Katie "Double Dip" Jackson on Hiking the CDT as Her First Triple Crown Trail
Release Date: 11/25/2024
Graduating Army Ranger School and Thru-Hiking After 30+ Years in the Military with Jay "Meat Grinder" France (BPR #303)
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Atheltic, we are joined by Jay “Meat Grinder” France. Meat Grinder is a thru-hiker, author, and 31-year veteran of the Air Force, having completed 10 deployments and graduated from Army Ranger School in the process. Jay details his military background, including some key similarities and differences relative to thru-hiking, how he used vlogging as a way to stay in touch with his sons on trail, and the hilarious blood nipple origin story of his trail name. Meat Grinder also recently served as a volunteer...
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Hiking with a Tote Bag, Ultramarathons in a Roundabout, and Creative Trail Shenanigans with Tate "Pyro" Dobson (BPR #302)
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Tate Dobson, known on trail as Pyro. Tate is a certified wildcard. It’s not just that he’s hiked the PCT, AT, Long Trail, and Te Araroa, but how he’s done it, including hiking the Appalachian Trail and Long Trail spending $1,000 (alongside Quadzilla), hiking long stretches with carrying a Jansport pack, another stretch using tote bag, hiking the R2R2R eating only Motts Fruit snacks and the 100-Mile Wilderness consuming only maple syrup and a jar of peanut butter. He’s run a pair of...
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The Camino de Costa Rica with Maytal "Carrot Top" Agasi (BPR #301)
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we’re joined by Maytal Agasi, known on trail as Carrot Top. In this episode, we learn how a road trip in a mid-size SUV with her two brothers sparked Carrot Top’s entry into the world of thru-hiking. She shares how she benefitted massively from both solo and group thru-hikes. We chat about her time on the JMT, Colorado Trail, and PCT, and we take a deeper dive into her most recent trek on the Camino de Costa Rica, covering standout cultural elements, landscape highlights, the incredibly...
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Mike Clelland 2.0: Owls, UFOs, Alien Encounters, Hypnosis, and More (BPR #300)
Backpacker Radio
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by author, backpacker, and our resident alien expert, Mike Clelland. We made an honest attempt to discuss ultralight backpacking during this one, and although we do touch on the subject some, the bulk of this conversation is dedicated to owls, aliens, and all things paranormal activity. Mike has become the preeminent expert of the interplay between owls and UFO citings, which may not sound like a thing, however Mike has accrued a lifetime of stories from folks who have experiences that say that...
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A 3,600 Mile Triathlon, International Kidnapping, and A Truck-Pulling Marathon with Justin True (BPR #299)
Backpacker Radio
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Justin True. Justin's story is truly remarkable. From growing up in a home with intense physical and emotional abuse, to becoming a professional MMA fighter, to pulling a 1.5 vehicle for a full-marathon, to completing a 24hr Hero Crossfit WODathon, to being kidnapped in Egypt and deported for being accused of spying for the government, getting attacked by a shark, and most recently completing the "True Triathlon" a country wide endurance feat, including a 50-mile swim, 3,000-mile bike ride, and a 600-mile run. Given...
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Budget Backpacking Gear: Saving Money on Tents, Backpacks, Clothing for Thru-Hiking (BPR #298)
Backpacker Radio
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we’re joined by former guest, Trek writer, and certified gear nerd Alex “GPS” Brown. The focus of this one is how to save money on your backpacking kit. We break this one down category by category, sharing the best ways to cut costs, pinpointing which items aren’t worth pinching pennies on, offering specific product shoutouts, and discussing overall strategies to ensure more of your hiking budget goes toward your hike. Whether you're on a shoestring budget or just looking to save a few...
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Triple Crowning in Three Years, Ultralight Tips, and Cold Soaking with Austen McDaniel (BPR #297)
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Austen McDaniel, known on trail as PI. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because we’ve been reading it off at the end of every episode for years, as Austen is one of our Chuck Norris Award-winning Patreon supporters. But in addition to being a longtime patron, Austen is also one hell of a backpacker, having completed the Triple Crown in three consecutive years. He approached his first thru-hike as prepared as anyone we’ve ever talked to, hitting the Appalachian Trail with a...
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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...
info_outlineIn today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by thru-hiker and Trek Writer, Katie Jackson, known on trail as Double Dip. Katie gives us an in depth breakdown of her recent thru-hike of the Continental Divide Trail, including why she advocates that hikers not take the Creede cutoff, her experience of a wild storm so intense that lightning struck and killed nearby cows, the challenge of losing her hiking partner early on, hiking on an injured foot for hundreds of miles- and how it was miraculously healed in some hot springs, waking up to grizzles in her camp, and much more. Katie also gives some of her backpacking hot takes, including how the Colorado Trail is superior to the JMT.
We wrap the show with whether it'll be possible to thru-hike the AT in 2025, the incredible phenomenon that is Frito feet, my new depressing thing of the week, and the triple crown of places where a long trail should exist.
Gossamer Gear: Use code “SNUGGLEBUG” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com.
Trailbrush: Use code “TREK20” for 20% off trailbrush.com.
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Interview with Katie “Double Dip” Jackson
Time stamps & Questions
00:02:46 - Reminders: Help us make Jabba shave his beard, support us on Patreon for exclusive bonus content, join us in Denver on December 7th and apply to be a 2025 blogger!
00:07:55 - Introducing Katie
00:08:40 - What’s your outdoors origin story?
00:11:15 - What’s your 9 to 5?
00:14:24 - Would you recommend consulting to people interested in thru-hiking?
00:16:05 - How does your engineering brain manifest while hiking?
00:18:37 - Did you plan anything on the Colorado Trail that you did not plan for the CDT?
00:19:30 - How many boxes did you send yourself on the CDT?
00:21:35 - What other regrets do you have from hiking the Colorado Trail?
00:27:07 - How did your eating strategy evolve over the CT?
00:31:00 - Discussion about the Cochetopa section of the CT
00:36:12 - What led you to the John Muir Trail in 2023?
00:38:02 - Which trail is better between the CT and JMT?
00:40:00 - Why didn’t you love the Winds?
00:41:18 - Was your dad okay with you doing the CDT in 2024?
00:42:10 - Did you ever have any issues with satellite messages not going through?
00:43:35 - How was New Mexico?
00:44:40 - Tell us about losing your hiking partner early on
00:49:54 - Would you feel comfortable starting the CDT alone now?
00:52:45 - How was the water in New Mexico?
01:02:45 - How would you rate New Mexico 1 out of 10?
01:05:00 - How much snow did you encounter?
01:08:10 - When did you use your ice axe?
01:10:30 - Were most people getting beaten up?
01:14:30 - What advice do you have to avoid silly mistakes?
01:18:35 - What were your top 5 snacks?
01:21:20 - Discussion about Katie’s backpack
01:23:25 - Tell us about the next stretch of trail and your foot injury
01:26:45 - What was the diagnosis from the doctor?
01:28:35 - Story about stopping in Granby
01:33:00 - How did your foot eventually heal?
01:35:40 - Tell us about taking the cutoff around Rocky Mountain National Park
01:36:50 - If you did the CDT again, would you do any different alternates?
01:38:45 - Did you experience judgment because you hadn’t done another long trail before?
01:42:00 - Discussion about unsolicited advice
01:43:30 - How was the mental aspect of the trail compared to your expectations?
01:45:00 - Tell us about Wyoming and adding whimsy to the trail
01:48:25 - Why didn’t you love the Winds?
01:49:27 - Tell us about the Idaho-Montana border
01:51:50 - Would you do the trail again SOBO?
01:53:05 - Tell us about almost getting hit by lightning
02:01:20 - What was the best trail magic of the CDT?
02:05:05 - Tell us about the Montana section
02:06:37 - How did you manage your long distance relationship?
02:08:10 - Did Montana meet your expectations?
02:11:50 - Did you see any grizzlies?
02:14:47 - What was it like to get to the terminus?
02:17:36 - Kumo Question: What is your favorite book and why?
02:20:17 - Where can people follow you?
Segments
Trek Propaganda
- Will It Even Be Possible To Thru-Hike the AT in 2025? by Kelly Floro
- Why I’m NEVER Hiking in a Dress Again by Kelly Floro
QOTD: Do you know about Frito feet?
Depressing Thing of the Week
Triple Crown of where a long trail should be
Mail Bag
5 Star Review
[divider]
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