Episode 30: Camino de Santiago
Starting in 1985, modern day hikers have increasingly followed the path – with over 200,000 “pilgrims” hiking the route each of the last few years. In the podcast, Squatch talks about his adventures on the ~518 mile trail and offers up some suggestions for prospective thru-hikers.
For more information on Squatch and his films, click here! And watch out for his latest release, 72 Days In Iceland, which will be available for streaming (and on DVD) this February. In the last ten minutes of the show, Squatch provides a preview and also hints at his next great adventure. Click below for the audio interview.
Subject: Wayfaring
Interviewees: Scott “Squatch” Herriott
Interview Date: January 15. 2016
Runtime: 54:07
Download Now: Wayfaring (WMA format 38.6 Meg);
Wayfaring (MP3 format 103.9 Meg)
You can follow or subscribe to this podcast if you click here (via Blubrry, Facebook, Google+, iGoogle, iTunes, RSS, Twitter, Stitcher, Yahoo, Zune). Or click this link for a complete list of N2Backpacking podcasts.
Preparing for your next hike? Don’t forget these apps!
Hiking is a great physical and leisure activity that can be enjoyed by people of varying fitness levels. Statista documented there is currently 34.38 million active hikers in the U.S. alone, demonstrating the popularity of this outdoor activity as a pastime. But whether you are an experienced hiker that has an impeccable sense of direction and dependable instincts, there are still several mobile apps that you should consider downloading before your next adventure.
Smartphones are the compasses of the 21st century.
Owners and operators of mobile casino brand PocketFruity revealed that there were one billion smartphone users by the end of 2012, a number that’s said to surpass the two billion mark in 2016. The explosion in smartphone accessibility usage is all thanks to the advances in mobile technology, and now that smartphones are equipped with accurate GPS tracking capabilities, hikers can safely make their way through trails without getting lost.
While you’re out there in the wilderness, you’ll need an offline navigation system because being connected to your 3G network will quickly eat up your battery, and it’s not like you’ll find any charging stations throughout your hike, nor will you have access to WiFi. For Android users, BackCountry Navigator PRO GPS provides of good selection U.S. topographical maps for $10. iOS users have a cheaper option with MotionX GPS since it only costs $1, but maps will have to be downloaded prior to the trip.
AllTrails is a free app that will be good addition to your smartphone. It has over 50,000 guides for trails in North America and is the most popular reference for hikers with its more than 1.5 million users. With this app, you’ll be able to find various kinds of trails at different difficulty levels within your proximity. You may also track your own trails and share it friends and other fellow users.
There is a wider selection of hiking apps that will enhance your experience with the great outdoors, but having these apps on your gadget is sufficient enough to turn your hiking trip to an amazing adventure.
Episode 27: Superwoman
In the podcast, Niki talks about her first ventures in to the outdoors, her hike of the Pacific Crest Trail, and the event that changed her life – a 60' fall that nearly ended her life (and made her an amputee). Niki is now a week in to her A.T. thru-hike and took time from a rest area in North Georgia to speak with us. Click below for her inspirational story, or click this link to follow her on Facebook.
Subject: Superwoman
Interviewees: Niki Rellon
Interview Date: March 27, 2015
Runtime: 46:45
Download Now: Superwoman (WMA format 32.2 Meg);
Superwoman (MP3 format 44.8 Meg)
You can follow or subscribe to this podcast if you click here (via Blubrry, Facebook, Google+, iGoogle, iTunes, RSS, Twitter, Stitcher, Yahoo, Zune). Or click this link for a complete list of N2Backpacking podcasts.
A Thru-Hiker Looks At 20
It’s been 20 years since I thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail. There’s no doubt, it was a different Trail back then – fewer thru-hikers, no cell phones, and no websites to research the A.T. prior to heading out. Thru-hikers today are better informed, better connected, and significantly better prepared than when I hiked in 1994. That said, here are some tips for the Class of 2015 as you start the A.T. this Spring:
- Create, then ditch your itinerary. It’s fun to plan an itinerary and anticipate where you will be during your thru-hike. You should do it – but don’t live by it. Schedules are for the workingman. I had the most fun on the Trail when I ditched my itinerary and rolled with the Trail (and not against it).
- It’s the journey not the destination: Take your time and enjoy it. There aren’t many thru-hikers that finish and wish they went faster. If you generally enjoy being on the Trail, you are far more likely to finish it. Besides, many of you will be back in the 40+ hour/week grind soon enough. Cherish your thru-hike while you have it. You may not get this chance again or for quiet some time (although I hope you do).
- Don’t let the extreme thru-hikers ruin your experience. Don’t let anyone ruin your experience, this is your trip. Hike your own hike.
- Keep a journal: Your mind will fade, trust me, and you will want to remember where you were on [insert date] on your thru-hike. In the 20 years since my thru-hike, there isn’t a single month that goes by where I don’t look at my journal.
- Take lots of photos (or videos): No one was shooting video in 1994 when I hiked, but we did take 35mm pictures and I’m glad we did. Photos (and video) capture many things your journal does not – what you are wearing, eating, doing, etc. Many of these things are lost in a journal and over time.
- Swap photos (or videos) with other thru-hikers: Your Trail buddies may bring a different perspective to the thru-hike in the pictures they take, angles they shoot, moments they capture, etc. They may also take a lot of pictures of you during the hike. That’s something you can’t easily do on your own.
- Be grateful to those who provide services on the trail. You are setting a legacy for the future.
- Don’t forget those who made this possible. Thank every volunteer you meet. Pitch in when and where you can (now or later). The A.T. exists because of the Trail maintainers and they can’t be thanked enough for it.
- Mix a few hours of music into your hike each day. It will become the soundtrack of your thru-hike, and 20 years from now those songs will bring back memories just like your journal, photos, or videos.
- Know that this experience may haunt you for the rest of your life (in a good way): So embrace it. The reality is that the trappings of life (jobs, mortgage, car payments, kid expenses, etc.) will find you soon enough. Those things aren’t necessarily bad, but they make doing a second thru-hike a challenge. This is truly your time – when you have the freedom to take every day at your pace and to answer only to the Trail. So make the most of it.
Thru-Hiking Tips From Legendary A.T. Hiker – Warren Doyle
Just found some vintage footy from this legend in the A.T. Thru-Hiking community. I saw him speak at Trail Days many years ago and actually purchased this 1993 Lynne Whelden “How-To” video right before I hit the Trail.
41 Camping Hacks That Are Borderline Genius
Some of these “Camping Hacks” are pretty good. I’m definitely going to try #9 “Make crescent rolls over the campfire” on our next trip…
The complete list of camping hacks are at this link….
http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/camping-hacks-that-are-borderline-genius
The Ultimate Summer Roadtrip – Part Two (Coming Soon)
Had a chance to record a podcast with Mackie recently for “The Ultimate Summer Roadtrip – Part Two”.
It's in the editing room right now and should be ready for release by the end of this week.
In the meantime, check out “The Ultimate Summer Roadtrip – Part One” if you haven't already.
It will get you primed for Part Two and recaps a cross-country hiking/backpacking trip I did with Snyder (aka The Ox) two years after my 1996 trip with Mackie (who is shown above at our interview in Richmond, VA).
Pacific Crest Trail DVD Just Released
Just got this DVD in the mail yesterday about the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) and look forward to watching it. It's received solid reviews from some respected members of the Trail community. So I made the purchase.
I'm sure it will spark a desire to do another thru-hike – although taking six months off to walk in the woods will not fly the Mrs.!
Follow a half dozen of the 300 or so hikers who attempt a Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike every year. Armed with cameras, they give us an insider's view into what it takes to spend half a year living in the wild.
Walk your Way to a Thinner you
Walk your Way to a Thinner you
If you want to shed those pounds but don’t want to sign up to an expensive gym membership, why not give walking a try? With so much emphasis on new and exciting ways to lose weight, walking is often forgotten about.
What You’ll Need
Unlike joining a gym, you won’t have to shell out money every month to keep fit but you will need to invest in appropriate footwear if you want to get the most out of your workout. You can buy Outdoor and Walking Boots from Regatta.com and choose from a wide range of shoes and boots in various styles and designs.
When to Walk
The amount of time you put in to your new exercise regime will depend on what your overall fitness goals are. Do you want to simply improve your fitness or do you want to lose weight and tone up? Once you have established your goals, you can then begin to put together a schedule. The most important thing when starting a new fitness regime is to be consistent. If you want to see results you have to stick to a routine and make time for your workouts. Set yourself goals throughout the month and keep track of your workouts and this will help you keep track of your progress.
Where to Walk
With hundreds of walking and hiking routes in the UK, you will be spoilt for choice. Start off with easy routes and build up your stamina over time. Don’t forget to choose more challenging routes once your fitness has improved.
Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike 1994
Here is a video slideshow of my 1994 Thru-Hike on the Appalachian Trail. I mixed the video two years later in Charlotte, NC using an old VHS camera and a mic/mixing system from the Video Editor. The technology is archaic by today’s standards but it captured the moment at the time.
The slideshow clocks in at nearly 40 minutes which is likely too long for most, and my kids tell me I sound a bit sad in the early narration. But be patient – things pick up as we close in on Katahdin. If nothing else, it’s a look back at the A.T. in the early 90’s – before modern technology caught up with the Trail and when few hikers were equipped to record the moment – other than with a 35mm camera.
I hope to make a shorter, more upbeat, and a more modern version of this video at some point … but here it is in the original 90’s format. I hope you enjoy it. If you want to see a day-by-day log of the hike, then click this link.