Backpacker Radio

Hyperlite Mountain Gear: Use code "BPRADIO15" for 15% of hyperlitemountaingear.com Segments Epic Dreams Processing Trek Propaganda Teen Hiker Dies in Grand Canyon National Park Amid Extreme Heat by Katie Jackson Why You Should Never Take Gear Advice to Heart by Izzy Wagner QOTD:  Would you rather A) every time you eat a particular meal, the rest of the world loses access to this meal for 24 hours,...

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Caleb "Meatball" Adcock, a professional photographer and thru-hiker who completed the AT last year and is currently midway through the CDT, doing it almost entirely alone.  Caleb walks us through how he built a career shooting for brands like Hyperlite and Jetboil while thru-hiking, why...

Segments Nasty Celebrity Encounters Tribute to Bill Jensen Trek Propaganda: After 22,000 Miles of Thru-Hiking, This Is One of the Biggest Mistakes I See Beginners Make by Peg Leg QOTD: Do people face the shower head when they shower? Triple Crown of things you can easily live without, but nonetheless should be free for everyone Smitty's Experience Being Navajo in the US Mail Bag 5 Star Review [div...

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Jeremy Phoenix aka Smitty Werbenjagermanjensen, aka Javos, a Navajo-born, Amish-country-raised, REI-employed, grave-digging, Princeton-attending thru-hiker who completed the Colorado Trail in 15 days on his first ever backpacking trip and has been making up for lost time ever since.  In this one,...

Segments Tiger Facts Trek Propaganda:  Timberline Lodge Ends Breakfast Buffet Popular With Generations of PCT Hikers by James Townsend QOTD: Do poop pees count as full pees? Sun Hoodie Review: Fjällräven Abisko Wool Hoodie Triple Crown of words for penis Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee . Sign up for the Trek's newsletter Leave us a voicemail!...

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Matthew Hengst, aka Masochist, an IT-professional-turned-full-time-adventurer who over the past eight-plus years has racked up 20,000 miles hiked, nearly 3,000 miles paddled, 2.5 million feet of elevation climbed, and somewhere north of 300 diving sessions across multiple continents.  Ma...

Segments Lyme Disease Update Trek Propaganda: 2026 Hiking Gear Trends, And Whether I Think They're Actually Worth It by Livvy Weld QOTD: Would you rather have one raccoon know all your secrets and occasionally hint at them or one goose publicly overreact to everything you do? Stupid Thing of the Week Triple Crown of gear you can find that's girly Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our soun...

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by our pal Elise Ott, aka Sauce, who gives us a play by play of her recent hike on Portuguese Camino coastal route along with her parents. SOS walks us through doing the Camino as a tribute to her late brother Curtis, who passed away in February of 2025 after years of living with schizoaffective dis...

Segments The Tallest Unclimbed Mountains Trek Propaganda: Roundup Is Being Sprayed in National Forests. Here's What PCT Hikers Should Know by Kelly Floro QOTD:  Would you rather give up sauces or kissing? Triple Crown of Ways NOT to die Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee . Sign up for the Trek's newsletter Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this...

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are bringing you the rare Chaunce and Zach solo pod.  In this one, we tell the full origin story of Backpacker Radio, from the unofficial co-host audition at a hiker meetup, to Chaunce showing up at the wrong restaurant on day one, to almost not making it past the early episodes. We get into how our i...

Segments Long Trail Trivia Trek Propaganda: Check out the Trek's Youtube Processing QOTD:  Everyone on earth takes a private vote by pressing a red or blue button. If more than 50% of people press the blue button, everyone survives. If less than 50% of people press the blue button, only people who pressed the red button survive. Which button would you press? Sun Hoodie Review - REI Flash Shade  Tr...

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are bringing you the final on-air fight between Jabba and Chaunce. It is mostly awkward and uncomfortable, with- I think- a dash of closure at the end. Will you enjoy it? I don't know. Maybe not.  We wrap the show with a question of the day involving button pushing and death, a new sun hoodie review- the REI F...

Segments Ways to Die Trek Propaganda: Hikers Discover Human Remains Near Vermont Appalachian Trail by Kelly Floro QOTD:  What celebrity names can you never remember?  Triple Crown of the worst gifts to give young kids Parenting Thing of the Week Sun Hoodie Review Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee . Sign up for the Trek's newsletter Leave us a vo...

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Liz Crandall, a former US Forest Service field ranger who was fired by DOGE last February and has since transitioned into advocacy, activism, and podcasting, serving as the host of Rangers of the Lost Park.  In this one, Liz walks us through nine years of climbing the federal government'...

Segments Geography Quiz Smells Associated with Health Issues Trek Propaganda: 7 All-Too Common Signs of Entitlement I've Noticed in the Thru-Hiking Community by Peg Leg QOTD:  Why does a sawyer filter last a lifetime but you're supposed to swap a brita every few months? Triple Crown of mountain peaks Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee . Sign up f...

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Stephen Palazzo, aka Near Miss, an Army veteran, thru-hiker, and peak bagger who has completed the AT, CDT, AZT, and Colorado Trail, summited all 58 of Colorado's 14ers, and knocked out three of the seven summits.  This one runs the gambit. Stephen walks us through 24 years of military service, f...

Segments Dramatic Survival Stories Trek Propaganda: Thru-Hiker Who Died on PCT Was Trek Blogger by Kelly Floro The Dark Side of Trail Magic: The Negative Experiences Hikers Rarely Talk About by Peg Leg QOTD:  What's the best/funniest word for boobs? Triple Crown of (team) sports Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee . Sign up for the Trek's newslett...

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we sit down with Becca Beckham, trail name Little Bag, a Peace Corps veteran, thru-hiker and all around world traveler. Becca has hiked the Long Trail and PCT, and last year tackled the Colorado Trail, the Tour du Mont Blanc, and the GR20 in Corsica. In this one, Becca shares what it's like growing up in...

Segments Lyme Disease Update Trek Propaganda The First Week of Your Thru-Hike Will Probably Be the Hardest — Here's How To Prepare by Kelly Floro QOTD:  Does pizza lose its luster as you get older? Triple Crown of Star Wars characters 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 po...

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Katie "Sunrise" Lance, a civil engineer turned professional triathlete turned thru-hiker who completed the AT last year before quitting her job to pursue triathlon coaching full-time. In this one, Katie walks us through what it's like to qualify for Kona on your very first Ironman, how she was tr...

Segments Weird Space Facts Trek Propaganda 121 Years of Forest Service Doctrine, Undone. What Comes Next? By Katie Jackson A Billionaire Game Developer Has Been Buying Up Thousands of Acres in North Carolina. Why? By Katie Jackson QOTD:  Would you rather have every September off — fully paid, no PTO touched, or be able to thrive off 4 hours of sleep? Triple Crown of BBQ foods One-Minute Gear Revie...

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Claire "Marmot" Dumont, a mapmaker, writer at The Trek, and thru-hiker who has completed the AT, Mountains to Sea Trail, Oregon Coast Trail, JMT, and more. In this one, Marmot walks us through what it's like to spend three months on trail with your dad, how a Fulbright fellowship brought...

Segments Afroman Trial Recap Trek Propaganda: Injured Hiker Rescued After Two Days on the Appalachian Trail by Katie Jackson The Gear That Lasted Me 10,000 Miles in 1 Year by Peg Leg QOTD:  Would you rather get a million guaranteed or flip a coin for a billion? Triple Crown of Jim Carey movies Mail Bag  5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee . Sign up for the...

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Megan "Rascal" Wilmarth, a triple crowner who has completed a long trail every year since 2019, including the triple crown, TA, Long Trail, JMT, Tahoe Rim Trail, and Wonderland Trail. Rascal also served as crew chief for Tara Dower's supported southbound FKT on the AT in 2024.  In this one, Rasca...

Segments Snake Island Trek Propaganda: Actually No, the Trail Won't Always Be There: Why You Should Thru-Hike Now by Claire Dumont QOTD:  Fuck marry kill: rain, wind, snow Triple Crown of potato foods Mail Bag 5 Star Review   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 rev...