Backpacker Radio

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Heidi Nisbett aka Sketch. Heidi is a thru-hiker, hiking guide, and an exceptionally talented artist, having recently been commissioned to paint a giant mural at the Trail Center in Damascus. Heidi gives us the lowdown on why she loved the Foothills Trail, the Superior Hiking Trail, Pinhoti Trail, and more. We also go in-depth on Heidi's journey as an artist, how she fell in love with it as a kid, fell out of love with it post-college, and rekindled the flame during her time hiking the AT. She shares her top advice to aspiring trail-focused artists, we learn about a CDT thru-hike that went wildly awry, and we chat the best and worst beer styles. This is another fun chat guaranteed to bring a smile to your head.

We wrap the show with reasons why the Florida Trail is actually awesome, I'm shamed for liking things I'm good at, we do a triple crown of hiking things we just don't get, a Florida Man segment, and much more.

Visit Iceland with Chaunce and Badger: Registration is live for our 2024 trip to Iceland. Come and hike to glaciers, waterfalls, and secret lagoons with your favorite podcast hosts. More info here!

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Interview with Heidi Nisbett

• Heidi Nisbett Instagram
• Sketching Summits website
• Sketching Summits TikTok

Time stamps & Questions

00:03:05 - Reminders: Chaunce is unwell & we’re still collecting poop stories for our book. Send your story here!

00:08:54 - Introducing Heidi Nisbett

00:09:42 - Is it safe to say you’re a beer connoisseur?

00:09:55 - What’s the style of beer you’re into now?

00:10:07 - Do you have a favorite wheat beer?

00:10:24 - What is your trail name and the origin?

00:11:10 - Why didn’t you like the name Picasso?

00:11:56 - What did Picasso do for art history?

00:12:45 - Were you sketching at all shelter logs?

00:13:58 - How long do the paintings take you?

00:14:58 - Was it hard to maintain a social group if you stop to paint?

00:15:40 - Do most people break up with art after their degree?

00:20:07 - When did art stand out as something you were talented in?

00:20:50 - Do you come from artsy people?

00:22:58 - At what point were you getting positive feedback on your art?

00:23:40 - What role did social media play as you re-entered the art world?

00:26:13 - What happens between your art career and hiking the AT?

00:29:11 - How does a paint and sip class work?

00:30:44 - What tips do you have for amateur artists?

00:34:00 - Tell us about your style of art now

00:35:08 - How would you describe the style of art?

00:37:36 - How did you transition from art girl to hiking girl?

00:40:28 - What was your hiking experience prior to the AT?

00:42:06 - Tell us about the evolution of your art as you hiked along the AT?

00:44:46 - How did you decide to make your art your full-time business after hiking?

00:47:20 - What draws people in the most?

00:48:40 - How do you overcome imposter syndrome?

00:49:50 - Tell us about your work with the ATC

00:52:52 - Was that your first mural?

00:54:40 - How does it work when painting around features in the room?

00:55:44 - Is this the piece of art that has consumed the most amount of your time?

00:55:52 - What is the second longest?

00:56:51 - What’s the most popular piece of art?

00:57:22 - What do you mail most often?

00:59:07 - How do you determine what to turn into a sticker?

01:00:23 - Have you asked if the Pinhoti has any mural needs?

01:02:10 - How was the Pinhoti?

01:04:30 - Why pick the Pinhoti over other trails?

01:05:48 - How does the difficulty compare to the AT?

01:06:54 - Is there a bad time of year to hike the Pinhoti?

01:08:01 - Would you pick Pinhoti or Superior Hiking Trail?

01:09:42 - How was the Foothills Trail?

01:11:57 - What’s the hiking culture in North Carolina?

01:12:56 - Are you familiar with the Overmountain ...

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Stuart Howe. Stu is an avid backpacker of remote and rugged Canadian treks, the proprietor of a Youtube Channel dedicated to documenting the backpacking trips he’s done with his identical twin daughters, and the nicest guy you’ve ever met!

We learn all about how his entry into backpacking was spearheaded by his girls, the best trails he’s done across Canada and the US, how he likely encountered an aggressively grizzly bear that later tragically killed a couple and their dog, and his organization, which aims to expand safe access into the Canadian backcountry.

We wrap the show with news of a missing thru-hiker on the PCT, the best outdoor temperature, the triple crown of worst TV characters, and how Chaunce's random act of kindness is giving her internet street cred.

Gossamer Gear: Use code “SNUGGLEBUG” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com.

Sambob: Use code “BACKPACKER15” for 15% off at sambob.biz.

[divider]

Interview with Stuart Howe

• Howe's the Hike Website
• Howe's the Hike Youtube
• The Canadian Backcountry Trails Preservation Society

Time stamps & Questions

00:02:20 - Reminders: Support us on Patreon for exclusive bonus content! Keep an eye out for the Trek’s fall editorial internship and use code “gingerstuff” for 15% off the Trek’s new merch!

00:04:30 - Introducing Stuart

00:05:00 - What is the Royal Canadian Geographical Society College of Fellows?

00:07:25 - Tell us about your wedding planning business

00:12:28 - In what ways is planning a good wedding like planning a good backpacking trip?

00:13:11 - At what age did you start backpacking with your daughters?

00:16:42 - What’s your background in the outdoors?

00:17:42 - How did you figure out the girls’ gear on initial trips?

00:20:13 - Were there less glamorous portions of backpacking with teenagers?

00:22:34 - Do your daughters get along better compared to their peers?

00:23:34 - What family dynamics set them up for success before you started backpacking?

00:25:20 - Were you reluctant or excited to start a Youtube channel?

00:26:35 - How involved were the girls in the Youtube video production?

00:27:40 - How much work was it to keep them interested in backpacking?

00:29:09 - Did you intervene in disagreements?

00:30:05 - What was it like to teach two young girls to poop in the woods?

00:31:20 - What ‘oh shit’ moments did you encounter?

00:32:50 - Do you prepare more for trips with your kids than solo trips?

00:34:05 - Have you had any scary animal encounters?

00:39:00 - Discussion about bear spray

00:47:37 - The rest of Stu’s bear story

00:51:00 - Discussion about dogs and bears

00:55:40 - How do you handle food at camp when hiking through grizzly country?

00:57:20 - Are you more afraid to return to the area where you encountered the grizzly?

00:58:10 - The conclusion to the grizzly bear story

01:01:00 - Tell us about the Fundy Circuit

01:02:30 - How different are the Fundy Circuit and the Fundy Footpath?

01:03:30 - What is the Molar Loop like?

01:04:15 - How difficult is it to get permits for backpacking in Banff and Jasper?

01:06:40 - Is the backcountry less crowded than the frontcountry?

01:11:30 - How do you compare solo backpacking to trips with your kids?

01:13:45 - Did your wife miss going on the backpacking trips?

01:16:45 - Tell us about the South Boundary Trail in Jasper

01:18:40 - What trail would you recommend for someone with their kids in Banff or Jasper?

01:20:13 - How did you teach them about dangerous things without creating fear?

01:23:00 - What are the biggest differences in backpacking in the US versus Canada?

01:24:15 - What are the biggest resupply differences?

01:25:34 - Did you have your daughters navigate while hiking?

01:26:20 - Tell us about the Rocky Mountain Loadout

01:27:30 - What’s the Ancient Wall area like?

01:28:18 - Tell us about the West Coast trail

01:31:42 - Did you see any mountain lions?

01:32:41 - Why not the Sunshine Coast Trail?

01:34:00 - Tell us about the Canadian Backcountry Trails Preservation Society?

01:38:40 - How can people get involved if they’re interested?

01:39:58 - Kumo Question: What is the one celebrity you’d be m...

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, we're joined by Justin Helmcamp, aka Two Taps, who was kind enough to extend his layover in Denver to record this show. We chat about his Flip Flop thru-hike of the AT, his hike on New Zealand's Te Araroa, and his work as a wilderness therapist. We do a patent pending. And we commence the #ChaunceDontChafe hashtag.

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Subjects discussed in today's show include:

• Gossamer Gear Anniversary Video
• Use code "TREK15" at GossamerGear.com to save 15%
• Sawyer Permethrin
• Sawer Micro vs. Sawyer Squeeze
• Use code "thetrek" at us.foursigmatic.com (use that link) to save 15%
• Use Code "trek10" at Greenbelly.co to save 10% off your order.
• Chaunce is on the AT. Will still be co-host of the show, but will miss some episodes this year.
• Justin "2Taps" Helmkamp
• Te Araroa
• Oregon Desert Trail
• His Gear
  • Pack: Gossamer Gear Kumo 36, SWD 35, Pa'lante Packs
  • Shelter: Hyperlite Mountain Gear echo II tarp
  • Quilt: EE Enigma Apex 30 Synthetic
  • Footwear: Lone Peak 4, Bedrock Sandals
• HIKE for Mental Health
• The History of the Pacific Crest Trail by Kenny Howell
• Myron Avery: The Bully Who Built a Trail by Geoff Hutton.
• Patent Pending!
• Mailbag
• 5-star reviews
• Check out Trail Correspondents!

Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio? Reach out to [email protected].

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A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Michael W Hinkley, S11N, Sawyer Products, and Travis Smith

A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Gregory Gardner and Peter Leven

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