Libsyn Directory

The Pinhoti Trail with Nathan "Switchback" Wright (BPR #317)

Release Date: 08/04/2025

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

More Episodes

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Nathan Wright, known on trail as Switchback. Nathan is an ambassador for the Pinhoti Trail and Alabama trails more broadly, wearing almost too many hats to count. He is the co-founder of the Pinhoti Outdoor Center - a hostel he runs with his wife, President of the Alabama Hiking Trail Society, Vice President of the Alabama Pinhoti Trail Association, Chairman of the Board of the Pinhoti Experience Foundation, and serves on the Advisory Board of the Alabama Trails Commission.

In this conversation, we go deep on everything to do with the Pinhoti Trail and Nathan’s many roles in supporting it. We cover the best time of year to hike it, what to expect in terms of wildlife, resupply, water, and logistics, as well as the standout physical features of the trail. Nathan also shares why the trail’s surrounding community makes it so special, the can’t-miss town stops and restaurants, and why he believes it’s the best off-season thru-hike in the US.

We wrap the show with a FREE STUFF alert for 2025 PCT Thru-Hikers, how to get college credit for thru-hiking the AT, how our lives would be totally different if our first names were spelled differently, the triple crown of thru-hiker fads, a shortest day of the year of the week, and a listener shares some intel on Texas' most underrated trail.

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[divider]

Interview with Nathan Wright

Time stamps & Questions

00:05:20 - Reminders: Sign up for the Trek’s newsletter, apply to blog for the Trek or to run Trail Correspondents and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon!

00:13:20 - Introducing Nathan

00:14:30 - Tell us about your hiking experience

00:15:00 - What made you fall in love with hiking in Alabama?

00:17:40 - Did you get involved with the trail first or hike it first?

00:19:30 - Tell us about finding out you were having a baby

00:21:44 - Discussion about section hiking the AT

00:23:45 - Tell us about all the organizations you’re involved with

00:25:15 - What are the basic stats of the Pinhoti Trail?

00:29:30 - What’s the best season to hike the Pinhoti?

00:30:25 - What’s the APTA?

00:33:40 - What’s the Pinhoti Experience Foundation?

00:36:00 - What’s the Alabama Trails Commission Advisory Board?

00:37:00 - What’s your tech company?

00:38:48 - How does your hostel work?

00:42:00 - Discussion about resupplies along the Pinhoti

00:44:14 - How much of the trail is on a road?

00:47:05 - What’s the process for creating a trail town?

00:51:40 - How does your business background interface with your trail work?

00:55:38 - What’s the water like on the Pinhoti?

00:58:40 - What’s the wildlife like?

01:01:10 - If we go on an Alabama road trip, which football game should we go to?

01:03:04 - When are the ticks bad?

01:04:00 - Could you bring your dog on the Pinhoti?

01:06:42 - Are there shelters on the Pinhoti?

01:08:43 - If you had to sell someone on the Pinhoti, what would you tell them?

01:10:30 - What’s some cool history related to the Pinhoti?

01:14:20 - What are some standout trail towns and town spots?

01:19:50 - What are the main characteristics of the trail?

01:22:24 - What is Alabama food culture?

01:23:15 - What are the logistics of getting to or from the trail?

01:26:50 - Tell us about Pinhoti Fest

01:29:00 - What do you see for the future of the Pinhoti?

01:36:03 - What are some lessons of running a hostel?

01:39:00 - Stay Salty Question: What is your hottest take in the world of backpacking or the outdoors at large?

Segments

Trek Propaganda: How I Got College Credit for Thru-Hiking the Appalachian Trail by Jordan Charbonneau

QOTD: Do you think your life would turn out different if your name was spelled slightly differently?

Triple Crown of thru-hiker fads

Mail Bag

5 Star Review

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