Elina Osborne on “It Is The People”, Her PCT Documentary, Videography, and Storytelling
Release Date: 09/09/2024
10+ International Hikes and a Continuous Yo-Yo of the AT and Long Trail with Curtis Himstedt (BPR #296)
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Curtis Himstedt, known on trail as Easily Forgotten. Easily Forgotten’s backpacking resume is bananas. A partial list of his adventures includes the Annapurna Circuit, Pembrokeshire Coastal Path in Wales, the GR10, Tour du Mont Blanc, Yorkshire Dales High Way, South Downs Way, and Cotswold Way in England, the Triple Crown in the U.S., the Tahoe Rim Trail, and a continuous yo-yo of the Appalachian Trail and Long Trail between 2023-2024. Curtis takes us through these treks,...
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8 Tips for 2025 Appalachian Trail Hikers (BPR #295)
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek and brought to you by LMNT, Chaunce and Badger are serving up tips for this year’s class of Appalachian Trail thru-hikers. We’re covering everything from social dynamics and budgeting to mental prep, diet, why you should document your hike, some listener submission tips, and much more. We also give a rundown of advice from previous episodes in case you want to dig even deeper into getting ready for the Appalachian Trail. Whether you’re hitting the AT this year, planning for a future trek, or know someone who is, this episode...
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Dog Mushing, 20+ Years in the Navy, and the Triple Crown with Ben "Ginger Ballz" Vaughan (BPR #294)
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek and brought to you by Topo Athletic, we’re joined by Ben Vaugh, known on trail as Ginger Ballz. Ben is a Navy veteran, accomplished thru-hiker, and currently works as a dog musher, a topic Chaunce and Badger had way too much fun diving into. Ginger Ballz takes us through his transition from the military to thru-hiking, why he recommends it to fellow service members, and the parallels between the two. He shares stories from his hikes of the Triple Crown trails, the Hayduke, Superior Hiking Trail, and Long Trail. We also get a...
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Managing Relationships while Thru-Hiking with Michele Weiner-Davis, aka Zach's Mom
Backpacker Radio
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by acclaimed author, marriage therapist, and speaker, Michele Weiner-Davis, known in my household simply as "mom". Being our Valentine's Day episode, this one is meant to equip you with the knowledge necessary to make your relationship flourish. We cover a range of questions, both general tips on how to improve your relationships, but also thru-hiking specific scenarios, including how to navigate when one partner is on the trail and the other is back home, encountering challenges when...
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Viking Q&A: First Aid Kits, Electronics, Socks, and a Beard Update
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are A’in your Q’s, with our pal and yours, the lightly bearded Jabba aka The Real Hiking Viking. In today’s question and answer we dive into a host of nitty gritty backpacking details, including what exactly is in our first aid kit, electronics bag (down to the cords), and our stuff sac systems, including some specific product recommendations. We also chat about our least favorite backpacking trips, our thought process in choosing socks for a backpacking trip, and what we deem as the...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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,...
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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_outlineIn today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Elina Osborne. Elina is a thru-hiker, filmmaker, adventurer, and storyteller. Four years ago, Elina released a 15-minute documentary about her PCT thru-hike, titled "It Is The People", which has since accumulated nearly three-quarters of a million views on YouTube. We learn all about Elina's entry into film and storytelling, her process, equipment, and advice she has for future documentarians. She also gives us a preview of a new film currently in the works about her hike of The Hayduke alongside a past guest of Backpacker Radio.
We wrap the show with some rapid fire conversations with Trek bloggers we met at PCT Trail Days, the Triple Crown of things we document during a thru-hike, and the maximum number of times we can conceivably enjoy getting dressed up over the course of a year, and much more.
Topo Athletic: Use code “THETREK15” for 15% of topoathletic.com.
Gossamer Gear: Use code “SNUGGLEBUG” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com.
Katabatic Gear: Use code “BPR15” for 15% off at katabaticgear.com.
Zoleo: Use code “BACKPACKERRADIO” for free device activation at zoleo.com.
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Interview with Elina Osborne
Time stamps & Questions
00:04:30 - Reminders: Join us in Brooklyn on September 16 and support us on Patreon for exclusive bonus content!
00:06:41 - Introducing Elina
00:08:30 - What’s your trail name story?
00:09:28 - What was your entry into the outdoors?
00:11:27 - What is the hiking and backpacking culture like in New Zealand?
00:15:40 - How did you get into storytelling?
00:18:35 - How do you realize you’re in a cult?
00:21:22 - Was there backlash when you left?
00:23:19 - How did your first documentary inform your future hiking projects?
00:25:15 - How would you describe It Is The People?
00:27:19 - What was your PCT hike like socially?
00:31:00 - Discussion about offiating weddings
00:33:40 - Did you go into the hike planning to focus on people in your documentary?
00:37:02 - Did you intend to make it a series?
00:38:56 - Is it hard to get the camera out when you’re having a fun moment on trail?
00:40:15 - How do you find a balance between filming a hike and hiking in order to film?
00:42:23 - How do you plan who needs to film what?
00:43:25 - Do you look back at the PCT film and see things you would want to change?
00:45:17 - Do you still use the same approach for current film projects?
00:48:44 - Tell us about working for the New Zealand police department
00:52:07 - What was your wildest day on the job?
00:54:30 - Is it challenging to collaborate with other filmmakers while hiking?
00:57:10 - Did you butt heads on the Hayduke?
01:02:30 - Do you have an idea of where the Hayduke documentary will land?
01:05:34 - How do you make editing work on a team project?
01:10:30 - What are your next hiking adventures?
01:15:40 - What is your process for deciding what the story will be?
01:18:10 - Are there any storytellers you’re inspired by right now?
01:21:27 - Do you have advice for others who want to document their hiking experience?
01:23:10 - Who is your primary audience?
01:24:01 - Kumo Question: What is your dream vacation destination?
01:27:50 - What is the highlights tour of New Zealand?
01:32:00 - Where can people go to keep up with you?
Segments
Rapid Fire Interviews
- Angie aka “The Little Mermaid”
- Elizabeth aka “Bags Bunny”
- Sakari aka “Paw Patrol”
- Christopher Smiley
Triple Crown of the things you document on a long trail
QOTD: What’s the maximum number of times in the year you can enjoy getting dressed up?
Mail Bag
5 Star Review
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