visitors from the 17th Shard, the mighty Cusicesh, and the history of the Iriali's Long Trail. #AllSpoilers Warning: This episode contains minor spoilers about Isles of the Emberdark. Not major plot points but aspects of the broader Cosmere. Support this podcast by becoming a Patron on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/CosmereConversations) Original music by David Gruwier (https://twitter.com/DGruwier). "Radiant" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5CFAZUv4C0) by David Gruwier.
Enumero los nombres que figuran en los equipos para Short (45K 3600m+) y Long (82K 5400m+) TRAIL del Mundial CANFRANC Pirineos 2025. Y lo hago para las selecciones de España, Francia, EEUU e Italia. Aparte, citamos algún nombre "suelto" más que puede ser interesante. Para ver más contenidos en esta línea, sígueme en https://www.instagram.com/correrporsenderos/ #wmtrc2025 #canfrancpirineos2025wmtrc #trailrunning #mountainrunning
Send us a textGabrielle est une sportive dans l'âme: le sport a toujours fait parti de sa vie. Cheerleeding et équitation fût ses deux premières passions.L'appel de la kinésiologie est rapidement devenu une évidence.Elle a fait pendant plusieurs années des courses à obstacles, dans lequel elle a atteint un bon niveau compétitif. Suite à une blessure, elle s'est réorientée plus vers les triathlons.Elle me raconte qu'étant jeune, elle a souffert de trouble alimentaire.Alors, dans son approche avec ses clients/es, elle sait comment aborder ces thématiques délicates, pour éventuellement vers une perte de poids saine et durable dans le temps.Un de ses dada avec ses clients/es: la motivation. Elle me raconte un peu comment elle s'y prend, et comment elle jumelle les motivations intrèseque (interne) et extrèsinque (externe) pour créer un ‘plan sur mesure' avec ses clients/es.On parle de sa traversée de la Long Trail au Vermont … plus de 400km en solo.Elle a dû arrêtée à 100km de la fin.On parle de sa stratégie de nutrition déshydratée et de comment s'y préparer.Ses conférences qu'elle a fait.Et ses triathlons.Une femme fort inspirante.Bonne écoute!
John Kelly is a prolific ultrarunner known for three finishes at the Barkley Marathons, winning the Winter Spine Race, FKTs on the Pennine Way, Long Trail, and Wainwrights 214, and more. Most recently John was ahead of record pace 1900 miles into an Appalachian Trail FKT attempt when his attempt ended in the Whites due to injury. Both special guest host (and White Mountains Legend) Bill Tidd and I (Will) were with him that weekend when it all went down. In this episode we talk about John's AT effort, the upcoming Tor des Géants that all three of us are running, and the Barkley Marathons. Find them both on Strava and find John on Instagram @randomforestrunner.Use code fromthebackcountry at infinitnutrition.us for 15% off your entire order.Podcast Instagram: @fromthebackcountry
Deep in the Green Mountains, there's a patch of wilderness the guidebooks skip over. A place locals only dare whisper about. Where hunters never return and hikers step off the trail and, seemingly, off the face of the Earth. They call it the Bennington Triangle—a stretch of cursed ground wrapped in mystery, folklore, and an unnamable fear. From strange lights flickering in the forest canopy, to phantom sounds echoing across the marshlands, and even a chilling string of disappearances between 1945 and 1950, Glastenbury Mountain has earned its reputation as Vermont's Bermuda Triangle. Five souls—young, old, experienced, and unprepared alike—all swallowed by the woods without a trace. And theories abound: A hidden serial killer? What of the rumors of a violent creature lurking in the woods, the Bennington Monster? Interdimensional portals yawning open on the Long Trail, or maybe something even older... something ancient. Citizens of the Milky Way prepare yourselves for The Curse of the Bennington Triangle!Music and Editing by Gage HurleyCheck out VaporVerse: https://www.youtube.com/@vaporversemusic ++++ Check out our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/creepstreetpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/creepstreetpodcastYouTube: https://youtube.com/@creepstreetpodcast5062?feature=sharedTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@creepstreetpodcast#BenningtonTriangle #Vermont #VermontLife #Bennington #BenningtonVT #GreenMountainState #NewEngland #NewEnglandMysteries #VermontHistory #VermontHaunted #VermontGhosts #HauntedVermont #WeirdVermont #StrangeVermont #GlastenburyMountain #LongTrail #VermontPodcast #VermontFolklore #paranormal #paranormalpodcast #paranormalactivity #paranormalstories #paranormalinvestigation #haunted #hauntedplaces #hauntedhistory #ghoststories #ghosthunters #ghost #ghosthunting #unsolvedmysteries #mystery #mysteries #mysterypodcast #creepypodcast #spookystories #creepystories #highstrangeness #fortean #cryptids #cryptidcore #ufo #ufosightings #aliens #strangebuttrue #urbanlegends #americanfolklore #folklore #darkhistory #truecrime #occult #supernatural #strangephenomena #creepstreetpodcast
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are chatting all things Wonderland Trail. The Trek's very own Jess Stone is fresh off her thru-hike of this near-100 mile lap around Mt. Rainier in Washington, and gives us a detailed breakdown of her journey and the trail at large. We cover the ideal number of days to do this hike, the standout campsites, wildlife, the permitting process, and the best games to play on trail with your hiking buddies to pass the time such as eating rocks. We wrap the show with a couple of new opportunities to get involved with The Trek, why Nova Scotia has banned all hiking for the foreseeable future, ranking a series of different hiking conditions (or- why postholing is the worst), the triple crown of gear deal breakers, we get even more input on the very controversial decision to use dry ice for resupplies, and a listener reminds us that not all owl encounters are all that interesting. Topo Athletic: Use code “TREKFALL15” at topoathletic.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code "LT520" for 20% off LT5 Trekking Poles at gossamergear.com. Shady Rays: Use code “TREK” for 35% off sunglasses at shadyrays.com. Betterment: Learn more at betterment.com/trek. [divider] Panel with Jess Stone Jess's Instagram Time stamps & Questions 00:04:50 - Reminders: Sign up for the Trek's newsletter, apply to blog for the Trek or be a social media intern, and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon! 00:11:23 - Introducing Jess 00:13:45 - Where is the Wonderland Trail? 00:14:15 - What is the permit system like? 00:18:10 - What is the distance and are there alternates? 00:22:20 - Did you bring a bear canister? 00:23:20 - Where did you start and what direction did you go? 00:25:35 - How did this trail compare to some of your past thru-hikes? 00:29:10 - Tell us about the wildlife 00:34:45 - How do the resupplies work? 00:36:45 - Tell us about making your own food 00:40:04 - What were the best campsites? 00:43:00 - Tell us about your hike chronologically 00:47:27 - What was your hiking group? 00:51:50 - Day 3 of the hike 00:59:00 - Did you encounter rangers? 01:02:30 - Eagles Roost to Golden Lakes 01:05:50 - Golden Lakes and afterward 01:09:50 - High Low Buffalo 01:12:15 - What gear stood out to you? 01:17:50 - What footwear did you use? 01:20:40 - How was the weather and water situation? 01:23:22 - How did you get to the trail? 01:26:10 - How was the experience overall? 01:27:12 - Wonderland Trail or the best 93 miles of the Long Trail? 01:29:00 - Peak Performance Question: What's your top performance-enhancing or backpacking hack? Segments Trek Propaganda: Nova Scotia Bans All Hiking Due to Wildfire Risk by Chickpea QOTD: How many miles would each of the following have to be for them all to feel equal? Thing of the Week Triple Crown of gear deal breakers Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek's newsletter Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Bill Jensen, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Bryan Alsop, Carl Houde, Christopher Marshburn, Clever Innuendo, Clint Sitler, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Ethan Harwell, Gillian Daniels, Go Bills, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Matt from Gilbert, AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, SPAM, The Saint Louis Shaman, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Benjy Lowry, Bonnie Ackerman, Brett Vandiver, Chris Pyle, David, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Greg Floravanti “Lumberjack”, Jack Greene, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, and Spencer Hinson.
Text us your thoughts about this episode or ideas for future episodes!For the first time since 2017, Katie Schide will not be racing of the UTMB World Series final events. Instead, she's set to represent Team USA at the Long Trail World Championships in Canfranc, Spain next month. It felt like the perfect moment to catch up. In this wide-ranging conversation, we talk about her recent results at Hardrock and Sierre-Zinal, her history with stage racing, the prospect of elite-only race fields, her career progression, and the unique allure of Vermont's Long Trail. Partners:Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made (https://nordarun.com/)Gorewear - use code SINGLETRACKPOD30 at checkout on their website to get 30% off your purchase.Naak - use code SINGLETRACK15 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 15% off your purchase.Raide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains (https://raideresearch.com/)Additional Links:Follow Katie on Instagram and StravaFollow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Youtube, and PatreonSupport the show
Tori "Chewy" Constantine is a thru-hiker from the Upper Valley who has extensive backpacking experience including thru-hikes of the Long Trail, Appalachian Trail, and Pacific Crest Trail. Most recently Tori set a new women's unsupported record on the Long Trail, a premier FKT route that is 272 miles long with almost 70,000 feet of vertical spanning the entire state of Vermont. She took 16 hours off of the previous record, coming in at 5 days, 19 hours, 29 minutes. Find Tori on Strava and on Instagram @tconstantine3Use code fromthebackcountry at infinitnutrition.us for 15% off your entire order.Podcast Instagram: @fromthebackcountry
-Race Results: *Leadville 100 *Headlands 50k *Jigger Johnson *Marquette Trail 50 *Twisted Branch 100k *Squamish 50/50 -FKTs: *Tara Dower, Long Trail, Supported, Overall (still being verified) *Hunter Leininger, Colorado Traverse, Supported (still being verified) *Caroline Himbert, John Muir Trail, Unsupported *Update on Liz Derstine and her PCT FKT attempt *Update on Jeff Garmire and his AT FKT attempt *Update on Kristian Morgan and his AT FKT attempt *Update on Nick “Chezwick” Gagnon and his triple crown of thru hikes -News: *LazCon Update *Tim Olsen is gearing up for Mammoth 200 -Tips, Tricks, and Thoughts (3Ts): *Headphones (yay or nay) -Socials: Strava Club: https://www.strava.com/clubs/1246887 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ultrarunning_news_network/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555338668719 X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/ultrarunnews Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ultrarunning_news_network Email: ultrarunning.news.network@gmail.com
The Vermont State Police, along with other emergency responders, are conducting a search near Camels Hump in Duxbury after reports emerged that three children are missing following a hike on Thursday afternoon along the Long Trail.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Text us your thoughts about this episode or ideas for future episodes!Tom Hooper joins the show to publicly announce and analyze the men's and women's long trail teams that will represent the USA at the World Trail Championships in Canfranc, Spain, this September.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction and Background02:09 Selection Race Controversies, The Future of Selection Races08:05 Team Composition: Women's Team Overview12:16 Team Composition: Men's Team Overview16:39 Building a Strong Team19:47 Advice for Future Athletes, Future Race Selection ProcessPartners:Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made (https://nordarun.com/)Gorewear - use code SINGLETRACKPOD30 at checkout on their website to get 30% off your purchase.Naak - use code SINGLETRACK15 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 20% off your purchase.Raide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains (https://raideresearch.com/)Additional Links:Follow Team USA Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, YoutubeSupport the show
This week marks the 25th anniversary of the historic passage of the civil unions law in Vermont. On April 25, 2000, after a remarkable four-month marathon of public hearings, legislative maneuvering, protests, counter-demonstrations and statewide soul-searching, the Vermont House of Representatives voted 79-68 to pass the civil unions bill, the most sweeping grant of rights to gay couples in the nation. The law allowed same sex couples to form civil unions, the legal equivalent of heterosexual marriage. Gov. Howard Dean signed it into law the next day.Rep. Bill Lippert was the lone openly gay Vermont legislator in 2000 and led the fight for passage of civil unions and later same-sex marriage. I was a reporter covering these historic events for Mother Jones. Lippert invited me onto the House floor moments after civil unions passed in 2000 to interview him and other supporters of the bill. I described how Lippert made a beeline across the House floor to thank Rep. Bill Fyfe, an 84-year-old former jail warden and Republican state representative from Newport City. His wife was in the hospital, and Fyfe was due to have surgery the following day. But he made sure to be in the Statehouse to cast his vote for civil unions.I asked Fyfe why he had voted for the bill. He looked at me through his thick glasses and his eyes began to water. “Because he's one of my better friends here,” he said, motioning to Lippert. “And there were two ladies who were my next-door neighbors for many years …” He broke into a soft sob. “They were treated terrible. I'm just glad I could do something to help.”Lippert squeezed Fyfe's shoulder to comfort him, “People can be cruel, Bill,” Lippert said.Vermont's civil unions law passed four months after the Vermont Supreme Court ruled in Baker v. Vermont that gay and lesbian couples were entitled to the same legal rights and benefits of marriage as heterosexual couples. The court ordered the Vermont legislature to craft a law that would satisfy the ruling, either by legalizing same-sex marriage or by creating an equivalent partnership structure. The decision, wrote Chief Justice Jeffrey Amestoy, “is simply a recognition of our common humanity.”Vermont's civil unions law was a tipping point for the national movement for LGBTQ+ rights. In 2009, Vermont became the first state to legalize same-sex marriage through an act of the legislature, overriding a gubernatorial veto to do so.In 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4, in the landmark case Obergefell v. Hodges, that same-sex couples could wed throughout the country. Today, LGBTQ+ rights are under attack. President Donald Trump has targeted transgender people with a slew of executive orders. Hundreds of bills aimed at restricting LGBTQ+ rights have been introduced in state legislatures and in Congress. Many people fear that a conservative U.S. Supreme Court could roll back LGBTQ+ rights, including the right to marry.Bill Lippert was living in Philadelphia when he first visited Vermont in 1972 to hike the Long Trail. He had just come out and recalled that he had trouble finding even one other gay man in the state. Lippert became active in Vermont's small gay rights movement and went on to serve 28 years in the Vermont House of Representatives from 1994 to 2022 as the representative from Hinesburg. He served as chair of the House Judiciary Committee for a decade and then chaired the House Health Care Committee.Lippert, 75, is now retired and working on preserving Vermont LGBTQ+ history, including recounting his own experiences as a gay activist and gay legislator in Vermont.Lippert acknowledged that winning civil unions was viewed by some gay rights advocates — including lead attorney (now federal judge) Beth Robinson — as a defeat.Lippert said that he knew that “this fight for marriage equality in Vermont was going to be the biggest gay rights fight perhaps of our lifetime.” But he said that as a legislator for six years, “I could tell what was achievable and what wasn't. It was clear (that) full marriage equality in the year 2000 was not feasible. It was not going to happen.”Lippert insisted that civil unions “was an important step that brought us ultimately to full marriage equality.” And he was determined to build that bridge.“When civil unions passed, I made a personal commitment to myself that if I could continue to be re-elected, I would stay in the Legislature until we achieved full marriage equality, and that happened in 2009,” he said.Lippert says that today's political attacks on trans people has a familiar ring. “Trans people are being used as a target because it's the ‘unknown,'” he said. “Gay and lesbian people used to be the scary unknown, but that doesn't work anymore in the same way.”I asked Lippert what concerns him most today. “The taking away of our basic democratic rights,” he said. “The shocking willingness to detain and deport people who have every right to be here because they've been granted that right.”“I am an optimist by nature, but this is a frightening time, and I've participated in more protests and demonstrations in the last month than I had in the last 10 years,” he said. “And I think it's important that we do that. We deserve to have the country that some of us have fought for … by fighting for civil rights, for LGBTQ+ rights, rights for women, rights for religious freedom.”The passage of civil unions came at a price. Seventeen legislators who supported civil unions in 2000 were defeated in elections the following November as part of the “Take Back Vermont” movement. Lippert takes inspiration from those elected officials.“One of the lessons that I take from civil unions is that there are still people of tremendous personal moral courage and political courage,” Lippert said. He mentioned defeated Republican legislators John Edwards, Marion Milne, Diane Carmolli and Bill Fyfe.“When you're not part of the same ‘despised minority' but you say it's wrong to have discrimination against them, it's wrong to be prejudiced against them — you get attacked as well. And they did so,” he said.“They did the right thing. They chose to stand up,” Lippert said. “That girds my hopefulness.”
In this new episode, Tim Pilleri and Lance Reenstierna speak with Worcester State University archives librarian Ross Griffiths about the mysterious Bennington Triangle disappearances of Vermont and the disappearance of Paula Welden on December 1st, 1946. Paula Welden was last seen on the afternoon of December 1st, 1946. She left the campus that afternoon after telling her roommate she was going for a hike. Several hikers reported seeing her on the Long Trail, just off Route 9 near Glastenbury Mountain. She was reported missing by her roommate the following morning, after she did not return to campus. An extensive search of the area did not show any signs of Welden. Investigators from New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut assisted in the investigation, due to limited police services in Vermont at the time. Numerous theories were investigated, but no conclusive outcome was ever determined. Sources: https://vimeo.com/752091171. https://www.mentalfloss.com/posts/bennington-triangle-paula-welden-vermont-mystery. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Paula_Jean_Welden. https://coldcasene.org/f/paula-welden. https://www.masslive.com/police-fire/2023/12/paula-welden-went-missing-in-vermont-in-1946-her-case-remains-cold-77-years-later.html. https://vsp.vermont.gov/unsolved/missing/c/welden. Main Theme by Kevin Macleod. Check out his work at https://incompetech.com/. Additional music by David Williams. See his work at http://williamsflutes.com. Music for the Bennington Triangle series provided by Jonathan Santarelli. Check out his other work: IG: https://www.instagram.com/santarelli_dj. YT: http://www.youtube.com/@freakscomeout. Follow Missing: IG: https://www.instagram.com/MissingCSM/. TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@missingcsm. FB: https://www.facebook.com/MissingCSM. X: https://twitter.com/MissingCSM. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0yRXkJrZC85otfT7oXMcri. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/missingcsm. Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/missing/id1006974447. Follow Crawlspace: IG: https://www.instagram.com/Crawlspacepodcast. TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@crawlspacepodcast. FB: https://www.facebook.com/Crawlspacepodcast. X: https://twitter.com/crawlspacepod. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7iSnqnCf27NODdz0pJ1GvJ. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/crawlspace. Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crawlspace-true-crime-mysteries/id1187326340. Check out our entire network at http://crawlspace-media.com/. Follow Private Investigations For the Missing and please donate if you can: https://investigationsforthemissing.org/. http://piftm.org/donate. https://twitter.com/PIFortheMissing. https://www.facebook.com/PIFortheMissing/. https://www.instagram.com/investigationsforthemissing/. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Philip Werner comes on the show to discuss his new book, "Hiking over 60: A modern guide to Hiking Gear and Techniques for Active Adults". Philip's website SectionHiker.com has been sharing gear and trail advice for almost two decades. It's a great resource whether you are new to hiking or at the intermediate or expert level. This episode is a great introduction for those new to hiking and we talk about how this new book is meant for both those new to hiking and those who are reintroducing themselves to the hiking world after some time away. We cover topics - Finding Local Trail Systems - Essential Gear and Being Safe- Hiking over 60 considerations- Leave No Trace- Some of Philip's hikes in the White Mountains and beyondBuy the book (Amazon)Hike Giveaway AlertEnter the Hike Celebrates 250k Giveaway here (open through 5/9/25)5 Random winners will be chosen to receive either a Sticker, Yeti Tumbler, Button or HatStay tuned for how you can purchase your own Hike merchandise or send me an email/DM to inquireSupport the showConnect with Hike:Instagram: @thehikepodcast @shenandoahexplorerFacebook: @thehikepodcastEmail: hikepodcast@gmail.com
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Tate Dobson, known on trail as Pyro. Tate is a certified wildcard. It's not just that he's hiked the PCT, AT, Long Trail, and Te Araroa, but how he's done it, including hiking the Appalachian Trail and Long Trail spending $1,000 (alongside Quadzilla), hiking long stretches with carrying a Jansport pack, another stretch using tote bag, hiking the R2R2R eating only Motts Fruit snacks and the 100-Mile Wilderness consuming only maple syrup and a jar of peanut butter. He's run a pair of ultramarathons around a roundabout, he's run a beer mile with his mom, and has accomplished another mile consuming four shots of tequila and a tube of toothpaste. In other words, strap in. We wrap the show with some bucket list hikes you can do over a long weekend, the triple crown of stuipd word spellings, a listener poop story, and more. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. Gossamer Gear: Use code “BACKPACKER20” for 20% off packs at gossamergear.com. Vaer Watches: Check out Vaer Watches at vaerwatches.com. Bear Mattress: Use code “BACKPACKER” for 40% off at bearmattress.com. Burgeon Outdoors: Use code “BACKPACKER15” for 15% off at burgeonoutdoor.com. [divider] Interview with Tate “Pyro” Dobson Tate's Instagram Tate's Trek page Time stamps & Questions 00:06:34 - Reminders: Check out The Trek and Backpacker Radio on Youtube, listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon, and apply to blog for the Trek! 00:9:40 - Introducing Tate 00:11:40 - How do Chaunce and Tate know each other? 00:14:20 - How did you get into the outdoors? 00:15:11 - What trajectory led to dropping out of high school and college and how did you start thru-hiking? 00:18:25 - Tell us about your 2019 PCT hike? 00:20:55 - What's your perspective on continuous footpaths? 00:22:53 - Where was your head at when you got off the PCT? 00:24:03 - When did you next get on trail? 00:25:37 - Are you a known figure in Durango? 00:28:00 - How did you get on the Colorado Trail? 00:31:22 - Any standout stories from the Colorado Trail? 00:31:51 - Do you have any poop stories? 00:35:40 - How was the Sierra High Route? 00:42:00 - Tell us about the PCT in 2022 00:44:45 - When did things start to get weird? 00:53:15 - Did you hike the whole trail in sandals? 00:54:20 - What other weird things did you do on the PCT? 00:56:10 - Where did you get your marathon idea? 00:59:40 - Did you feel any asymmetric pain afterwards? 01:01:07 - Tell us about your beer mile 01:02:50 - What is the toothpaste and tequila mile? 01:05:45 - Did you see any interesting people during the roundabout run? 01:07:45 - Tell us about your other impractical backpacks 01:11:40 - Tell us about your TA hike 01:18:07 - What's your favorite mom story? 01:19:27 - How'd you clean off the mud? 01:22:50 - How do you keep losing toothbrushes? 01:24:36 - Tell us about starting the AT last year 01:26:35 - What was the budget challenge you did? 01:28:30 - What tips do you have for hiking on a budget? 01:33:24 - What'd you do while Quadzilla was in the hospital? 01:34:30 - What's the craziest story from the AT? 01:39:30 - When did you stop carrying the tote bag? 01:42:05 - Any fun stories from the Long Trail? 01:48:20 - Tell us about the Rim to Rim to Rim 01:51:40 - What plans do you have for the CDT? 01:53:20 - Stay Salty Question: What's your hottest take in the world of backpacking? 01:54:55 - What's your dream sponsor? Segments Trek Propaganda: 33 Bucket-List Hikes You Can Do in a Long Weekend by Katie Jackson QOTD: Would you rather never get blisters again but have to hike in Crocs, or always have the best gear but get a new blister every day? Triple Crown of stupid word spellings Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek's newsletter Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Brent Stenberg, Carl Houde, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Eathan Harwell, Gillian Daniels, Greg Alsop, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Greg McDaniel, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Bonnie Ackerman, Brett Vandiver, Chris Pyle, David, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Greg Floravanti “Lumberjack”, Jack Greene, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Ruth S, and Spencer Hinson.
On this episode of The Running Kind Podcast, Aimee is joined by Joe “Stringbean” McConaughy, a professional ultra runner and icon in the FKT community. He has set records on the Appalachian Trail, Long Trail, and Pacific Crest Trail… these being just some of the most difficult trails in the U.S. that Joe has taken on. Most recently, he is one of the ultra runners followed in the new documentary, The Chase, about a battle at Cocodona 250 in 2024. We are screening The Chase on Earth Day at Emmaus Theatre and we would love for you to join us! The Running Kind, Asics, & Emmaus Run Inn are celebrating with a group run at 6PM, followed by the screening at 7:30PM. Tickets are donation based for Runners For Public Lands. More info here: https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=125067 You can find more information about The Running Kind here. https://therunningkind.net/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/therunningkind/ @therunningkind_ If you are looking for additional ways to support The Running Kind, check out our Patreon page! patreon.com/TheRunningKind Aimee Kohler Founder of The Running Kind @aimskoh Produced by Aimee Kohler Music Dim Red Light by Don Dilego
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Curtis Himstedt, known on trail as Easily Forgotten. Easily Forgotten's backpacking resume is bananas. A partial list of his adventures includes the Annapurna Circuit, Pembrokeshire Coastal Path in Wales, the GR10, Tour du Mont Blanc, Yorkshire Dales High Way, South Downs Way, and Cotswold Way in England, the Triple Crown in the U.S., the Tahoe Rim Trail, and a continuous yo-yo of the Appalachian Trail and Long Trail between 2023-2024. Curtis takes us through these treks, especially the ones we haven't covered on the podcast before, shares how his first divorce inspired him to get into thru-hiking, explains why he feels more like himself on trail than in “the real world,” and gives us a preview of his upcoming adventures as he continues trekking strong into his 60s. We wrap the show with news of a major gear retailer accused of ties to forced labor, a new navigation app you'll want on your radar for 2025, the triple crown of the worst fashion trends, a debate on how to inform someone of their LNT violation, what we'd replace our hands with if given the choice, and much more. Topo Athletic: Use code “TREKWINTER15” at topoathletic.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code “BACKPACKER20” for 20% off packs at gossamergear.com. Ombraz: Use code “BACKPACKER30” for $30 off at ombraz.com/discount/backpacker30. [divider] Interview with Curtis Himstedt aka Easily Forgotten Curtis's Website Curtis's Trek Profile Curtis's Instagram Time stamps & Questions 00:06:10 - Reminders: Join us for our live show in Austin, listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon, and apply to blog for the Trek! 00:09:45 - Introducing Curtis 00:11:20 - What was your weight loss story? 00:12:55 - How did you get into long distance backpacking? 00:14:53 - How old were you when you were in Boy Scouts? 00:16:57 - Is there a part of you that's grateful to your initial divorce for getting you into hiking? 00:19:00 - What learning lessons did you have on the Annapurna Circuit? 00:23:00 - What was life like on your farm? 00:24:00 - From an engineer's perspective, what was hiking the West Highland Way like? 00:27:05 - Would you recommend the West Highland Way to others? 00:28:52 - Has it ever backfired on you to not plan too much of your hikes? 00:30:40 - Do you feel more comfortable when hiking long trails? 00:32:20 - What advice do you have for someone about to get married? 00:35:00 - Discussion about planning international hikes 00:35:44 - Tell us more about the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path 00:37:33 - Tell us about the Grey Wolf Loop 00:40:20 - Tell us more about hiking in England 00:42:56 - Tell us more about the GR10 00:49:05 - Tell us about hiking the AT in 2018 00:54:50 - Tell us about hiking the PCT in 2019 00:57:08 - How did you like the Oregon Coast Trail? 01:00:10 - At what point do you start planning future hikes? 01:01:50 - Do you feel a sense of fulfillment exploring new trails each year? 01:04:20 - Tell us about the South Downs Way 01:05:48 - What were your top 3 favorite trails in the UK? 01:08:50 - Tell us about the Kerry Way 01:10:53 - Discussion about the Portuguese Camino 01:12:15 - What does your gear look like today? 01:15:01 - Tell us about your hiking in the Azores 01:22:25 - Discussion about not planning lodging on European trails 01:23:28 - Tell us about the Cinque Terre 01:25:25 - Tell us about the Via Degli Dei 01:26:55 - Tell us about your MEGA GAME LT^2 adventure 01:33:00 - Story about Curtis's father 01:38:25 - You don't like FKTs but you like endurance hiking? 01:39:42 - What's the northern section like in the winter? 01:42:50 - How many miles are you typically hiking in a day? 01:44:20 - What about the AT do you love so much? 01:46:05 - What do your next 4 years of hiking look like? 01:49:20 - Peak Performance Question: What is your top performance-enhancing or backpacking hack? Segments Trek Propaganda Outdoor Gear Retailer Decathlon Accused of Ties to Forced Labor in China by Katie Jackson Could This New Mapping App from the Founders of Gaia GPS Become a Thru-Hiker Staple? by Katie Jackson QOTD: If you had to replace your hands with something else, what would you pick? Triple Crown of the worst fashion trends Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek's newsletter Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Ben Love, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Greg McDaniel, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Liz Seger, Mud Tom, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Bonnie Ackerman, Chris Pyle, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Katharine Rudzitis, Lauren Cain, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Ruth S, and Spencer Hinson.
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek and brought to you by Topo Athletic, we're joined by Ben Vaugh, known on trail as Ginger Ballz. Ben is a Navy veteran, accomplished thru-hiker, and currently works as a dog musher, a topic Chaunce and Badger had way too much fun diving into. Ginger Ballz takes us through his transition from the military to thru-hiking, why he recommends it to fellow service members, and the parallels between the two. He shares stories from his hikes of the Triple Crown trails, the Hayduke, Superior Hiking Trail, and Long Trail. We also get a deep dive into his current gig managing a dog mushing and guiding company in Colorado, working with Iditarod-winning pups. He breaks down the process of training huskies for guiding, the biggest challenges of mushing, and the unique bond he shares with his dogs. We close out the show with a feature on a man who thru-hiked the AT while legally blind, a debate on whether airplanes have keys, why Zach is no longer allowed to enjoy pho, Chaunce's honey grease, the Triple Crown of abbreviated insults, and more. Topo Athletic: Use code “TREKWINTER15” at topoathletic.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code “BACKPACKER20” for 20% off packs at gossamergear.com. [divider] Interview with Ben “Ginger Ballz” Vaughan Ben's Instagram Ben's Facebook Colorado Dog Sledding Website Time stamps & Questions 00:05:12 - Reminders: Join us for our live show in Austin, listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon, and apply to blog for the Trek! 00:08:05 - Introducing Ben 00:10:00 - Tell us about your Navy experience 00:12:10 - What's it like chasing down pirates? 00:16:06 - Tell us about transitioning between the Navy and thru-hiking 00:19:00 - How did the AT get on your radar? 00:20:38 - Did your military background help you go into the AT with confidence? 00:22:30 - Did you do thru-hiking specific research? 00:24:02 - Did you feel your purpose restored when you started the AT? 00:24:30 - Do you think thru-hikers could succeed in the military? 00:26:20 - Tell us about the Kona Ironman? 00:28:20 - Tell us about the Navy culture in Coronado 00:31:15 - Did you know right away that thru-hiking was for you? 00:34:10 - How did you feel upon finishing the AT? 00:36:00 - What other traits did you get from the Navy that aided you in thru-hiking? 00:39:44 - Tell us about going from the AT to the PCT 00:42:50 - What was it like adjusting to the high snow year on the PCT? 00:48:00 - Can you completely recover from frostbite? 00:50:00 - Did you freak out when you were stuck in a blizzard? 00:51:55 - Was it fun seeing the Sierra in a different season? 00:53:55 - When did you decide to complete the Triple Crown? 00:57:10 - What was the difference in reactions you got on the CDT versus the AT? 00:58:14 - What did your Big 3 look like on the CDT? 01:00:45 - How does a snowy Smokies compare to the snowy Sierras? 01:05:00 - Tell us about hiking the Hayduke 01:09:45 - Tell us about dropping your pack down a canyon 01:12:20 - Tell us about hiking the Superior Hiking Trail 01:15:12 - Tell us about hiking the Long Trail 01:17:00 - How did you end up in Alaska dog mushing? 01:19:30 - What are the dogs like in their off time? 01:22:00 - What does it take to win the Iditarod? 01:23:10 - How do you train the dog to do what it needs to do? 01:24:50 - How can you tell if one of the dogs is getting tired? 01:26:10 - What do the dogs eat? 01:29:15 - Story from the Iditarod 01:31:40 - How does the tour operation work in CO? 01:33:00 - What types of commands do the dogs know? 01:35:10 - Who are your dogs? 01:39:45 - What do you pack for a backcountry dog mushing trip? 01:40:50 - What is your bond like with the dogs? 01:42:00 - How long can the dogs run for? 01:43:40 - Are Huskies all not great off leash? 01:47:05 - Ben is hiring! 01:49:40 - Peak Performance Question: What is your top performance-enhancing or backpacking hack? Segments Trek Propaganda Thru-Hiking While Blind: Completing the Appalachian Trail With A Visual Disability by Andrew Neylon The Best Trail Runners for Thru-Hiking in 2025 by the Editors QOTD: Do airplanes have keys? Thing of the Week Triple Crown of short insults Gross or Not Gross Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Ben Love, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Greg McDaniel, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Liz Seger, Mud Tom, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Bonnie Ackerman, Chris Pyle, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Katharine Rudzitis, Lauren Cain, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Ruth S, and Spencer Hinson.
Send us some fan mail here!Nick has had a crazy week with a family illness and Josh is all tied up, so Ash sits down with Nick to bang out a quick S(mall)PUDs episode! The forever-hiking buddies discuss their journey, experiences, and challenges (thus far) hiking with their daughter from the age of 2 weeks to nearly 2.5 years!Local hikes in Rehoboth at 2 weeks with Daddy, summit dances on Mount Willard, many ascents of Mount Wachusett, Mount Van Hoevenburg in the Adirondacks, losing pinecones on Hedgehog Mountain, a temper tantrum on Mount Stinson, day hiking some of the Long Trail, sleeping in a carrier pack, forgetting a puffy and substituting with a blanket and hand warmers, hot days on the Cliff Walk in Newport, sunsets on Bald Mountain,"snackies" are paramount, plus many more "family" hiking stories, on this all-about-hiking-with-a-young-kiddo-episode of the PUDs Podcast!!!Episode Links:Osprey Poco Child CarrierErgobaby Omni 360 All-Position Baby Carrier (7-45lbs)Hedgehog Mountain with Ash & Rylan on Nick's YouTube ChannelMount Stinson with Ash & Rylan on Nick's YouTube ChannelSunset Ledge on the Long Trail with Ash & Rylan on Nick's YouTube ChannelKingsbury Reservoir Loop with Ash & Rylan on Nick's YouTube ChannelMount Willard with Ash, Rylan, Wilkie, Lorrie, & Mike on Nick's YouTube Channel Follow us on Instagram: @pudspodcastFollow us on Facebook: PUDs PodcastSubscribe to Nick's YouTube Channel: Nick in NatureFollow Nick on Instagram: @nick__in__natureFollow Josh on Instagram: @josh___talksEmail us at: pudspod@outlook.comRecorded and Produced in Black Cat Studios by Nick Sidla© 2025 PUDs Podcast
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Demetri Coupounas, aka Coup, the founder of GoLite and MyTrail Company. Coup might just be the most interesting man in the world. This conversation takes us through his incredible journey, from his work balancing the federal budget in the '80s and '90s to becoming the first person to complete unsupported hikes of the Colorado Trail and the Long Trail, and how he stumbled upon the once underground world of ultralight backpacking. We also dive into the history of GoLite, from its role in popularizing Ray Jardine's ultralight designs to its meteoric rise with more than 20 retail stores nationwide—without taking any investor money—and its eventual downfall, leading to bankruptcy just a few years later. Coup shares the story of MyTrail Co, his follow-up venture, and how he applied the lessons learned from GoLite while stripping away what didn't work, and how that eventually failed to achieve launch. This episode is an insightful history lesson on GoLite and the world of ultralight backpacking, as well as a fascinating case study on business successes and failures. We wrap up the show with a new 2-ounce device that could replace your Garmin InReach, what we consider a satisfactory number of steps in a typical day, and the ultimate Triple Crown of best smells. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. Gossamer Gear: Use code “BACKPACKER20” for 20% off packs at gossamergear.com. [divider] Interview with Demetri “Coup” Coupounas Coup's Instagram Time stamps & Questions 00:10:20 - Reminders: Join us for our live show in Austin, listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon, and apply to vlog for the Trek! 00:12:40 - Introducing Coup 00:15:15 - What are your favorite backpacking Youtube channels? 00:16:25 - How did you get into politics? 00:28:10 - How fucked are we currently and what's your take on DOGE? 00:34:44 - How did you get into backpacking? 00:42:00 - How would you walk a first time hiker through packing their backpack? 00:51:22 - Do you think fun correlates directly with the weight on your back? 00:53:40 - Why did you take on unsupported hikes? 00:56:35 - Are you pursuing novel experiences or challenging experiences? 00:59:30 - How do you decide what food to bring? 01:05:20 - Tell us about the early days of GoLite 01:10:30 - Did you ever make your own gear? 01:12:02 - Did you have a personal relationship with Ray Jardine? 01:14:55 - Was Ray an owner in the business? 01:17:17 - What were the biggest initial sellers? 01:21:15 - How much effort was involved in convincing people to go lighter? 01:27:02 - What were the first 12 products? 01:38:15 - What did your typical customer look like? 01:46:00 - What was the process of scaling GoLite? 01:55:00 - Why didn't selling direct work well? 02:01:20 - What happened in 2013 and 2014? 02:10:00 - Why didn't you seek investors when money was running out? 02:17:00 - Discussion about the transition to My Trail Co 02:20:24 - What do you keep from the business when going through bankruptcy? 02:26:12 - What is My Trail Co and did you raise as much money as you expected? 02:30:02 - How many products did you offer? 02:32:31 - When did My Trail Co go out of business? 02:38:16 - Why didn't My Trail work? 02:42:45 - Did My Trail investors earn dividends? 02:45:00 - How much of the growth of the cottage industry was to blame? 02:53:07 - What are your plans for the future? 03:01:50 - Stay Salty Question: What is your hottest take in the backpacking world? Segments Trek Propaganda: Could This 2-Ounce Device Replace Your Garmin inReach? By Katie Jackson QOTD: What is a satisfactory number of steps for your average day? Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Ben Love, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Greg McDaniel, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Liz Seger, Mud Tom, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Bonnie Ackerman, Chris Pyle, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Katharine Rudzitis, Lauren Cain, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Ruth S, and Spencer Hinson.
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek and brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Sarah “Mellow” Berkeley, founder of Symbiosis Gear, a pack-making company designed specifically for people with boobs. Sarah shares insights into her unique upbringing in a small log cabin in rural Colorado, her adventures on the Long Trail, PCT, Colorado Trail, and half of the CDT, and her journey to creating a backpack tailored for primarily women. We dive into the inspiration behind her patented S-shaped shoulder strap, the challenges of starting a business with no prior industry experience, the help she's received from fellow members of the cottage industry, her plans for future expansion, and much more. We wrap the show with the announcement of the 2025 Badger Sponsorship, news of a hiker found dead near Mt. Whitney, a debate on when poop officially starts to smell like poop, and the Triple Crown of middle-aged happiness. Topo Athletic: Use code “TREKWINTER15” at topoathletic.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code “BACKPACKER20” for 20% off packs at gossamergear.com. [divider] Interview with Sarah Berkeley New Symbiosis Gear Survey Symbiosis Gear on Instagram Symbiosis Gear Website Time stamps & Questions 00:05:15 - Reminders: Apply for the 2025 Badger Sponsorship, join us for our live show in Austin, apply to blog for the Trek, and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon! 00:09:07 - Introducing Sarah 00:10:33 - What's your trail name origin story? 00:11:32 - Tell us about building a log cabin with your family 00:16:27 - How did you end up on the Long Trail? 00:17:50 - Did you bring any simple recipes from the wood stove to backpacking? 00:18:30 - Are you happy your parents created that experience for you? 00:20:30 - Was it psychologically easy for you to adjust to backpacking? 00:22:30 - What was the motivation to move to Leadville? 00:26:20 - Walk us through the early stages of getting into backpacking 00:29:35 - How did you manage the Long Trail with a dog? 00:31:45 - What caused you to stick with thru-hiking? 00:34:35 - Did you solve any gear problems going from the Long Trail to the PCT? 00:37:06 - Were you crafty at that point? 00:40:15 - What do you customize for your packs? 00:43:55 - What does the S-strap do? 00:47:15 - Is chafing a common issue? 00:50:00 - Discussion about the pack design 00:52:27 - Are other brands making female-specific packs? 00:56:10 - What are some common sizing questions? 00:58:45 - Who is your ideal customer? 01:04:30 - What do you see as the next way to open up the product offering? 01:08:00 - Discussion about Chaunce's bags 01:12:00 - When did the lightbulb for this pack go off for you? 01:14:28 - What's been the most intimidating part of this effort to tackle? 01:17:05 - What is the fabric on the pack? 01:18:05 - What's it like to go from being new to having some reviews to support the product? 01:20:00 - Did you hike with Double Dip? 01:21:54 - Did you have other CDT hikers using your pack? 01:23:30 - Are the packs coming from a manufacturer? 01:26:05 - Have you connected with other manufacturers in the cottage industry? 01:27:30 - Do you have investors? 01:28:40 - What other frustrations do you have with female gear? 01:31:35 - Peak Performance Question: What is your top performance enhancing hack? Segments Trek Propaganda: Missing Hiker Found Dead on Mount Whitney by Katie Jackson REI Announces Mass Layoffs and an End to a Beloved Program by Katie Jackson The Best Backpacking Tents for Thru-Hiking in 2025 by the Editors QOTD: At what point does poop actually start smelling like shit? Triple Crown of middle aged happiness Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Ben Love, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Greg McDaniel, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Liz Seger, Mud Tom, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Bonnie Ackerman, Chris Pyle, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Katharine Rudzitis, Lauren Cain, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Ruth S, and Spencer Hinson.
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, we're joined by Patrice and Justin La Vigne. Over the past decade-plus, Patrice and Justin have traded their corporate grind for, in their words, “a life less ordinary.” From their first thru-hike of the AT in 2011 (drink), to managing a hostel, embarking on multiple van tours to spread the thru-hiking gospel, thru-hiking the TA in New Zealand, and now living in a 300-square-foot cabin on the outskirts of Denali National Park in Alaska—they've done it all. We dive into how they restructured their lives around adventure, what it's really like living in a tiny cabin in remote Alaska, why moose are jerks, the challenges of thru-hiking with Crohn's, and much more. We wrap the show with the story of a man accused of staging a bear attack to cover up a murder, what the funniest sounding fart is (and introducing Chaunce to the world of covering your farts), and the triple crown of New Year's Resolutions. Gossamer Gear: Use code “SNUGGLEBUG” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com. CTDC: Donate $35 or more or sign up for monthly donations at cdtcoalition.org. PATH Projects: Use code “THETREK10” for 10% off at pathprojects.com/thetrek. [divider] Interview with Patrice & Justin La Vigne Patrice & Justin's Website Patrice & Justin's Instagram Time stamps & Questions 00:03:30 - Reminders: Support us on Patreon for exclusive bonus content AND ad-free episodes and apply to be a 2025 blogger OR vlogger! And grab a ticket to our live show in Austin on April 17! 00:10:00 - Introducing Patrice and Justin La Vigne 00:11:00 - What was the inspiration to hike the AT in 2011? 00:14:25 - What's the school experience like at ASU and Disney University? 00:19:53 - Tell us about your shakedown hike on the Long Trail 00:23:30 - Why did you decide to go southbound? 00:28:00 - What was your standout insect story on the AT? 00:31:37 - How did the AT lead to your “life less ordinary”? 00:34:20 - What other Disney skills did you carry over to running a hostel? 00:37:46 - At what point did you decide not to return to your careers? 00:48:17 - Which is more glamorous, the van or the hostel? 00:53:00 - How did you end up on the Te Araroa? 00:57:40 - What stood out about the people and culture of New Zealand? 01:01:10 - How long were you in New Zealand? 01:02:37 - What did you between the TA and your van tour? 01:07:30 - Is it more rewarding to travel around doing education than selling gear? 01:10:25 - Tell us about moving to a dry cabin in Alaska 01:18:04 - How do you handle not having running water? 01:22:10 - How do you manage the outhouse? 01:23:20 - What is the town like? 01:25:29 - What is the winter like? 01:29:10 - How do you prevent getting cabin fever in the winter? 01:31:00 - How do you get internet? 01:34:30 - Discussion about the yurt and Alaska amenities 01:35:40 - Have you climbed Denali? 01:44:00 - Discussion about Justin's Crohn's disease 01:46:02 - Tell us more about Crohn's disease on the AT 01:48:32 - Discussion about carrying everything out on Denali 01:52:02 - Do you foresee returning to the corporate lifestyle? 01:54:02 - What's the next chapter for you? 01:57:40 - Discussion about grizzly bears and moose 02:04:07 - Do you hear stories of people getting attacked? 02:06:58 - Where can people keep up with you? Segments Trek Propaganda: Man Accused of Staging Fake Bear Attack To Cover Up a Murder Has Been Arrested by Kelly Floro QOTD: What is the funniest-sounding fart? Wedding Dress of the Week Triple Crown of New Year's resolutions Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Ben Love, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg McDaniel may he bring honor to his name, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Liz Seger, Mud Tom, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Bonnie Ackerman, Chris Pyle, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Katharine Rudzitis, Lauren Cain, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Ruth S, and Spencer Hinson.
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