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Backpacker Radio

Backpacker Radio

Written by: The Trek
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 From the Appalachian Trail to the Pacific Crest and everything in between. Backpacker Radio is a show all about the wonderful world that is thru-hiking and long distance backpacking. Co-hosts, Zach "Badger" Davis and Juliana "Chaunce" Chauncey muse on the backpacking life and the latest from the trail every other week. Topics include but are not limited to news, trail culture, interviews, gear, advice, and all you can eat buffets.The Trek
Episodes
  • Andrew Skurka & Katie Gerber: Vapor Barrier Layers, Beginner Backpacking Mistakes, and Off-Trail Route Ethics (BPR #341)

    Andrew Skurka & Katie Gerber: Vapor Barrier Layers, Beginner Backpacking Mistakes, and Off-Trail Route Ethics (BPR #341)
    Jan 19 2026
    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. Andrew gives us an overview of vapor barrier layers and moisture management for cold-weather backpacking, the Ursack versus bear canister debate, he gives a framework for deciding exactly when it's time to hit the SOS button on your satellite communicator, the ethics of publicizing GPS tracks in these high consequence and fragile regions, and he shares his two cents on one of the most detailed bear-safety questions we've ever received. The duo also give us some standout stories from their years of working together, including a nightmarish and somehow hilarious story of surviving a Mojave Desert traffic jam in triple-digit heat. We wrap the show with a call for Trail Correspondents, if setting up your tent in the airport makes you a genius or an A-hole, the triple crown of winter drinks, and some fun Ibex facts from a listener. Topo Athletic: Use code "TREKWINTER15" at topoathletic.com. [divider] Interview with Andrew Skurka & Katie Gerber Skurka's WebsiteSkurka's InstagramKatie's WebsiteKatie's Instagram Time stamps & Questions 00:05:05 - Reminders: Apply to vlog or blog for the Trek, apply to be a Trail Correspondent, listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon, and subscribe to The Trek's Youtube! 00:10:00 - Introducing Andrew and Katie 00:13:10 - Are you still passionate about nutrition? 00:19:40 - Tell us about your recent Grand Canyon trip with Eric 00:22:45 - How did you get started on off trail routes? 00:24:10 - How did you two start working together? 00:30:50 - Describe your current role 00:33:25 - What are some things people don't know about Skurka? 00:36:40 - Discussion about beginner backpacking mistakes 00:53:20 - What are some new things you've been thinking about? 00:56:50 - What trip is in the highest demand, and what's the most underrated? 00:58:50 - How do you balance protecting sensitive environments with leading trips for your business? 01:08:35 - How do you pick who guides each route? 01:10:35 - Do you have any new guides you're really excited about? 01:12:40 - What are some tips for someone who wants to get into guiding? 01:20:45 - Grand Canyon or Escalante? 01:23:00 - Tell us your thoughts on vapor barrier layers 01:27:55 - Discussion about the backcountry bidet 01:30:30 - How many cats until you're a crazy cat dude? 01:33:14 - How do you like using an alcohol stove and how did you like the Great Basin Trail? 01:35:23 - What are the biggest differences between hiking with Dirtmonger and Andrew? 01:40:15 - Have you used AI in your business? 01:44:14 - How should a campsite be set up? 01:50:00 - What are the pros and cons of hard sided bear canisters and Ursacks? 01:52:20 - Is there a new piece of gear you're excited about? 01:56:00 - Discussion about phone technology in the backcountry 02:01:18 - What are your thoughts on plastic water bottles? 02:03:40 - How far do you need to pee from your campsite? 02:04:45 - How do you decide to press the SOS button? 02:08:20 - What are your thoughts on polartech? 02:09:50 - Are broth cubes a thing? 02:13:54 - What should people know about the upcoming guiding season? 02:20:20 - Peak Performance Question: What is your top performance-enhancing or backpacking hack? Segments Trek Propaganda: Colorado Trail vs. John Muir Trail vs. Long Trail: Which Trail is the Best? By Katie Jackson 25 More Stunning Thru-Hiking–Inspired Tattoos by Anna McKinney Smith QOTD: Is it cringe or genius to set up your tent in the airport? Triple Crown of winter drinks 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 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 ...
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    2 hrs and 55 mins
  • How to Start Off-Trail Hiking and Routes with Eric Volk (BPR #340)

    How to Start Off-Trail Hiking and Routes with Eric Volk (BPR #340)
    Jan 12 2026
    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 hiking. Eric gives a detailed overview of how to get started with off-trail adventuring, the biggest differences between hiking on trail and off, recommended "beginner" routes, key gear considerations, the navigational skills required (including the specific tools he uses and recommends), the wide variety of terrain you might encounter, weather considerations, the importance of doing your due diligence, and much more. Eric also shares some fun stories from his routes, including trekking through the mathematically most remote place in the U.S., incredible wildlife encounters with caribou, grizzlies, musk ox, and mountain lions, and the ethics of publicizing GPX tracks. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek. [divider] Interview with Eric Volk Eric's Instagram Time stamps & Questions 00:07:20 - Reminders: Apply to vlog or blog for the Trek, apply to be a Trail Correspondent, listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon, and subscribe to The Trek's Youtube! 00:11:00 - Introducing Eric 00:11:50 - How did you initially get into outdoor adventuring? 00:15:07 - Was it easier to start the Lost Coast trail because someone encouraged you? 00:16:52 - Do you like to level up difficulty in other aspects of life? 00:19:42 - What's your route resume? 00:21:40 - Do off-trail routes spoil you for thru-hiking? 00:22:45 - Where should someone start if they want to start doing off-trail routes? 00:25:15 - What does the class system generally mean? 00:32:10 - What are some navigation skill requirements? 00:45:55 - What are some of the navigation apps you've tried? 00:52:00 - What are some tips for someone starting with CalTopo? 00:56:20 - How should someone transition from a GPX track to the real world? 01:02:00 - Discussion about additional navigation tips 01:04:10 - How would someone construct beta for their route? 01:15:45 - What are the gear differences to consider for going off-trail? 01:25:30 - Discussion about the benefits of ultralight and compactness in gear 01:28:25 - Has your first aid kit changed at all? 01:31:20 - What's the minimum amount of bushwacking that would necessitate pants? 01:37:40 - What's your sun protection strategy? 01:40:12 - How do you handle weather? 01:45:45 - How structured are your days when routefinding? 01:48:50 - How do you confidently know where to find water? 01:53:45 - What other tips do you have for learning about your surroundings? 01:56:00 - What are some of your standout wildlife encounters? 02:08:35 - Tell us about your Black Belt Triple Crown 02:17:00 - Discussion about Eric's Alaska route 02:22:30 - Is there a rating scale for remoteness? 02:24:15 - What are the three most challenging elements of this route? 02:29:00 - How much of this route was Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3 fun? 02:30:10 - Tell us about the Super Sierra High Route 02:38:20 - Tell us about following the North Rim of the Grand Canyon 02:40:50 - What are the three most challenging elements of this route? 02:46:35 - Discussion about the ethics of hiking around the Grand Canyon 03:01:00 - Discussion about sharing information about routes publicly 03:03:30 - Stay Salty Question: What's your hottest take in the world of backpacking? 03:05:35 - What's next for you? Segments Trek Propaganda: Fewer People Thru-Hiked the AT in 2025. Is the Trail's Popularity on the Decline? By Katie Jackson Thing of the Week Triple Crown of soups/chilis 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 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, ...
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    3 hrs and 38 mins
  • 8 Epic Shorter Thru-Hikes: the Long Trail, Teton Crest Trail, and More (BPR #339)

    8 Epic Shorter Thru-Hikes: the Long Trail, Teton Crest Trail, and More (BPR #339)
    Jan 5 2026
    In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are talking "shorter" thru-hikes. We're joined again by our guy, Michael Grizzly Ivey, to give you an overview of eight standout US thru-hikes that you can hike in four weeks or less. We cover the Long Trail, Teton Crest Trail, Superior HIking Trail, Timberline Trail, Tahoe Rim Trail, Foothills Trail, and Uinta Highline, give you the trail overviews, relative difficulty, resupply strategy, the best time to hike, which direction, travel logistics, permit requirements, resupply strategy, standout wildlife, water availability, and our overall 30-second elevator pitch for each trail. Much like my waistline, your bucket list is about to expand. We wrap the show with tips for getting primo service at any restaurant (from a restaurant general manager), the triple crown of birds, and we prove that we will read just about anything in a 5-star review. Topo Athletic: Use code "TREKWINTER15" at topoathletic.com. [divider] Panel with Michael "Grizzly" Ivey Grizzly's Instagram Backpacker Radio # 29: Valentine's Day 2.0 with Grizzly + Jenna, Tent Orgies, and How to Hike 30 Miles in a Day Backpacker Radio #191 | Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail 2.0: High Snow Year Considerations, Gear Changes by Section, and More Time stamps & Questions 00:07:30 - Reminders: Apply to be a Trail Correspondent, apply to vlog or blog for the Trek, subscribe to The Trek's Youtube, , and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon! 00:13:00 - Introducing Grizzly 00:15:50 - What have you been up to since you were last on the podcast? 00:18:20 - Long Trail 00:29:00 - Ozark Highlands Trail (Learn more from BPR #199 and BPR #197) 00:41:15 - Superior Hiking Trail 00:56:20 - Tahoe Rim Trail (Learn more from BPR #157) 01:11:40 - Foothills Trail (Learn more from BPR #243) 01:24:20 - Uinta Highline Trail 01:36:20 - Timberline Trail 01:44:12 - Teton Crest Trail (Learn more from BPR #265) 02:04:20 - What's your top performance enhancing hack? Segments Trek Propaganda: 10 Short Trails You Can Thru-Hike in Winter by Jordan Charbonneau QOTD: What are some tips to getting the best treatment possible when eating out? Triple Crown of birds 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 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, Krystn Bell, Matt from Gilbert, AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Randy Sutherland, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, SPAM, The Saint Louis Shaman, Timothy Hahn, Tracy 'Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Benjy Lowry, Bonnie Ackerman, Brett Vandiver, Chris Pyle, David, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Denise Krekeler, Jack Greene, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, and Spencer Hinson.
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    2 hrs and 41 mins
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