Making Custom Packs, Setting FKTs, Escaping Death, and Starting an Outfitter with Jonathan "Janis Joplin" Thomas (BPR #307)
Release Date: 05/26/2025
Casey "Vegas" Huffman on His WILD Trail Name Origin Story, Reinventing Himself through Hiking, and an Expedition in Alaska (BPR #332)
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Casey Huffman, known on trail as Vegas. Vegas has been mentioned a couple of times on this podcast in the past, as “the guy whose chest we signed” in 2023, and more recently, “the guy whose ass we signed”. As we learn in today’s episode, “signed ass guy” is also a real good hang. We chat about how Vegas’ mental health struggles ultimately lead him to the trail, how the hiking community and culture gave him the space to reinvent himself, and he shares quite possibly the...
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Triple Crowning with a Trombone, Working as a Hiking Guide, and the South Dakota Centennial Trail with Amy "Slider" Hunsucker
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Amy Hunsucker. On trail, Amy is known as “Slider” because she hikes with a trombone- something she’s done for the entire triple crown. We of course learn all about this fun quirk, including which animals were most appreciative of her on-trail concerts, which parts of trail provided the best acoustics, the reactions she’d get from other hikers and the broader trail community, and her go-to on-trail trombone jams. Slider also gives us the low down on getting her sawyer...
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Triple Crowning with Stage 4 Cancer with Jeff "Long Strides" Vonvai (BPR #330)
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we’re joined by Jeff Vonvai, known on trail as Long Strides. This conversation will put life’s problems into perspective—because for the past seven years, Long Strides has been thru-hiking with stage 4 colon cancer, despite being given just a 3–6 month prognosis. Jeff shares what it’s like to balance intense rounds of chemo and surgery between hikes, the challenges of rebuilding his trail legs each time he returns to the trail, and how cancer has transformed his outlook on life—saying he’s...
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Musings on AI, Bikepacking, Past Girlfriends, Horse Facts, and Living Forever with Kenneth "Moron" Pararo (BPR #329)
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Kenneth Pararo, known on trail as Moron. This is a podcast we’ve been wanting to make happen for several years now, and let me tell you, it does not disappoint. Moron is a thru-hiker, long-distance cyclist, philosopher, hopeless romantic, futurist, and most importantly, just a real solid hang. We learn about why he’s all in on AI- as evidenced by him riding cross country rocking his Meta AI glasses, why he quit is corporate tech job to more permanently pursue adventure and experience, how he completed...
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The First Female Hotshot Firefighters, Culture in the 1980s, and the Bigfoot Trail with Mary "Fireweed" Kwart (BPR #328)
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, and brought to you by Topo Athletic, we’re joined by Mary “Fireweed” Kwart. Fireweed is a thru-hiker, a Deadhead, and a pioneering figure in wildland firefighting with a career spanning more than 30 years. We dive into the challenges of being one of the first women to join the elite Arrowhead Interagency Hotshots, the culture shock of entering a male-dominated field, and some of the most memorable stories from her decades on the fire line. Fireweed also reflects on how long-distance hiking has evolved since the 1970s,...
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Zach Hiked the Tour du Mont Blanc and Chaunce Got Married! (BPR #327)
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by me. Because I hiked Tour du Mont Blanc. We go through all the nitty gritty details of my trip, including how I decided on going with a self-guided tour (aka staying in hotels instead of camping), the differences across the French, Italian, and Swiss portions of the trail, the best towns, the landscape highlights, the crowds, the food, how my knees asked for a divorce from my body, and everything else. But wait, there’s more. Chaunce is fresh off her wedding and honeymoon, she gives us the...
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Thru-Hiking 11,000+ Miles Together with Chris and Sara, aka Endless and QB (BPR #326)
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by thru-hiking power couple who’ve hiked more than 11,000 miles together Chris and Sara, known on trail as Endless and QB. “What haven’t they hiked?” is a fair question, because it’s been a lot, including the AT, the PCT (twice), CDT, CT (twice), Arizona Trail, Manaslu Circuit, Hayduke, Long Trail, Cohos Trail, Loowit Trail, Wonderland Trail, Ruby Crest Trail, Why-wash, (ahl-pah-MY-oh) / Santa Cruz Trek, the GR20, and more, believe it or not. They share the story of how they met,...
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Vancouver Island Trails, PCT Pie Record, and Canadian Culture with Spencer "Boiler" Dunn (BPR #325)
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Spencer “Boiler” Dunn. Boiler, is a self-described “pro-yapper”, improv leader, former employee of Parks Canada, pie enthusiast, and of course, a backpacker. Spencer takes us through his long trail adventures across Canada, including the Bruce Trail, West Coast Trail, North Coast Trail, and Nootka Island Trail—journeys that brought him face-to-face with some incredible wildlife, from bears to whales to the elusive sea wolf. We also dive into his recent hike on the PCT—how he broke the...
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Fighting a Grizzly Bear and Leaving the Mormon Church with Wesley "Megaman" Tils (BPR #324)
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Wesley Tils, known on trail as Megaman. Buckle in because oh boy does Megaman have an origin story. After growing up in the Mormon church, leaving the church to become a pro boxer, quitting boxing to give the church another shot and going on a missionary trip as his trial of faith, and ultimately leaving the church for good during this missionary trip, escaping onto the PCT with several church members essentially chasing him in pursuit, Megaman’s path to thru-hiking was not...
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Jeff Oliver aka IBTAT on Sober Triple Crowning, The Scottish National Trail, and Kungsleden Trail (BPR #323)
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek brought to you by LMNT, we’re joined by Jeff Oliver, better known on trail and online as IBTAT. In addition to building a large following on YouTube and Instagram, IBTAT will be a familiar voice to long-time Backpacker Radio listeners, as he was part of our first season of Trail Correspondents. We dive into IBTAT’s story, including his journey to 12 years of sobriety — going from drinking two fifths of liquor a day to cutting alcohol cold turkey overnight, and the dangerous side effects that followed. We also cover his more...
info_outlineIn 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, what brought him into the world of FKTs and how FKT athletes are more possessive over their records than they might lead on, what it’s like to run an outfitter in a sleepy CDT town, and the inspiration and process that goes into his unique backpacks.
We wrap the show with a reversal on the closure of a campground key to JMT and PCT hikers, our takes on who’d win in a fight between 100 men and one silverback gorilla, and the Triple Crown of items you geniously stash in many strategic locations.
Topo Athletic: Use code “TREKSPRING15” at topoathletic.com.
Gossamer Gear: Use code “BACKPACKER20” for 20% off packs at gossamergear.com.
Betterment: Learn more at betterment.com/trek.
Burgeon Outdoor: Use code “BACKPACKER15” for 15% off at burgeonoutdoor.com.
Bear Mattress: Use code “BACKPACKER” for 40% off at bearmattress.com.
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Interview with Jonathan Thomas aka JJ
Time stamps & Questions
00:05:34 - Reminders: Take our survey, listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon, and apply to blog for the Trek!
00:09:25 - Introducing JJ
00:10:28 - What’s it like growing up in New Orleans?
00:18:10 - Tell us about working for a news channel
00:21:40 - What’s the most interesting scene you ever shot from?
00:24:30 - What were the highlights from the local news industry?
00:26:50 - What events did you do at LSU?
00:30:00 - Discussion about biking in Baton Rouge
00:34:20 - What personality differences were there between swimmers and runners?
00:35:25 - Why did you walk on to the team at LSU?
00:37:35 - Tell us about running the Boston marathon
00:40:40 - How did you get into hiking?
00:43:20 - How did the PCT compare to running?
00:44:12 - How have you processed the trauma you’ve gone through?
00:48:27 - Did the calm on a long trail draw you in?
00:50:10 - Tell us about attempting to do an FKT in the middle of your PCT thru-hike
00:53:40 - What are the differences between the different distances of running?
00:59:25 - What are the differences between preparing for an FKT and for road running?
01:03:40 - How do you train for the unexpected?
01:12:15 - What’s the wildest hallucination you’ve had?
01:17:00 - Is it difficult to maintain motivation during your FKT attempt?
01:26:20 - Discussion about JJ’s Oregon FKT
01:29:30 - Wheel spin
01:36:25 - Tell us about the Oregon FKT
01:39:50 - Why did you carry a cast iron on the trail?
01:45:40 - Tell us about your interactions with foxes
01:49:45 - What other meals do you make on trail?
01:56:20 - What’s the inspiration for your company?
02:03:40 - What are the main stitches used in backpacking gear?
02:09:12 - Discussion about Exotic Pax
02:12:30 - How did Tate find you to make his pack?
02:16:27 - Tell us about the process with making custom packs
02:18:00 - Which model of backpack is the most popular?
02:20:40 - Tell us about the zippered pocket
02:22:42 - Explain the vest functionality of your backpack
02:30:00 - Chaunce tries on the backpack
02:33:30 - How do you do the sizing?
02:37:20 - How did you decide to go for the PCT FKT this year?
02:39:00 - Where can people keep up with you?
02:39:48 - Peak Performance Question: What is your top performance-enhancing or backpacking hack?
Segments
Trek Propaganda: Yosemite Campground Closure Will Disrupt Backpackers — Including JMT and PCT Thru-Hikers by Katie Jackson
QOTD: Who wins in a fight, 1 gorilla vs. 100 men?
Triple Crown of items you geniously stash in many strategic locations
Mail Bag
5 Star Review
[divider]
Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee.
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