The Dirtbag Diaries

California’s legacy of gold mining goes back generations, but as the world of mining has evolved, so too have our ideas about public lands. Today’s mining projects are still dictated by the 1872 Mining Law, leaving land managers little recourse to say no to environmentally damaging projects. Last spring, environmental advocates and cycling enthusiasts Emily Markstein and Amber Rassler organized a...

Producer Andrew Burton brings us the story of his wild hunt for a wedding ring he lost while climbing Forbidden Peak. And, we have our first Ask Me Anything, from a listener submitted question. Want to hear more? Subscribe to Dirtbag Diaries+

When Jayme Vance and her husband set out on a packrafting honeymoon deep in Denali National Park, her worries about the trip were exacerbated by her father’s illness at home. As she welcomes Luke’s new role in her life, she grapples with the knowledge that soon, she’ll need to say goodbye to her first adventure partner. Support comes from Patagonia AG1 Kuat Racks YETI  Want more episodes? Join Dir...

We put out a call for your best bonk stories, and you answered. Stories from listeners who miscalculated just how many calories they needed to get through the day. Thanks to everyone who called in! Want to hear more? Subscribe to Dirtbag Diaries+

Drew and Sarah embark on a once-in-a-lifetime roadtrip across the country to see the places they’ve always dreamed of seeing. In doing so, they pave a path for other people who, like them, haven’t always seen themselves represented in the outdoors. Support comes from Patagonia AG1 Kuat Racks YETI Want more episodes? Join Dirtbag Diaries+ today

Chandra Brown, a veteran river guide, led a five day writers retreat for a group of authors along the U.S Mexico border. While canoeing the Rio Grande they navigate physical challenges, and see the effects of government policies first hand. On their final night, Mother Nature erupts and reinforces the lessons they have learned over the course of the trip.  Support comes from Patagonia AG1 Kuat Rac...

We've all been down that odd, potentially hallucinogenic path of calorie miscalculation. A campfire conversation about the moments when we bonked. Got a bonk story? Leave us a message at 206-705-3006 and your story might be included in one of our next episodes. Want to hear more? Subscribe to Dirtbag Diaries+

After years of turning to nature for relief from his inner turmoil, Andrew Shults finally reached his breaking point and faced it head-on. This decision forced him to reckon with identity, spirituality, and relationship to the outdoors. Support comes from Patagonia Athletic Greens Kuat Racks Rumpl Want more episodes? Join Dirtbag Diaries+ today

A young man hungry to learn how to recreate in the mountains, and a veteran guide leading the NOLS course in the Waddington Range of British Columbia. Their recollections of the trip, the challenges they face and the moments they find memorable, do not always line up.  Support comes from Patagonia Athletic Greens Kuat Racks Rumpl   Want more episodes? Join Dirtbag Diaries+ today

How has being an adaptive athlete changed and evolved over the years? Fitz talks with climber Craig DeMartino, a leader not just in the adaptive sports community, but the greater outdoor community. Want to hear more? Subscribe to Dirtbag Diaries+

Kate and Ani Williams have been adventuring together for more than two decades. Last year, they leveled up on a backpacking trip to Argentine Patagonia, where a challenging river crossing marked a shift in their relationship as mother and daughter.  Support comes from Patagonia Athletic Greens Kuat Racks Rumpl  Want more episodes? Join Dirtbag Diaries+ today

When Kari Hedin’s life is turned upside down, she found solace on her habitual lunchtime trail runs in the wooded eskers of Minnesota. Support comes from Patagonia Athletic Greens Kuat Racks Global Rescue

How many things can you balance being really good at in your life? Fitz and Majka Burhardt discuss ice climbing, entrepreneurship, risk, parenting twins and her new book More: Life on the Edge of Motherhood and Adventure. Want to hear more? Subscribe to Dirtbag Diaries+

For 12-year-old Rory Rielly and 77-year-old James Niehues, the ski map is an object of wonder and a portal to adventure. Their love for depicting mountain landscapes enriches their passion for skiing and demonstrates the importance of having someone to show us the way.  Check out more of James’ art and his recently published book, The Man Behind The Maps, with over 200 ski maps.  Support comes fro...

In 2018, backcountry skier Kjell Redal decided he wanted to try his hand at bowhunting for elk. The only trouble is, he had no prior experience or mentors and was living in Miami, FL. Over the course of four years Kjell goes from a newbie, thrashing his way off trail and never seeing an elk, to a once in a lifetime experience. Support comes from Patagonia Athletic Greens Kuat Racks Want more episo...

What if we invested more in the things that brought us joy? The outdoors. Community. Creativity. This is what gets us out of bed in the morning. For years, you’ve been asking for more – more stories and more ways to support our show. Today, we introduce Dirtbag Diaries+. Exclusive episodes. Community collaboration. Ad free. Where we go from here depends on you.  Join Dirtbag Diaries+ today.

When Amanda Hayley set out on her first solo travel adventure in Olympic National Park, she felt ready to take on whatever challenges could come her way. But when she loses her way on an audacious day hike, she needs to rely on the help of some very interesting strangers. Support comes from Patagonia Athletic Greens Kuat Racks Global Rescue

After two decades of drought, the Colorado River, which supplies water for drinking, power, and agriculture to over 40 million people, was named America’s most endangered river. In 2018, river advocates and paddlers Mike and Jenny Fiebig spent five months paddling the Colorado from its source in the Wind River mountains to the Gulf of Mexico to understand the river’s challenges firsthand – while c...

“At the end of the 24 hours, I looked around and pretty much everyone was still there,” says Brody Leven. “And I'm like, ‘What is wrong with these people?’” In 2022, Brody and Ben Eck were two of nearly 100 skiers who entered The Last Skier Standing. The endurance event has a simple premise: skin up 1,100 feet and ski back down within an hour. And then it repeats every hour. How many laps can you...

In 2021, Dirtbag Diaries producer Cordelia Zars launched a theater company. For two years it was a side hustle where she used her strengths as an artist, storyteller and songwriter. Now, she’s taking the leap to directing full time with Empathy Theatre Project.  Plus, friends and contributors share their goals to keep you dreaming and scheming for the year to come. Happy New Year! Support comes fr...

5 years apart, Levin and Tilden Zars are wiry, rugged, and maddeningly strong on mountain bikes. They have scars to prove a childhood of egging each other on, and finesse to prove they've never let each other stay down after a fall. Through the ups and downs, the sends and the falls, they share a remarkable sibling bond.

We're sharing the first episode of our Dope Lake series that we're running on our show Climbing Gold. In 1976, a plane carrying four million dollars in marijuana crashed into a small alpine lake in the Yosemite high country. Broke and living off discarded scraps of tourist meals in the valley below, America’s best climbers smelled opportunity. The events at Dope Lake became climbing’s most potent...

This week, Autumn Ellingford Rhodes and Nikki LaRochelle find their footing in the mountains after challenging moments in their lives. We hear how pushing themselves in the outdoors helped Autumn and Nikki feel empowered as female athletes.

In the Pacific Northwest, Jenny Abegg is a renowned local mountain person. She fell in love with climbing and the lifestyle, traveling around the west and making several trips to Patagonia. Over time, her relationship with climbing changed and she evolved into a trail runner. When Jenny had another opportunity to visit Patagonia, she took the chance to see a familiar place from a new perspective.

Fitz talks with the directors of BURIED, Jared Drake and Steven Siig. In 1982 a massive avalanche descended on Alpine Meadows in Lake Tahoe, CA that triggered a five day search for eight missing people. BURIED chronicles the third deadliest avalanche in US history, the miraculous rescue efforts and the trauma that still haunts the survivors today. If you haven't watched the film yet, we highly rec...