Episode 104B: Backpacker Trivia

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...]

EPISODE 95B: FIRST TIMERS

In Episode 95B, we are deep in the backcountry at a campsite on the Benton MacKaye Trail where we sit around the campfire and discuss some"first time" experiences in the wilderness.  Therm Rider, Beer Run, & Sons all share the first time they found themselves offensive, took a crap in the woods, got a car vandalized, and were scared shitless on the Trail - among other things. This episode gets a bit rowdy at times, and has been made a bonus show as a result.  But if you have a … [Read more...]

Episode 94: Ticks!!!

In Episode 94, Brian Anderson (aka "The Tick Terminator") joins the show to educate us on your biggest danger in the backcountry - TICKS!!!  In the podcast, we discuss the tick lifecycle, when and where they are most likely to find you, how to prevent ticks, and what to do if one embeds in your skin. This discussion hit home for me personally since I was infected by and recovered from Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.  After two days in the hospital, a home healthcare nurse came to my … [Read more...]

Episode 93: Ocean To Lake Trail

In Episode 93, John Phillips joins the show to talk about the Ocean To Lake Trail in Central Florida. This 61.4 mile spur of the Florida Trail starts at Lake Okeechobee and heads due east to Hobe Sound Beach where it ends at the Atlantic Ocean. In the show, John tells us what it’s like hiking all day in ankle deep water, about finding rest areas and campsites in the swamp, and how he frequently encountered wildlife on his hike – including poisonous snakes, stealthy alligators, and over 50 … [Read more...]

Episode 90: Party Foul!

In Episode 90, we are in the mountains near Hays, North Carolina to discuss "party fouls" or bad hiker etiquette on the trail. In the show, we discuss some of the bad behavior that was frequently mentioned in online articles, posts, and videos. We comment if we've been guilty of it, witnessed it, or agree that it IS indeed bad hiking etiquette. We also suggest what you SHOULD do on the trail and close the podcast with some gear fails that can ruin your day. This is a special interview, … [Read more...]

Episode 88: A Look Back (And Forward)

In Episode 88, we break from the typical format to take a look back at 10 years of podcasting.  The N2Backpacking podcast launched a decade ago this Spring, so Therm Rider joins me in the studio to talk about some of the original podcasters, the evolution of backpacking shows these last ten years, and the origins of the N2Backpacking podcast.  We also discuss our favorite episodes and play a few clips from them. A decade goes by pretty fast, so Therm Rider and I close the podcast … [Read more...]

Episode 84: The Shikoku Pilgrimage

In Episode 84, Paul Barach tells us about his 750 mile and 42 day backpacking trip on the Shikoku Pilgrimage in Japan.  In the show, Paul shares the history of this religious Buddhist route, talks about hiking in traditional pilgrim clothing, and shares some of the challenges that he faced - including heat, hunger, injuries, and infections. You can check out Paul's book "Fighting Monks & Burning Mountains" for all the details, or listen to this interesting discussion about a little … [Read more...]