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Backpacker Radio: Daily Summaries Delivered
by The Trek
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.
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- Yesterday3h 1m
Walking the Portuguese Camino with Her Parents to Honor Her Late Brother with Elise "Sauce" Ott (BPR #361)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by our pal Elise Ott, aka Sauce, who gives us a play by play of her recent hike on Portuguese Camino coastal route along with her parents. SOS walks us through doing the Camino as a tribute to her late brother Curtis, who passed away in February of 2025 after years of living with schizoaffective disorder. She shares his story with honesty and humor, including the time he stole a county parks truck in a three-piece suit, drove it across state lines, and complimented the cop who tackled him, and gets into what it's like to love someone whose illness made them impossible to help, why she doesn't know exactly how he died, and what it meant to scatter his ashes along the coast of Portugal with her parents. Elise also shares what the Portuguese Camino coastal route is actually like, the food situation (and why it was mas o menos), how it was to hike the trail through a tour operator, navigating language barriers with limited Spanish, and what it's like to hike 13 days with your parents and come out closer on the other side. We wrap the show with 2026 hiking trends and whether they're actually worth it, debating the classic debate of raccoon-who-knows-your-secrets versus the goose-who-overreacts-to-everything, the triple crown of girly gear, I am very dumb and pulled my hamstring, and we cover a mailbag about wearing contacts on trail. Warning: this episode contains candid discussion of mental illness, substance abuse, family trauma, and the death of a loved one. 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. OnX Backcountry: Use code "TREK70" for 70% off at onxmaps.com Shady Rays: Use code "TREK" for 40% off two or more pairs of sunglasses at shadyrays.com. [divider] Interview with Elise "SOS" Ott Elise's Instagram Elise's Website Elise's Youtube Time stamps & Questions 00:05:35 - Reminders: Join us for Chaunce's live podcast sendoff, submit your favorite Chaunce moments or a voicemail for Chaunce, calling all CDT hikers - suggest yourself as a guest, sign up for the Trek's newsletter, and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon! 00:12:30 - Introducing Elise 00:14:00 - What does a running coach do? 00
- 5 days ago49 min
The World's Tallest Unclimbed Mountains, Tips for Taking a Sabbatical to Hike, and Kissing vs. Sauces
Segments The Tallest Unclimbed Mountains Trek Propaganda: Roundup Is Being Sprayed in National Forests. Here's What PCT Hikers Should Know by Kelly Floro QOTD: Would you rather give up sauces or kissing? Triple Crown of Ways NOT to die 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, Jackson Storm, JaredNotFromSubway, Jason Kiser, Jason "The Snail" Snailer, Luke Netjes, Matty in AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Randy Sutherland, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, 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, Dakota J, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Denise Krekeler, Jack Greene, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Lloyd Harris, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, Sloan Alberhasky, and Tyler Powers
- 1 weeks ago3h 41m
Backpacker Radio's Origin Story, Evolution, and Behind the Scenes with Zach and Chaunce (BPR #360)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are bringing you the rare Chaunce and Zach solo pod. In this one, we tell the full origin story of Backpacker Radio, from the unofficial co-host audition at a hiker meetup, to Chaunce showing up at the wrong restaurant on day one, to almost not making it past the early episodes. We get into how our interviewing dynamic has evolved over eight years, the technical disasters of the early days, the team that quietly makes this whole thing work, our all-time favorite guests, the ones we never aired, the dream guests we still haven't landed, and answer a slew of listener questions. We wrap the show with a triple crown of worst ways to die, share the news that apparently Roundup is being sprayed in our national forests, opine on whether we'd rather give up sauces or kissing (and debate whether butter is a sauce), and give an overview on how to negotiate a thru-hiking sabbatical from your employer. Topo Athletic: Use code "TREK15TOPO" at topoathletic.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code "BACKPACKERRADIO" for $20 off LT5 Trekking Poles at gossamergear.com. OnX Backcountry: Use code "TREK70" for 70% off at onxmaps.com [divider] Interview with Chaunce Time stamps & Questions 00:06:15 - Reminders: Support Akuna during his recovery, join us for Chaunce's live podcast sendoff, submit your favorite Chaunce moments or a voicemail for Chaunce, apply to be a co-host, check out our new merch, listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon! 00:15:05 - Introducing Chaunce 00:17:10 - What was Zach's initial idea for the podcast and how you decided you wanted a co-host? 00:25:42 - What were your first impressions of each other 00:27:48 - What were your expectations for the podcast's longevity and success? 00:34:20 - Did you discuss the style of the podcast and interview format you wanted? 00:39:43 - How has your co-interviewing strategy changed over the years? 00:59:25 - How are guests chosen for the show? 01:09:58 - What are some surprising things you've learned about making the podcast? 01:19:13 - How many interviews or segments have had to be cut? 01:24:18 - How long did it take to get over saying something dumb on air? 01:32:46 - How has the other person changed since episode one? 01:35:49 - What phrases or habits have you picked up from each other? 01:36:31 - How is the Mile by Mile project going? 01:45:45 - How have you balanced full-time work with hiking and the podcast? <span style="fo
- 1 weeks ago1h 44m
Long Trail Trivia, the Best Town Food to Hike Out with, REI Flash Shade Review, and the Future of AI
Segments Long Trail Trivia Trek Propaganda: Check out the Trek's Youtube Processing QOTD: Everyone on earth takes a private vote by pressing a red or blue button. If more than 50% of people press the blue button, everyone survives. If less than 50% of people press the blue button, only people who pressed the red button survive. Which button would you press? Sun Hoodie Review - REI Flash Shade Triple Crown of town food to hike out with 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, Jackson Storm, JaredNotFromSubway, Jason Kiser, Jason "The Snail" Snailer, Luke Netjes, Matty in AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Randy Sutherland, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, 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, Dakota J, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Denise Krekeler, Jack Greene, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Lloyd Harris, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, Sloan Alberhasky, and Tyler Powers.
- 2 weeks ago4h 20m
Chaunce VS Jabba: The Final Showdown (BPR #359)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are bringing you the final on-air fight between Jabba and Chaunce. It is mostly awkward and uncomfortable, with- I think- a dash of closure at the end. Will you enjoy it? I don't know. Maybe not. We wrap the show with a question of the day involving button pushing and death, a new sun hoodie review- the REI Flash Shade, the triple crown of food to hike out of town with, we breakdown whether all food can be categorized as a soup, salad, or sandwich, we put out a call for your favorite Chaunce clips, and for your self-nominations as guest co-host of this here podcast. 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. OnX Backcountry: Through Memorial Day, use code "TREK70" for 70% off at onxmaps.com [divider] Interview with Jabba Jabba's Instagram Time stamps & Questions 00:07:50 - Reminders: Join us for Chaunce's live podcast sendoff, submit your favorite Chaunce moments or a voicemail for Chaunce, apply to be a co-host, check out our new merch, listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon! 00:18:15 - Jabba, recap your hiking on the Arizona Trail 00:30:20 - How many trails have you quit? 00:36:30 - Rehashing when Chaunce's face was broken 00:44:05 - Describe your first meeting with one another 00:51:55 - Per pound, who's the stronger backpacker? 00:58:45 - How has your friendship changed over time? 01:03:35 - Would Jabba only use a gas station bathroom for a year to get $1 million dollars? 01:07:00 - Jabba vs. Chaunce arm wrestle 01:09:14 - What did Jabba think about people coming to Chaunce's defense after the guy stuff episode? 01:16:30 - Spin the Wheel 01:20:00 - How long of a hike could you do together? 01:34:50 - What is the thing you like the most about the other person? 01:43:40 - What is the thing you dislike most about the other person? 01:50:45 - Chaunce tries to compliment Jabba 02:03:00 - When was the last time Jabba's feelings were hurt? 02:12:10 - Stay Salty Question: What's your hottest take in the world of backpacking? Segments Trek Propaganda: <a href= "ht
- 2 weeks ago1h 2m
How Dangerous is Backpacking, Paka Sun Hoodie Review, the Worst Gifts for Young Kids, and the Boy Who Cried Wolf Gone Wrong
Segments Ways to Die Trek Propaganda: Hikers Discover Human Remains Near Vermont Appalachian Trail by Kelly Floro QOTD: What celebrity names can you never remember? Triple Crown of the worst gifts to give young kids Parenting Thing of the Week Sun Hoodie Review 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, Jackson Storm, JaredNotFromSubway, Jason Kiser, Jason "The Snail" Snailer, Luke Netjes, Matty in AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Randy Sutherland, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, 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, Dakota J, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Denise Krekeler, Jack Greene, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Lloyd Harris, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, Sloan Alberhasky, and Tyler Powers.
- 3 weeks ago2h 52m
Fired from the Forest Service by DOGE, Public Lands Advocacy, and Finding Joy in a World of Bad News with Liz Crandall (BPR #358)
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Liz Crandall, a former US Forest Service field ranger who was fired by DOGE last February and has since transitioned into advocacy, activism, and podcasting, serving as the host of Rangers of the Lost Park. In this one, Liz walks us through nine years of climbing the federal government's career ladder, from GS3 volunteer to permanent employee, and what it actually felt like to receive the phone call telling her it was over. She breaks down the DOGE firing process, the spam-looking emails that nobody believed were real, the Fork in the Road offer that most people didn't take, and what it looked like inside a Forest Service office where even the people who voted for the administration were crying. She also shares what it took to go from a person who was trained never to talk to the press to someone doing live CNN, the roadless rule and why she thinks rescinding it is a bad idea, her crown jewel podcast guest Ken Burns, and two pants-shitting stories from her hitchhiking days that she's been dreading telling us since she booked this. We wrap the show with hikers who discovered human remains in Vermont, the celebrity names we can never remember, how I butchered the boy who cried wolf, the triple crown of the worst gifts to give your kids, and an ALL TIME listener email and poop story. Topo Athletic: Use code "TREK15TOPO" at topoathletic.com. Gossamer Gear: Use code "BACKPACKERRADIO" for $20 off LT5 Trekking Poles at gossamergear.com. OnX Backcountry: Through Memorial Day, use code "TREK70" for 70% off at onxmaps.com [divider] Interview with Liz Crandall Rangers of the Lost Park Podcast Rangers of the Lost Park Instagram Liz's Instagram Time stamps & Questions 00:05:34 - Processing 00:10:30 - Reminders: Join us for Chaunce's live podcast sendoff, subscribe to The Trek's Youtube, check out our new merch, and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon! 00:17:25 - Introducing Liz 00:18:10 - What's the story behind your ranger raccoon tattoo? 00:24:47 - Tell us about working in wildlife rehab between Forest Service seasons 00:30:23 - How did you go from wildlife rehab to becoming a field ranger? 00:33:00 - What do the GS pay grades mean and how does the Forest Service career ladder work? 00:36:39 - What were your biggest accomplishments climbing from GS-3 to GS-6? 00:41:13 - When did things start going wrong under the new administration? 00:43:01 - What were the Fork in the Road emails from DOGE actually saying? <span style="font-weight: 400
- 3 weeks ago1h 14m
Signs of Thru-Hiker Entitlement, Weird Smells, the Triple Crown of Mountain Peaks, and a "Geography" Quiz
Segments Geography Quiz Smells Associated with Health Issues Trek Propaganda: 7 All-Too Common Signs of Entitlement I've Noticed in the Thru-Hiking Community by Peg Leg QOTD: Why does a sawyer filter last a lifetime but you're supposed to swap a brita every few months? Triple Crown of mountain peaks 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, Jackson Storm, JaredNotFromSubway, Jason Kiser, Jason "The Snail" Snailer, Luke Netjes, Matty in AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Randy Sutherland, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, 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, Dakota J, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Denise Krekeler, Jack Greene, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Lloyd Harris, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, Sloan Alberhasky, and Tyler Powers.
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About Backpacker Radio
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.
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