A Lifetime of Trail Maintenance: the Blackburn Trail Center, Building the AT Rollercoaster, and the Potomac AT Club with Chris “Trailboss” Brunton (BPR #310)

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Chris Brunton aka “Trailboss”. Trailboss is a legendary force in the construction and maintenance of the Appalachian Trail, most notably, the infamous Rollercoaster section of the trail through Virginia.  Trailboss enlightens us with some history of the trail, the process for procuring the trail’s corridor through that section, how he met his wife (CEO of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy) Sandi Marra, why he dedicates his life to the AT, and much more.

We wrap the show with a brief overview of the difference between freezing and refrigerating food for Chaunce, the triple of the longest minutes, and a listener provides a hack for staying hydrated when you can’t reach the side pockets on your pack.

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

Gossamer Gear: Use code “BACKPACKER20” for 20% off packs at gossamergear.com. 

Shady Rays: Use code “TREK” for 50% off two or more pairs of sunglasses at shadyrays.com.

Betterment: Learn more at betterment.com/trek.

Ka’Chava: Use code “BACKPACKER” for 15% off at kachava.com.

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Interview with Chris “Trailboss” Brunton

Time stamps & Questions

00:05:20 - Trail Days Day 2

00:13:25 - Reminders: Sign up for the Trek’s newsletter, listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon and apply to blog for the Trek!

00:15:30 - Introducing Trailboss

00:18:00 - Tell us about growing up in England

00:21:00 - How did you get started doing trail work?

00:33:00 - What brought you to the US?

00:37:00 - What was it like to emigrate to the US?

00:38:55 - How did you deal with the aftermath of handshake agreements?

00:42:10 - What was the mindset when building the Rollercoaster section?

00:47:50 - When did the section get its name and its sign?

00:53:40 - What is the motive in purchasing land near the trail corridor?

00:54:50 - What are the positive benefits of the ATC?

01:02:00 - Discussion about Benton McCaye and Myron Avery

01:06:40 - What are the rewarding aspects of doing trail maintenance?

01:12:30 - How did the PATC get started?

Segments

Trek Propaganda: “We Are Transforming These Mountains in a Way Humans Have Never Seen”: The Future of the Sierra Nevada, John Muir’s Range of Light by Karl Ford