Mac of Halfway Anywhere has been conducting surveys on the PCT for eight years, and on the CDT for four. Get the inside scoop on what makes people quit the trail, why he dislikes trail magic, and why he swears he’ll never hike the AT.
Out and Back Podcast
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Making a great cup of coffee in the backcountry is tricky. You can enjoy a silky smooth cup from a french press, but you have to lug around the equipment and the messy grounds. Or you can settle for the convenience and featherlight weight of instant coffee, but that often tastes terrible. Tune in to the Out and Back podcast to hear pro thru-hikers Heather “Anish” Anderson, Hiking Viking, Adventure Alan, and Liz “Snorkel” Thomas settle this debate once and for all.
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Fifteen years ago, an owl swooped down to Mike Clelland with a message. That event changed the trajectory of his life, leading Mike to become a leading historian and author on the connection between highly charged owl encounters and UFO abduction. Yes, you read that correctly. Tune in to the newest episode of the Out and Back podcast and be prepared to never look at the world the same way again.
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As wildfires derail recreation plans across the West, how can we account for longer and fiercer fire seasons? Former wildland firefighter Amanda Monthei lifts the curtain on fire misperceptions this week on the Out and Back podcast. Tune in to learn how we can work with — rather than against — fire, and how to take advantage of burn scars on your next trip.
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Eight years ago, Jenny and Scott Jurek wanted to visit Japan for their honeymoon. But life got in the way, including Jenny’s career as an outdoor gear and apparel designer, Scott’s record-setting Appalachian Trail thru-hike, and the birth of their two children. With two toddlers in tow, the family shipped their bikes to Hokkaido, Japan. They covered 600 miles over a month while carrying their own gear. By the end, the kids didn’t want to go home. Tune in to the Out and Back podcast to get the inside scoop on the trip and the Jurek’s wild life.
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The famous Grizzly 399 and her four cubs are back! The grizzly bears survived the winter and continue charming Grand Teton National Park visitors. Learn more about Griz 399’s amazing life story, including the one time she attacked a man outside of Jackson Lake Lodge, on the Out and Back podcast.
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Seven years after a life-threatening cycling crash, Alan Adams reclaimed his fitness, tenacity, and connection to nature through a new year’s resolution. He set out to cover two million vertical feet in a single calendar year — all under his own power. He ended up ski touring and cycling his way to the world record. Alan climbed over 2.5 million vertical feet, averaging over 7,000 vertical a day. Tune in to the Out and Back podcast to learn how Alan juggled this overwhelming feat while maintaining his job and a relationship.
Learn how to overcome your backpacking fears this week on the Out and Back podcast. Allison Boyle, the face behind the ultra-popular blog and hiking resource She Dreams of Alpine, lays out the big three fears newbie backpackers feel. She shares her tried and true strategies for overcoming them, as well as why almost everyone wants to back out of their trip right before they start. Plus, learn how she turned her passion for the outdoors into a career.
Geography always played a key role in bringing Denver educators Phoebe Novitsky and Ian Silberman together. From summiting the wrong peak to bonking on an epic gravel ride, the couple’s trials and triumphs outside taught them resilience and unconditional love. Ian knew geography would also play a key role in asking for Phoebe’s hand in marriage. Grab a box of tissues and tune in to the Out and Back podcast to learn how Ian used maps (and Gaia GPS, in fact!) to elevate the proposal to the next level.
Packrafting expert Luc Mehl has spent decades creatively exploring Alaska. He worked his way up the learning curves of skiing, bikepacking, ice skating, and packrafting — sometimes at the expense of his own safety. But when a friend drowned in a packrafting accident, Luc critically examined his lifestyle. He decided to relearn how to packraft the right way. Buckle up as Luc takes listeners on a wild ride this week on the Out and Back podcast.