Triple Crowning with a Trombone, Working as a Hiking Guide, and the South Dakota Centennial Trail with Amy "Slider" Hunsucker

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Amy Hunsucker. On trail, Amy is known as "Slider" because she hikes with a trombone- something she's done for the entire triple crown. We of course learn all about this fun quirk, including which animals were most appreciative of her on-trail concerts, which parts of trail provided the best acoustics, the reactions she'd get from other hikers and the broader trail community, and her go-to on-trail trombone jams. Slider also gives us the low down on getting her sawyer certification, her trail maintenance work with the Carolina Mountain Club, hiking South Dakota's Centennial Trail, and life as a hiking guide in North Carolina.

We wrap the show with the pieces of thru-hiking advice we wish we'd never given, Chaunce gives her take of whether she'd rather be alone in the woods with a man or a bear, we do the triple crown of freezer foods, I give a one-minute gear review of my current rain jacket, and a listener lectures us on how we dropped the ball on our interview with Liz Kidder.

Topo Athletic: Use code "TREKWINTER15" at topoathletic.com.

Gossamer Gear: Use code "LT520" for 20% off LT5 Trekking Poles at gossamergear.com. 

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Interview with Amy Hunsucker

• Amy's Instagram

Time stamps & Questions

00:04:50 - QOTD: What's more upsetting, the Bills' loss or losing your ceremony footage?

00:06:40 - Reminders: Take the AT Thru-Hiker Survey, apply to blog for the Trek, and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon!

00:11:00 - Introducing Amy

00:11:34 - How did you get your trail name?

00:12:12 - How do you find an ultralight trombone?

00:14:40 - Give us the background on playing the trombone

00:18:55 - Did you learn new songs as you hiked?

00:22:40 - Have you ever used your trombone for anything other than music?

00:24:30 - How did you get into backpacking?

00:27:50 - What was starting the AT like?

00:30:54 - Why don't you think your trombone is a luxury item?

00:31:48 - Is there a GOAT of the trombone world?

00:36:10 - Tell us about getting onto the CDT

00:37:30 - What's your hot take on the PCT?

00:42:50 - Why'd you decide to go southbound on the CDT?

00:45:15 - Why'd you decide to flip flop the PCT?

00:52:15 - How did you keep up your mindset during the flip flop?

00:53:55 - What was your best day on trail?

00:56:10 - What was your worst day on trail?

00:57:40 - What was your scariest day on trail?

01:00:02 - What was your stupidest day on trail?

01:02:45 - Tell us about working for Blue Ridge Hiking Company

01:10:40 - What was being in Asheville like during the hurricane?

01:17:12 - Tell us about g