10+ International Hikes and a Continuous Yo-Yo of the AT and Long Trail with Curtis Himstedt (BPR #296)
Release Date: 03/10/2025
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,...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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,...
info_outline
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 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, especially the ones we haven't covered on the podcast before, shares how his first divorce inspired him to get into thru-hiking, explains why he feels more like himself on trail than in “the real world,” and gives us a preview of his upcoming adventures as he continues trekking strong into his 60s.
We wrap the show with news of a major gear retailer accused of ties to forced labor, a new navigation app you’ll want on your radar for 2025, the triple crown of the worst fashion trends, a debate on how to inform someone of their LNT violation, what we’d replace our hands with if given the choice, and much more.
Topo Athletic: Use code “TREKWINTER15” at topoathletic.com.
Gossamer Gear: Use code “BACKPACKER20” for 20% off packs at gossamergear.com.
Ombraz: Use code “BACKPACKER30” for $30 off at ombraz.com/discount/backpacker30.
[divider]
Interview with Curtis Himstedt aka Easily Forgotten
Time stamps & Questions
00:06:10 - Reminders: Join us for our live show in Austin, listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon, and apply to blog for the Trek!
00:09:45 - Introducing Curtis
00:11:20 - What was your weight loss story?
00:12:55 - How did you get into long distance backpacking?
00:14:53 - How old were you when you were in Boy Scouts?
00:16:57 - Is there a part of you that’s grateful to your initial divorce for getting you into hiking?
00:19:00 - What learning lessons did you have on the Annapurna Circuit?
00:23:00 - What was life like on your farm?
00:24:00 - From an engineer’s perspective, what was hiking the West Highland Way like?
00:27:05 - Would you recommend the West Highland Way to others?
00:28:52 - Has it ever backfired on you to not plan too much of your hikes?
00:30:40 - Do you feel more comfortable when hiking long trails?
00:32:20 - What advice do you have for someone about to get married?
00:35:00 - Discussion about planning international hikes
00:35:44 - Tell us more about the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path
00:37:33 - Tell us about the Grey Wolf Loop
00:40:20 - Tell us more about hiking in England
00:42:56 - Tell us more about the GR10
00:49:05 - Tell us about hiking the AT in 2018
00:54:50 - Tell us about hiking the PCT in 2019
00:57:08 - How did you like the Oregon Coast Trail?
01:00:10 - At what point do you start planning future hikes?
01:01:50 - Do you feel a sense of fulfillment exploring new trails each year?
01:04:20 - Tell us about the South Downs Way
01:05:48 - What were your top 3 favorite trails in the UK?
01:08:50 - Tell us about the Kerry Way
01:10:53 - Discussion about the Portuguese Camino
01:12:15 - What does your gear look like today?
01:15:01 - Tell us about your hiking in the Azores
01:22:25 - Discussion about not planning lodging on European trails
01:23:28 - Tell us about the Cinque Terre
01:25:25 - Tell us about the Via Degli Dei
01:26:55 - Tell us about your MEGA GAME LT^2 adventure
01:33:00 - Story about Curtis’s father
01:38:25 - You don’t like FKTs but you like endurance hiking?
01:39:42 - What’s the northern section like in the winter?
01:42:50 - How many miles are you typically hiking in a day?
01:44:20 - What about the AT do you love so much?
01:46:05 - What do your next 4 years of hiking look like?
01:49:20 - Peak Performance Question: What is your top performance-enhancing or backpacking hack?
Segments
Trek Propaganda
- Outdoor Gear Retailer Decathlon Accused of Ties to Forced Labor in China by Katie Jackson
- Could This New Mapping App from the Founders of Gaia GPS Become a Thru-Hiker Staple? by Katie Jackson
QOTD: If you had to replace your hands with something else, what would you pick?
Triple Crown of the worst fashion trends
Mail Bag
5 Star Review
[divider]
Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee.
Sign up for the Trek’s newsletter
Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play.
Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.
Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram.
Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube.
Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok.
Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years.
A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Ben Love, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Brent Stenberg, Bryan Alsop, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Derek Koch, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Greg McDaniel, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Liz Seger, Mud Tom, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Sawyer Products, SPAM, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger’ Fawns
A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Bonnie Ackerman, Chris Pyle, David, Dcnerdlet, Emily Galusha, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Katharine Rudzitis, Lauren Cain, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Ruth S, and Spencer Hinson.