Triple Crowning as a Family of 6, Parenting Teenagers on Trail, and Life Lessons with Vince & Georgie Strawbridge
Release Date: 01/13/2025
Thru-Hiking for 30 Years, Working for ALDHA-West, Six Moon Designs, & FarOut, and Ridgerunning with a Dog with Whitney "Allgood" La Ruffa (BPR #312)
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, we’re joined by Whitney La Ruffa, better known in the world of backpacking as “Allgood.” Allgood is the former president of ALDHA-West, the current Chief Revenue Officer at FarOut, and a certified backpacking OG—his first thru-hike dates all the way back to the early ’90s (some of you weren’t even alive then… which is weird). Since that first trek, Allgood has racked up an impressive list of trails, including the JMT, Wonderland Trail, Chinook Trail, Sierra High Route, PCT, CDT, and others. In this episode, we...
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Julia "Rocket" Sheehan on Her Social Media Fall from Grace, Quitting on a Thru-Hike, and Her New Book (BPR #311)
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Julia Sheehan, known on trail, as Rocket. Julia is a thru-hiker, former Trek Vlogger, social media sensation, nurse, and now a published author. Julia details how impulsive decision-making lead her to the wonderful world that is thru-hiking, inspired in part by everyone’s favorite Hiking Viking. Rocket also shares how health issues ultimately forced her off-trail, the unsavory response she’s gotten from some in the social media sphere in light of “quitting” and subsequently...
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A Lifetime of Trail Maintenance: the Blackburn Trail Center, Building the AT Rollercoaster, and the Potomac AT Club with Chris “Trailboss” Brunton (BPR #310)
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Chris Brunton aka “Trailboss”. Trailboss is a legendary force in the construction and maintenance of the Appalachian Trail, most notably, the infamous Rollercoaster section of the trail through Virginia. Trailboss enlightens us with some history of the trail, the process for procuring the trail’s corridor through that section, how he met his wife (CEO of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy) Sandi Marra, why he dedicates his life to the AT, and much more. We wrap the show with a...
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Thru-Hiking with Your Sister, Triple Crowning without a Trail Name, and Tour du Mont Blanc with Jamie Lambert (BPR #309)
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Jamie Lambert. We learn why Jamie doesn’t have a trail name, and why it’s definitely not Strap On, what it’s like to thru-hike with your sister- which she did on the PCT in 2018, what it is about thru-hiking that makes it so addictive for her- having taken on long hikes every year over the last 8 seasons, what it’s like to become social media famous, and much more. We wrap the show with an overview from day one of Trail Days, some new legislation that could result in...
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Lightning Safety and Myth Busting with NOAA Meteorologist Charlie Woodrum (BPR #308)
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are giving you the lowdown on everything to do with lightning safety. We are joined by Charlie Woodrum who is the Preparedness and Resilience Lead with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service. We learn all about the biggest myths regarding lightning safety (including how metal trekking poles aren’t an added risk while backpacking), clear guidance on minimizing risk when caught in a thunderstorm, telltale signs of when the weather is going to turn, at what distance...
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Making Custom Packs, Setting FKTs, Escaping Death, and Starting an Outfitter with Jonathan "Janis Joplin" Thomas (BPR #307)
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Jonathan Thomas, known on trail as Janis Joplin. Janis Joplin is a thru-hiker, FKT record holder, D1 collegiate track and field athlete, former news cameraman, Boston Marathon bombing survivor, CDT trail angel, and owner of Exotic Pax, an innovative, vest-style backpack for thru-hikers handmade in Chama, New Mexico. This episode covers a lot of ground, including the many times he’s narrowly escaped death, what is was like growing up in New Orleans, being a D1 collegiate athlete,...
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Working as a Death Doula and Managing Death Anxiety with Niki DiGaetano (BPR #306)
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Niki DiGaetano, known on trail as Phoenix. In addition to being a long distance backpacker, the bulk of today’s conversation centers around Niki’s work as a death doula. We learn, of course, what that work entails, how her experiences working with those at the end of their lives have reframed how she lives hers, advice for those currently processing the death of a loved one, dealing with anxieties around death, and much more. We wrap the show with how the Appalachian Trail has changed...
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Live from Austin: Paul Magnanti, aka "PMags," on Hot Gear Takes, Public Lands, & Hiking the Southwest (BPR #305)
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, and brought to you by Topo Athletic, we’re coming to you live from Austin, Texas with our guest, Paul Magnanti, aka Mags, aka Pmags. A longtime co-host of The Trail Show and a triple crowner, Pmags has spent decades exploring trails across the country, with a special love for the Southwest. We dive into the future of public lands, hear some of his hot takes on gear, including his love for 100-weight fleece pullovers, his beef with sun hoodies, and where hikers tend to overspend, and get a look at his go-to "snivel gear."...
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Beginner Backpacking Mistakes 3.0 (BPR #304)
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are bringing you yet another edition of beginner backpacking mistakes. Today’s panel includes the debut of Jess Stone, 2024 AT and LT thru-hiker, and The Trek’s Community and Marketing Manager. We bring you 9 brand new thru-hiking pitfalls to avoid, including tips on sending mail drops, how to avoid letting small problems turn into big problems, dealing with toxic off-trail relationships before departing, hydration tips, why you shouldn’t invite friends and family on your trip, and much more. We...
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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...
info_outlineIn 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, overcoming multiple bouts of hypothermia, how one Strawbridge daughter managed to hike the CDT despite being severely anemic, why the AT ranked as their least favorite of the Triple Crown trails, hiking the AT as a group of seven (adding another kiddo for this one), some especially serendipitous instances of trail magic, and Vince’s unconventional—and hilarious—efforts to convince his wife, Monica, to take on another thru-hike, including a group therapy session with their friends.
We wrap the show with new of a job opening at Backpacker Radio, we ponder how far from a star you should be before it’s safe to stare, a FMK of places to get wet, a breakdown of how much more expensive it is to hike the AT these days, and the Triple Crown of human names that sound like they could double as state names.
Topo Athletic: Use code “TREKWINTER15” at topoathletic.com.
Gossamer Gear: Use code “BACKPACKER20” for 20% off packs at gossamergear.com.
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Interview with Vince & Georgie Strawbridge
Time stamps & Questions
00:05:34 - Reminders: Apply to join the BPR team or vlog for the Trek, get tickets to our live show in Austin on April 17, and support us on Patreon!
00:11:20 - Introducing Vince & Georgie Strawbridge
00:12:12 - How did Georgie break her leg?
00:13:18 - How old are all the kids now?
00:15:00 - How has your interest in hiking changed since you were last on the podcast?
00:16:06 - How do you feel about hiking as a kid?
00:18:49 - How did you find time to write the book?
00:25:25 - What did you learn through writing the book?
00:28:20 - Did Zach & Chaunce find parallels between hiking and writing?
00:32:20 - Now that you’re older, have you noticed hiking feeling different?
00:33:50 - How did you decide on the CDT next?
00:39:27 - How should Zach get his kids to like hiking?
00:43:40 - What was the result of the group referee sessions?
00:45:45 - What are some highlights of the first part of the trail?
00:48:35 - How did you manage the logistics after the first 400 miles?
00:51:00 - What was your dog encounter?
00:52:50 - How did you manage schooling on trail?
00:54:53 - What were some cool stories that overlapped with the trail?
00:59:40 - How does your homeschooling curriculum interact with applying to college?
01:03:10 - What do you want to do when you grow up?
01:04:10 - Tell us about the time you took too much Benadryl
01:07:35 - What was the tent breakup on the CDT?
01:09:22 - What was your level of enjoyment on the CDT?
01:10:30 - Did you notice your own growth between the trails?
01:11:27 - What’s the dynamic between you and your siblings?
01:14:20 - Tell us about the September storm
01:20:20 - Do you ever have meetings without Vince?
01:24:00 - Discussion about finding out June was anemic
01:26:50 - Were you hesitant to have June join you on the AT?
01:27:52 - How did you decide to go northbound on the AT?
01:29:17 - What was it like going from the CDT during covid to the AT northbound?
01:34:00 - How did you weigh the pros and cons of hiking as a large group?
01:38:20 - Did you get any negative comments online?
01:43:26 - Did it feel like you were in easy mode on the AT?
01:47:30 - Story about running out of food
01:49:50 - What was it like getting your first real trail magic experience?
01:54:40 - Did someone get trench foot on this hike?
01:55:30 - What was it like to reach the sign on Katahdin?
01:57:45 - How has the Triple Crown experience changed your kids?
02:01:30 - Would you want to be homeschooled again?
02:04:45 - Give us the highlights of the Great Divide Trail
02:08:15 - Who handles cold water better?
02:09:13 - What was it like navigating the fire season?
02:13:18 - Is the hitching culture different in Canada?
02:14:10 - Tell us about your plans for 2025?
02:16:39 - Peak Performance Question: What’s your top performance enhancing hack?
Segments
Trek Propaganda
- Is It Getting More Expensive To Thru-Hike the Appalachian Trail? by Kelly Floro
- Thru-Hiking With Eczema (and How My Body Surprised Me Along the Way) by Amanda Campbell
QOTD: How far from a star must you be to be safe to stare?
Triple Crown of (human) names that sound like they could be names of states
Fuck Marry Kill: Places to get wet
Mail Bag
5 Star Review
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