Backpacker Radio

Segments
Afroman Trial Recap
Trek Propaganda:
Injured Hiker Rescued After Two Days on the Appalachian Trail by Katie Jackson

The Gear That Lasted Me 10,000 Miles in 1 Year by Peg Leg

QOTD:  Would you rather get a million guaranteed or flip a coin for a billion?
Triple Crown of Jim Carey movies
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.
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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, 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, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Denise Krekeler, Jack Greene, Jak Hoquat, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Lloyd Harris, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, Sloan Alberhasky, and Tyler Powers.

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Megan "Rascal" Wilmarth, a triple crowner who has completed a long trail every year since 2019, including the triple crown, TA, Long Trail, JMT, Tahoe Rim Trail, and Wonderland Trail. Rascal also served as crew chief for Tara Dower's supported southbound FKT on the AT in 2024. 
In this one, Rascal walks us through what it actually takes to crew a 40-day record attempt, how a near-death situation in the San Juans changed the way she thinks about approaching the backcountry, what goes into a 109-mile push through the Wyoming Basin, and the gear, mindset, and mile-eating habits she's refined across thousands of miles on trail. This one is just a good old fashioned hiker trash chat we think you'll enjoy. 
We wrap the show with the 411 that Trail Correspondents is coming this week, news of a hiker rescue on the AT, what gear lasted the full length of Peg Leg's 10K mile year, whether we'd rather get a million guaranteed or flip a coin for a billion, the triple crown of Jim Carrey movies, and reminiscing about movies with leeches.
LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek.
Gossamer Gear: Use code "LT520" 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.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear: Use code "BPRADIO15" for 15% of hyperlitemountaingear.com
[divider]
Interview with Megan "Rascal" Wilmarth
Megan's Instagram
Megan on Hiker Trash Radio
Time stamps & Questions
00:04:56 - Reminders: Listen to Season 5 of Trail Correspondents, suggest a guest for the podcast, and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon!
00:08:52 - Introducing Rascal
00:12:29 - Give us a specific example of childhood mischievousness
00:13:55 - Discussion about ADHD and why backpacking works well for neurodivergent people
00:15:47 - How did you get into hiking? What put the AT on your radar?
00:19:50 - Do you remember a specific moment where the lightbulb went on?
00:22:24 - Discussion about shedding your old life/identity after the AT
00:24:23 - How quickly did you find your trail family on the AT?
00:25:47 - At what point did Tara surpass you in speed?
00:29:53 - What does a week look like for Tara training-wise?
00:31:22 - What is your overall goal with hiking every year since 2019?
00:32:50 - What are your favorite day hikes in Durango?
00:35:47 - How did you get so dialed in, gear-wise?
00:39:05 - Do you have tips on do's and don'ts for someone accumulating gear for a thru-hike?
00:46:41 - Discussion about Rascal's AT hitch gone wrong in Maine
00:49:31 - What are the red flags that trigger you not getting in a car?
00:50:41 - Any other standout stories from the AT?
00:51:27 - What brought you to the Long Trail after the AT?
00:55:02 - Tell us about hiking the JMT
00:58:59 - Discussion about the Half Dome cables experience
01:02:17 - You set the intention to do the PCT after the JMT — did that happen?
01:07:30 - Discussion about tracking stats
01:09:30 - What alternates did you take on the CDT to increase your mileage?
01:12:50 - Tell us about the rescue you almost needed in the San Juans
01:21:49 - Discussion about reconnecting with your trail family
01:27:32 - Discussion about the 109-mile push through the Wyoming Basin in 38 hours
01:31:00 - Had you done any ultras by this point leading up to the CDT?
01:33:31 - Do you have any non-obvious tips for pulling a big mile day?
01:36:11 - Discussion about getting giardia on the CDT
01:41:25 - Fuck, Marry, Kill: AT, PCT, CDT
01:43:10 - Discussion about the Te Araroa
01:47:10 - Tell us about the Tahoe Rim Trail and Wonderland Trail
01:48:37 - At what point did your world collide again with Tara for her AT FKT?
02:00:01 - How exhausting is crewing compared to your own thru-hike?
02:01:32 - Is there any part of you that wants recognition?
02:06:17 - Do you have any advice for someone looking to get into running after thru-hiking?
02:08:52 - What do you look for in a running vest?
02:09:40 - What's next for you trail-wise?
02:10:25 - Stay Salty Question: What's your hottest take in the world of backpacking/trail running?
Segments
Trek Propaganda:
Injured Hiker Rescued After Two Days on the Appalachian Trail by Katie Jackson
The Gear That Lasted Me 10,000 Miles in 1 Year by Peg Leg
QOTD:  Would you rather get a million guaranteed or flip a coin for a billion?
Triple Crown of Jim Carey movies
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, 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, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Denise Krekeler, Jack Greene, Jak Hoquat, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Lloyd Harris, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, Sloan Alberhasky, and Tyler Powers.

Segments
Snake Island
Trek Propaganda: Actually No, the Trail Won't Always Be There: Why You Should Thru-Hike Now by Claire Dumont
QOTD:  Fuck marry kill: rain, wind, snow
Triple Crown of potato foods
Mail Bag
5 Star Review
 
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, 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, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Denise Krekeler, Jack Greene, Jak Hoquat, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Lloyd Harris, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, Sloan Alberhasky, and Tyler Powers.

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Mills Kelly, a historian, podcaster, professor, and author.
Mills taught at George Mason University for 24 years, produced the acclaimed podcast The Green Tunnel, and just published his latest book, A Hiker's History of the Appalachian Trail. In this one, Mills takes us deep into the stories most hikers never hear: why the AT was never designed for through hiking, the surprisingly dark history of some of its founding figures, and why the hundred-mile wilderness used to be a network of fishing camps and steakhouses. We also get into dynamite soup, onion sandwiches, copperheads in fire pits, and the original purism debate, which dates back to 1948. Anyone who loves history and/or the AT is guaranteed to enjoy this one.
We wrap the show with a last call for the Denver Area hiker meetup, why- actually no- the trail won't always be there, a bang marry kill for rain, wind, and snow, the triple crown of potato foods, and some very important seafood tips from a listener.
Topo Athletic: Use code "TREKWINTER15" at topoathletic.com.
Gossamer Gear: Use code "BACKPACKERRADIO" for $20 off LT5 Trekking Poles at gossamergear.com. 
Hyperlite Mountain Gear: Use code "BPRADIO15" for 15% of hyperlitemountaingear.com
[divider]
Interview with Mills Kelly
Mills' Website
Time stamps & Questions
00:05:14 - Reminders: Join us for the hiker meetup, apply to vlog or blog for the Trek, and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon!
00:08:18 - Introducing Mills
00:10:48 - Did you ever thru-hike the AT?
00:18:45 - When you do hope to hike the Maine section?
00:20:04 - Who was Ed Garvey and why does he matter to AT history?
00:22:53 - What did backpacking gear look like in the early 1970s?
00:25:21 - What were onion sandwiches?
00:26:39 - What is Dynamite Soup?
00:28:32 - Discussion about Paul Fink's dark history and his connection to the AT's founding
00:29:20 - Discussion about race on the AT and what the historical record reveals
00:34:12 - Discussion about sundown towns and race on trail
00:39:22 - Discussion about women's early and prominent role in hiking clubs and trail building
00:41:20 - Tell us about the history and significance of trail clubs
00:45:50 - Discussion about Mills' course on historical hoaxes and internet misinformation
00:53:30 - How do you evaluate sources and verify truth as a historian?
00:58:15 - Are you scared about the future of truth in the age of AI and social media?
01:01:05 - Tell us about your experience with hearing loss
01:05:00 - Discussion about the history of killing snakes on the AT
01:10:30 - Discussion about the AT's trash problem in the 60s & 70s
01:16:00 - What does maintaining an AT shelter actually entail?
01:23:10 - What are your other pet peeves?
01:25:30 - What are your most popular podcast episodes?
01:28:25 - Why was southwestern Virginia the hardest part of the AT to route?
01:39:40 - Whas was Damascus like during its timber-industry heydey?
01:43:20 - How does the AT economically impact small rural towns?
01:45:40 - How did the trail come to start at Springer Mountain?
01:48:35 - What did Benton MacKaye actually intend tthe AT to be?
01:50:40 - What is the Warrior Path?
01:52:08 - Discussion about Katahdin's sacred history to the Abenaki
01:56:00 - Tell us about the history of the Katahdin sign
01:58:00 - How was the trail in Maine different historically than it is today?
01:59:42 - What was it like having to actually prove that you hiked the entire trail?
02:04:00 - Discussion about the original purism debate and Early Shafer's 1948 thru-hike
02:06:35 - What's next for you?
02:11:40 - Peak Performance Question: What's your top performance-enhancing or backpacking hack?
Segments
Trek Propaganda: Actually No, the Trail Won't Always Be There: Why You Should Thru-Hike Now by Claire Dumont
QOTD:  Fuck marry kill: rain, wind, snow
Triple Crown of potato foods
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, 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, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Denise Krekeler, Jack Greene, Jak Hoquat, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Lloyd Harris, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, Sloan Alberhasky, and Tyler Powers.

Segments
Trail Trivia
Trek Propaganda: The 11 Most Dangerous Animals on the Appalachian Trail by Katie Jackson
QOTD: How do you feel about someone hiking a triple crown trail while leaving a young kid at home?
Triple Crown of people at the gym
Mail Bag
5 Star Review
 
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, 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, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Denise Krekeler, Jack Greene, Jak Hoquat, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Lloyd Harris, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, Sloan Alberhasky, and Tyler Powers.