9 Tips for Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in 2026 (BPR #348)
Release Date: 03/09/2026
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 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 show with some important news from the PCT southern terminus, the most overrated month for backpacking, the bucket list of animal sightings, and I give my one minute gear reviews on a slew of new items I tested on the SDTCT, including the a new pack, shelter, and trekking poles.
LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek.
Mountainsmith: Use code “TAKEAHIKE” for 20% off at mountainsmith.com.
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Panel with Elise “SOS” Ott
Time stamps & Questions
00:05:25 - Reminders: Apply to vlog or blog for the Trek, sign up for the Trek’s newsletter, and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon!
00:08:17 - Introducing Elise
00:13:53 - Tell us about your upcoming running goals
00:22:30 - Introducing today’s panel
00:24:01 - Elise’s Tip #1: Roll with the punches
00:27:06 - Chaunce’s Tip #1: Look up side quests in advance
00:30:41 - Zach’s Tip #1: Have a plan for the sun
00:34:44 - Elise’s Tip #2: Save more money than you think you need
00:36:45 - Chaunce’s Tip #2: Prepare for encountering wildfires
00:48:40 - Zach’s Tip #2: Consider going southbound in high snow years
00:56:05 - Elise’s Tip #3: See it for yourself before making decisions
01:03:15 - Chaunce’s Tip #3: Cowboy camp if you haven’t yet
01:05:40 - Zach’s Tip #3: Break it down into small sections
01:08:00 - Honorable mentions
01:13:52 - Stay Salty Question: What is your hottest take in the world of backpacking?
Segments
Trek Propaganda: Barrier Construction Set To Begin at CDT Southern Terminus by Kelly Floro
QOTD: What’s the most overrated month for backpacking?
Triple Crown of bucket list animal sightings
One-Minute Gear Reviews
Mail Bag
5 Star Review
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