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Give Back to these Organizations Supporting a More Inclusive Outdoors

by Mary Cochenour
written by Mary Cochenour

If you’re an outdoor lover, the holiday season is the perfect time to give a little extra love to the organizations that are supporting a more inclusive and accessible outdoors for everyone. Since 2012, millions of people around the globe have set aside the Tuesday following Thanksgiving and the weeks leading up to the new year for spreading kindness and generosity to the communities they love most. The outdoors have given us so much this year and this month is a great time for giving back.

Everyone has something to give — that’s the whole idea behind the worldwide Giving Tuesday generosity movement. Giving back can be as simple as sending a letter to your local search and rescue organization to let them know you appreciate their hard work, volunteering to pick up trash at your local park, or joining an outdoor organization whose mission aligns with your values.

If you’re looking for a place to give this holiday season, we invite you to join us in supporting the following organizations. Each one caught our eye this year for building community and supporting education for more folks to access the outdoors. Consider gracing these nonprofits with your kindness and generosity: spend a few minutes on their websites learning about their missions, make a donation of any size, or simply follow their social media pages to show your interest and support. In the spirit of GivingTuesday, any measure of generosity or kindness counts.

Outdoor Afro

A group of hikers sit and smile for the camera on a rocky desert feature.

“Outdoor Afro has become the nation’s leading, cutting edge network that celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature. We are a national not for profit organization with leadership networks around the country. With nearly 90 leaders in 30 states from around the country, we connect thousands of people to outdoor experiences, who are changing the face of conservation. So come out in nature with us, or be a partner to help us grow our work so that we can help lead the way for inclusion in outdoor recreation, nature, and conservation for all!”

Follow Outdoor Afro on Instagram.

Donate to Outdoor Afro

SheJumps

A backcountry skier and splitboarder make their way up a sunny, snowy slope.

“Outdoor play that transforms. SheJumps increases the participation of women and girls in outdoor activities. Partnering with nature, SheJumps creates safe, educational outdoor experiences for girls and women that nurture growth and transformation.”

Follow SheJumps on Instagram.

Donate to SheJumps

Greening Youth Foundation

A group of young people work in a forest.

“The Greening Youth Foundation’s (GYF) mission is to engage under-represented youth and young adults while connecting them to the outdoors and careers in conservation. GYF’s cultural-based environmental education program engages children from local communities and exposes them to healthy lifestyle choices in order to create an overall healthy community.”

Follow Greening Youth Foundation on Instagram.

Donate to Greening Youth Foundation

Indigenous Women Outdoors

Five people stand in a line in a forest and smile for the camera.

“Our mission is to hold space for Indigenous women to come together and feel safe on the land. We want Indigenous women* to be leaders in the outdoor industry and to be confident in sharing their knowledge and connection of the land with the greater public. Through guidance and mentorship, participants can choose to start getting their own training and certifications to feel safe out on the land, as well as lead other groups and women to get outside.

*Indigenous Women Outdoors is an inclusive community. Women* refers to gender expansive community members (cis women, trans women, non-binary, gender non-conforming, gender queer community members, and any women-identified community members.”

Follow Indigenous Women Outdoors on Instagram.

Donate to Indigenous Women Outdoors

LatinXhikers

A large group of hikers pose for the camera on top of a rocky outcropping.
Photo credit: Cherisa Hawkins


“LatinXhikers is a community dedicated to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the outdoors through digital story-telling and community outreach. What began as an online platform in August 2017 to inspire more people of color to go outdoors has evolved into an ever-growing movement.”

Follow LatinXhikers on Instagram.

Donate to LatinXhikers

WTF Bikexplorers

Four bikepackers ride in a single file down a gravel road.

“WTF Bikexplorers was founded in the fall of 2017 when six friends were inspired to collaborate on a movement toward more connection, gender inclusivity, and racial equality within the bicycle adventure community. Our collective mission is to support, celebrate, and connect communities who identify as women, transgender, femme, and/or non-binary who use their bicycles to explore (be it the outdoors, themselves, each other, etc.)

WTF is shorthand for Womxn, Trans, Femme. By incorporating this acronym into our name, we are seeking to connect with people who self-identify with those identities or identify as non-binary. We acknowledge that letters and labels only go so far and that, above all, we seek to respect whatever words people use to describe themselves. We hope to engage in a conversation where we can learn more about our community as it relates to bikepacking and outside of cycling.”

Follow WTF Bikexplorers on Instagram.

Donate to WTF Bikexplorers
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A satellite image shows the red arid landscape and wide chasm of the grand canyon.
Gaia GPSNew Maps

View Recent Conditions with Two New Satellite Imagery Maps

by Abby Levene
written by Abby Levene

Check out backcountry conditions from the comfort of your couch using two new satellite imagery maps. FreshSat – Cloud Free shows a new and mostly unobstructed view of the earth’s surface. FreshSat – Recent displays all conditions and provides an even more up-to-date picture of ground conditions.

Both maps are updated at least every 14 days. FreshSat – Cloud Free and FreshSat – Recent pull data from Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 government satellites to give you a clearer picture of conditions on the ground. Use these maps to find areas with peak fall foliage colors or to check for lingering snow on high mountain passes.

FreshSat – Recent

A computer screenshot of the FreshSat - Recent satellite imagery shows a snowy mountain range.

FreshSat – Recent shows all scenes, regardless of cloud cover. It is updated more frequently than FreshSat – Cloud Free. Even when clouds obscure a specific zone, you can use this map to get a sense of fall colors or snow cover in the mountains. Use FreshSat – Recent and FreshSat – Cloud Free in tandem to get the most accurate visual of recent conditions.

FreshSat – Cloud Free

A computer screenshot of the FreshSat - CloudFree satellite image shows snow around lake Tahoe.

Clouds can ruin a good satellite image by obscuring ground features and covering up landscape details. The FreshSat-Cloud Free map solves this problem by displaying images that are mostly unobstructed by clouds. The map only uses images with less than 20-percent cloud cover to create a patchwork of sunny, mostly cloudless images of the earth’s surface.

Satellites

Both maps source images from two satellites: United States Geological Survey’s Landsat-8 and the European Space Agency’s Copernicus Sentinel-2. Landsat 8 orbits earth at an altitude of 438 miles every 99 minutes, snapping about 740 scenes per day. Sentinel-2 satellites cover a wide expanse of the earth (290 km) and complete a lap around the equator every 10 days. At higher latitudes, closer to the poles, Sentinel-2 images overlap with some regions getting photographed twice every 10 days. FreshSat – Cloud Free and FreshSat – Recent import data from these satellites to bring you the latest aerial imagery from around the globe.

Date Stamps

Date stamps on both FreshSat maps make it easy to identify how recently a location has been updated. Simply look at the corner of a map tile to see the date when that image was taken. Since these tiles constantly get replaced, make sure you check the date on the tile to see just how recent the footage is. Sometimes a single tile will be made up of multiple satellite scenes. In these cases, data comes from the most recent scene.

Resolution

Both FreshSat maps have a resolution of 10 to 15 meters per pixel. This level of detail lets you pick out large aspects on the map, like whether a mountain pass is covered in snow. For higher resolution maps, use Gaia GPS’s Satellite and World Imagery maps, which give you a clear view of the landscape for scouting out clearings for campsites and studying avalanche paths, alpine descents, and off-trail routes.

How to Get the FreshSat Maps

FreshSat – Cloud Free and FreshSat – Recent are available for all users on the web, and on the application with a Gaia GPS premium membership. To access the layers, visit the layers menu and select the “Satellite” tab. Scroll down and tap “FreshSat- Cloud Free” and “FreshSat – Recent.” Tap the “Add Layer” button at the bottom of the screen.

Pair these layers with the Satellite layer and other satellite maps to get a detailed bird’s eye view of a region. You can also use these maps with other useful layers for overlanding, trail running, bikepacking, backcountry skiing, or your activity of choice. Download these layers for offline use so you can check conditions in the field.

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Two members of search and rescue wait on a mountain summit. A helicopter is flying behind them.
Backcountry SkiingEmergency ResponseGaia GPSOut and Back Podcast

The Best Winter Backcountry Tips from Search and Rescue

by Mary Cochenour
written by Mary Cochenour

How to listen: iTunes | Google Play | Spotify | Stitcher | Pocket Casts | RadioPublic | Breaker | Castbox

Get up to 50% off
Gaia GPS

Winter looms with promises of bluebird skies, powder stashes, and possibly record crowds in the backcountry this season. We’re excited to kick off the first episode of our winter backcountry series on the Out and Back podcast with Colorado’s Summit County Rescue Group Mission Coordinator Charles Pitman. In this episode, Pitman runs through some of his best winter safety tips. He also gives us the temperature of what the upcoming backcountry ski season looks like from a search-and-rescue perspective. Pitman says it might not be pretty.

“The backcountry retailers are selling out of gear already. There are some who said they have sold out for the year, both retailers and manufacturers. So that tells me this could be a rather interesting year for people going into the backcountry who really are probably not too prepared to do it.” Pitman says. “We want to try to get the message out on what they need to consider.”

Two rescue crew members rappel down a steep snow filled couloir in Colorado.

Pitman recaps the strain his organization felt when the ski areas shut down last spring due to the pandemic. He recalls jammed trailheads and skiers and snowboarders leaving the parking lots without crucial avalanche safety equipment. The backcountry continued to draw massive crowds through the summer and into fall, bringing with it an unprecedented number of rescues this year.

During one week in October alone, the Summit County Rescue Group assisted a lost mountain biker, an injured hiker, and a technical body recovery mission from one of the area’s 14,000-foot peaks. Pitman says the number of rescues are at an all-time high and far surpassing the 150 calls for service the team received last year.

“Certainly my antennas are going up about how we need to prepare. We’re starting to do our preparations as a team earlier. Of course, that’s more difficult now. We don’t have the same types of meetings we had before because we have to cope with the Covid restrictions and considerations that we take very, very seriously here,” Pitman says. “I’m a bit concerned about what’s going to happen this winter.”

Tune in to Learn Winter Safety Tips

Pitman enlightens us on what backcountry enthusiasts can do to stay safer this winter. He delivers practical advice, including how to recognize and avoid avalanche danger in backcountry travel, what to do if you need help, and what you should put in your backpack to be prepared in case something goes wrong. Backcountry skiers, winter hikers, climbers, and snowmobilers will not want to miss this behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming snow season and what rescue professionals are doing to prepare for the busy season ahead. Plus, hear a few of Pitman’s most harrowing rescue stories.

Make sure you are prepared this winter season. Learn more about avalanche safety at avalanche.org. Find and sign up for an avalanche education class with the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education. Learn more about Summit Country Rescue Group and donate to your local search and rescue organization.

A helicopter hovers over a high mountain peak in Colorado and a search and rescue crew member waits on the mountain for pick up.
Summit County Search and Rescue crews carry out a mission earlier this year on one of Colorado’s high-altitude peaks.

Episode Highlights:

4:30: The pandemic made the backcountry around Denver busy this year and many skiers, snowboarders, and snowmobilers were ill-equipped for safety.
8:15: This year has been a record-setting rescue season in Summit County, Colorado.
12:00: Search and Rescue is preparing for a busy winter season.
13:15: Here’s how COVID 19 has changed search and rescue missions in Summit County.
17:00: Practice your avalanche transceiver skills at a beacon park.
18:15: More people are taking avalanche classes, but these classes are limited and filling up quickly this year.
19:00: Get search and rescue’s tips to avoid avalanches: get the avalanche forecast, check the weather, and stick to low-angle slopes if you aren’t sure about the danger.
25:25: Avalanche forecasting is not an exact science and sometimes you can do all the right things and still get into trouble.
26:15: A case study about five people who died in an avalanche: what went wrong?
27:00: Is technology giving people a false sense of security and too much confidence?
32:00: Colorado typically has a weaker snowpack and experiences more avalanches than other areas of the country.
36:00: A GPS mapping app on your phone, like Gaia GPS, would reduce the number of rescue calls because people could see exactly where they are on the map and easily find the trail if they get lost.
39:00: Two-way satellite communication devices help search and rescue crews to understand the help you need, plus Pitman tells us what happens when you press the SOS button.
42:00: Pitman says call for help sooner rather than later, it could save a life.
48:40: Make a plan for your backcountry adventure but don’t succumb to summit fever, be flexible and willing to adjust plans when you get out on the mountain because conditions may change rapidly.
53:00: Most search and rescue crews are volunteers and they do it for the heartwarming stories with uplifting endings.

Next Episode: Snow Safety Tips with Avalanche Expert and Author Bruce Tremper

Avalanche expert Bruce Tremper is standing in a snow pit and writing down his observation in a booklet. He is wearing a yellow jacket and snow hat.

If the solitude of the backcountry beckons to you this winter, you won’t want to miss the next episode of the Out and Back podcast with avalanche expert and author Bruce Tremper. Winter hikers, skiers, splitboarders, and snowmobilers will appreciate how Tremper breaks down his “low-risk travel ritual” to minimize avalanche exposure in the backcountry. Learn how to use his tips on your own trips to stay safer in the backcountry this winter season.

Tremper begins this conversation with a story from 1978 — a time when he wasn’t an expert at all. Tremper was working for Bridger Bowl Ski Area in Montana, installing the resort’s Pierre’s Knob lift. He ignored his supervisor’s warning to avoid crossing a slide path under the lift line. But Tremper thought hiking around the slide path was too much work. He skied across the steep starting zone, triggered an avalanche, and was swept away in a pre-season slide. This scene is the opener to Tremper’s critically acclaimed book on snow safety: Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain. In this interview, Tremper reflects on how surviving that avalanche sent him on a life-long trajectory to study snow science.

The cover of Tremper's snow safety book Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain. The cover shows a skier catching air off a cliff in steep terrain.

“That was a huge wake-up call for me … I should have died in that thing,“ Tremper said. “It changed my life and I went ‘whoa, I want to learn as much as I can about avalanches.’”

After the Bridger Bowl incident, Tremper earned a Master’s degree in geology and meteorology from the University of Montana, Bozeman. He studied under famed avalanche experts of the time, eventually becoming one himself. Tremper worked on snow safety teams for two Montana resorts before landing his “dream job” as an avalanche forecaster for the Alaska Avalanche Center. When the funding dried up in Alaska, Tremper took on the director role at Utah’s Avalanche Center. Then he literally wrote the book — actually three books — about avalanche safety.

Now enjoying the first years of retirement, Tremper gives us his insights into all he’s learned in his 40-year career in snow safety. Tune in to learn about Tremper’s personal routine for avalanche safety. Tremper emphasizes that his safety plan begins at home with gathering the right gear, checking the local avalanche forecast, and plotting out a safe route on the maps. He talks about the importance of picking the right partner for winter backcountry travel, watching for clues and observations on the way to the mountain, and guarding against the human factors that lead people to make mistakes in the backcountry.

To reap more of Tremper’s wisdom, check out his books Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain, Avalanche Essentials, and Avalanche Pocket Guide (Mountaineers Books). And listen to the podcast to hear Tremper explain how to use each book in your progression about avalanche safety and snow science.

Last Episode: Endurance Superstar Courtney Dauwalter

image.png

Check back on our last episode to find out what drives the queen of ultra running Courtney Dauwalter to set seemingly impossible goals and what fuels her to succeed. Dauwalter is renowned in the ultra running community and beyond for her definitive wins at everything from the Moab 240-mile trail race, to the Western States 100 Endurance Run, to the 100-mile Ultra Trail de Mont Blanc.

In this episode, Shanty and Gaia GPS writer and professional ultra runner Abby Levene catch up with Dauwalter fresh off her win at Big’s Back Yard Ultra, perhaps the strangest running event of all. The ultimate test of the mind, athletes run 4.16-mile loops on the hour every hour until only one person remains. This year, that person was Dauwalter — 68 hours and 283 miles later.

A self-proclaimed lover of long-inseams (she exclusively runs in baggy, basketball-style shorts), candy, nachos, and beer, Dauwalter does not fit the mold of your typical spreadsheet-obsessed ultra runner. She shares how her unbridled passion for running outside for as long as possible allowed her to quit her day job as a high school science teacher and enter the world of professional endurance running. She also dives into the role her analytical-minded husband Kevin plays in her success, and how the duo’s strengths complement each other to form a fun, focused, and formidable team. Also, hear about how Dauwalter’s Colorado Trail FKT attempt this summer ended in the hospital.

Runners and non-runners alike won’t want to miss this episode to catch Dauwalter’s infectious optimism, learn what drives her to push barriers, and to pick up some tips on training your brain to endure when your body tells you to stop. Follow Dauwalter on Instagram and Facebook to keep up with her physical, phycological, and gustatory adventures.

Meet the Hosts

Andrew “Shanty” Baldwin

In 2019, host Andrew Baldwin completed a southbound thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. After five months on the trail, Baldwin returned home to pursue a career in voice acting. A friend of the Gaia GPS company, Baldwin was a natural choice for hosting the Out and Back podcast.

In each Out and Back episode, Shanty strives to bring you conversations with people who spend an extraordinary amount of time outdoors. Listen in as Shanty taps into each backcountry expert’s superpower so that you can take their knowledge and experience with you on your next adventure.

Mary smiles while lying down and resting her head on a rock. She's wearing a purple jacket, gloves, and a black buff around her ears.

Mary “Hiker Midnight” Cochenour

Mary is the Out and Back podcast producer and a writer and editor at Gaia GPS. Before joining Gaia GPS, Mary worked as a lawyer, newspaper journalist, ski patroller, Grand Canyon river guide, and USFS wilderness ranger.

When she is not in the office, Mary works as a guide for Andrew Skurka Adventures in wild places around the west, like Rocky Mountain National Park, Yosemite, and the Brooks Range in Alaska. Follow Mary’s adventures on Instagram. Also, read her tips on how to plan your first solo backpacking trip and how to read a topo map.

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screenshot of route planning in the Wind River Range in Wyoming.
AdventuresFeaturedGaia GPSHikesHow-To

How To Plan a Route on gaiagps.com: Exclusive Tutorial

by Julien Friedland
written by Julien Friedland

In this first-ever Gaia GPS webinar, our Gaia GPS expert walks you through how to plan and build a multi-day backpacking route using the web map and tools on gaiagps.com. This in-depth 30-minute live webinar was an invite-only lesson that sold out within minutes and we’re excited to share it with you now. Always have a plan before you head into the backcountry with the best tools in trip planning.

How to Plan a Multi-Day Route Webinar

Learn how to use the Gaia GPS web map, drop waypoints, and create routes. Save all of your route planning in one shareable folder for offline use. You’ll also come away with a deep understanding of the web map tools, different route creation options, and where to find key details about your hike.

To help you find the most relevant pieces of the webinar, reference the time stamps below and skip ahead.

  • 4:21 – webinar overview, find out what type of trip you’re planning
  • 5:25 – how to use the web map and sidebar tools
  • 12:12 – creating waypoints
  • 14:40 – creating routes, linking multiple days on the trail
  • 19:40 – using and editing snap-to trail function
  • 23:24 – editing your route to go off-trail
  • 25:55 – using different map layers to pick your off-trail route
  • 34:04 – sharing your route with a friend

Before you head out, make sure you check out more tips for planning your trip, including how to choose your destination, what to pack, and the hazards you might encounter along the way. For more tutorials on using the Gaia GPS app, visit Visit youtube.com/gaiagps.

To access the entire Gaia GPS map collection and to download your maps for offline use and save your routes, get a Gaia GPS Premium Membership. You can save up when you purchase on gaiagps.com

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Courtney runs through the red dessert of Moab during sunset.
Gaia GPSOut and Back Podcast

Courtney Dauwalter: From Science Teacher to Endurance Superstar

by Abby Levene
written by Abby Levene

How to listen: iTunes | Google Play | Spotify | Stitcher | Pocket Casts | RadioPublic | Breaker | Castbox

Get up to 50% off
Gaia GPS

What drives people to set seemingly impossible goals, and what fuels them to succeed? Out and Back digs into these questions with the queen of ultra running, Courtney Dauwalter. Fresh off her win at Bigs Back Yard Ultra, Courtney is renowned in the ultra running community and beyond for her definitive wins at everything from the Moab 240-mile trail race, to the Western States 100 Endurance Run, to the 100-mile Ultra Trail de Mont Blanc.

In this episode, Shanty and Gaia GPS writer and professional ultra runner Abby Levene sit down with Courtney to answer two simple questions: why and how?

Courtney takes listeners back in time to her early days of ultra running. Her first 100 mile race did not go as well as she hoped. In fact, she didn’t finish. That day marked a turning point. Courtney walks us through how she built up the mental toughness and trove of positive, empowering experiences to give her the courage to persevere through insane mid-race issues, like temporary blindness, hallucinations, and vomiting.

“I really hope to use races as ways to build up more mental endurance and also just more mental evidence for myself of ‘okay, here, all the things that you’ve gone through before. Here’s how you solve them before and look at how you were able to keep going.’ And so it’s like this file cabinet in my brain of all the problems that we push through. And accessing that during the hard times of an ultra just gives you the confidence to keep going because you’ve got this accumulated knowledge from other disasters that have happened.”

Courtney looks up while trekking up a mountain during UTMB. She's holding her hiking poles in either hand and wearing a hydration vest.

A self-proclaimed lover of long-inseams (she exclusively runs in baggy, basketball-style shorts), candy, nachos, and beer, Courtney does not fit the mold of your typical spreadsheet-obsessed ultra runner. She shares how her unbridled passion for running outside for as long as possible and day after day allowed her to quit her day job as a high school science teacher and not grow to resent the pressure of professional sport. She also dives into the role her analytical-minded husband Kevin plays in her success, and how the duo’s strengths complement each other to form a fun, focused, and formidable team.

Courtney takes listeners through her Colorado Trail FKT attempt this summer, and her recent win at perhaps the strangest running event of all: Big’s Backyard Ultra. The ultimate test of the mind, athletes at this event run 4.16-mile loops on the hour every hour until only one person remains. This year, that was Courtney — 68 hours and 283 miles later.

Runners and non-runners alike won’t want to miss this episode to catch Courtney’s infectious optimism, learn what drives her to push barriers, and to pick up some tips on training your brain to endure when your body tells you to stop.

Follow Courtney on Instagram and Facebook to keep up with her physical, phycological, and gustatory adventures.

Episode Highlights

3:55: How Courtney went from being an elite cross country skier to an ultra marathon runner.
6:52: Courtney’s first 100 mile race did not go according to plan.
9:00: That first 100-mile race flipped a switch in Courtney’s brain.
10:07: Courtney thinks of her brain as a filing cabinet filled with experiences to draw out and use as needed.
13:35: How Courtney made the leap to quit her job as a high school science teacher to pursue running full time.
18:00: What drove Courtney to jump from racing 100 miles to 240 miles at the Moab 240.
22:35: Things unravel at Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run in 2019.
26:35: How Courtney bounced back mentally and physically from Western States leading up to UTMB.
35:30: Courtney’s legs were not prepared to win UTMB. How she managed to do so anyway.
39:10: The role Courtney’s husband Kevin plays in Courtney’s success.
41:05: Why Courtney thought running the 500-mile Colorado Trail sounded like a good idea.
44:00: The sleep game of ultra-long distance events.
50:15: Unbeknownst to Courtney, things go horribly wrong on the Colorado Trail.
54:35: The inside-scoop on Courtney’s most recent win at Big’s Backyard Ultra.
1:13:35: Why Courtney exclusively runs in basket-ball style shorts.
1:15:35: Courtney’s life-saving food on the trail.
1:16:50: The one endurance event Courtney would love to spectate.

Last Episode: 2020 Fastest Known Time Roundup With Buzz Burrell

The pandemic canceled nearly all the running races this year, but that didn’t deter athletes from taking down “fastest known times” on some of the most famous and iconic routes around the globe. In fact, the keeper of such unofficial records, fastestknowntime.com reports that more than 50 FKTs are submitted to the website each day — amounting to as much as five times the number of FKTs reported from the previous year.

Tune in to the last episode of the Out and Back podcast, Shanty and Mary review this year’s FKT round up with Buzz Burrell, co-founder of fastestknowntime.com and the “father of the FKT.” Buzz takes us through the rise of the FKT, what makes a solid FKT route, and the allure of the solitary push to set speed records in this year of pandemic lockdowns, civil unrest, and wildfires.

You won’t want to miss this episode as Buzz delivers this year’s round-up of robust FKT activity. Buzz, who just turned 69, also goes deep in this episode and reveals the pains of aging. Tune in to hear his four tips for pushing on as the years pile up. Plus, you’ll never guess what indoor activity Buzz has mastered, proving that Buzz is so much more than a mountain athlete.

Learn more about Buzz Burrell and FKT records at fastestknowntime.com. Listen every Friday to the Fastest Known Time podcast, featuring the rising stars in speed records around the globe.

Next Episode: Search and Rescue Braces for Record Backcountry Ski Season

Winter looms with promises of bluebird skies, powder stashes and possibly record crowds in the backcountry this season. We’re excited to kick off the first episode of our backcountry ski series with Colorado’s Summit County Search and Rescue mission coordinator Charles Pitman, who gives us the temperature of what the upcoming backcountry ski season looks like from the search-and-rescue perspective. Pitman says it might not be pretty.

Two people are on top of a snowy mountain. One sits while holding a walkie talkie up to his ear. The other stands with a helmet on his hand, rope in his band, and crampons on his foots. A helicopter flies over mountains in the distance.

“The backcountry retailers are selling out of gear already … both retailers and manufacturers. So that tells me this could be a rather interesting year for people going the backcountry who really are probably not too prepared to do it.“ Pitman says. ”We want to try to get the message out on what they need to consider.“

In this interview, Pitman recaps the strain his organization felt when the ski areas shut down early last spring due to the pandemic. He recalls jammed trailheads and skiers and snowboarders leaving the parking lots without crucial avalanche safety equipment. Pitman says the backcountry continued to draw massive crowds through the summer and into fall, bringing with it an unprecedented number of rescues this year.

During one week in October alone, Summit County Search and Rescue assisted a lost mountain biker, an injured hiker, and a technical body recovery mission from one of the area’s 14,000-feet peaks. Pitman says the number of rescues are at an all-time high, and far surpassing the 150 calls for service the team received last year.

Two people rappel down a steep snow field.

“Certainly my antennas are going up about how we need to prepare. We’re starting to do our preparations as a team earlier. Of course, that’s more difficult now. We don’t have the same types of meetings we had before because we have to cope with the Covid restrictions and considerations that we take very, very seriously here,“ Pitman said. ”I’m a bit concerned about what’s going to happen this winter.“

Tune in as Pitman enlightens us on what backcountry enthusiasts need to do to stay safer this winter, including how to recognize and avoid danger in backcountry travel, what to do if you need help, and what you should put in your backpack to be prepared in case something goes wrong.

Backcountry skiers, winter hikers, climbers, and snowmobilers will not want to miss this behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming ski season and what the rescue professionals are doing to prepare for the busy season ahead. Plus hear a few of Pitman’s most harrowing rescue stories.

Learn more about avalanche safety at avalanche.org. Find an avalanche education class with the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education. Learn more about Summit Country Search and Rescue and donate to your local search and rescue group.

Meet the Hosts

Andrew “Shanty” Baldwin

the host of the podcast Andrew Baldwin wearing an orange hat and blue jacket with a frosty beard, smiling

In 2019, host Andrew Baldwin completed a southbound thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. After five months on the trail, Baldwin returned home to pursue a career in voice acting. A friend of the Gaia GPS company, Baldwin was a natural choice for hosting the Out and Back podcast.

In each Out and Back episode, Shanty strives to bring you conversations with people who spend an extraordinary amount of time outdoors. Listen in as Shanty taps into each backcountry expert’s superpower so that you can take their knowledge and experience with you on your next adventure.

Abby Levene

Abby smiles through a face caked in snow and ice.

When she’s not busy writing and editing content for Gaia GPS, Abby Levene can be found trail running, biking, and skiing around her hometown of Boulder, Colorado. In 2017, Abby broke her wrist eight miles into her second ultra. She went on to win the race, and has been hooked on the sport since. She’s passionate about using her graduate education in environmental journalism and her love for playing outside to tell stories about the issues, people, and places of the outdoors.

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Buzz runs past snow-capped peaks. He's wearing a jacket, baseball cap, gloves, and a pack.
Gaia GPSOut and Back Podcast

2020 Fastest Known Time Round-Up with Buzz Burrell

by Mary Cochenour
written by Mary Cochenour

How to listen: iTunes | Google Play | Spotify | Stitcher | Pocket Casts | RadioPublic | Breaker | Castbox

The pandemic canceled nearly all the running races this year, but that didn’t stop athletes from taking down the “fastest known times” on the most famous and iconic routes around the globe. Pent up hikers and runners, all trained up and no where to compete, flooded the FKT scene this spring and summer, lighting up new speed records on everything from the Colorado Trail to the Jordan Trail in the Middle East. In fact, the keeper of such unofficial records, fastestknowntime.com reports that more than 50 FKTs are submitted to the website each day — amounting to as much as five times the number of FKTs reported from the previous year.

In this episode of the Out and Back podcast, Shanty and Mary review this year’s FKT round-up with Buzz Burrell, co-founder of fastestknowntime.com. Buzz takes us through the rise of the FKT, what makes a solid FKT route, and the allure of the solitary push to set speed records. He explains why the FKT has become so popular in this year of pandemic lockdowns, civil unrest, and wildfires.

A champion of many FKT records of his own, Buzz says it’s not necessarily the victory that drives people to move fast on their feet. There’s a certain element of adventure and a feeling of competing against yourself, which offers a unique thrill that is completely different than racing in an organized event with hundreds of other racers and spectators nearby.

“For me, it’s just seeing what’s around the corner. I’ll go out and say I’ve got two hours to do something. I’m sure I’ll go somewhere I’ve never been before. I’m looking at the watch and I start pressing,” Buzz says. “I start pressing because, somehow, I have this insatiable urge to see what’s next.”

Widely known as the “father of the FKT,“ Buzz winds back to his speed records on the John Muir Trail and Colorado Trail. He also reminisces about the records he set on Yosemite’s signature and scary Half Dome cables route, the 100-kilometer “O” Circuit in Chile’s Torres Del Paine National Park, and Zion’s Angel’s Landing. But records are meant to be broken, and now Buzz dedicates his time to keeping track of all the latest speed records around the world.

Buzz walks across a log suspension bridge over a raging river.

Buzz gets deep in this interview, uncovering the effects aging has had on his speed. Having just turned 69, Buzz reminds us that no one can stop the clock and that everyone grows long in the tooth. But don’t expect any graceful wisdom from Buzz about how gray hair makes you more distinguished.

“I’m not aging gracefully. I’m sort of going down kicking and screaming,” Buzz says. “And so I’m really a lousy role model and you should edit this out of the podcast. You know, you want someone who’s nice and calm and relaxed and makes people feel good about themselves. But I’m telling you that aging is pretty hard.”

You won’t want to miss this episode as Buzz delivers his four tips for pushing on as the years pile up. Also, get the skinny on the top FKT’s of the year from Buzz’s perspective. Plus, you’ll never guess what indoor activity Buzz has mastered, proving that Buzz is so much more than a mountain athlete.

Learn more about Buzz Burrell and FKT records at fastestknowntime.com. Listen every Friday to the Fastest Known Time podcast, featuring the rising stars in speed records around the globe.

Buzz runs down a snow slope in a white-out. He's carrying an ice ax, shouldering a cord of rope, and wearing a backpack.

Episode Highlights

4:15: Buzz defines “fastest known time“ and how that term became popular over time.
6:40: Buzz talks about some of his own FKTs on John Muir Trail and the Colorado Trail.
13:00: Fastest known time action is off the hook this year, filling a hole for cancelled races due to COVID.
15:00: FKT doesn’t have a leader board, only the winners of the FKT gets a mention on the website.
16:15: FKTs of the season, including Jeff “Legend” Garmire’s unsupported FKT of the Colorado Trail.
31:00: The Wind River High Route created by Buzz and Andrew Skurka has been a popular FKT objective in the last couple of years for both men and women.
34:00: FKT’s has gender categories recently added non-binary. But there are no age categories for FKT and a 20-year-old competes against a 60-year-old.
37:10: You have to submit a GPS track to verify your fastest known time.
39:30: Top athletes pursue FKTs to push themselves beyond organized races and to put their backcountry skills to the test.
45:15: FKT’s are not just about mountains, fastest known time routes exist in the deserts, across states, and on paved roads.
50:10: Nobody has tried to lay down a speed record on the Continental Divide Trial, and Buzz explains why.
55:05: Learn about the FKT’s that got away from Buzz over the years.
1:01:00: Buzz’s favorite route crosses the three districts of the Canyonlands National Parks: Maze, Needles, Island in the Sky.
1:03:00 You can do Grand Canyon Rim to Rim to Rim like most people on the Kaibab trail, or you can take the obscure Bass Trail and swim across the river like Buzz did when he was 65 years old.
1:06:10: Don’t try using your Therm-a-Rest Neo Air as a packraft — it doesn’t work.
1:09:25: Buzz has the engine at age 69, but the parts have worn out.
1:11:05: Buzz is mad about aging and going down kicking and screaming.
1:11:15: Learn Buzz’s 4-step program for dealing with the effects of aging.
1:15:00: Buzz is a multi-sport athlete. He competes in ballroom dancing and likes swing dancing for its athleticism. “The body is born to move!”
1:25:00: What’s on tap for Buzz, the FKT podcast and website.

Last Episode: Meet Grizzly Bear 399 and Her four Cubs: the Most Famous Bear in the World

An image of Grizzly Bear 399 standing on two legs surrounded by her four cubs has the Out and Back podcast logo in the top right corner and "Ep.16: Grizzly Bear 399" in the bottom left corner.

Check out our last episode about the famed Grizzly Bear 399. Hailing from Grand Teton National Park, Griz 399 has stolen the hearts of many who have come to visit her from around the world. She’s had multiple sets of cubs over the years and has raised them center stage in front of park rangers, tourists, and professional photographers.

This year, at the ripe age of 24, Griz 399 boosted her celebrity status by emerging from her den with four tiny cubs. In this episode, find out why she sticks close to the road and how this giant mama bear provides hope and joy to so many people who come to see her in the park. Hear about Griz 399’s personality from conservationist and wildlife photographer Tom Mangelsen and journalist Todd Wilkinson, who teamed up to publish a book about Griz 399’s extraordinary life. And get the blow-by-blow from the man who Griz 399 attacked when he inadvertently walked into her space when she and her cubs were feeding on an elk carcass. Wildlife watcher Maureen Matsen describes what it’s like to finally lay eyes on this beautiful specimen. As loveable as she is, Griz 399 is indeed a wild animal who needs to be respected and given lots of space.

Learn more about Griz 399 on her Wikipedia page. Follow her on Instagram, and “connect” with her on Facebook. Check out Tom Mangelsen’s website, and follow him on Instagram to see his latest captures of Griz 399, her cubs, and other wildlife in the Greater Yellowstone and Grand Teton area.


Photo Credit: Tom Mangelsen of Mangelsen Photography in Jackson, Wyoming.

Next Episode: Ultra Runner Courtney Dauwalter, from Science Teacher to Endurance Superstar

Courtney smiles and waves as she runs down a lush trail near Lake Tahoe during the Western States 100 Endurance Run. She's wearing long blue shorts, a white t shirt, reflective sunglasses, and a hydration pack.

In the next episode, Shanty joins up with professional runner and Gaia GPS writer Abby Levene for a chat with mega-athlete Courtney Dauwalter. In 2017, Courtney was teaching high school science when she stormed onto the ultra-ultra endurance running scene by taking first overall at the Moab 240-mile trail race. In an event where first and second place are separated by one or two hours at the most, Courtney won by over 10 hours.

This victory sent Courtney into the elite class of ultrarunning. She backed up her Moab 240 performance with wins at the two most prestigious 100-mile races in the world: Western States 100 Endurance Run and Ultra Trail de Mont Blanc. But in this conversation, you’ll see that Courtney seems as far from elite as anyone can be. A self-proclaimed lover of long-inseams (she exclusively runs in baggy, basketball-style shorts), candy, nachos, and beer, Courtney is like talking to your next door neighbor. In this conversation, Courtney reveals how such a kind, laid-back spirit can bring so much tenacity and grit to competition. And she delves into how she developed the mental fortitude needed to excel at exceedingly long running events.

Courtney also provides the inside scoop on her Colorado Trail FKT attempt this summer, and her recent win at perhaps the strangest running event of all: Big’s Backyard Ultra. The ultimate test of the mind, athletes run 4.16-mile loops on the hour every hour until only one person remains. This year, that was Courtney — 68 hours and 283 miles later.

Runners and non-runners alike won’t want to miss this episode to catch Courtney’s infectious optimism, learn what drives her to push barriers, and to pick up some tips on training your brain to endure some of the most treacherous and painful miles ahead.

Follow Courtney on Instagram and Facebook to keep up with her physical, psychological, and gustatory adventures.

Meet the Hosts

the host of the podcast Andrew Baldwin wearing an orange hat and blue jacket with a frosty beard, smiling

Andrew “Shanty” Baldwin

In 2019, host Andrew Baldwin completed a southbound thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. After five months on the trail, Baldwin returned home to pursue a career in voice acting. A friend of the Gaia GPS company, Baldwin was a natural choice for hosting the Out and Back podcast.

In each Out and Back episode, Shanty strives to bring you conversations with people who spend an extraordinary amount of time outdoors. Listen in as Shanty taps into each backcountry expert’s superpower so that you can take their knowledge and experience with you on your next adventure.

Mary smiles while lying down and resting her head on a rock. She's wearing a purple jacket, gloves, and a black buff around her ears.

Mary Cochenour

Mary is the Out and Back podcast producer and a writer and editor at Gaia GPS. Before joining Gaia GPS, Mary worked as a lawyer, newspaper journalist, ski patroller, Grand Canyon river guide, and USFS wilderness ranger. Mary holds a degree in journalism and business as well as a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Montana. Mary is licensed to practice law in Montana and Nevada.

When she is not in the office, Mary works as a guide for Andrew Skurka Adventures in wild places around the west, like Rocky Mountain National Park, Yosemite, and the Brooks Range in Alaska. Learn more about Mary on Instagram. Also, read her tips on how to plan your first solo backpacking trip and listen to her scary story about being stalked in the wilderness by a sketchy man.

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Gaia GPS

Gaia GPS Welcomes 7 New Team Members

by Julien Friedland
written by Julien Friedland

Join us in welcoming seven new members to the Gaia GPS team! This new addition includes members of the support, design, and engineering team, bringing a diverse set of skills and outdoor experiences to our crew of 32 full timers. Get to know them and read about their wildest outdoor pursuits, their greatest professional accomplishments and the organizations they support.

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Andrew Williams

Software Engineer

Wildest adventure: I went on a two-year bike tour with my girlfriend, riding from Vietnam to Turkey. During the tour, we had some of the easiest bike touring days imaginable – Vietnamese iced coffee and egg banh mi’s for breakfast and beautiful rolling countryside all day with a mid-day stop for cold beers and a nap in a hammock. We also had some tough days – getting altitude sickness at 14,000 feet during a blizzard in Tajikistan, followed by a solid month of food poisoning.

Proudest professional accomplishment: Landing a job at Gaia GPS 🙂

One organization that you support and want to share with Gaia GPS community: One thing that travel has shown me first hand is just how much damage we’ve done to our planet, so I’m in favor of just about any organization that’s working to reverse that. One in particular that I support is Conservation International.

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Ryan McElroy

Customer Support Specialist

Wildest adventure: I can’t think of an adventure more wild than building a life with my best friend. We’ve been fortunate to explore so many beautiful places and weather all kinds of storms together. Having someone with whom I can spend five months in a van, walk hundreds of miles across the desert, or care for an ailing grandparent has made for years full of rich experience.

Proudest professional accomplishment: It’s been a pleasure to reach thousands of students in my previous roles as staff naturalist, outdoor educator, trip leader, preschool teacher, and cross-country ski instructor. Nothing is more satisfying than helping people to connect with and better understand the natural world around them.

One organization that you support and want to share with Gaia GPS community: Every child should be able to learn, grow, and explore outside. Echo Hill Outdoor School provides these opportunities for students to immerse in place-based, experiential programming.

Nick Botner

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Senior Product Designer

Wildest adventure:
Traveling to Isla Navarino in Tierra del Fuego, Chile and embarking on a five-day backpacking trip through the Dientes mountain range. On our trip we got snowed in for the entire second day. Then we had to make up a day while side-hilling iced-out boulder washes. Then the snow turned to rain and we were trudging through knee deep mud. On the last night the winds were so rough we had to abandon our camp location and find a new protected location down the trail. Had an amazing time and would go back again in a heartbeat.

Proudest professional accomplishment:
Designing the Gaia GPS logo.

One organization that you support and want to share with Gaia GPS community:
Mote Marine Laboratory because sharks are amazing.

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Kristin McLane

Customer Support Specialist

Wildest adventure: Through a stroke of serendipity, I found myself attached to a private permit to raft the Grand Canyon one winter and it was one of the best outdoor experiences I’ve had. Spending four weeks in the canyon with professional river guides on their vacation allowed me to learn so much about the environment and its history, check out some of the canyon’s “secret” spots, and enjoy some amazing meals, all while learning to row big rafts through rapids.

Proudest professional accomplishment: Planning the first peer-to-peer fundraising/challenge event for the Green Mountain Club in Vermont to raise money to support the Long Trail, the United States’ oldest long-distance hiking trail, and get a community of folks to hike the whole 272-mile trail in one day.

One organization that you support and want to share with Gaia GPS community: The Social Justice Sewing Academy pieces together youth voices, textile art, and community in a 21st century sewing circle.

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Tony Cannistra

Software Engineer

Wildest adventure: Hiking to a climate change research conference in the mountains of Colorado instead of renting an expensive rental car. Many people thought the poster tube strapped to my pack was a fly fishing rod.

Proudest professional accomplishment: Defending my Ph.D. on some new discoveries for better understanding the ecological impacts of climate change.

One organization that you support and want to share with Gaia GPS community: The Trust for Public Land, which protects landscapes for people.

Evelyn Cordner

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Software Engineer

Wildest adventure: Running back-to-back ultra marathons at the Squamish 50/50 and finishing in fourth place. The hardest part was getting out of bed on the second day.

Proudest professional accomplishment: Building and leading a diverse and talented product team at Storr, Inc. Helping over 10 million athletes achieve their goals, find their community, and share their stories on Strava.

One organization that you support and want to share with Gaia GPS community: I’m a volunteer foster for the Humane Society of Truckee Tahoe. Dogs are the best.

Jen Smith

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Software Engineer

Wildest adventure:
Completing the Dientes de Navarino Circuit with Nick — a remote backpacking circuit on one of the southernmost islands in the world with no trail and no rescue services during what turned out to be the first major storm of the season. When the snow, fog, and howling wind finally let up, the rime-covered spires guarding the passes above us were a sight to behold.

Proudest professional accomplishment:
Going from being the only front end developer at Geocaching to leading a team of front end developers at Geocaching.

One organization that you support and want to share with Gaia GPS community:
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, which provides fantastic tools and programs for research, education, and citizen science focused on birds and conservation.

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Zach "Badger" Davis smiles for the camera. He's wearing a baseball cap and a backpack, and is standing in a meadow.
Gaia GPSOut and Back Podcast

Trails, Trials, and The Trek with Zach “Badger” Davis

by Abby Levene
written by Abby Levene

How to listen: iTunes | Google Play | Spotify | Stitcher | Pocket Casts | RadioPublic | Breaker | Castbox

Get up to 50% off
Gaia GPS

This week, Out and Back delves into the psychological side of backpacking. Special guest host and previous Out and Back guest the Real Hiking Viking joins Shanty to chat with one of Viking’s buddies: hiking legend Zach “Badger” Davis. Thru-hikers may know Badger as the founder of the popular backpacking resource, The Trek. Badger has also written Appalachian Trials and Pacific Crest Trials, psychological guides to tackling the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails.

Badger’s upbringing did not point to an outdoor-oriented life. By 2011, he was sitting in front of a computer working 70 to 80 hours a week. Life felt simultaneously monotonous and meaningless, and straining and stressful. When a friend mentioned he was setting off to thru-hike the AT, Badger thought he was crazy. Yet he reflexively invited himself to join — despite having zero backpacking experience.

Badger’s physical training leading up to the AT proved insufficient at best. He hiked a few five-milers. But what he lacked in physical prep, he made up for in psychological prep. Badger honed a meditation routine and strengthened his mind to withstand incomprehensible feats.

Badger’s wager paid off. Everything went wrong on that first thru-hike. He packed so much (including a 4.5-pound, one-person tent!) that his 3-pound sleeping bag wouldn’t fit inside his Gregory Z 65 pack. Badger set his socks on fire, used his Jet Boil incorrectly for months, and even contracted West Nile virus. But he was stubborn enough to be in that minority of thru-hikers who make it to the end. Those six months on the trail ended up being the most transformative time in his life:

“The person who went into that hike was not the person who came out of it,” Davis told Shanty.

Badger sits on the rocky ledge of McAfee Knob. He's shirtless and sis feet are dangling off the side into the open air below.
Badger at McAfee Knob during his thru-hike in 2011.

Badger explains how his puzzlement over the “Virginia Blues” led him to start a blog to make sense of why so many thru-hikers quit in Virginia. Blogging ultimately led him to write Appalachian Trials and found The Trek. On a lighter note, Badger and Viking dig into the unlikely start of their friendship. And they share wild stories from thru-hiking the PCT together, including how sleeping in an out house saved their lives.

Shanty quizzes Badger and Viking on the different skillsets needed to thru-hike the AT, PCT, and CDT. They discuss how thru-hiking has evolved over the past decade. And all three of them share how the trail serves as therapy, including the inexplicable catharsis of accomplishing the seemingly impossible. Listen through to the end to learn Badger’s favorite off-the-beaten-path backpacking trip. Seasoned and aspiring thru-hikers alike won’t want to miss this episode to learn how to find the light at the end of the dark, green tunnel.

Learn more about Badger on theTrek.co. Follow his adventures on Instagram, and tune into his podcast, Backpacker Radio. You can also hear more hilarity from Viking on his first Out and Back appearance.

Badger poses for a stoic selfie during his AT thru-hike. He's wearing a headband and sports a thick red beard. Blue-green mountains extend behind him.
Badger on the AT in 2011.

Episode Highlights

0:45: Zach “Badger” Davis is one of Shanty’s favorite people in the outdoor community.
1:30: Shanty explains how backpacking with the Real Hiking Viking led to getting Badger (and Viking once again) on the show.
5:20: Badger did not grow up super “outdoorsy.”
6:50: Thru-hiking the AT was Badger’s first backpacking trip.
7:20: Badger did everything wrong on the AT—including setting his socks on fire.
8:30: Badger explains why relying on free gear isn’t always the best move for a thru-hike.
9:30: The trio discusses how social media has impacted thru-hiking.
12:00: How thru-hiking has changed over the past decade.
15:45: Badger accidentally fell into backpacking because he was miserable working 70 to 80 hours a week.
17:30: Norovirus on the AT.
18:50: Badger’s AT thru-hike was deliberately solitary and introspective.
19:30: Badger recounts his most cathartic moment on the AT.
21:00: The person who went into the AT and the person who came out were two entirely different people.
26:30: Badger explains how repeating the mantra “Why are you here?” on the AT helped inspire him to write a book.
27:30: Writing Appalachian Trials provided a reprieve from the post-trail blues.
29:30: Badger gives his explanation of the “Virginia Blues” — it’s not what you may think!
33:00: How making sense of the Virginia Blues led to Badger starting a blog, which led to writing a book.
34:00: The origin story of The Trek.
37:40: Badger and Viking tell the hilarious story of how they met.
41:00: Badger and Viking hike the PCT together.
42:00: Different challenges of the AT and PCT.
45:30: Why Badger changed the name of Appalachian Trials to The Trek.
48:40: Why you should mentally break your thru-hike down into a series of section hikes.
52:30: How Viking decided to attempt a last minute winter thru-hike of the AT.
55:00: Sleeping in an outhouse saved Viking and Badger’s lives.
1:05:15: Badger’s vision for the future of The Trek.
1:13:00: Badger’s next goals.
1:15:00: Badger’s favorite off-the-beaten-path trail.
1:16:40: Badger recounts watching Viking eat an enormous meal.
1:19:15: Badger and Viking hitch a ride with a bachelorette party bus.

Next Episode: Meet the Most Famous Bear in the World, Griz 399

Photo Credit: Tom Mangelsen of Mangelsen Photography in Jackson, Wyoming.

We’re changing strides with the seasons and shifting to publishing shows every other week. Stay tuned for our next episode as Out and Back introduces a very special guest. Her name is Griz 399 and she is perhaps the most famous bear in the world. Griz 399 hails from Grand Teton National Park and has stolen the hearts of people who have come to visit her from around the world. She’s had multiple sets of cubs over the years and has raised them center stage in front of park rangers, tourists, and professional photographers.

This year at the ripe age of 24, Griz 399 boosted her celebrity status by emerging from her den with four tiny cubs. You’ll get to hear her story about why she sticks close to the road and how this giant mama bear provides hope and joy to so many people who seek her out in the park. Hear about Griz 399’s personality from conservationist and wildlife photographer Tom Mangelsen and journalist Todd Wilkinson, who teamed up to publish a book about Griz 399’s extraordinary life. And you’ll hear from the man who Griz 399 attacked when he inadvertently walked into her space when she and her three cubs were feeding on an elk carcass. As loveable as she is, Griz 399 is indeed a wild animal who needs to be respected and given lots of space.

Learn more about Grizz 399 on her Wikipedia page. Follow her on Instagram, and “connect” with her on Facebook. Check out Tom Mangelsen’s website, and follow him on Instagram to see his latest captures of Griz 399, her cubs, and other wildlife in the Greater Yellowstone and Grand Teton area.

Last Episode: Get the Most out of Your National Park Trip with Guide Book Author Scott Turner

Scott sits on a rock with his arms folded on his knees. He's holding a sunhat. Canyon walls loom behind him.

Don’t miss our last episode with hiker, guidebook author and licensed therapist Scott Turner. Turner has written guide books to five national parks, as well as his home of San Diego county. He shares insight on how to get the most out of a one-day visit to a national park, including insider tips for getting off the beaten path at Sequoia, Zion, and Joshua Tree National Parks.

Turner explains why he believes early morning wake-ups are worth it to maximize your adventure. And he runs through what you should pack for a day hike to ensure you have fun and stay safe. Turner almost always hikes in trail running shoes, and he shares why he prefers them to hiking boots, plus why he brings the “10 essentials” you need to survive an unplanned night outside. You’ll also hear about Turner’s favorite National Park, and how hiking helps him be better at his day job as a therapist. Last but not least, Shanty and Turner break down the best hiking Pop Tart flavors.

You can learn more about Turner and find his guidebooks his website. Follow Turner’s adventures on Instagram, and connect with him on Facebook.

Meet the Host: Andrew “Shanty” Baldwin

the host of the podcast Andrew Baldwin wearing an orange hat and blue jacket with a frosty beard, smiling

In 2019, host Andrew Baldwin completed a southbound thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. After five months on the trail, Baldwin returned home to pursue a career in voice acting. A friend of the Gaia GPS company, Baldwin was a natural choice for hosting the Out and Back podcast.

In each Out and Back episode, Shanty strives to bring you conversations with people who spend an extraordinary amount of time outdoors. Listen in as Shanty taps into each backcountry expert’s superpower so that you can take their knowledge and experience with you on your next adventure.

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Scott Turner smiles over his shoulder while standing on a rocky overlook. A desert valley with surrounding mountains sprawls out behind him. He's loaded down with his hiking backpack and apparel.
Gaia GPSOut and Back Podcast

Get the Most out of Your National Park Trip with Guide Book Author Scott Turner

by Abby Levene
written by Abby Levene

How to listen: iTunes | Google Play | Spotify | Stitcher | Pocket Casts | RadioPublic | Breaker | Castbox

Get up to 50% off
Gaia GPS

This week on the Out and Back podcast, we’re joined by hiker, guidebook author, and licensed therapist Scott Turner. Turner has written guide books to five national parks, plus his home of San Diego county, CA. He shares insight on how to get the most out of a one-day visit to a national park, including insider tips for beating the crowds, and ways to get off the beaten path at Sequoia, Zion, Bryce, Kings Canyon, and Joshua Tree National Parks.

Growing up, Turner’s family took road trips to national parks. He loved hiking and reading the glossy guidebooks. Turner rekindled his passions for both hiking and guidebooks as an adult when he visited his girlfriend in San Diego. Looking for something to do, the guidebook Afoot and Afield on his girlfriend’s shelf caught his eye. Turner started hiking the suggested routes, and was intrigued by the book’s take on hiking safely. He’s hiked over 1,000 miles each year since. It didn’t take long for Turner to combine his passions for hiking and writing. Turner began writing trail guides for the popular hiking website Modern Hiker, and wrote a revised edition to Afoot and Afield shortly after that.

Scott sits on a rock with his arms folded on his knees. He's holding a sunhat. Canyon walls loom behind him.

Turner shares what it takes to write trail descriptions and entire guidebooks to places. You won’t want to miss this episode to get insider secrets on the best off-the-beaten-path hikes in several national parks, and the best times of year to go. Turner outlines the importance of planning to make the most of a one-day visit to a National Park:

“The more time and effort you put into your preparation, the more successful your experience is going to be.”

He explains why dropping into the visitor’s center is worth those few minutes, and why you should focus on hiking within one area of the park rather than wasting precious minutes driving aimlessly to landmarks. Turner does our first podcast day-trip pack shakedown. He runs through everything he brings in his day-hiking pack, and everything you should bring to have fun and stay safe on a day hike. He talks about two forms of navigation, at least two liters of water, and advises to bring more food than you think you need. Turner breaks down the “10 essentials” to pack in case you need to survive an unplanned night outside.

Turner lays out his case for why really early morning wake-ups are worth it to maximize your adventure. And he explains why he almost always hikes in trail running shoes instead of hiking boots. You’ll also hear about Turner’s favorite National Park, and how hiking helps him be better at his day job as a family and marriage therapist. Last but not least, Shanty and Turner break down the best hiking Pop-Tarts flavors.

You can learn more about Turner and find his guidebooks on his website. Follow Turner’s adventures on Instagram, and connect with him on Facebook.

Three of Scott's national parks guidebooks lie on the floor: Zion and Bryce; Joshua Tree; and Sequoia and Kinds Canyon.

Episode Highlights

3:20: Scott has written hundreds of trail descriptions.
3:45: Scott’s upbringing planted the seeds for his hiking and writing passions.
5:50: How a book sitting on his girlfriend’s shelf inspired him to learn how to hike safely.
8:00: Scott starts exploring the diverse landscapes of San Diego county.
12:00: Scott starts writing for LA-based Modern Hiker in 2014. He’s written 300 articles since.
13:30: Scott revises Afoot and Afield, which entailed hiking all 250 hikes, plus another 250 hikes.
15:30: How to write a trail description.
19:00: Scott works with Mountaineers Books to write pocket-sized guidebooks to national parks.
20:40: Scott’s guidebooks contain itineraries for people visiting national parks for one to several days.
21:25: How to get the most out of your one-day visit to a national park. (Prep and planning are key!)
22:10: Why to get to the park early.
22:50: Pick an area within the park, and hike to the best spots in that area.
23:15: Scott’s one-day itinerary for Sequoia National Park.
24:30: Scott’s one-day itinerary for Kings Canyon National Park.
27:00: The benefits of an interpretive hike, and why stopping in the visitor’s center is worthwhile.
28:00: Scott’s favorite hike in Zion National Park.
30:00: Scott’s tips on how to enjoy Joshua Tree National Park.
33:25: Why Scott starts hiking really early.
35:00: Scott’s books contain the deep cuts, less busy trails that you may have never heard of.
36:35: Scott shakes down his pack, laying out everything he brings on a day hike.
38:30: Why Scott avoids wearing cotton.
39:25: Scott’s favorite snack to take hiking.
40:15: Why Scott almost always prefers trail running shoes to hiking boots.
41:25: The “10 essentials” you need to survive an unplanned night outside.
42:45: Scott’s books also contain activities for people who don’t hike.
43:53: Scott shares an insider secret about where to hike in the fall.
45:00: Scott is enduring a record fire season in California.
46:25: Scott divulges his next guidebook.
48:10: How hiking helps Scott at his day job as a marriage and family therapist.
50:30: Scott’s favorite national park.
51:10: Scott’s favorite place to go hiking that isn’t a national park.
53:00: Scott and Shanty break down the best Pop-Tarts flavor for hiking.

Next week: The Real Hiking Viking Joins Shanty to Interview The Trek Founder Zach “Badger” Davis

Zach "Badger" Davis smiles for the camera. He's wearing a baseball cap and a backpack, and is standing in a field.

Next week, backpacking superstar the Real Hiking Viking joins Shanty to chat with Zach “Badger” Davis. Badger is a thru-hiking legend and founder of the top backpacking resource theTrek.co. Davis also hosts the informative, funny, and popular Backpacker Radio podcast.

Badger delves into how he essentially went straight from not hiking at all to thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail. Those six months turned out to be the most formative time in his life. Everything went wrong on that first thru-hike, including contracting West Nile virus. But Badger’s stubbornness carried him to the finish. He shares how his puzzlement over the “Virginia Blues” led him to write Appalachian Trials. Badger and Viking dig into the unlikely start to their friendship, and unearth some wild stories from their joint PCT thru-hike.

Seasoned and aspiring thru-hikers alike won’t want to miss this episode. The three men delve into how trails provide therapy, the inexplicable catharsis of overcoming seemingly impossible feats, and they share a lot of laughs. Also, learn more about the Real Hiking Viking on episode two of the Out and Back podcast.

Learn more about Badger on theTreck.co. Follow his adventures on Instagram, and tune into his podcast, Backpacker Radio.

Last Episode: Her Odyssey

Fidgit and Neon smile for the camera while carrying their backpacking packs and trekking poles. They are standing in front of a forest.

Last week, we caught up with world adventurers Bethany “Fidgit” Hughes and Lauren “Neon” Reed for an update on “Her Odyssey,” their journey across the Americas. Hughes and Reed have spent the last five years hiking, biking, and paddling their way across South and Central America, Mexico, and the United States on their non-motorized tour of the American continents. The long-distance hikers are now hunkered down in the States waiting for Covid to subside before finishing off their adventure in the northern most part of North America.

Tune in to learn how Hughes and Reed traveled through the wilderness in foreign countries, their incredible and heartwarming interactions with locals they met along the way, and some tips for treading lightly through indigenous regions and cultures. We also get the inside scoop on what it takes to dream up a massive project like this, their safety plans, and how their contrasting personalities serve their expedition mission in unique ways. Don’t miss this episode if you want to learn about getting off the tourist path in South and Central America.

Learn more about Hughes, Reed, and Her Odyssey on their website. Follow them on Instagram and Facebook. Support their mission, or just simply buy them a meal, on Patreon.

Meet the Hosts

the host of the podcast Andrew Baldwin wearing an orange hat and blue jacket with a frosty beard, smiling

Andrew “Shanty” Baldwin

In 2019, host Andrew Baldwin completed a southbound thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. After five months on the trail, Baldwin returned home to pursue a career in voice acting. A friend of the Gaia GPS company, Baldwin was a natural choice for hosting the Out and Back podcast.

In each Out and Back episode, Shanty strives to bring you conversations with people who spend an extraordinary amount of time outdoors. Listen in as Shanty taps into each backcountry expert’s superpower so that you can take their knowledge and experience with you on your next adventure.

Mary smiles while lying down and resting her head on a rock. She's wearing a purple jacket, gloves, and a black buff around her ears.

Mary Cochenour

Mary is the Out and Back podcast producer and a writer and editor at Gaia GPS. Before joining Gaia GPS, Mary worked as a lawyer, newspaper journalist, ski patroller, Grand Canyon river guide, and USFS wilderness ranger. Mary holds degrees in journalism and business as well as a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Montana. Mary is licensed to practice law in Montana and Nevada.

When she is not in the office, Mary works as a guide for Andrew Skurka Adventures in wild places around the west, like Rocky Mountain National Park, Yosemite, and the Brooks Range in Alaska. Learn more about Mary on Instagram. Also, read her tips on how to plan your first solo backpacking trip.

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Fidgit and Neon smile for the camera outside of a turquoise building in Mexico. Their bikes are leaning against the wall and are laden down with gear.
Gaia GPSOut and Back Podcast

Her Odyssey: An Adventure Across the Americas

by Mary Cochenour
written by Mary Cochenour

How to listen: iTunes | Google Play | Spotify | Stitcher | Pocket Casts | RadioPublic | Breaker | Castbox

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This week, we catch up with world adventurers Bethany “Fidgit” Hughes and Lauren “Neon” Reed for an update on their journey across the Americas. Hughes and Reed have spent the last five years backpacking, biking, and paddling their way across South and Central America, Mexico, and the United States on their non-motorized tour of the American continents. The long-distance hikers are now hunkered down in the States waiting for Covid to subside before finishing off their adventure in the northernmost part of North America.

Fidgit (left) and Neon (right) smile for the camera with their backpacking gear. They're standing in front of a forest.
Hughes (left) and Reed (right). Photo credit: Fede Cabrera.

Hughes and Reed met during their Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike in 2010, where they earned their trail names Fidgit and Neon, respectively. After Hughes completed her PCT thru-hike, she took a stab at conventional city life. She lived in a house, got a car, and landed a management position in an accounting office. But the pull of adventure tugged hard at her heartstrings.

While sitting in a traffic jam, she became inspired by the book Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. From that, Hughes imagined “a human-powered traverse of the Americas, connecting the stories of the land and its inhabitants.” She dubbed the adventure “Her Odyssey.”

A map of the Her Odyssey route to date shows the path Fidgit and Neon took to backpack, bike-pack, and kayak across South and Central America and the US.
A map of the route to date. Red: backpacking. Orange: bike-packing. Blue: kayaking.

Hughes enlisted Reed to join on the trek, acknowledging that their different personalities complement one another. Reed agrees and describes their personalities with a Venn diagram.

“I usually lean towards the logical side,” Reed says. “And Fidgit is usually leaning towards the emotional side. We pull each other towards the center in a lot of ways.”

In this episode, Hughes and Reed discuss how they traveled through the wilderness in foreign countries, their incredible and heartwarming interactions with locals they met along the way, and some tips for treading lightly through indigenous regions and cultures. We also hear about their safety plans and how their contrasting personalities serve their expedition mission in unique ways. Don’t miss this episode if you want to learn about getting off the tourist path in South and Central America.

Learn more about Hughes, Reed, and Her Odyssey on their website. Follow them on Instagram and Facebook. Support their mission, or just simply buy them a meal, on Patreon.

Fidgit, laded down with her backpacking gear, interviews two Quechua women.
Hughes interviews two Quechua women.

1:00: Fidgit and Neon started their journey over five years ago.
5:25: The duo met on the PCT in 2010.
8:25: The idea for Her Odyssey came to Fidgit on a drive home from work in Kansas City.
10:50: Fidgit’s belief system led to her reach out to Neon to be her travel partner.
14:30: Fidgit and Neon pull each other towards the center of emotion and logic.
19:50: Fidgit spent three years planning this trip.
22:30: Accepting that they didn’t know what they were doing proved essential.
23:30: Neon uses her power of observation to help them navigate.
25:00: Fidgit and Neon tell an illuminating story about getting lost.
27:00: How sharing knowledge about routes and trails differs in Latin America and the US.
30:00: Learning some of the local language is an important display of good will and respect.
34:00: Fidgit and Neon share pointers for interacting with locals and being respectful of local culture.
41:40: Gaging threats and avoiding dangerous situations internationally.
45:35: Self-defense strategies for staying safe overseas.
52:00: Women’s bodies were found cut up in bags while they were in South America.
59:50: How Fidgit and Neon dealt with drinking water in South America. (Their strategy didn’t always work!)
1:05:50: Fidgit and Neon go separate ways for part of their journey.
1:12:00: When a region got too “murdery,” they moved on.
1:21:10: How COVID has impacted their travels.
1:29:30: Fidgit and Neon are currently focusing on the storytelling and community building components of their journey.
1:30:20: The ultimate goal of their trip is to reach the Arctic Ocean within the next two years.
1:33:00: How they balance structure and letting the journey unfold.
1:33:30: Advice to those looking to go on their own odyssey.
1:36:30: The grossest things Fidgit and Neon have eaten on their trip.
1:43:00: The one luxury item Fidgit and Neon can’t travel without. (You will never guess!)
1:49:00: How Neon and Fidgit got their trail names.

Next Episode: Get the Most out of Your National Park Trip with Guide Book Author Scott Turner

Scott Turner smiles for the camera while sitting on a rock with his arms crossed on his knees. Red and gold canyons loom in the background.

Next week, Shanty and Mary sit down with hiker, guidebook author and licensed therapist Scott Turner. Turner has written guide books to five national parks, as well as his home of San Diego county. He shares insight on how to get the most out of a one-day visit to a national park, including insider tips for getting off the beaten path at Sequoia, Zion, and Joshua Tree National Parks.

Turner explains why he believes early morning wake-ups are worth it to maximize your adventure. And he runs through what you should pack for a day hike to ensure you have fun and stay safe. Turner almost always hikes in trail running shoes, and he shares why he prefers them to hiking boots, plus why he brings the “10 essentials” you need to survive an unplanned night outside. You’ll also hear about Turner’s favorite National Park, and how hiking helps him be better at his day job as a therapist. Last but not least, Shanty and Turner break down the best hiking Pop Tart flavors.

You can learn more about Turner and find his guidebooks his website. Follow Turner’s adventures on Instagram, and connect with him on Facebook.

Last Episode: Solo Backpacking with a Stalker

Mary smiles for the camera while backpacking through the alpine.

When Mary Cochenour became a wilderness ranger, she was forced to conquer her fear of solo backpacking. It took some time but with a lot of practice, Mary eventually grew comfortable camping alone in the woods. That is, until she realized she wasn’t alone after all. A man had been stalking Mary even in the farthest corners of the wilderness.

Tune in last week’s episode of the Out and Back podcast as Mary tells a thrilling tale about her early days as a wilderness ranger in Desolation Wilderness in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Hear about her first night spent alone in the wilderness and what happened months later when she discovered that a man had been following her around the backcountry.

Mary reveals how this sketchy incident inspired her to keep backpacking solo and how she drew on this experience when working with victims as a violent crimes prosecutor in Montana. This story, although gripping at times, reminds us that sometimes you have to face your fears head on to finally overcome them.

We are excited to introduce you to Mary because she is the Out and Back podcast producer and a writer and editor at Gaia GPS. When she is not in the office, Mary works as a guide for Andrew Skurka Adventures in wild places around the west, like Rocky Mountain National Park, Yosemite, and the Brooks Range in Alaska.

Learn more about Mary on Instagram. Read Mary’s bio on Gaia GPS’s team page and view her hiking credentials on Andrew Skurka’s guide roster. Also, read her tips on how to plan your first solo backpacking trip.

Tell Us Your Story: Have You Ever Been Lost?

Two people pour over a paper map in the backcountry.

Have a great story about getting lost in the woods? Shoot us an email at media@gaiagps.com for a chance to be featured on the Out and Back podcast.

Tell us in 500 words or less how and where you got lost and what you did to get yourself out of trouble. Bonus points for humorous narratives and tales with surprise endings.

In addition to a podcast interview, the winner will receive Gaia GPS swag and a free Gaia GPS membership to help keep them from getting lost on the next adventure.

Meet the Hosts

the host of the podcast Andrew Baldwin wearing an orange hat and blue jacket with a frosty beard, smiling

Andrew “Shanty” Baldwin

In 2019, host Andrew Baldwin completed a southbound thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. After five months on the trail, Baldwin returned home to pursue a career in voice acting. A friend of the Gaia GPS company, Baldwin was a natural choice for hosting the Out and Back podcast.

In each Out and Back episode, Shanty strives to bring you conversations with people who spend an extraordinary amount of time outdoors. Listen in as Shanty taps into each backcountry expert’s superpower so that you can take their knowledge and experience with you on your next adventure.

Mary smiles while lying down and resting her head on a rock. She's wearing a purple jacket, gloves, and a black buff around her ears.

Mary Cochenour

Mary is the Out and Back podcast producer and a writer and editor at Gaia GPS. Before joining Gaia GPS, Mary worked as a lawyer, newspaper journalist, ski patroller, Grand Canyon river guide, and USFS wilderness ranger. Mary holds degrees in journalism and business as well as a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Montana. Mary is licensed to practice law in Montana and Nevada.

When she is not in the office, Mary works as a guide for Andrew Skurka Adventures in wild places around the west, like Rocky Mountain National Park, Yosemite, and the Brooks Range in Alaska. Learn more about Mary on Instagram. Also, read her tips on how to plan your first solo backpacking trip.

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