Madison "Peg Leg" Blagden on the Eastern Continental Trail and the Pros and Cons of Trail Fame
Release Date: 12/09/2024
10+ International Hikes and a Continuous Yo-Yo of the AT and Long Trail with Curtis Himstedt (BPR #296)
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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)
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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)
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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
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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
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Thru-Hiking with 50-Year-Old Gear with Jared "Snackbox" Champion
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Triple Crowning as a Family of 6, Parenting Teenagers on Trail, and Life Lessons with Vince & Georgie Strawbridge
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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
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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, 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, and the time she drank booze through her hiking sock.
Madison also gives us the lowdown on her CDT hike this year, sharing a terrifying story of a near-death flash flood experience, what it’s like to be recognized on trail so often, and her big hiking plans for 2025.
We wrap the show with a fuck marry kills of oceans rivers and lakes, the triple crown of genie wishes, and we're blessed with a wonderful listener poop story.
Gossamer Gear: Use code “SNUGGLEBUG” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com.
Holiday Book Bundle: Get Badger & Chaunce’s signed book package here.
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Interview with Madison “Peg Leg” Blagden
Time stamps & Questions
00:04:00 - Reminders: Support us on Patreon for exclusive bonus content and apply to be a 2025 blogger!
00:09:00 - Introducing Peg Leg
00:09:50 - How many blog posts have you written for the Trek?
00:10:51 - What’s your process for blogging?
00:15:15 - What’s your preference between writing and videos?
00:16:00 - How did you end up on the PCT in 2017?
00:18:50 - What were some of your first time backpacking mistakes?
00:21:05 - Was it hard to get off in the middle of the trail?
00:23:20 - Discussion about going through the Sierra in 2017
00:25:30 - Tell us about doing the PCT in 2022
00:28:40 - How long did your IT band issue persist?
00:30:20 - How did your gear evolve from 2017 to 2022?
00:33:12 - Tell us about your initial hiking vision for 2023
00:36:00 - What were your first impressions of hiking in the east?
00:37:30 - Was it hard to incorporate blogging into your day during the hike?
00:41:00 - What stands out to you from your AT hike?
00:44:00 - Tell us about getting norovirus
00:46:02 - Discussion about trail magic
00:47:50 - What does it mean to be on time for the hunting season?
00:49:27 - How did you decide to do the international portion?
00:50:55 - How did you go from Katahdin to the Canadian border?
00:52:28 - Was it hard to go from hiking with people to hiking alone?
00:54:00 - Is there a FarOut map for the IAT?
00:56:00 - What were the towns like?
00:57:50 - You saw a hiker with a cat?
00:59:15 - You saw a Canadian lynx?
01:01:00 - Tell us about seeing a caribou
01:05:00 - Discussion about using ropes
01:06:35 - Reindeer facts
01:08:13 - Did you hike the IAT with a partner?
01:09:40 - What was your week off like in Canada?
01:11:16 - What’s your go to town meal?
01:12:45 - Tell us about the island hopping portion of the IAT
01:14:30 - How did the vibe of your hike change once you joined with more people?
01:17:00 - When did you decide to go back to do the Florida portion?
01:18:45 - Discussion about Peg Leg’s injury
01:19:50 - How long was the Canadian portion of the IAT and how long did it take you?
01:21:35 - When did you start the Pinhoti and when did you get to Key West?
01:24:30 - Discussion about road walking through Alabama
01:25:30 - Did you adjust to the road walking okay?
01:27:20 - Tell us about reaching the Florida Trail
01:29:00 - Tell us about being followed on the trail
01:40:50 - Is being trail famous a net positive or a net negative?
01:41:26 - What would you want to relay to any fans of yours?
01:46:20 - Do you have any advice for people who want to do their hike publicly?
01:48:24 - Tell us about falling in deep water on the Florida Trail
01:52:00 - How do you know if something is in the water or not?
01:55:45 - What should you do if you get attacked by an alligator?
01:58:50 - Did you see any scary animals?
02:00:28 - What was it like to finish in Key West?
02:01:48 - Tell us about doing a sock-ey at the end of your hike
02:04:02 - How did you feel at the end, and had you already planned to hike the CDT?
02:07:57 - Did anybody recognize you while you were off trail?
02:08:19 - How did you decide to go southbound on the CDT and find your group?
02:09:45 - Tell us about the beginning of the CDT
02:11:25 - What are your standout stories from the CDT?
02:12:30 - Tell us about your dicey moment in the Winds?
02:16:04 - How did your group fluctuate over the trail?
02:18:19 - Tell us about your flash flood moment on the CDT
02:25:55 - Was that the scariest moment of your thru-hiking career?
02:26:50 - Was the end of the CDT anticlimatic?
02:27:34 - What’s next for you?
02:30:12 - Are you excited about your future plans or nervous?
02:31:27 - Kumo Question: What is your favorite movie soundtrack?
Segments
Trek Propaganda: You’ll Kick Yourself if You Make Any of These Common Thru-Hiker Mistakes by Kelly Floro
QOTD: Fuck Marry Kill: Oceans, rivers, lakes
Triple Crown of genie wishes
Listener Voicemail (and leave us your own!)
Mail Bag
5 Star Review
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