Why the PCT is Boring, Hitting SOS on the CDT, and Summitting Denali with Tina "Cash Money" Currin (BPR #367)

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Tina Currin, aka Cash Money, a Triple Crown thru-hiker, Andrew Skurka guide, park ranger, wilderness EMT, and Guinness World Record holder. 

In this one, Tina explains how she set the world record for most air horns blown simultaneously outside the North Carolina governor's mansion, details how she bought her Colorado house sight-unseen off Zillow during a zero day on the CDT while soaking her feet in a trash can, and she recounts getting separated from her husband in a snowstorm on the CDT, where both of them hit their SOS buttons convinced the other was dead.

We also cover her Denali expedition, where she summited on day 22 with the final morsels of her food supply, after multiple deaths near her camp, why she thinks the PCT is boring, and how she landed her trail name after wielding a fat wad of singles at a trail magic session on the AT.

We wrap the show with the details of the upcoming Backpacker Radio Hiker Meetup in Seattle, a rundown of 20 strange things thru-hiking does to your body, ranking the AT, PCT, and CDT from best to worst- according to triple crowners, a debate over a life rewind button vs. a life pause button, a mailbag about taser-equipped trekking poles, and the triple crown of shitty beers.

LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek.

Gossamer Gear: Use code "BACKPACKERRADIO" for $20 off LT5 Trekking Poles at gossamergear.com. 

Shady Rays: Use code “TREK” for 40% off two or more pairs of sunglasses at shadyrays.com.

Hyperlite Mountain Gear: Use code “BPRADIO15” for 15% of hyperlitemountaingear.com

[divider]

Interview with Tina “Cash Money” Currin

• Tina's Instagram

Time stamps & Questions

00:05:40 - Reminders: Join us for a hiker meetup in Seattle, subscribe to The Trek's Youtube, and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon!

00:10:43 - Introducing Tina Currin

00:14:03 - How did the protest grow into an official Guinness World Record attempt?

00:16:25 - Discussion about the Hopscotch music festival and pre-backpacking career

00:22:18 - Tell us about the "Saturday Chores" counter-protest campaign

00:27:00 - Tell us about the "Welcome to Raleigh, Y'all" multilingual yard sign campaign

00:30:08 - Are you from North Carolina originally?

00:32:26 - How did you get into backpacking?

00:35:52 - Discussion about van life

00:44:33 - At what point did van life turn into thru-hiking?

00:54:03 - What was it like doing the AT with your husband joining last minute?

00:56:31 - Discussion about post-trail depression and becoming a chronic thru-hiker

01:04:30 - Discussion about working as a park ranger

01:06:00 - What does Grayson do for work?

01:08:40 - When did you decide that you wanted to do more thru-hikes?

01:10:39 - Walk us through your sub-6-pound pack setup

01:20:30 - Has there ever been a time that you went too ultralight?

01:27:40 - Did the PCT feel boring to you?

01:29:25 - Tell us about the Arizona Trail

01:32:00 - What is your goal with ultralight?

01:36:00 - Tell us about your nutrition strategy

01:39:49 - Tell us about the first winter thru-hike of the New England Trail

01:45:30 - Discussion about transition from winter hikes to the CDT

01:50:00 - Tina’s story about the snowstorm on the CDT

02:05:00 - Do you both carry Garmins now?

02:07:55 - Discussion about complacency and risk in experienced hikers

02:10:45 - Tell us about hiking the Ice Age Trail

02:17:15 - Tell us about guiding for Andrew Skurka

02:19:15 - What drew you to attempt Denali?

02:24:04 - What goes through your mind when people die at your camp?

02:29:00 - How do you accept the activities that make you feel alive?

02:32:16 - How did you get the trail name "Cash Money"?

02:34:30 - Stay Salty Question: What’s your hottest take in the world of thru-hiking?

Segments

Trek Propaganda: 

• Hike naked day (Day 61) by Gerjan "Hungry" Hertgers
• 20 Strange Things Thru-hiking Can Do to Your Body That Nobody Talks About by Livvy Weld
• The Triple Crowner Survey: Ranking the Best and Worst Triple Crown Trails by Katie Jackson

QOTD:  Would you rather have access to a life rewind button, or a life pause button?

Triple Crown of shitty beers

Mail Bag

5 Star Review

[divider]

Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee.

Sign up for the Trek’s newsletter

Leave us a voicemail!

Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)!  Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play.

Support us on Patreon to get bonus content.

Advertise on Backpacker Radio

Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram.

Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube.

Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. 

Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years.

A super big thank you to our Bob Peoples Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Austen McDaniel, Bill Jensen, Bret Mullins aka Cruizy, Bryan Alsop, Carl Lobstah Houde, Christopher Marshburn, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Ethan Harwell, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Jackson Storm, JaredNotFromSubway, Jason Kiser, Jason “I Miss Chaunce” Snailer, Luke Netjes, Matty in AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Randy Sutherland, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, The Saint Louis Shaman, Thirteen Adventures, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger’ Fawns

A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Benjy Lowry, Bonnie Ack, Brett Vandiver, Chris Pyle, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Denise Krekeler, Jack Greene, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Lucas Hamilton, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, Sloan Alberhasky, and Tyler Powers.