Backpacker Radio

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Caleb "Meatball" Adcock, a professional photographer and thru-hiker who completed the AT last year and is currently midway through the CDT, doing it almost entirely alone. 

Caleb walks us through how he built a career shooting for brands like Hype...

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Nasty Celebrity Encounters

Tribute to Bill Jensen

Trek Propaganda: After 22,000 Miles of Thru-Hiking, This Is One of the Biggest Mistakes I See Beginners Make by Peg Leg

QOTD: Do people face the shower head when they shower?

Triple Crown of things you can easily live without, but nonetheless should be free for everyone

Smitty's Exp...

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Jeremy Phoenix aka Smitty Werbenjagermanjensen, aka Javos, a Navajo-born, Amish-country-raised, REI-employed, grave-digging, Princeton-attending thru-hiker who completed the Colorado Trail in 15 days on his first ever backpacking trip and has been making up for lost time ever since. 

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Tiger Facts

Trek Propaganda: Timberline Lodge Ends Breakfast Buffet Popular With Generations of PCT Hikers by James Townsend

QOTD: Do poop pees count as full pees?

Sun Hoodie Review: Fjällräven Abisko Wool Hoodie

Triple Crown of words for penis

Mail Bag

5 Star Review

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Check out our...

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Matthew Hengst, aka Masochist, an IT-professional-turned-full-time-adventurer who over the past eight-plus years has racked up 20,000 miles hiked, nearly 3,000 miles paddled, 2.5 million feet of elevation climbed, and somewhere north of 300 diving sessions across multiple continents. <...

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Lyme Disease Update

Trek Propaganda: 2026 Hiking Gear Trends, And Whether I Think They're Actually Worth It by Livvy Weld

QOTD: Would you rather have one raccoon know all your secrets and occasionally hint at them or one goose publicly overreact to everything you do?

Stupid Thing of the Week

Triple Crown of gear you can find that's girly

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 year...

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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

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

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 ...

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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?

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 ...

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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

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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 ...

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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

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Stephen Palazzo, aka Near Miss, an Army veteran, thru-hiker, and peak bagger who has completed the AT, CDT, AZT, and Colorado Trail, summited all 58 of Colorado's 14ers, and knocked out three of the seven summits. 

This one runs the gambit. Stephen walks u...

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Dramatic Survival Stories

Trek Propaganda:

• Thru-Hiker Who Died on PCT Was Trek Blogger by Kelly Floro

• The Dark Side of Trail Magic: The Negative Experiences Hikers Rarely Talk About by Peg Leg

QOTD:  What's the best/funniest wor...

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...

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Lyme Disease Update

Trek Propaganda

• The First Week of Your Thru-Hike Will Probably Be the Hardest — Here's How To Prepare by Kelly Floro

QOTD:  Does pizza lose its luster as you get older?

Triple Crown of Star Wars characters

Mail Bag

5 Star Review

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 you...