Episode 107 – RIP Backpacking Gear

November 2, 2026 By Leave a Comment

In Episode 107, we are on the Appalachian Trail and in the backcountry of North Georgia at Cowrock Mountain. Our topic this evening comes from a recent Backpacker magazine article on gear that should simply REST IN PEACE. On the podcast, we discuss items including the alcohol stove, the self-inflating pad, the bear bag, and even the bandana if you can believe it! And we still carry some of these items in our packs. Some of this gear is classic and we've been hiking with it since the 70's. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Podcasts, Uncategorized

Episode 106B – Most Dangerous Bears

September 12, 2026 By 1 Comment

In Episode 106B, we talk about the most dangerous bears in the world! The list which we'll put in the comments section below will most certainly surprise you. On the podcast, we discuss 8 bears that make the list including North American bears like the black and brown bear, which surprisingly don't top the list, and other bears like the polar, sun, and sloth bear. But I guarantee you'll never guess what is #1! Once again we record in the backcountry of North Georgia this evening and from … [Read more...]

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

Episode 105 – The Chilkoot Trail (25th Anniversary)

July 17, 2026 By 1 Comment

In Episode 105, Roger (aka The Camel) joins the show to revisit the Chilkoot Trail which we hiked 25 years ago this summer and last discussed in Episode 4. The 33 mile route starts in Dyea, Alaska (near Skagway) and ends at Lake Bennett, British Columbia - but surprisingly no thru-hikers were on the trail last year. When we hiked in 2001, more than 3000 backpackers completed the trail. So in this podcast, we discuss how flood damage, permit breakdowns, and border security have completely altered … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Podcasts

Episode 104B: Backpacker Trivia

May 8, 2024 By

In Episode 104B, we are once again deep in the backcountry on the Benton MacKaye Trail where we sit fireside and under the stars for Backpacker Trivia. In the show, I pose questions from Backpacker Magazine, the U.S. Forest Service, and KSLTV in Salt Lake City on some interesting hiking and backpacking questions about the backcountry. In the podcast, we have a lot of fun answering trivia questions at our campsite and we actually witness a trail runner on a 60 mile midnight run as we record … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Podcasts, Trail Talk

Episode 103: News Review 2023

January 8, 2024 By Leave a Comment

In Episode 103, Cardiac and Drone Boy join me for a studio recording of some intriguing hiking and backpacking events that made the news this past year. Some of the topics we discuss include another hiker that found themselves at the bottom of a pit toilet, a loyal dog that survived 72 days on a high peak of Colorado, and a few events that involved Hollywood actors in the backcountry. Finally we close out with trail stats from the Appalachian Trail this past year and we discuss some … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Backpacking News, Hiking News, Humor, Podcasts

Episode 102: Backcountry Halloween

October 23, 2023 By 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

Episode 101: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly 2

August 12, 2023 By Leave a Comment

In Episode 101, we continue our discussion of The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly - our best and worst experiences on the Trail.  Recorded live on the Chattooga River in northwestern South Carolina, I sit fireside with 3Dub, Mick, Hollywood, and Therm Rider after hiking to Long Creek Falls and settling in for the night. In the show we discuss some great sunsets, 3Dub's fall into a Cobra hole, our favorite campsites, and Hollywood's discovery of a tick - in the worst possible place! This … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Chattooga River Trail, Humor, Podcasts, River Fishing, Rivers, Water Hikes
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