Appalachian Trail Conservancy

Episode 102: Backcountry Halloween

October 23, 2023 By BirdShooter Leave a Comment

In Episode 102, we have our FIRST Halloween special and discuss some of the spooky and crazy ass things that have happened in the backcountry over the last two decades. Cardiac and Drone Boy join me in the studio for this podcast and talk through some disturbing and well publicized events - some don't have a happy ending. We even share some scary personal encounters and expect that you have your own. So reach out to us and let us know about your spooky experiences on the trail. In … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Humor, Long Distance Backpacking, Long Distance Hiking, Pacific Crest Trail, Podcasts

Maine – September 2022

September 23, 2023 By BirdShooter Leave a Comment

In September 2022, we did a backpacking trip to Maine to celebrate Beer Run's 50th birthday. Spent a couple nights in the legendary 100 Mile Wilderness and had a chance to visit Casco Bay and Portland's Fort Williams on the way back to Boston. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Appalachian Trail, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Backpacking Trails, Backpacking Videos, Drone Video, Hiking Videos, Videos

Bear Mountain Bridge

April 29, 2023 By BirdShooter Leave a Comment

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Filed Under: Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Bears, Fauna, Uncategorized

Episode 91B: Boyz In The Wood

December 6, 2021 By BirdShooter Leave a Comment

In Episode 91B, Matt from the "Boyz In The Wood" tells us about his 1994 northbound thru-hike on the Appalachian Trail in a limited N2Backpacking bonus edition. This is the fifth release in a special series to celebrate the 25th anniversary of our hike, and it was recorded at Trail Days on May 13, 1995 in Damascus, Virginia. Matt hiked with partner Derek as the "Boyz In Wood" in '94, and in this bonus episode we flashback to the mid-90's to speak with Matt about the trip. The interview was … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Appalachian Trail, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Backpacking, Long Distance Backpacking, Podcasts, Trail Days

Episode 89: Stuffsack

August 30, 2021 By BirdShooter Leave a Comment

In Episode 89, we flashback to 1995 for an interview with StuffSack about his thru-hike on the Appalachian Trail the previous year. StuffSack and I stayed in contact after our summer together and were able to connect for this interview when he visited Charlotte, N.C. about four months after we completed our thru-hike. In the interview, StuffSack talks about his first week on the Appalachian Trail, good and bad days, hitchhiking, and his most favorite State on the Trail. This interview is 1 … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Appalachian Trail, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Backpacking, Long Distance Backpacking, Long Distance Hiking, Podcasts

Top 10 Best Reasons To Thru-Hike The Appalachian Trail

August 12, 2021 By BirdShooter Leave a Comment

After our 1994 Appalachian Trail thru-hike, Troubadour wrote a few newsletters titled "Beyond Katahdin" so we could all keep in touch. This was a top ten list written by Jester who hiked with us. Still makes me laugh... … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Appalachian Trail, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Long Distance Backpacking, Thru-Hiker

Yonah Mountain

November 7, 2020 By BirdShooter Leave a Comment

180+ degrees views from the rock ledges of Yonah Mountain in North Georgia. The ridgeline in the distance is the Appalachian Trail near Rocky Mountain. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Backpacking Trails, Chattahoochee National Forest, Hiking, Summit Views, Videos

The Appalachian Trail @ 25 Years

July 24, 2020 By BirdShooter Leave a Comment

It's been 25 years since I set out to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. Time has moved exponentially since then, and I now appreciate that there are a few pivotal years in your life. 1994 was the year for me. In the winter of 1994 I lived in Chicago. I moved to Illinois from North Carolina and as a 20 something enjoyed the conveniences of this large city - walking to restaurants, bars, friend's houses, and taking the short train rides to Cubs and Bears games. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Appalachian Trail, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Backcountry Writing, Backpacking, Backpacking Articles, Backpacking Trails, Backpacking Videos, Long Distance Backpacking, Long Distance Hiking, Photo Journals, Photos

Tough Times & Sassafras Mountain

April 19, 2020 By BirdShooter Leave a Comment

There was a period nearly 20 years ago when times were tough. Airlines stopped flying, people stopped working, and the media spouted doom and gloom on cable TV for 24 hours a day. It was 9/11/01 and my first impulse was to get to the wilderness. So when the weekend came - that is exactly what we did. Here we are at the Chattooga River trailhead in 2001. Tough times are here again – albeit in a very different scenario. Stay at home orders are in place, schools are … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Appalachian Trail, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Backcountry Writing, Backpacking Articles, Backpacking With Kids, Backpacking With Your Dog, Camping With Kids, Camping With Your Dog, Hiking Articles, Hiking With Kids, National Forest, Photo Journals, Photos, Thru-Hiker, Trip Reports, With Dogs, With Kids

Episode 74: The Pandemic Podcast

March 31, 2020 By BirdShooter Leave a Comment

In Episode 74, we record at a historic time. Coronavirus has caused a worldwide pandemic. The governor of Georgia just cancelled school for the year and ordered a "shelter in place" mandate across the State. So tonight we skip the studio interview, record with a combo of Skype, Join Me, and Zoom, and embrace the social distancing guidelines of the CDC. In the show, we discuss our time on the Trail this month, talk about how hiking has changed over the last two weeks, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Appalachian Trail, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Backpacking News, Hiking, Hiking News, Humor, Long Distance Backpacking, Podcasts, Thru-Hiker, Trail Talk