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Sleeping in an Outhouse on Christmas, 5.5-Pound AT Baseweight, and the Arkansas Triple Crown with Austen McDaniel (BPR #378)

Backpacker Radio

Release Date: 10/12/2026

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More Episodes

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by our longtime pal Austin McDaniel, aka P.I., a Triple Crowner, Ultralight masochist, and full-time tennis instructor. 

In this one, we dive into Austin hiking the Ouachita Trail in ten days while recovering from COVID, navigating the Ozark Highlands Trail through freezing January temps, and surviving record-breaking 18-degree winter freezes on the Florida Trail. 

We also cover his pitch for the "Arkansas Triple Crown" consisting of the Eagle Rock Loop, Buffalo River Trail, and Sylamore Trail, his gear hack of wearing a heavy fleece sleeping bag liner as a mid-layer hiking dress, and why he carried a plastic toy golf set and a toilet plunger along the AT. 

We wrap the show with 91-year-old "Gray Beard" Sanders reclaiming his record as the oldest person to thru-hike the AT, a Question of the Day on how long we could evade the FBI on trail after committing a white-collar felony, a Triple Crown of minor discomforts that are actually major problems, and an all-time mailbag recounting what its author calls "Neptune's wrath" inside a Food Lion restroom.

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

Gossamer Gear: Use code “BPR10” for 10% off shelters at gossamergear.com.

Darn Tough: Use code “BACKPACKER” for free shipping from darntough.com.

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

[divider]

Interview with Austen McDaniel aka P.I.

Time stamps & Questions

00:05:20 - 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!

00:09:35 - Introducing Austen

00:11:05 - Remind us of your trail name origin story

00:13:30 - How has your gear changed between trails?

00:15:00 - How much of your baseweight is from ultralight gear versus just not bringing things?

00:20:00 - What has been your coolest ultralight gear find?

00:22:54 - What’s your midlayer?

00:26:20 - What’s the coldest you’ve been on trail?

00:34:00 - How did the Christmas Eve hike alter your gear?

00:35:06 - How did you manage heat starting the trail later than usual?

00:36:50 - Tell us about the Arkansas Triple Crown

00:46:00 - Would you recommend someone do your Arkansas Triple Crown or pick one of Arkansas’s longer trails?

00:47:30 - Tell us about your experience on the Ouachita Trail

00:49:40 - Give us the fast facts of the Ouachita Trail

00:54:15 - Do you get good views?

00:56:30 - Did you see wildlife?

01:00:05 - Is there a trail association?

01:01:25 - Why did you take a year off hiking?

01:04:10 - How fast is your tennis serve?

01:08:20 - Discussion about the best tennis players

01:14:10 - What makes a kid a great tennis player?

01:16:00 - What was the gap between the Ouachita Trail and the Ozark Highlands Trail?

01:20:00 - Discussion about terrain on the Ozark Highlands Trail

01:24:40 - Which of the two trails would you recommend to others?

01:28:20 - How did you decide to hike the Florida Trail?

01:32:00 - How did the Florida Trail compare to your expectations?

01:34:10 - What wildlife did you see on the Florida Trail?

01:40:00 - Yes or No: Would you recommend the Florida Trail to the average thru-hiker?

01:43:00 - Discussion about swimming and swim races

01:49:30 - Tell us your new gear hacks

01:53:50 - What’s your big five for gear?

02:01:45 - Tell us about finding your old AT gear box

02:05:50 - What are your upcoming hiking plans?

02:10:00 - Discussion about cold weather on the Florida Trail

02:11:50 - Stay Salty Question: What’s your hottest take in the world of backpacking or the outdoors?

Segments

Trek Propaganda: Dale “Grey Beard” Sanders, 91, Becomes Oldest Person to Thru-Hike the Appalachian Trail by Katie Jackson

QOTD: How long do you think you could evade the feds on trail after committing a white collar felony?

Trail Work Thing of the Week

Triple Crown of minor discomforts that are actually major problems

Mail Bag

5 Star Review

[divider]

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A super big thank you to our Bob Peoples Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Go Bills, Austen McDaniel, Bill Jensen, Bret Mullins aka TakeOff, 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, Nathan, Patrick Cianciolo, Randy Sutherland, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, Brad & Blair from Thirteen Adventures, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger’ Fawns

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