Podcast · Sport

Backpacker Radio

by The Trek · English · Sport

From the Appalachian Trail to the Pacific Crest and everything in between. Backpacker Radio is a show all about the wonderful world that is thru-hiking and long distance backpacking. Co-hosts, Zach "Badger" Davis and Juliana "Chaunce" Chauncey muse on the backpacking life and the latest from th

New episodes: Several times a week
Typical length: 1 hr 53 min
Latest: 15 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

15 Oct 2026 · 48 minNew

Influencer Fined for Petting a Marmot, Grey Beard's AT Success, Evading the Feds on Trail, and Minor Discomforts that are Major Problems

LMNT : Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek . Gossamer Gear : Use code "BPR10" for 10% off shelters at gossamergear.com . Darn Tough : Use code "BACKPACKER" for free shipping from darntough.com . Hyperlite Mountain Gear : Use code "BPRADIO15" for 15% off at hyperlitemountaingear.com . Segments Trail Goss Episode 4: Influencer Fined for Petting Mount Rainier Marmot Trek Propaganda: Dale "Grey Beard" Sanders, 91, Becomes Oldest Person to Thru-Hike the Appalachian Trail by Katie Jackson QOTD: How long do you think you could evade the feds on trail after committing a white…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

12 Oct 2026 · 2 hr 46 min
Sleeping in an Outhouse on Christmas, 5.5-Pound AT Baseweight, and the Arkansas Triple Crown with Austen McDaniel (BPR #378)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by our longtime pal Austin McDaniel, aka P.I., a Triple Crowner, Ultralight masochist, and full-time tennis instructor. In this one, we dive into Austin hiking the Ouachita Trail in ten days while recovering from COVID, navigating the Ozark Highlands Trail through freezing January temps, and surviving record-breaking 18-degree winter freezes on the Florida Trail. We also cover his pitch for the "Arkansas Triple Crown" consisting of the Eagle Rock Loop, Buffalo River Trail, and…
8 Oct 2026 · 40 min
Thru-Hiker Death at Katahdin, Hobbies You Continue to be Bad At, Trail Magic Cravings, and the Triple Crown of "Back In My Day's"
Segments Trail News: Hiker Found Dead on Katahdin Was Reportedly an AT Thru-Hiker by Katie Jackson Trek Propaganda: Ultralight Is Taking Over Thru-Hiking … Or Is It? by Kelly QOTD: What's one hobby you wish you were good at and have actively tried but you continue to be bad? Question Thing of the Week Triple Crown of 'Back in my day's' - things that existed in your youth that no longer do 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)!…
5 Oct 2026 · 2 hr 48 min
Thru-Hiking the AT on a $2,000 Budget with Livvy "Stumbles" Weld (BPR #377)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Livvy "Stumbles" Weld, a Triple Crown thru-hiker, Trek Writer, and budding ultrarunner. In this one, Livvy breaks down how a tub of frosting earned her the trail name "Sugar Mitts," how her own thru-hikes accidentally talked her dad into becoming a thru-hiker himself, and how a kitten she found under a car turned into her cat back home. Livvy goes deep on how she was able to thru-hike the AT on less than $2,000 (nearly 75% less than the average AT thru-hike), her take as a former AMC hut…
1 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 9 min
Fake Hiker News AI Slop, The Most Important Gear Maintenance Tasks, and The Worst People on a Road Trip
OnX Backcountry: Use code "TREK70" for 70% off at onxmaps.com . Topo Athletic: Use code "Trek15Hike" for 15% off at topoathletic.com . Segments Trail Goss Episode 1 Trek Propaganda: From a Homemade Tent to Custom Shorts, She Made All Her Own Gear for the CDT QOTD: What gear maintenance task do you take the most seriously / do the most consistently? Triple Crown of people you absolutely do not want in the van for a road trip Listener Voicemail 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…
28 Sep 2026 · 2 hr 39 min
The Loowit Trail: 30 Miles Around Mount St. Helens with Zach, Katie, and Jabba (BPR #376)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by onX Backcountry and Topo Athletic, myself along with, Katie, and Jabba break down our recent hike of the Loowit Trail, a 31-mile loop circumnavigating Washington's active Mount St. Helens volcano. In this one, we dive into the chaotic road-trip logistics that involved our rental van nearly melting down on on the way to the trailhead, navigating technical rope-assisted gullies and sharp lava boulder fields, trekking through the tree-barren northern blast zone, and a golden-hour summit at Windy Pass, and the…
24 Sep 2026 · 43 min
The Wildest Trek Blog Ever Written, The Worst Smells, and The Most Annoyed Professions
OnX Backcountry : Use code "TREK70" for 70% off at onxmaps.com LMNT : Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek . Segments Trail Goss Episode 3 Trek Propaganda: I Hiked 27.5 Miles Every Day for a Year: Here's Everything I Did To Thru-Hike Faster by Peg Leg Day 154 – This is Where I Leave You by Brock "Dubs" Miller Apply to be a Trek social media intern QOTD: What is the worst thing you've ever smelled? Triple Crown of the most annoyed professions 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…
21 Sep 2026 · 2 hr 19 min
PCT Meltdowns, Side Quests, & Animal Encounters, and Traveling to 56 Countries with Michael "Broadway" Grant (BPR #375)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by onX Backcountry and LMNT, we are joined by Michael "Broadway" Grant, a world traveler who has visited 56 countries, cycled across America, and is currently daily-vlogging his way through the PCT. In this one, Broadway dives into getting bitten in the face by a six-pound chihuahua while hitching a ride to PCT Trail Days, his terrifying pitch-black 11:00 PM alpine start up Mount Whitney's snow chutes, and his infamous "Day 50" meltdown in the Sierra, where he melted a carbon trekking pole, burned holes through his…
17 Sep 2026 · 55 min
Nick Fowler's PCT FKT, The 2040 Zeitgeist, Katie Devours a Big Mac, and the Triple Crown of Emojis
OnX Backcountry: Use code "TREK70" for 70% off at onxmaps.com Hyperlite Mountain Gear: Use code "BPRADIO15" for 15% of hyperlitemountaingear.com Segments Trail Goss: Nick Fowler's PCT FKT Trek Propaganda: Fastest PCT Hike in History: Nick Fowler's 45-Day Thru-Hike Sets New Overall FKT by Katie Jackson QOTD: Predict one aspect of the Zeitgeist in 2040 Fantasy Football Thing of the Week Triple Crown of emojis 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…
14 Sep 2026 · 2 hr 19 min
The Ultralight Subreddit, Pack Fabric Pros and Cons, and Not Triple Crowning (Yet) with Whitney "Allgood" La Ruffa (BPR #374)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by OnX Backcountry and Topo Athletic, we are joined yet again by our pal Whitney LaRuffa, known on trail as AllGood. AllGood has hiked thousands of miles with his K-9 companions over the years, including his first thru-hike of the AT way back in 1996. AllGood is one of the most entrenched figures in the world of hiker trash, with several thru-hikes under his belt, serving as former president of ALDHA-West, and having worked for several prominent brands in the industry, he eats, breathes, sleeps, and poos all things…
10 Sep 2026 · 46 min
OR Echo Hoodie Review, Women-Owned Ultralight Brands, Reasons Not to Go Backpacking, and Go-To Wedding Dance Moves
Hyperlite Mountain Gear: Use code "BPRADIO15" for 15% of hyperlitemountaingear.com OnX Backcountry: Use code "TREK70" for 70% off at onxmaps.com Segments OR Echo Hoodie Review Trek Propaganda 10 Women-Owned Ultralight Gear Brands We Love by Katie Jackson This Fitness App Lets You Bet Cash on Your Own Steps. Are We All About To Be Rich? by Kelly Floro Katie's Engagement Story QOTD: What's your go to wedding dance move? Dilemma Thing of the Week Triple Crown of conditions you'd opt out of backpacking due to Listener Voicemail ( and leave us your own! ) 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our…
7 Sep 2026 · 2 hr 37 min
Embracing Her Feral Side, Forester Pass at Midnight, and The Best Cinnamon Rolls on the PCT with Bee Corrado (BPR #373)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by onX Backcountry and LMNT, we are joined by Bee Corrado, a backpacker, public school Spanish teacher, and outdoor content creator currently pushing her way through the Pacific Crest Trail. In this one, we dive into how Bee almost adopted the trail name "crack sniffer", a bloody Sierra water crossing that almost earned her another trail name "sporin", and her midnight hike over Forester Pass in total darkness and snow. Bee also shares why every thru-hiker should ditch their tramily for a period of time, her…
3 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 34 min
Triple Crown Stats, Jabba's Burning Penis, and A Professional Gear Tester's Pack List
Hyperlite Mountain Gear: Use code BPRADIO15 for 15% off at hyperlitemountaingear.com . OnX Backcountry: Use code "TREK70" for 70% off at onxmaps.com . Get a free 3-month trial of Elite here (no credit card required). Segments 0:00 – Intro & Triple Crown survey discussion begins 26:02 – Tribute to Will Standish (CDT hiker who passed away) 36:08 – Bonus segment / gear talk begins 42:26 – Pacific Northwest trip best/worst stories 1:00:42 – Triple Crown of Foods You Can't Stop Eating 1:28:59 – Mailbag segment 1:31:29 – Five-star review shoutout Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his…
31 Aug 2026 · 2 hr 47 min
From Cashier to the Face of REI, Inventing the M!GO Bottle, and the Geotagging Debate with Miranda Webster (BPR #372)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by onX Backcountry and Topo Athletic, we are joined by Miranda Webster, the creator behind Miranda Goes Outside- a former 12-year REI employee turned full-time outdoor content creator. In this one, Miranda breaks down her journey from an outdoorsy novice working as an REI cashier to amassing over 200,000 YouTube subscribers, the detailed process of designing her popular Migo water bottle to fix the smart water bottle's flaws, and why she firmly believes creators should never gatekeep public land locations. We also…
27 Aug 2026 · 42 min
Fun Nutritional Facts, Picking One Continent's Cuisine, Batty Thing of the Week, and the Best Summer Drinks
Segments Fun Nutritional Facts Trek Propaganda: Missing CDT Thru-Hiker Found Dead in Tetons by Kelly Floro Ch. 64 – Vermilion Valley & Vitamin I by Starlight QOTD: If you could only eat one continent's cuisine for the rest of time, what would it be? Batty Thing of the Week Triple Crown of summer drinks One-Minute Gear 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 voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify , Stitcher , and Google Play . Support…
24 Aug 2026 · 2 hr 20 min
The Yosemite High Route: Type 2 Fun, Running out of Fuel, and Mystery Swelling with Elise "SOS" Ott (BPR #371)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by our longtime pal Elise Ott, aka Sauce, who recently completed the 94-mile Yosemite High Route. She breaks down the realities of off-trail High Sierra travel, from navigating 7,000-foot vertical climb days to the difficulty (or lack thereof) of route-finding without a GPX line. In this one, Elise gives us a full breakdown on Skurka's new(ish) route through Yosemite- including everything you need to know regarding navigation, camping, water, difficulty, highlight views, and more. Elise also…
20 Aug 2026 · 28 min
Minus33 Sun Hoodie Review, How to Deal with Wildfire Smoke, Songs You'd Play on Repeat for an Enemy, and Cliche Instagram Captions
Segments Minus33 Sun Hoodie Review Trek Propaganda: How To Deal With Wildfire Smoke on a Thru-Hike by Katie Jackson QOTD: What one song would you play on repeat for your enemy as a form of psychological warfare? Lowdown Thing of the Week Triple Crown of cliche Instagram captions 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…
17 Aug 2026 · 2 hr 34 min
Quitting and Returning to Thru-Hikes, Glissading Mishaps, and Swamp Walking with Taylor "Hamilton" Santa (BPR #370)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Taylor Santa, aka Hamilton, a thru-hiker who completed the Appalachian Trail in 2017 before returning to complete both the Florida Trail and Continental Divide Trail in 2024. In this one, we dive into Hamilton taking shots of pop and energy drinks every two hours on the night shift before quitting her job to hike the AT, surviving 30 miles of chest-deep swamp walking on the Florida Trail, getting bitten in the face by a fake service dog at a Chama bar, her sudden, blister-inducing…
13 Aug 2026 · 46 min
Trail News: Shrinking National Monuments, Easy Colorado Trailhead Access, Egypt vs. Aliens, and the Best Disney/Pixar Movies
Segments Trail News: Shrinking National Monuments Trek Propaganda: How to Get From Denver to Waterton Canyon in Under $30 and 4 Hours by Jackson Mauser 8 Trail Foods I Never Got Tired of, Even After 22,000 Miles by Peg Leg QOTD: If you knew you were safe, would you rather spend 1 day in ancient Egypt, or 1 day with aliens? Triple Crown of Disney/Pixar movies 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 ,…
10 Aug 2026 · 2 hr 28 min
Gear Leaching PFAS, Silence Disappearing from Wilderness, and Building a Quinzhee with Steven from MyLifeOutdoors (#369)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Steven of My Life Outdoors, a gear-obsessed backpacker who grew his YouTube channel to over 1.2 million subscribers through high-production gear breakdowns and hands-on science experiments. In this one, we dive into Steven's emotional year supporting his wife through three separate cancer diagnoses, her rare complete response to immunotherapy, and the story of how Luke Nichols from Outdoor Boys randomly gifted him a fully-edited video to keep his channel afloat during the crisis. Steven…
6 Aug 2026 · 45 min
FarPointe Sun Cruiser Review, Favorite Thru-Hiking Memories, Losing Your Spoon vs. Your Shelter, and Movies Everyone Loves that You Hate
Segments Sun Hoodie Review: FarPointe Sun Cruiser Trek Propaganda: Turkenna Saw a Black Bear by The Norris Trio Before You Read Another Thru-Hiking Horror Story, Read This by Kelly Floro QOTD: Would you rather, on day 1 of your thru-hike, lose your shelter and have to always cowboy camp on the AT, or lose your spoon and have to eat all meals with only your hands? Triple Crown of movies everyone loves but you hate 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…
3 Aug 2026 · 2 hr 4 min
From Near-Death Sepsis to Triple Crowning while Carrying Larry the Log with Shawn Mahoney (BPR #368)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Shawn Mahoney, aka the guy who carries a 20+ pound log named Larry over his shoulders, and with Larry he's hiked the Triple Crowner, Te Araroa, and just about all of the Northeast peaks. In this one, Shawn explains why the heck he carries a massive log everywhere he goes, describes losing Larry down a steep slope on the PCT and spending two hours bushwhacking to retrieve him, recounts nearly dying from a septic heart infection and medically induced coma- and the impact that's had…
30 Jul 2026 · 23 min
Outdoor Research Sun Hoodie Review, the Triple Crown of Shitty Beers, and Pausing vs. Rewinding Your Life
Segments Sun Hoodie Review: Outdoor Research AstroMan Trek Propaganda: Hike naked day (Day 61) by Gerjan "Hungry" Hertgers 20 Strange Things Thru-hiking Can Do to Your Body That Nobody Talks About by Livvy Weld The Triple Crowner Survey: Ranking the Best and Worst Triple Crown Trails by Katie Jackson QOTD: Would you rather have access to a life rewind button, or a life pause button? Triple Crown of shitty beers 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…
27 Jul 2026 · 2 hr 57 min
Why the PCT is Boring, Hitting SOS on the CDT, and Summitting Denali with Tina "Cash Money" Currin (BPR #367)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Tina Currin, aka Cash Money, a Triple Crown thru-hiker, Andrew Skurka guide, park ranger, wilderness EMT, and Guinness World Record holder. In this one, Tina explains how she set the world record for most air horns blown simultaneously outside the North Carolina governor's mansion, details how she bought her Colorado house sight-unseen off Zillow during a zero day on the CDT while soaking her feet in a trash can, and she recounts getting separated from her husband in a snowstorm on the CDT,…
23 Jul 2026 · 44 min
Jolly Gear Sun Hoodie Review, Sounds that Trigger Happiness, and Water Filter Science
Segments Sun Hoodie Review: Jolly Gear Trek Propaganda: 2026 AT Thru-Hikers Share Their Favorite Gear So Far by Katie Jackson QOTD: When was the last time you were in a tornado warning? Switchback Recap Triple Crown of sounds that trigger happiness 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…
20 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 53 min
Losing 150 Lbs, An All-Time Poop Story, and Theater Hacks for Content Creators with Andrew Livingston aka Coach from Marion Outdoors (BPR #366)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Andrew Livingston, aka Coach from Marion Outdoors and host of the Chafed Outdoors podcast. In this one, Coach tells the story of losing 150 pounds his sophomore year of college largely thanks to hiking, details his background in theater, ballet, and tap dancing- and how that's helped him grow a massive following on Instagram and TikTok, the biggest challenges of running an outfitter, he gives us an all-timer poop story that ended with him naked in the woods covered in shit and…
13 Jul 2026 · 3 hr 6 min
Chaunce's Live Podcast Sendoff in Denver (BPR #365)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we're live at the Skylark Lounge in Denver- and we are giving Chaunce a proper send off. For this one, we're joined by Fireball, Elise, Sassafras, Jolly, and of course Jabba. This one is a grab bag of odd games, including the Newlywed Game, a Triple Crown of behind the scenes crisis-management stories, we play Two Lies and a Truth, and Jolly hosts a highly contentious "Judge Jolly" debate between Chaunce and Jabba. This one features some surprise cameos, tequila shots, and signature Chaunce moments. LMNT:…
9 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 42 min
Epic Dreams, Chaunce's Last In-Studio Segments, Ways You'd Behave Differently without Ramifications, and Lots of Processing
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, People know about this (may receive threats, but you are protected or B) anytime you use an air fryer or microwave, all others on earth become unusable until you finish using it (may receive…
6 Jul 2026 · 3 hr 59 min
Getting Charged by a Moose, a Month of CDT Solitude, and Going Pro as a Hiking Photographer with Caleb "Meatball" Adcock (BPR #364)
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 authentic trail photography looks so different from what brands used to put out, getting Lyme disease on the AT and spending four days at the Yellow Deli, sleeping on a pool floaty for four days,…
2 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 35 min
Nasty Celebrity Encounters, Triple Crown of Things You Can Live Without But Should Be Free, and Do You Face the Showerhead?
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 [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…

About Backpacker Radio

Backpacker Radio is a English sport podcast from The Trek. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: The Trek
Language: English
Category: Sport
New episodes: Several times a week
Typical length: 1 hr 53 min
Latest episode: 15 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1339028551
Rights: The Trek

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