n2backpacking

In Episode 29, we discuss the expected surge of Appalachian Trail thru-hikers this spring and why a southbound hike might be the right decision for you in 2016.  On the show, Popeye talks about his southbound (SOBO) thru-hike and we debunk many of the myths of walking south from Maine to Georgia: dealing with the weather, the insects, the lack of community, the lack of services, and the immediate...

In Episode 28, Sprinkles and NoKey discuss their ultimate summer:  Thru-hiking 1400 miles on four major trails along the East Coast - including the Benton MacKaye, Finger Lakes, Northville-Placid and Long Trails. Forewarning, we spend the majority of the podcast discussing their 20 day, ~290 mile hike on the Benton MacKaye Trail - a great alternative to the Appalachian Trail in the South - but the...

In Episode 27, You think you're tough?  Well Niki Rellon just might have you beat!  Niki's sports pursuits include professional kickboxing, ski instructing, cross-country cycling, thru-hiking, and currently a six month journey on the Appalachian Trail.  Did I mention that she is doing it on one leg?  Well now you know. In the podcast, Niki talks about her first ventures in to the outdoors, her hik...

In Episode 26, I speak with Director Clint Ross who is hard at work with Producer Paula O'Neal on the film adaptation of the book Blind Courage, which is based on the 1990 Appalachian Trail thru-hike of Bill Irwin - the first legally blind hiker to complete the entire Trail within a single year. In the show, Clint discusses the first draft of the screenplay, the trailer, and the upcoming plans to...

In Episode 25, Scott "Squatch" Herriott talks about his three part series Flip Flop Flippin'.  The films were shot on the Appalachian Trail during the summers of 2011, 2012, and 2014 and they follow the thru-hiker community as they make their way along the nearly 2200 mile trail. In the show, "Squatch" talks about his first ventures in to the wilderness, some of the thru-hikers and trail angels th...

In Episode 24, we satisfy a listener request for a show on backcountry basics.  Recorded at a remote campsite on the Chattooga River, I speak with Therm Rider and The Camel about some of our rookie mistakes in the backcountry and smart things that we've done since our first ventures in to the wilderness. "Backcountry 101" is the first installment in this mini-series where we sit around the campfir...

In Episode 23, Kori "Rocket" Feener talks about her recently released film Hard Way Home which documents her personal journey on the ~ 2200 mile Appalachian Trail in 2012. In the movie, Kori talks about her physical and emotional struggles on the A.T., the healing powers of long distance hiking, and what it's like to film and produce a film while hiking the Appalachian Trail.  She also gives us so...

In Episode 22, Ken (aka "The Weasel") and I discuss our experience as extras in the soon to be released movie Walk In The Woods.   It is based on the best-selling 1998 book by Bill Bryson, and stars Robert Redford and Nick Nolte - both who were on set for our scene in the movie which was filmed at Stone Mountain Park near Atlanta, Georgia. Ken and I record the podcast 2 years to the day of an  int...

In Episode 21, JD (aka Trail Hard) tells us about his passion for hiking and backpacking in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park - the most visited national park in the United States. On the show, we discuss his quest for a third map in the "Smokies" - or the completion of every trail in the Park.  While a "map" is technically ~900 miles, a hiker walks roughly 1500 miles to complete it.  And JD...

In Episode 20, Thirty-Pack talks about his 2013 thru-hike on the 2,663 mile Pacific Crest Trail (PCT).  Over six months, he hiked 420,880 feet of elevation walking from Mexico to Canada along the western mountains of the U.S. This after he completed the Appalachian Trail on the East Coast in 2012 (see Episode #13).  Will the Continental Divide Trail and coveted Triple Crown follow in 2014?  Listen...

In Episode 19, I speak with Thirty-Pack about his recent thru-hike on the 2,663 Pacific Crest Trail.  This is the bonus material from the initial interview, so make sure you listen to Episode #20 first. In this bonus podcast, 30-Pack talks about his first day on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), trail romance, hiking with dogs, favorite trail towns, and interesting hitches. He finishes with some fina...

In Episode 18, Troubadour recounts his quest for the Triple Crown:  Thru-hiking The Appalachian Trail (in 1994), The Continental Divide Trail (in 2002), and The Pacific Crest Trail (in 1999). In the podcast, Troubadour compares the three major U.S. long distance hiking trails and talks about some favorite sections on each.  He also gives a nod to great trail towns, hostels, and trail angels on the...

In Episode 17, Jester and I speak via phone about his 2013 DVD release  "Embrace The Brutality" which documents his 3100 mile thru-hike on the Continental Divide Trail. In the podcast, Jester talks about his first backpacking trip, his high and low moments on the CDT, what it takes to hike, film, and produce a major film on the Trail, and a major hike that he has planned for Europe.  Jester also o...

In Episode 16, Glenn (aka The Helmet) and I do a live interview from his historic 1858 schoolhouse in Barton, Vermont.  The topic is the 272 mile Long Trail which in 1930 was the first major long distance trail to be completed in the United States and it set the standard for the other major long distance hiking trails in America. In the podcast, The Helmet and I talk about the history and some mys...

In Episode 15, Mackie and I sit down to discuss a 65 day and 17,000 mile cross-country road trip that went down in the summer of 1996.  On the journey, we hiked sections of the Appalachian, Continental, and Pacific Crest National Scenic Trails and visited some treasured American wilderness including Isle Royal, Glacier, Mt. Ranier, Redwoods, Yosemite, and Grand Canyon National Park. In the podcast...

In Episode 14, Steve (aka The Ox) and I do an in-studio interview about a 38 day cross-country road trip that took place in the summer of 1998.  We spent most of the tour in the western United States and Canada (Alberta and British Columbia) where we went backpacking and fishing in the Rockies, Cascades, and on the coast of the Pacific Northwest. In the podcast, The Ox talks about the high and low...

In Episode 13, KC (aka 30-Pack) details his 2012 thru-hike on the Appalachian Trail that began at Springer Mountain in March and ended nearly 2,200 miles later at Mount Katahdin in September. In the podcast, KC talks about the birth of his trail-name, some of his favorite (and not so favorite) moments on the trail, the Wolf Pack and the social aspects of a thru-hike, and why the experience was so...

In Episode 12, I speak with Amy (aka Mrs. Weasel) in a Banner Elk interview about her experiences on the trail. These include hiking, backpacking, and volunteering along the Appalachian, Benton MacKaye, and Pine Mountain Trails in Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia. In the podcast, Amy talks about doing trail maintenance as part of the Konnarock and Georgia Appalachian Trail crews in the Southe...

In Episode 11, Katie (aka Wild Turkey) talks about her ventures in to the wilderness - hiking and backpacking with both friends and family in the Southeast.  Topics include the weather and its impact on the experience, the gear you need for the Trail, and hiking with infants and young children. Katie is the first female to do a solo interview for N2Backpacking and she delivers with this New Year's...

In Episode 10, Brett (aka Therm Rider) talks about our recent hike along the Appalachian Trail near Stratton, Maine.  This is the second of a two part series that recaps our October 2012 backpacking trip in New England. In this interview, Brett talks about our travel to the trailhead, our punishing ascent & descent of the Crocker Mountains, and our multi-night stays in the trail town of Stratton....

In Episode 9, Jim (aka Country Club) and Roger (aka The Camel) talk about our recent hike along the Appalachian Trail near Stratton, Maine. This is the first of a two part series that recaps our October 2012 backpacking trip in New England. During our three day trip, we battled nasty weather and didn't see a ray of sunshine as we hiked over North & South Crocker Mountain. The steep, wet terrain an...

In Episode 8, I speak with my father about how he introduced me to the outdoors and how he served up a steady dose of hiking, camping, and fishing before I reached elementary school.  We talk about the early years, of catching my first fish, of car camping in Ohio, and about the Appalachian Trail - where he joined me for a few days in June during  my 1994 thru-hike. Weeks later, my father returned...

In Episode 7, Phillip (aka the World Wide Wanderer) talks about growing up with his family on military bases around the world and his post-college travels around the globe. The interview offers insight in to places like Nepal's Annapurna Circuit, Peru's Machu Pichu, Greece's Samaria Gorge, and Egypt's Mount Sinai (the pilgrimage site of St. Catherine Monastery). In the podcast, Phillip talks about...

In Episode 6, Kirk (aka SoulGlo) and John (aka Hawkeye) talk about their introduction to backpacking in the early 1990's. In the show, we discuss trips to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and hikes from Newfound Gap to Ice Water Springs Shelter, Charlie's Bunion, Peck's Corner Shelter, Mt. LeConte, n2backpacking.com/hikes/north-carolina and Kephart Shelter. Kirk's fear of bears is quickly di...

This is a video slideshow of a five day hike we did on the Chilkoot Trail back in June 2001. For an interview with "The Camel" on this trip, check out this podcast link or click here for more photos, maps, and a trip report from the Chilkoot Trail. The Chilkoot Trail is a walk back in time. It follows the trail that the stampeders used to reach the Yukon River and float their provisions to the gol...