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Pacific Crest Trail

How Tragedy Turned Luc Mehl into a Packrafting Expert

by Mary Cochenour May 6, 2021

written by Mary Cochenour

Adventurer Luc Mehl has spent decades exploring Alaska in the most creative ways. He’s skied from Haines to Juneau; ice-skated a 100+ mile route on frozen lakes and seashores above the Arctic Circle, and bikepacked portions of the Iditarod Trail. In 2006, he discovered a much more efficient way to cover miles in the mountains: packrafting. He’s taken floating down Alaskan rivers to a new level ever since.

Don’t miss episode 31 of the Out and Back podcast as Luc takes us on his incredible Alaskan journey. His story starts with growing up in a tiny, landlocked village. Yet it took moving to the city for Luc to find joy playing outside in Alaska’s great expanses.

Luc’s adventures on foot, bike, ice skates, skis, and packraft can seem extreme to most people. But he swears he’s not in it for the thrill. Taking on new sports is just Luc’s way to keep growing.

“Part of what I am after is the learning curve,” Luc says on the podcast. “Every day I go out and I’m a little better than I was yesterday. I’ve done that with all these sports: skiing, biking, packrafting. As soon as the learning curve flattens out, I start to get a little restless. I’ll embrace learning even if it means giving up being an expert and I’ll pick up something new.”

Luc used the Alaska Mountain Wilderness Classic — a punishing adventure challenge across 100+ miles of rugged terrain — to test his limits and learn new things. The Wilderness Classic felt like a safe place for Luc to experiment with his gear, food, and sleep deprivation. Sometimes he stayed up all night to rack up extra miles.

Luc’s goal in the Wilderness Classic was to see just how minimally he could survive. Until one day, cutting corners resulted in tragedy.

In 2014, Luc’s friend drowned in a packrafting accident in the middle of the race course. Though Luc was not on the scene, the loss of his friend changed his perspective on decision-making in the mountains. Suddenly, his history of many close calls came into sharp focus.

Book jacket of Luc's book, "The Packraft Handbook."

Looking at his skill level through the lens of tragedy, Luc realized he was boating on water way over his head. It was a tough pill to swallow, but he dialed back and started learning the sport all over again. The result seven years later is Luc’s brand new book, “The Packraft Handbook.”

Due out at the end of May, “The Packraft Handbook” captures Luc’s knowledge about backcountry river travel. Everything from reading water to river hazards, packraft gear and safety equipment, “The Packraft Handbook” reaches both beginners and expert paddlers.

Learn more about Luc Mehl and his Alaskan adventures on his website. Follow him on Instagram. And pick up a copy of “The Packraft Handbook” to get the best tips for staying safe on moving water. Pre-orders are available now and will be shipped in June.

Last Episode: The Pacific Crest Trail with Barney “Scout” Mann

Barney at his computer, with book cases on either side. His back is to the camera.

Tune in to the last episode of Out and Back podcast for a chat with Barney “Scout” Mann. Since 2006, Scout and his wife “Frodo” have been hosting Pacific Crest Trail hikers at their suburban San Diego home.

The ultimate trail angles, the Manns offer to pick up arriving PCT hikers from the airport, bring them to their five-bedroom house, feed them dinner, entertain them with music, and teach them the ways of the trail. The next morning, the Manns shuttle the hopeful thru-hikers some 60 miles to the Mexico border. With a hug and a smile, they send their new hiking friends off to Canada. The Manns don’t charge a penny for their services.

In this episode, Scout describes how running their famous hiker hostel kept Scout and Frodo connected to the PCT even after their own thru-hike in 2007. Scout reflects on how the pandemic forced them to close up shop in 2020, and why they decided not to host PCT hikers in 2021. Listen through to the very end to hear why Scout and Frodo will consider hosting in 2022.

Find out about the release of Scout’s new book, Journeys North, which chronicles his own PCT thru-hike with Frodo. Give Scout a follow on Instagram — he’s on the Arizona Trail right now and posting pictures of his trip along the way. Learn more about Scout and Frodo’s hiker hostel on the Mann’s website.

May 6, 2021

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

Gaia GPS Out and Back Podcast

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

by Abby Levene September 30, 2020

written by Abby Levene

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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.

September 30, 2020

Out and Back: Will "Akuna" Robinson is superimposed over an Image of Akuna hiking.

Gaia GPS Out and Back Podcast

How Hiking Heals with Will “Akuna” Robinson

by Mary Cochenour August 11, 2020

written by Mary Cochenour

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When Army veteran Will Robinson returned home from a combat tour in Iraq, he struggled with depression and PTSD. He spent more and more time at home, withdrawing from civilian life and turning to alcohol for self-medication. One day, he flipped on the TV and saw Reese Witherspoon wrestling with an oversized backpack in the movie “Wild.”

That movie scene took Robinson back to his deployment overseas when he read a book about hiking the 2,660-mile Pacific Crest Trail. Inspired, Robinson shut off the TV and got to work planning his hike. Just two weeks later, Robinson put two feet on the trail and began walking north.

That first PCT thru-hike “was like an epiphany,” Robinson says. “I really, really enjoy through hiking. This is going to be my life. This is for me. It’s not just that I want to come back next season because I had a goal and I feel like I didn’t accomplish it. I want to come back next season because I love this lifestyle and it’s helped me so much and I enjoy it so much. I just need to go back.”

Dubbed “Akuna” on the trail, Robinson sat down with Shanty for episode 8 of the Out and Back podcast. He engages in a frank discussion about how the trail helps him find purpose, community, and the space and time he needs to focus on himself. He recounts how the PCT hike allowed him to address his PTSD and depression. Inspired by the way the trail made him feel, Akuna continued on to hike the Appalachian Trail and the Continental Divide Trail — becoming the first Black man to complete the Triple Crown of long trails in America.

Akuna hugs a pole signifying the US/Canadian border and also the end of the PCT.

Tune in as Robinson talks about being the first Black man to complete the Triple Crown, what that achievement has meant to him, and how all the hateful comments on social media mentally drained him. Akuna also touches on the recent flood of media requests in his inbox regarding speaking about the issues people of color face in the outdoors. He explains what he believes his fellow hikers can do on trail to make the outdoors a more welcoming place for people of color, and what it means for outdoor brands to become better allies. Laid back yet passionate about hiking, Akuna highlights the healing nature of trails everywhere, whether long, short, or in between.

Learn more about Akuna on his brand new website www.akunahikes.com and follow Akuna on Instagram to catch a glimpse of his latest adventures.

Episode Highlights

3:50: Akuna describes his upbringing living in Germany as a military kid and coming back to New Orleans.
6:30: Racism is real; it is not a made up thing.
7:05: Akuna did not grow up backpacking and camping, but enjoyed being outside as a kid.
8:45: Akuna’s dad told him that joining the military was out of the question.
9:15: An Army recruitment officer diverted Akuna from going down the wrong path in 1999 when he was a young man.
11:10: Akuna served in Iraq and was medically evacuated and sent home to New Orleans.
13:45: Upon returning home, Akuna underwent a number of surgeries and struggled with PTSD.
18:20: The military was not yet prepared to addressed the number of soldiers coming home with PTSD.
18:30: Akuna fell into a downward spiral, getting worse and worse. His room at home became a prison and he withdrew from social interactions.
20:00: Akuna knew he had to do something drastic to get out of this situation.
20:20: He looked up at the TV and saw the movie “Wild” and it inspired him to hit the Pacific Crest Trail.
21:20: Akuna thought “this is where I need to be” and two weeks later he was in Campo ready to start the trail.
24:30: Social interaction is the best part of Akuna’s thru-hiking experience.
27:15: Learn how Akuna earned his trail name.
28:20: Akuna loves the desert section of the PCT.
30:35: How thru-hiking helped alleviate Akuna’s PTSD and Depression symptoms.
39:00 Akuna is dealing with injuries on the PCT and has to leave the trail.
45:00: Akuna comes back and completes the PCT and goes on to nab the AT and CDT, becoming the first Black man to complete the Triple Crown.
48:00: Akuna shares his experience on each of the three trails and the benefits of each.
51:03: Akuna inadvertently completed the Triple Crown.
54:10: Akuna is proud to be first Black man to achieving the Triple Crown because it provides an example to other people of color that they can complete the trails too.
55:40: The community response to his Triple Crown achievement was overwhelming.
56:00: Akuna is sponsored by Merrell.
57:00: Since George Floyd’s murder, Akuna and other Black and BIPOC athletes’ phones have been ringing off the hook.
59:00: Akuna’s advice on how hikers and outdoor brands can be better allies to people of color in the outdoors.
1:04:10: Akuna took a mental health break from social media recently.
1:05:00: What’s on Akuna’s bucket list of hikes? You will NEVER guess.
1:08:05: Favorite trail town food: milkshakes.
1:09:00: Shout out to Erick Schat’s Bakery in Bishop, California, Akuna’s favorite trail town stop.

Next Episode: Justin “Trauma” Lichter on Lessons from Africa, the Himalayas, and a Winter Traverse of the PCT

You won’t want to miss the next episode of Out and Back with world adventurer and author Justin “Trauma” Lichter. Hear Lichter’s wildest stories from across the globe, including how stampeding elephants and stalking lions stopped him in his tracks on his attempted thru-hike of Africa. Learn about his high-altitude traverse of the Himalayas, and the trip that made the most headlines — becoming the first person along with Shawn “Pepper” Forry to successfully complete the Pacific Crest Trail in winter.

Lichter gives insights to the challenges and rewards of international adventure travel and the complications of winter travel on the PCT. And he digs into what motivates him to keep pushing the limits in the outdoors:

“The challenge — to see what what you can handle and what you can’t handle — that’s that’s definitely part of it. And the other part that keeps you going is just seeing these places. It’s just rewarding. When you’re out there at the twilight in the alpen glow and nobody’s out there, it’s just an amazing moment.”

Lichter is truly an expert of backcountry travel in all its forms: hiking, skiing, and bikepacking. In fact, he’s the source of trail details and information on many of National Geographic’s Trails Illustrated maps.

To learn more about Lichter, check out his website: www.justinlichter.com. Tap into his knowledge by reading one of his many books, including: Trail Tested: A Thru-Hiker’s Guide to Ultralight Hiking and Backpacking and Survive: Mountains.

Last Episode: Thru Hiking Budgets and Urban Backpacking Routes with Liz “Snorkel” Thomas

Snorkel smiles as she reaches out a hand filled with blueberries. She stands in a field, with a full backpacking pack on her back.

If you’ve ever wondered how much money it takes to set off on a long thru-hike like the Appalachian Trail or the Pacific Crest Trail, guess no more. In this episode, Shanty tackles thru-hiking’s financial costs with author, gear reviewer, and dedicated long-distance hiker Liz Thomas. Known as “Snorkel“ in the trail community, Thomas gives an honest and realistic picture of a thru-hiker’s budget. Learn Snorkel’s philosophy on buying gear, ways to save money in trail towns, and get a glimpse at hidden expenses that most hikers never even consider.

Snorkel also takes us out of the wilderness and onto the city sidewalk with 14 urban trekking routes across American cities. From Los Angeles to Seattle, Snorkel created 100-mile hikes through metropolitan areas to make the joy of thru-hiking more accessible to people who enjoy the comforts of civilization. The best part of urban thru-hiking, Snorkel says, includes checking out city art exhibits, walking through neighborhoods you never knew existed, and getting to eat the most delicious trail food for every meal. One of her favorite routes samples all the breweries in Denver. While not the most economical thru-hike, these trips provide a unique way to experience the hustle and bustle of any metropolis.

Learn more about Liz Thomas and her urban thru-hikes on her blog and follow her on Instagram. Follow Snorkel’s latest adventure: Treeline Review, a comprehensive gear-review website that helps you find and buy the right equipment the first time around. Read her book Long Trails, Mastering the Art of the Thru-Hike and her recent Falcon Guide, Hiking Waterfalls Southern California: A guide to the Region’s Best Waterfall Hikes, released in November 2019.

Meet the Host: Andrew “Shanty” Baldwin

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.

August 11, 2020

Adventures Featured Gaia GPS Out and Back Podcast User Profiles

The Out and Back Podcast, Episode 2 with The Real Hiking Viking

by Mary Cochenour May 19, 2020

written by Mary Cochenour

The Out and Back podcast drops its second episode today with thru-hiking legend the Real Hiking Viking. In this episode, meet free-spirited and fun-focused Thomas Gathman, who picked up the Viking trail name due to his Norse-like beard and his warrior status as a former Marine Scout Sniper. Viking served two combat tours in Iraq before coming home, selling all his possessions in 2013, and hiking more than 20,000 miles on America’s longest trails.

Tune in as host Andrew “Shanty” Baldwin goes beyond the iconic beard and unravels Viking’s often-overlooked journey from sniper to pro hiker. Viking shines a light on how he was first introduced to thru-hiking culture and what inspired him to step on the trail in 2013 and never look back.

Episode 2: the Real Hiking Viking on his Journey from Sniper to Pro Hiker

Fresh out of the Marine Corp in 2012, Thomas Gathman crossed paths with some Appalachian Trail thru-hikers. They completely blew his mind.

“This Appalachian Trail thing isn’t just this idea of a trail, there are people walking from Georgia to Maine every year in this big, mobile community .. my brain exploded at the idea of it,” Gathman said of his first realization of what the thru-hiking community had to offer. “I was talking to these thru-hikers and, yeah, they were gross, they were dirty, they were stinky and I was, like, enamored by it.”

Nine months later, without any real backpacking experience, Gathman set out on his own Appalachian Trail thru-hike. Returning home to Pennsylvania with a trail name and a new direction in life, Gathman sold all his belongings and left town. Since then, one trail has led to another, taking Gathman to completions of the AT, the Pacific Crest Trail, the Continental Divide Trail, and many more.

Thomas Gathman, also known as the Real Hiking Viking, with mountains in the background. — The Real Hiking Viking in his element.

In this Out and Back episode, Gathman brings an honest account of trail life, recounting both successes and failures, including failed attempts at the Pacific Crest Trail, two winter bail outs of the Long Trail, and a botched try at the Hayduke Trail. Gathman reveals his easy-going, free-spirited approach to hiking, bouncing from mountain range to mountain range in search of the best conditions and most beautiful scenery. When the trail doesn’t pan out, Viking quickly and easily changes course, sometimes ending up at Burning Man.

Viking reveals the long list of places he will go as soon as quarantine lifts, what luxury item he always put in his pack, and which Triple Crown trail he can’t wait to revisit. Gregarious, spontaneous, and untethered to conventional life’s responsibilities, Viking reminds us why hiking is so much fun.

Follow the Real Hiking Viking on Instagram or look him up on his website.

Episode 2 Highlights with the Real Hiking Viking

2:00, Viking talks about his combat tours to Iraq, one as a Marine Scout Sniper
2:30, Viking explains the meaning of his trail name the Real Hiking Viking
5:30, Viking talks about his introduction to thru-hiking culture
12:12, Viking talks about why he’s chomping at the bit to get back to the Continental Divide Trail
14:45, Viking takes on the Appalachian Trail in winter, and how that trip was the pinnacle of danger for him
27:15: Viking touches on the visiting the Jordan Trail in the Middle East in early 2019
29:25: Learn why 2019 was a “train wreck” for Viking, felt like getting boxed by Mike Tyson
41:11, As soon as quarantine ends, Viking is headed to a whole bunch of trails, listen to which ones are on top of his list
46:60, Viking reveals the luxury item that he always takes with him
47:15, Viking tells us what kind of music motivates him on the trail
49:00, Find out the biggest town meal Viking ever ate
52:15, Shanty asks about Viking’s cinnamon-colored beard

Next Episode: Adventurer Andrew Skurka Talks Backcountry Navigation

Mountain guide Andrew Skurka talks backcountry navigation in the next episode on Out and Back.

In Out and Back’s next episode, Shanty catches up with backcountry navigation expert Andrew Skurka. Widely known for
making up his own unique and burly long-distance hiking adventures, Skurka has more recently turned his attention to developing shorter-distance off-trail routes in the Wind River Range, the Sierra, and the Colorado Rockies.

Author of The Ultimate Hiker’s Gear Guide: Tools & Tips to Hit the Trail, published by National Geographic, and host to one of the most comprehensive websites for backpacking gear and tips, Skurka has become the definitive authority on ultralight, off-trail hiking. You won’t want to miss Episode 3, as Skurka passes along his insights on backcountry navigation, how not to get lost, and his favorite maps and navigation tools for hiking off the beaten path.

Last Episode: Record-Setting Thru-Hiker Heather “Anish” Anderson

Heather Anish Anderson looking at the camera with rocks in the background,

In case you missed it, go back and check out Out and Back’s debut episode, featuring record-setting thru-hiker Heather “Anish” Anderson.

Shanty dives deep with Anderson, who spells out the complex set of factors that drove her to accomplish speed records on the Pacific Crest Trail, the Appalachian Trail, and the Arizona Trail, as well as become one of a handful of athletes to nab all three of America’s long trails, some 7,500+ miles of hiking, in a single calendar year.

Listen in to find out what drove Anderson, a self-described overweight and unathletic kid, to subject herself to unimaginable sufferfests, ultimately becoming one of the backcountry’s most celebrated athletes.

Meet the Host of the Out and Back Podcast: Andrew “Shanty” Baldwin

Out and Back podcast host Andrew Baldwin covered in snow on the Appalachian Trail. — Andrew “Shanty” Baldwin finishing up his 2019 Appalachian Trail thru-hike.

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, Baldwin 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.

May 19, 2020

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