A Marine Corps Veteran on Hiking to Heal from PTSD and Reclaim His Peace, ft. Gabe "Wing It" Vasquez (BPR #334)
Release Date: 12/01/2025
Spirituality and Backpacking with Vicar Lyndsay “Wreckage” Monsen (BPR #349)
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek brought to you by LMNT, Jess and Chaunce are joined by Lyndsay “Wreckage” Monsen. Wreckage is a pastor in training and civil rights advocate and she reflects on what it means to bring spirituality into the backcountry in a way that resonates even with those wary of organized religion. We also touch on formative spiritual moments in Colorado, why the Superior Hiking Trail earned a spot on her hate list, and how her foot got fudged up real good on the Long Trail, complete with photographic evidence. We wrap the show with news of...
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9 Tips for Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in 2026 (BPR #348)
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek brought to you by LMNT, we are breaking things down for the class of 2026 PCT thru-hikers with another edition of our top tips for hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. Chaunce and I are joined by everyone’s favorite sauce/SOS, Elise Ott to share some brand new tips for trekking between Mexico and Canada, including advice about managing the sun, thoughts for approaching the trail during a high snow year, tips for dealing with wildfire, the beauty of cowboy camping, the importance of rolling with the punches, and much more. We wrap the...
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The San Diego Trans County Trail with Jabba, Jolly, Zach, and Jess (BPR #347)
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, myself, along with Jabba, Jolly, and Jess are giving you a rundown of our recent hike of the San Diego Trans County Trail. And this one is about as long as the trail itself, as we give a detailed daily overview of our hike, including the standout LOL stories, the biggest challenges associated with this trail - namely the amount of private land the route takes you though, the highlights- including some gorgeous desert terrain, an epic western terminus, and how our torrid hiking pace and some...
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9 Tips for Hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2026 (BPR #346)
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are once again firing off our best advice for the upcoming class of Appalachian Trail thru-hikers. Chaunce and I are joined by Trek Community Ringleader, Jess Stone, to bring you 9 tips for thru-hiking the AT in 2026. Because this is not the first time we’ve done this subject, Chaunce and I are unveiling brand new advice for this one (with an asterisks)- and today’s tips cover advice to ensure you don’t lose your precious media (which is more common than you might think), trail name advice,...
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Valentine's Day 2026: Pistol and Lobo's Appalachian Trail Love Story, McAfee Knob Engagement, and Advice for Courting on Trail (BPR #345)
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, in honor of Valentine’s Day, we are once again putting love front and center-stage. We’re joined by Annie and Jake, known on trail as Pistol and Lobo, who met at mile 166 of the Appalachian Trail in 2021 and are about to come full circle, getting married at Fontana Dam, the exact spot where they first met. We get the low down on how this romance was absolutely love at first sight, how and where things evolved from flirtation to romance to a full-blown committed relationship on trail, moving...
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The Santa Fe to Taos Trail, Backpacking with Your Dad + Brother, and the Transcaucasian Trail with Lauren Roerick 2.0 (BPR #244)
Backpacker Radio
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined once again by outdoor filmmaker and long-distance backpacker, Lauren "Longway" Roerick. Lauren shares the highs and lows of a massive year of international backpacking and adventure, including dragging her "indoor cat" brother along on the 88 Temple Pilgrimage in Japan and her not in such great shape dad on the Camino del Norte in Spain, her less than stellar experience on the Via Dinarica and how one especially unfortunate stretch in Montenegro ultimately forced her off trail, quickly...
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Hookups, Trail Grooming, and Chafing: Guy Stuff with The Real Hiking Viking and Lt Cookoo Bird (BPR #343)
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic…today’s episode is pure chaos. If you’ve listened to any of our Hiking Viking episodes, you already know what I’m talking about. After four “Girl Stuff” episodes, Chaunce figured it was only fair to balance the scales with what we’re officially calling the Guy Stuff episode, a panel-style conversation that goes off the rails almost immediately, featuring Jabba and Lt Cookoo Bird. We cover everything from trail grooming strategy (aka pube management), to whether you’d rather...
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Fancy Feast 2.0: Drinking “Pig Water”, Hiking Through Poodle-Dog Bush, and Trail Work with the PNTA (BPR #342)
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined yet again by our pal and Hall of Fame trail name holder Marla Davidson, better known as “Fancy Feast”. Fancy Feast is a wealth of knowledge and unfortunate and embarrassing stories. She shares a nasty medical mishap involving poodle dog bush on the PCT, we look back at her time with the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps, where she and other "malnourished minors" subsisted on moldy bread and Sriracha, which was presented as a vegetable. Fancy Feast gives us an overview of her...
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Andrew Skurka & Katie Gerber: Vapor Barrier Layers, Beginner Backpacking Mistakes, and Off-Trail Route Ethics (BPR #341)
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined yet again by our pal Andrew Skurka and wayyyyy back former guest and now co-director of Skurka Adventures, Katie Gerber aka “Salty”. Today's episode covers a lot of ground. Today’s conversation is part backpacking advice, part gear nerd chat, part a glimpse inside the operation at Skurka Adventures. We first dive into Katie’s list of the five biggest mistakes she made as a beginner backpacker and her take on why she loves her alcohol stove- after a decade of use....
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How to Start Off-Trail Hiking and Routes with Eric Volk (BPR #340)
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Eric Volk, who we attempt to trail name “5-16.” In just six years, Eric went from novice hiker to expert off-trail adventurer, completing his own custom routes across the Sierra, Grand Canyon, North Cascades, and Alaska, including his Brooks Range Traverse and Arctic thru-hike. He is believed to be the first or second person to hike from the Canadian border to the Arctic Ocean entirely on foot. Today, we’re getting an in-depth tutorial on all things off-trail and route-based...
info_outlineIn today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we’re joined by Gabe Vasquez, known on trail as “Wing It.” Gabe is a U.S. Marine Corps combat veteran, long-distance kayaker and cyclist, and the first known Mexican-American to complete the Triple Crown.
Gabe opens up about his time in the Marines and the challenges that followed- PTSD, becoming addicted to prescription meds to manage the PTSD in addition to anxiety and depression, losing friends to suicide after their service, and night terrors. In his efforts to heal, Gabe turned to adventure. He began by paddling the Mississippi with a friend, then took on a PCT thru-hike, followed by eight consecutive years of long-distance backpacking, paddling, and cycling. Gabe shares how that time in nature helped him reclaim his peace, and why he’s happier today than he’s ever been.
Worth noting- this episode includes graphic descriptions of PTSD and suicide. If these topics are sensitive or triggering for you, please take care while listening.
We wrap the show with news of a pair of fatal bear attacks near the Ozark Highlands Trail, a partially blind grandmother who thru-hiked the PCT- averaging nearly 40 miles a day in the process, the definitive etiquette around holding doors for strangers, and the triple crown of the worst phrases and expressions.
LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek.
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Interview with Gabe “Wing It” Vasquez
Time stamps & Questions
00:05:20 - Reminders: Apply to blog for the Trek, subscribe to our Youtube channel, and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon!
00:12:45 - Introducing Gabe
00:16:10 - What was it like to join the Marines?
00:22:45 - What was your specific job like in the Marines?
00:23:30 - Tell us about your deployments
00:29:20 - What was the vibe like in that sort of environment?
00:33:37 - Did you know you were actively pushing things down at the time?
00:35:06 - What was the comedown like when returning from a deployment?
00:36:40 - At what point did you seek professional help?
00:38:30 - How did the PTSD show up for you?
00:42:35 - How did you know you needed to get off the meds?
00:49:30 - How did you transition from experiencing these symptoms to advocating for others?
00:56:04 - How did you decide to kayak the Mississippi River?
00:59:20 - Did you feel a sense of accomplishment after the kayak trip?
01:09:20 - Did you go into the PCT excited to hike it?
01:13:20 - At what point did being in nature start to click for you?
01:14:45 - Knowing what you know now, would you still have joined the Marines?
01:17:22 - At what point did the nightmares subside or improve?
01:20:00 - Have you met other veterans on trail?
01:22:40 - Do you have a lot of people reaching out to you?
01:25:00 - Is the period between adventures extra tough for you?
01:26:30 - Are you trying to do all Seven Summits?
01:27:55 - Was it weird with the PCT being so white?
01:36:15 - Do you have favorite summit music?
01:37:26 - What are some of your favorite trail angel stories?
01:40:00 - What’s a typical MRE meal like?
01:41:30 - What drew you to the bike after the PCT?
01:46:30 - What are the pros and cons of long distance cycling over thru-hiking?
01:50:50 - Fuck Marry Kill: cycling, paddling, and hiking
01:54:10 - What did it feel like to complete the Triple Crown?
01:58:00 - Discussion about LNT
01:59:20 - What other hot takes do you have?
02:05:20 - What other gear do you like?
02:10:16 - Tell us about almost getting arrested in Egypt
02:19:05 - Do you worry that drugs could trigger PTSD?
02:26:00 - What’s your favorite trail or trail story?
02:28:35 - Do unrealistic war movies bother you?
02:30:55 - Stay Salty Question: What’s one piece of advice you’d like to give?
Segments
Trek Propaganda
- 2 Fatal Bear Attacks in Past 6 Weeks Near Ozark Highlands Trail in Arkansas by JT Simmons
- Partially Blind Grandmother Thru-Hikes PCT in Under 70 Days by Katie Jackson
QOTD: What’s the proper distance to hold a door for someone?
Triple Crown of the worst expressions/phrases
Mail Bag
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