BirdShooter's Backpacking Blog & Podcast Series
In Episode 54, we discuss Backpacker Magazine's list of 35 Awesome (and Awesomely Bad) Outdoor Movies while sitting fireside on the Chattooga River. In the show, I review the hiking and backpacking movies on Backpacker's list with 3Dub, BeerRun, Brownie, The Camel, Napster, The Ox, and Wagonhammer after we sit out a rainstorm on the river. We discuss the movie, the plot, and the major actors of each film. Then after a brief debate, the group gives a thumbs-up or down on the … [Read more...]
In Episode 39, Therm Rider and I do a live winter show from the Yavapai Lodge at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. After a day hiking on the Arizona and Rim Trails, we kick back a cold one and discuss some of the major hiking news events of 2016. In the show, Therm Rider and I recap and debate some of the U.S. news events that were heavily publicized in the outdoor community last year - including epic fails with drones, lost lives from selfies, and wildlife issues and encounters. … [Read more...]
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 challenge of terrain. Popeye and I met at Tray Mountain when he was … [Read more...]
Walk In The Woods pre-screening in Midtown Atlanta last night with Ken "The Weasel" Knight. No VIP passes for us but thankfully we did get seats. And Amy Knight earned them after her work on the Konnarock crew doing Appalachian Trail work for a week this (and last) summer in Virginia. Those are the real heroes of the A.T. - the volunteers that build and manage it. The movie is in theaters Labor Day weekend - based on the book by Bill Bryson. Ken/I are in the first 20 minutes, and the … [Read more...]
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 film the movie. He also give us some personal insight in to Bill Irwin and how he … [Read more...]
My back end made the Walk In The Woods movie trailer - minute 131 - wonder if that's what 20 hours of filming as an extra gets you? A great experience nonetheless - movie is out this Labor Day weekend.... … [Read more...]
Walk In The Woods premiered at the Sundance Film Festival this week to mixed reviews. Here's a sampling... The Guardian "Plenty of silly little incidents ensue along the way, with lots of jokes about advancing years. Most of these episodes are far too low-stakes to carry a movie and the bigger picture, about two men past their prime trying to figure out what to do in their dotage, is handled far too simply to have real impact. The result is something that is just fine. It’s … [Read more...]
There are four times the number of Appalachian Trail thru-hikers hiking and camping in Baxter State Park than there were 20 years ago - when I did my hike. According to Jensen Bissell, Director of Baxter State Park, this is straining resources. "From the perspective of Baxter Park, we are concerned that the use of Baxter Park is nearing or has surpassed an acceptable limit for the facilities and effort available from the Park to accomodate A.T. hikers" A letter to ATC Executive … [Read more...]
The movie Wild premieres today - November 5th - and details a woman's 1000+ mile journey on the Pacific Crest Trail. Here's an interesting quote in the NY Times from Reece Witherspoon, who plays author Cheryl Strayed in the the movie: "I said to my producing partner, ‘If we can pull this off, this’ll be the first movie, I believe, I can’t recall, but that stars a woman that at the very end has no money, no man, no parents, no job, no opportunities, and it’s a happy ending." … [Read more...]
I'm about half way through the book and stumbled on to this trailer for the movie Wild. The movie seems to be following the book pretty closely and looks pretty solid - and intense. It's due to hit theaters December 5th. … [Read more...]
