BirdShooter's Backpacking Blog & Podcast Series
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...]
In Episode 73, we discuss the most appropriate hiking & backpacking songs for the trail. The assignment was to come to the studio with 3 songs that relate to hiking/backpacking - in either the lyrics or song title. In the show, we listen and debate each song and give honorable mention to some others that didn't make our list. This is a very subjective topic with many options and opinions and it is likely to stir up some controversy. We rarely reach agreement since there … [Read more...]
In Episode 72, Victoria Livschitz tells us about "Right On Trek", a website to help hikers and backpackers plan their multi-day backpacking trips. Victoria did her first thru-hike on the John Muir Trail only a few years ago but has since embraced the sport and logged recent ventures into Patagonia and the Grand Canyon. She joins the show this evening to tell us about her introduction to backpacking, how it changed her life, and why the serial entrepreneur was motivated to create other tools … [Read more...]
In Episode 71, Ken Strange joins the show to discuss his recent book It's Your Camino which documents his ~500 mile hike with wife Aurora through the countries of France and Spain. In the podcast, Ken gives us some history of the Camino, talks about working with Martin Sheen (who starred in the movie The Way), gives us some tips on how to publish a book, and tells us about his chance TV interview on the Camino about the disappearance of childhood and family-friend Anne … [Read more...]
In Episode 70, we talk about some great hiking and backpacking gift ideas for the Holidays. Cardiac and Drone Boy are back on the show to talk about outdoor gear for beginners, weekend warriors, long-distance hikers, and kids - and just in time for the Holiday shopping season. We also offer up some backpacking gifts for $50 or less, and review some not so wonderful gift ideas from Christmas past. You can see the live video recording of this podcast on Drone Boy's YouTube channel, … [Read more...]
In Episode 69, Cardiac and Drone Boy are back after a nearly two year hiatus to discuss a "Dozen Ways To Die In the Backcountry" - an article that first appeared in Backpacker Magazine in 2008 and was recently published online. The topic tonight is timely since we record Halloween eve and take a "stab" at the Top 12 reasons hikers and backpackers get killed in the wilderness. We also discuss what was left off the list (and merits inclusion) plus offer up some lessons to assure you are … [Read more...]
In Episode 68, "IronWill" Callahan joins the show to tell us what it's like being a teenage thru-hiker on the Appalachian Trail. In February of this year, Will left Springer Mountain at the age of 17 and hiked northbound to Woods Hole in Virginia where he discovered he had a fractured tibia. After taking a break to heal, he returned to the trail to finish his hike - completing the Vermont to Virginia section southbound. In the podcast, Will talks about what it's like being one of … [Read more...]
In Episode 67, Kaylee (aka "Smiles") is back on the show to tell us about her summer hike across Jotunheimen National Park. The park is recognized as one of Norway's premier hiking and fishing regions and it has 250 peaks that rise above 6,000 feet - including Northern Europe's two highest peaks, Galdhøpiggen and Glittertind. In the interview, Kaylee tells us about her solo journey through the park, hiking the famed Bessengen Ridge, walking hut-to-hut, and how this route compares to … [Read more...]
In Episode 66, the Motor City Ramblers tell us about their 1994 thru-hike on the Appalachian Trail. This is the third 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. In this episode, we flashback 25 years to Damascus to sit by the river and talk about the Motor City Rambler's Appalachian Trail thru-hike. The interview was done in a field, with a small handheld mic and cassette tape recorder. So … [Read more...]
In Episode 65, Johnny Malloy tells us about his passion for hiking and backpacking and how it led to a 30+ year career as a guidebook author. Johnny graduated from the University of Tennessee in the 80's with an economics degree but decided to never work a 9-5 job. He is now an accomplished outdoor writer and columnist with over 70 camping, fishing, hiking, and padding guidebooks to his credit - covering 26 States in the U.S. with many in the heart of Dixie. We recently met at Trail Days … [Read more...]
