loader from loading.io

Mary "Badass" Anderson an AT Winter SOBO in the 80s and Hiking the National Scenic Trails as an Older Solo Female

Backpacker Radio

Release Date: 07/15/2024

The Rise and Fall of GoLite and Balancing Federal Budgets with Demetri The Rise and Fall of GoLite and Balancing Federal Budgets with Demetri "Coup" Coupounas

Backpacker Radio

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Demetri Coupounas, aka Coup, the founder of GoLite and MyTrail Company. Coup might just be the most interesting man in the world. This conversation takes us through his incredible journey, from his work balancing the federal budget in the '80s and '90s to becoming the first person to complete unsupported hikes of the Colorado Trail and the Long Trail, and how he stumbled upon the once underground world of ultralight backpacking.  We also dive into the history of GoLite, from its role...

info_outline Making Gear for People with Boobs with Symbiosis Gear Founder Sarah Berkeley show art Making Gear for People with Boobs with Symbiosis Gear Founder Sarah Berkeley

Backpacker Radio

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek and brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Sarah “Mellow” Berkeley, founder of Symbiosis Gear, a pack-making company designed specifically for people with boobs. Sarah shares insights into her unique upbringing in a small log cabin in rural Colorado, her adventures on the Long Trail, PCT, Colorado Trail, and half of the CDT, and her journey to creating a backpack tailored for primarily women. We dive into the inspiration behind her patented S-shaped shoulder strap, the challenges of starting a business with no prior...

info_outline Thru-Hiking with 50-Year-Old Gear with Jared Thru-Hiking with 50-Year-Old Gear with Jared "Snackbox" Champion

Backpacker Radio

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Jared “Snackbox” Champion. Snackbox is s a hiker, father, and Youtuber who, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Colorado Trail, hiked it almost exclusively with 50 year old gear.  We talk about the process of sourcing this gear, the hardest items to acquire, the least backpacker-friendly items of the bunch, which gear hasn’t advanced as much, and how his appreciation for gear has changed in light of this experience. Jared also shares the story of bonding with his...

info_outline Triple Crowning as a Family of 6, Parenting Teenagers on Trail, and Life Lessons with Vince & Georgie Strawbridge show art Triple Crowning as a Family of 6, Parenting Teenagers on Trail, and Life Lessons with Vince & Georgie Strawbridge

Backpacker Radio

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek and brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Vince and Georgie Strawbridge, one-third of the six-person thru-hiking family. We last caught up with the Strawbridges in early 2020, when they were freshly off their hike of the PCT. Since, they’ve conquered both the CDT and the AT, completing the Triple Crown as a full family.  We dive into the high and lowlights of these treks from the perspectives of Vince (dad) and Georgie (the youngest in the family). They share insights on navigating the CDT during COVID,...

info_outline Backpacker Radio LIVE with Kyle Hates Hiking: A New Trail Mystery, Shaving Jabba's Beard, and Kyle's Reddit Haters show art Backpacker Radio LIVE with Kyle Hates Hiking: A New Trail Mystery, Shaving Jabba's Beard, and Kyle's Reddit Haters

Backpacker Radio

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined yet again by Kyle O’Grady of Kyle Hates Hiking for our 2nd live podcast, recorded at the Skylark Lounge in Denver. This episode is action-packed. We kick off the episode by shaving Viking’s beard. The beard shaving is the ultimate entertainment,  we encourage you to check this one out on YouTube.  Kyle then shares an exclusive trail mystery about a local Colorado man who disappeared while pursuing another man who also vanished under mysterious circumstances. We also talk shop about...

info_outline Thru-Hiking, Running an AT Hostel, and Living in a 300 Sq Ft Alaskan Cabin with Patrice & Justin La Vigne show art Thru-Hiking, Running an AT Hostel, and Living in a 300 Sq Ft Alaskan Cabin with Patrice & Justin La Vigne

Backpacker Radio

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, we’re joined by Patrice and Justin La Vigne. Over the past decade-plus, Patrice and Justin have traded their corporate grind for, in their words, “a life less ordinary.” From their first thru-hike of the AT in 2011 (drink), to managing a hostel, embarking on multiple van tours to spread the thru-hiking gospel, thru-hiking the TA in New Zealand, and now living in a 300-square-foot cabin on the outskirts of Denali National Park in Alaska—they’ve done it all.  We dive into how they restructured their lives around...

info_outline Hiking the Calendar Year Triple Crown, Crashing a Motorcycle, and Cycling the Southern Tier Bicycle Route with Carson Hiking the Calendar Year Triple Crown, Crashing a Motorcycle, and Cycling the Southern Tier Bicycle Route with Carson "Anita" Oliver

Backpacker Radio

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, we are joined by Carson Oliver, known on trail as Anita. Carson is an accomplished thru-hiker, cyclist, and adventurer. Following up his 2019 PCT thru-hike, Carson completed the Calendar Year Triple Crown in 2023. We of course learn all about this remarkable trek, his circuitous route to make it happen, highlights and lowlights from each trail, and much more. Carson also shares some personal stories, including the tragic loss of his father, who was murdered, and how this has shaped his perspective on life. We wrap the show with...

info_outline Birds 101 with Alison Kondler: Bird Calls, Birding Tips, Bird Feeders, Myths, and More show art Birds 101 with Alison Kondler: Bird Calls, Birding Tips, Bird Feeders, Myths, and More

Backpacker Radio

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, we’re joined by Alison Kondler, an Audubon Master Birder—or as we like to call it, a certified bird guru. Alison wows us with her eerily accurate bird calls and shares her immense birding knowledge. We chat about the rarest birds you can spot in Colorado, the best apps for bird identification, why the American Ornithological Society (AOS) is renaming North American birds that are named after people, how to squirrel-proof your bird feeder, tips for turning your yard into a borderline bird sanctuary, and she finally settles the...

info_outline Madison Madison "Peg Leg" Blagden on the Eastern Continental Trail and the Pros and Cons of Trail Fame

Backpacker Radio

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Madison Blagden, known on trail as Peg Leg. Peg Leg is a thru-hiking powerhouse and a Trek blogging all-star. Over the past 1.5 years, Madison has logged 8,600 miles while cranking out nearly 300 blogs, documenting almost every single day of her journeys on the Eastern Continental Trail and the CDT. Peg Leg dives deep into her epic ECT adventure, including how she became just the second woman to complete the entire trail. We get into the nitty-gritty of the International AT, dealing with creepy fellas in Florida,...

info_outline Andrew Skurka 5.0: Smartphone Satellite Messaging, Assessing Skill Level for Guided Trips, and Being Childfree show art Andrew Skurka 5.0: Smartphone Satellite Messaging, Assessing Skill Level for Guided Trips, and Being Childfree

Backpacker Radio

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek we are joined once again by our pal and backpacking legend, Andrew Skurka. We cover a host of new subjects including the future of dedicated satellite communicators with smartphones introducing satellite texting capabilities, what he foresees for the fate of rain gear in light of the move away from PFAS, how the first season of guiding trips went in Yellowstone, his favorite backpacking destinations in each of the lower 48s four time zones, and he gives Chaunce a live, in-person questionnaire to match her with the appropriate...

info_outline
 
More Episodes

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Helinox, we are joined by Mary "Badass" Anderson. Never has a trail name been more fitting, Mary is the most badass hiker you've likely never heard of. With nearly 19,000 miles under her feet spanning six decades, with her first thru-hike taking place in 1981, Mary has not slowed down with her adventurous ways, as she swung by the studio on her to the Pacific Northwest Trail. Some of the highlights from today's interview include a wild winter SOBO thru-hike of the AT in 1985, just a handful of months after a major back surgery where her doctor told her to give up hiking. She followed her AT SOBO winter hike by immediately hopping over to the PCT, where she battled even more snow, and killed and ate a rattlesnake. Other feats include hiking all of the 4,000 footers in New England with her young son in the 90s, completing the CDT after hitting a new low in 2020, and now she's on a quest to finish all of the National Scenic Trails, with only a couple remaining. In short, Mary's story is one of a kind, you will enjoy today's chat.

We wrap the show with a last call for applications for The Trek's new full-time role, a pair of beloved trail angels close their doors after 17 years serving PCT hikers, what music we would listen to on the way to rescue our significant others from a hostage situation, the triple crown of onomatopoeias, and Chaunce is very afraid of grizzlies.

Helinox: Use code “BACKPACKER20” for 20% off at helinox.com.

Gossamer Gear: Use code “SNUGGLEBUG” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com. 

LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek.

Sambob: Use code “BACKPACKER15” for 15% off at sambob.biz.

[divider]

Interview with Mary “Badass” Anderson

Time stamps & Questions

00:04:40 - Reminders: Apply for the Trek’s full-time role! Support us on Patreon for exclusive content and send us your recommendations for a hiker meetup this fall in NYC.

00:10:34 - Introducing Mary

00:11:40 - How’d you get your trail name?

00:13:14 - How did you initially get started long distance backpacking?

00:15:22 - How did you prepare for backpacking in the 80s?

00:21:05 - What does your baseweight look like today?

00:23:47 - What was the AT like in the 80s?

00:26:56 - Did the AT feel easy compared to the Long Trail?

00:29:02 - What resources did you have for navigation?

00:32:38 - What were your resupplies like?

00:34:00 - Tell us about your back injury and being told never to hike again

00:38:10 - Where does your toughness come from?

00:39:00 - How much of a physical struggle was the AT southbound in winter?

00:40:46 - Where did you experience the worst weather?

00:41:50 - Did you think it might have been a bad idea?

00:45:30 - What did your winter pack and gear look like?

00:49:39 - How did you keep on the trail?

00:50:45 - What about backpacking do you enjoy?

00:52:20 - Did people know what you were doing?

00:54:08 - How did you afford hiking then and now?

00:56:12 - What trail recipes do you make?

00:57:18 - What did it feel like to get to Springer and then start the PCT?

01:02:09 - What was your experience on the PCT like?

01:04:23 - Tell us about your rattlesnake encounter

01:07:00 - Discussion about fear and wildlife encounters

01:10:30 - Did you encounter other thru-hikers on the PCT in 1986?

01:11:10 - How did you enjoy the PCT relative to the AT?

01:14:00 - What was the scariest moment of your backpacking career?

01:17:05 - Tell us about the hiking you did with your son

01:19:55 - Do you have advice for getting your kids outside?

01:21:15 - What was it like hiking the Long Trail with your 8 year old?

01:22:30 - How have you noticed the concept of gender changing in the backcountry?

01:24:08 - Tell us about a bear paying for your cross country road trip

01:26:36 - How did you get back into long distance thru-hiking?

01:29:22 - When did you switch from map and compass to apps?

01:31:32 - Do you long for hikes from decades ago?

01:35:55 - How was the southern half of the CDT in 2020?

01:37:42 - How was your mental state?

01:42:10 - Tell us about staying with people on the Ice Age Trail

01:44:28 - Tell us about the northern half of the CDT

01:49:55 - Tell us about your Vermont bike trip

01:54:16 - Discussion about the role of the internet

01:55:40 - Discussion about the Catamount Cross Country Ski Trail

01:58:50 - How was the Connecticut River Source to Sea Paddle?

02:06:05 - Tell us about the New England Trail

02:10:08 - Discussion about the Natchez Trace Trail

02:12:00 - Discussion about the Potomoc Heritage Trail

02:17:40 - Anything else to share about the Arizona Trail?

02:24:00 - What’s next?

Segments

Trek Propaganda: 

QOTD: Your wife has been kidnapped and is being held in a location 30 minutes away. You’re driving to rescue her. It’s a warm night and your windows are down. Do you listen to music on the drive there, yes or no?

Triple Crown of onomatopoeias

Power Ranking: Animals You Want to Encounter on Trail

Mail Bag

5 Star Review

[divider]

Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/.

Leave us a voicemail!

Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)!  Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play.

Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.

Advertise on Backpacker Radio

Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram.

Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube.

Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. 

Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years.

A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Austin Ford, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Dayne, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg McDaniel, Hailey Buckingham, Liz Seger, Patrick Cianciolo, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger’ Fawns

A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: 12 Trees Farms, Bonnie Ackerman, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Joann Menzer, Katharine Rudzitis, Keith Dobie Jr, Merle Watkins, Peter, and Ruth S.