The Santa Fe to Taos Trail, Backpacking with Your Dad + Brother, and the Transcaucasian Trail with Lauren Roerick 2.0 (BPR #244)
Release Date: 02/09/2026
Dramatic Survival Stories, the Triple Crown of Sports, and the Funniest Word for Boobs
Backpacker Radio
Segments Dramatic Survival Stories Trek Propaganda: by Kelly Floro by Peg Leg QOTD: What’s the best/funniest word for boobs? Triple Crown of (team) sports Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy and . (and please leave us a review)! Find us on , , and . to get bonus content. Follow , , , and on Instagram. Follow , and on YouTube. Follow on Tik Tok. Our theme song is by . A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Bill Jensen, Brad...
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Big Podcast News, Swimming with Hippos, Peace Corps, and the GR20 with Becca "Little Bag" Beckham (BPR #356)
Backpacker Radio
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we sit down with Becca Beckham, trail name Little Bag, a Peace Corps veteran, thru-hiker and all around world traveler. Becca has hiked the Long Trail and PCT, and last year tackled the Colorado Trail, the Tour du Mont Blanc, and the GR20 in Corsica. In this one, Becca shares what it’s like growing up in a military family bouncing across the country, to two years in Cameroon with the Peace Corps, to teaching English in France, to landing in the wonderful world of thru-hiking. She shares stories...
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Lyme Disease Vaccine Update, the Best Efron, and the Triple Crown of Star Wars Characters
Backpacker Radio
Segments Lyme Disease Update Trek Propaganda by Kelly Floro QOTD: Does pizza lose its luster as you get older? Triple Crown of Star Wars characters Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy and . (and please leave us a review)! Find us on , , and . to get bonus content. Follow , , , and on Instagram. Follow , and on YouTube. Follow on Tik Tok. Our theme song is by . A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Bill Jensen, Brad & Blair...
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Why This Pro Triathlete Quit Her Job to Hike the Appalachian Trail with Katie "Sunrise" Lance (BPR #355)
Backpacker Radio
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Katie "Sunrise" Lance, a civil engineer turned professional triathlete turned thru-hiker who completed the AT last year before quitting her job to pursue triathlon coaching full-time. In this one, Katie walks us through what it's like to qualify for Kona on your very first Ironman, how she was training 20 hours a week on top of 12-hour night shifts at the Tennessee Valley Authority, and what finally pushed her to leave it all behind and hike from Georgia to Maine. She also shares the full arc...
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Space Facts, the Triple Crown of BBQ Foods, and the Gas Station Bathroom Debate Revived
Backpacker Radio
Segments Weird Space Facts Trek Propaganda By Katie Jackson By Katie Jackson QOTD: Would you rather have every September off — fully paid, no PTO touched, or be able to thrive off 4 hours of sleep? Triple Crown of BBQ foods One-Minute Gear Reviews Listener Voicemail Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy and . (and please leave us a review)! Find us on , , and . to get bonus content. Follow , , , and on Instagram. Follow , and on YouTube. Follow on Tik Tok. Our theme song is by . A super big thank you to our Bob Peoples Award winner(s)...
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Finding Thru-Hiking Community, the Jordan Trail, and Bigfoot Trail Mishaps with Claire "Marmot" Dumont (BPR #354)
Backpacker Radio
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Claire "Marmot" Dumont, a mapmaker, writer at The Trek, and thru-hiker who has completed the AT, Mountains to Sea Trail, Oregon Coast Trail, JMT, and more. In this one, Marmot walks us through what it's like to spend three months on trail with your dad, how a Fulbright fellowship brought her to Jordan to research land ethics and outdoor recreation, and what happened when COVID shut down the borders and kicked her off the Jordan Trail mid-hike. She also shares the story of assisting a...
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Recapping the Unhinged Afroman Trial, A Million vs 50% of a Billion, and the Triple Crown of Jim Carrey Movies
Backpacker Radio
Segments Afroman Trial Recap Trek Propaganda: by Katie Jackson by Peg Leg QOTD: Would you rather get a million guaranteed or flip a coin for a billion? Triple Crown of Jim Carey movies Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy and . (and please leave us a review)! Find us on , , and . to get bonus content. Follow , , , and on Instagram. Follow , and on YouTube. Follow on Tik Tok. Our theme song is by . A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew,...
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Dodging Death on the CDT, Crewing Tara Dower's AT FKT, and Triple Crowning with Megan "Rascal" Wilmarth (BPR #353)
Backpacker Radio
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Megan "Rascal" Wilmarth, a triple crowner who has completed a long trail every year since 2019, including the triple crown, TA, Long Trail, JMT, Tahoe Rim Trail, and Wonderland Trail. Rascal also served as crew chief for Tara Dower’s supported southbound FKT on the AT in 2024. In this one, Rascal walks us through what it actually takes to crew a 40-day record attempt, how a near-death situation in the San Juans changed the way she thinks about approaching the backcountry, what goes...
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Snake Island, Potato Foods, and Why The Trail Won’t Always Be There
Backpacker Radio
Segments Snake Island Trek Propaganda: by Claire Dumont QOTD: Fuck marry kill: rain, wind, snow Triple Crown of potato foods Mail Bag 5 Star Review Check out our sound guy and . (and please leave us a review)! Find us on , , and . to get bonus content. Follow , , , and on Instagram. Follow , and on YouTube. Follow on Tik Tok. Our theme song is by . A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Bill Jensen, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Bret...
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A Hiker’s History of the Appalachian Trail with Mills Kelly (BPR #352)
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Mills Kelly, a historian, podcaster, professor, and author. Mills taught at George Mason University for 24 years, produced the acclaimed podcast The Green Tunnel, and just published his latest book, A Hiker's History of the Appalachian Trail. In this one, Mills takes us deep into the stories most hikers never hear: why the AT was never designed for through hiking, the surprisingly dark history of some of its founding figures, and why the hundred-mile wilderness used to be a network...
info_outlineIn 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 rinsing the palette with some gorgeous hiking on the Transcaucasian Trail in Georgia, and her experience hiking the Santa Fe to Taos Trail as part of our “get paid to thru-hike” sponsorship. We also learn more about Lauren’s background, including a chaotic international divorce, learning calculus in Chinese, and how she once sang opera although refuses to do so for you- we forgive her and this is a fun, inspirational chat regardless.
We wrap the show with a hidden gem thru-hike in New York, a Triple Crown of Pop (not SODA!), and what trail traditions should be celebrated on spring equinox.
LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek.
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Interview with Lauren Roerick
Time stamps & Questions
00:04:57 - Reminders: Apply to vlog or blog for the Trek and apply for the Badger Sponsorship!
00:09:10 - Introducing Lauren Roerick.
00:10:10 - Discussion about Te Araroa
00:13:30 - Discussion about a near hypothermia experience in the Tararua Mountains
00:19:10 - Give us an overview of the Santa Fe to Taos Trail
00:26:45 - Any standout stories from the Tahoe Rim Trail?
00:27:55 - Tell us about the 88 Temple Pilgrimage in Japan
00:35:00 - Discussion about Lauren’s tea ceremony experience
00:37:20 - What did you do during your three years living in Taiwan?
00:39:20 - Did you really move to California to study and sing opera?
00:43:30 - Discussion about Lauren moving frequently
00:47:35 - Tell us about your hometown
00:49:50 - Tell us about starting a sales agency
00:55:20 - Who is the 88 Temple Pilgrimage for?
00:58:20 - Tell us about bikepacking around Taiwan
01:05:50 - What’s the least safe you felt during your international travels?
01:21:15 - Tell us the good parts of the Via Dinarica
01:28:35 - Tell us about hiking in Georgia
01:35:35 - How often do you get recognized?
01:37:00 - Was the Santa Fe to Taos Trail boring in comparison?
01:39:08 - Tell us about the trail you hiked with your dad
01:43:40 - How did the Camino rank against other trails you hiked last year?
01:46:24 - Discussion about
01:51:45 - Do you have general tips for international travel and hiking?
01:58:35 - What is next on your hiking schedule for 2026?
02:03:15 - Stay Salty Question: What is your hottest take in the world of backpacking?
Segments
Trek Propaganda: The Epic 358-Mile Thru-Hike in New York You’ve Never Heard Of by Alex McClain
QOTD: Summer solstice is hike naked day. What should spring equinox be?
Fear of the Week
Triple Crown of pop/soda
Mail Bag
5 Star Review
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A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Bill Jensen, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Bret Mullins aka Cruizy, Bryan Alsop, Carl Lobstah Houde, Christopher Marshburn, Clint Sitler, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Ethan Harwell, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Jason Kiser, Krystyn Bell, Luke Netjes, Matt from Gilbert, AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Randy Sutherland, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, SPAM, The Saint Louis Shaman, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger’ Fawns
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