Hiking with a Tote Bag, Ultramarathons in a Roundabout, and Creative Trail Shenanigans with Tate "Pyro" Dobson (BPR #302)
Release Date: 04/21/2025
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
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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, 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 ultramarathons around a roundabout, he’s run a beer mile with his mom, and has accomplished another mile consuming four shots of tequila and a tube of toothpaste. In other words, strap in.
We wrap the show with some bucket list hikes you can do over a long weekend, the triple crown of stuipd word spellings, a listener poop story, and more.
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Interview with Tate “Pyro” Dobson
Time stamps & Questions
00:06:34 - Reminders: Check out The Trek and Backpacker Radio on Youtube, listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon, and apply to blog for the Trek!
00:9:40 - Introducing Tate
00:11:40 - How do Chaunce and Tate know each other?
00:14:20 - How did you get into the outdoors?
00:15:11 - What trajectory led to dropping out of high school and college and how did you start thru-hiking?
00:18:25 - Tell us about your 2019 PCT hike?
00:20:55 - What’s your perspective on continuous footpaths?
00:22:53 - Where was your head at when you got off the PCT?
00:24:03 - When did you next get on trail?
00:25:37 - Are you a known figure in Durango?
00:28:00 - How did you get on the Colorado Trail?
00:31:22 - Any standout stories from the Colorado Trail?
00:31:51 - Do you have any poop stories?
00:35:40 - How was the Sierra High Route?
00:42:00 - Tell us about the PCT in 2022
00:44:45 - When did things start to get weird?
00:53:15 - Did you hike the whole trail in sandals?
00:54:20 - What other weird things did you do on the PCT?
00:56:10 - Where did you get your marathon idea?
00:59:40 - Did you feel any asymmetric pain afterwards?
01:01:07 - Tell us about your beer mile
01:02:50 - What is the toothpaste and tequila mile?
01:05:45 - Did you see any interesting people during the roundabout run?
01:07:45 - Tell us about your other impractical backpacks
01:11:40 - Tell us about your TA hike
01:18:07 - What’s your favorite mom story?
01:19:27 - How’d you clean off the mud?
01:22:50 - How do you keep losing toothbrushes?
01:24:36 - Tell us about starting the AT last year
01:26:35 - What was the budget challenge you did?
01:28:30 - What tips do you have for hiking on a budget?
01:33:24 - What’d you do while Quadzilla was in the hospital?
01:34:30 - What’s the craziest story from the AT?
01:39:30 - When did you stop carrying the tote bag?
01:42:05 - Any fun stories from the Long Trail?
01:48:20 - Tell us about the Rim to Rim to Rim
01:51:40 - What plans do you have for the CDT?
01:53:20 - Stay Salty Question: What’s your hottest take in the world of backpacking?
01:54:55 - What’s your dream sponsor?
Segments
Trek Propaganda: 33 Bucket-List Hikes You Can Do in a Long Weekend by Katie Jackson
QOTD: Would you rather never get blisters again but have to hike in Crocs, or always have the best gear but get a new blister every day?
Triple Crown of stupid word spellings
Mail Bag
5 Star Review
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