Hiking the Calendar Year Triple Crown, Crashing a Motorcycle, and Cycling the Southern Tier Bicycle Route with Carson "Anita" Oliver
Release Date: 12/23/2024
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, 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 news of the oldest woman to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail and a clarification of what it means to thru-hike the AT, and things we wish were holiday traditions, and the triple crown of cringy holiday moments.
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Interview with Carson Oliver
Time stamps & Questions
00:03:30 - Reminders: Support us on Patreon for exclusive bonus content and apply to be a 2025 blogger OR vlogger!
00:06:05 - Introducing Carson
00:08:45 - How would you describe yourself?
00:10:22 - Where did you grow up?
00:14:27 - Where do you suspect your sense of adventure came from?
00:16:15 - Did you ride motorbikes in Vietnam?
00:18:20 - Did you find the north to south journey to be dangerous?
00:20:40 - How did your father’s death influence your future adventures?
00:24:38 - How did the PCT interface with processing your grief?
00:26:00 - Tell us about hitting a deer at 75 miles per hour
00:31:20 - Were you afraid to get back on a bike after the accident?
00:36:36 - Tell us about getting your hiking gear in Vietnam
00:40:30 - What’d you get rid of during your hike?
00:41:12 - What was it like to hike through the Sierra during a high snow year?
00:45:00 - Was it hard to split your group in the Sierras?
00:47:40 - Were you happy or sad to reach the end of the snow?
00:49:30 - Tell us about biking across the country
00:53:00 - Were you nervous to mountain bike after the deer accident?
00:55:40 - How do you assess the risk level of mountain biking vs motorcycles?
00:57:22 - How long did your ride take and what route did you take?
01:01:20 - How did your biking experience compare to the PCT?
01:03:00 - Why’d you stop being vegan?
01:04:02 - What was the inspiration for the Calendar Year Triple Crown?
01:07:35 - When and where did you start the trail?
01:13:00 - Was leaving Vermont the first time Type 1 or Type 2 fun?
01:15:45 - Were you stressed out going through the Whites?
01:18:18 - Tell us about being on Franconia Ridge
01:22:40 - Did you sleep in the huts in the Whites?
01:23:30 - How did southern Maine compare to the Whites?
01:25:30 - How was completing the AT and moving to the next trail?
01:30:30 - Did you hike southbound on the CDT and PCT?
01:33:30 - What stories standout from the CDT?
01:35:50 - Did you use your umbrella more for rain or sun?
01:38:00 - Did you ever get the doldrums during your CYTC?
01:40:45 - Any good poop stories?
01:43:35 - What was it like hiking north on the PCT?
01:44:52 - Were you relieved to complete the Sierras?
01:48:15 - What was the highlight of your year?
01:51:05 - Do you have any advice for someone interested in the CYTC?
01:53:40 - Fuck Marry Kill: PCT, CDT, AT and backpacking, motorbiking, and mountain biking
01:55:15 - Kumo Question: What is your favorite historical period and why?
Segments
Trek Propaganda: Linda “Nana” Vanderloop Just Became the Oldest Woman To Thru-Hike the Appalachian Trail by Kelly Floro
QOTD: What do you wish was a holiday tradition?
Triple Crown of cringy holiday moments
Mail Bag
5 Star Review
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