#10 | Expectations vs. Reality (Group 2)

Explicit content warning

06/06/19 • 53 min

To prepare for a thru-hike is to spend months reading blog posts, watching videos, and following social media accounts trying to absorb as much information for your forthcoming journey as possible. But even the most type A person can't completely envision what lies ahead on the trail- and thank god for that.

That is precisely the premise of today's show. Today our hikers let us in on how the journey has deviated from their expectations.

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In today's show, we hear from:

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Editing and music courtesy of Pauly Boy Shallcross.

That is precisely the premise of today's show. Today our hikers let us in on how the journey has deviated from their expectations.

FIND US ON ITUNES | FIND US ON GOOGLE PLAY | FIND US ON STITCHER

Get a 10% discount off at northxnorth.co by using code "TREK10".

In today's show, we hear from:

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

Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Download this episode here. Find us on Stitcher and Google Play.

INSTAGRAM: Follow Trail Correspondents, The Trek, and Badger.

YOUTUBE: Subscribe to The Trek.

FACEBOOK: Follow Trail Correspondents and The Trek.

< sign up for our newsletter >

Editing and music courtesy of Pauly Boy Shallcross.

Previous Episode

#9 | Reactions to the Murder on the Appalachian Trail

Today's episode was not supposed to happen. At the beginning of the season, we outline the subjects in which we want our hikers to share with you. Today's show was not on that agenda. This episode is in response to the recent news of the murder that occurred on the Appalachian Trail.

In the very early hours on May 11th, a pair of hikers were attacked by a man with a machete. One of them survived, albeit with very serious wounds, the other, Ronald Sanchez known on trail as Stronghold, did not. For the sake of not repeating myself, you can hear more details about this attack and my brief thoughts on this horrific incident in the intro of episode 38 of Backpacker Radio.

For this show, however, we wanted to feature the take of our Appalachian Trail hikers, those who were out on the trail during this tragic event. In the following recordings, they share how they found out about the news, and how it has impacted their hikes, along with that of their trail families. Here it is.

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Leave us a review on iTunes.

In today's show, we hear from:

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

Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Download this episode here. Find us on Stitcher and Google Play.

INSTAGRAM: Follow Trail Correspondents, The Trek, and Badger.

YOUTUBE: Subscribe to The Trek.

FACEBOOK: Follow Trail Correspondents and The Trek.

< sign up for our newsletter >

Editing and music courtesy of Pauly Boy Shallcross.

Next Episode

#11 | Thru-Hiking Gear: Regrets, Upgrades, and Best Advice (Group 2)

Gear. For some people it's their favorite topic in the world, for others, it results in a shoulder shrug and an eye roll. But whether you love or hate gear talk, there's no way around it: what you carry on your back, plays a big role in how much you enjoy your hike. More precisely, getting it wrong the first time, can be emotionally and financially draining.

-Check out the full list of what our hikers changed in the show notes below-

Today our hikers share what they've sent home, what they've upgraded- really an overall glimpse into their gear systems thus far.

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Get a 10% discount off at northxnorth.co by using code "TREK10".

In today's show, we hear from:

PCT HIKERS

Karthikeya Nadendla
- Sent home Big Agnes Air Pillow, but is considering retrying on trail, or trying Sea to Summit Pillow
- Started with New Balance Summit Unknowns, swapped out for for Altra Timps after heel pain
Laura Stewart
- Sent home cook set cup accessory
- Forwarded the larger snow basket option for trekking poles
- Dropped Patagonia long-sleeve button-up in favor of long-sleeve sun shirt
- Removed netting from Outdoor Research skort and paired with men's boxer briefs
- Added sun gloves
- Sent home Injinji toe socks liner and is using a single layer Darn Tough sock
- Considering adding a sun umbrella
Julie Klazynski
- Switched Sawyer Micro for a Sawyer Squeeze
- Planning to send home: mug, stove, mace, extraneous toiletries (lotion, shampoo, conditioner)
Liam Purtle
- Sent ahead microspikes
- Bought larger size shoe (went from 10.5 to 12)
Eric Dernbach & Alison Dernbach
- Upgraded to Altras with wider fit
- Sent home: mug, extra pair of long underwear, pack cover, first aid kit, book
Angie Kane
- Swapped out hiking shorts in favor of hiking pants for sun protection
- Upgraded to