The Backpacking Podcast

Outdoor Vitals Resolve Down Anorak: https://alnk.to/cwX2fyNMeetup AllTrails Link: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/custom-routes/creator-meetup-route-to-camp-a0671d7?u=i&sh=luwlk4Permit Link: https://www.nps.gov/biso/planyourvisit/permits.htm
🥾 IN THIS EPISODE💰 Backpacking Upgrades for Pennies or FreeWe take on five ideas from a list of 42 low-cost backpacking upgrades, including using fishing line for repairs, keeping your pillow in place with a T-shirt, trimming unnecessary gear, and intelligently downsizing your first aid kit. We also debate whether an $80 tree table deserves a place at camp.🏞️ The Government Hates the Outdoors?We discuss changes to Bears Ears National Monument, public land conservation, and new recreation surveys being conducted in Daniel Boone National Forest. What does this mean for outdoor access, privacy, and the future of our public lands?📰 Hiker NewsMeet the Great Colorado Route, a massive Colorado hiking route connecting existing trails, and hear why one school's 50-mile Appalachian Trail backpacking requirement is getting our attention. We also discuss the proposed Chiricahua National Park designation in Arizona.🐻 Animal Encounters: Bear Trouble in TennesseeWhy have dozens of bears been euthanized following human-bear conflicts in the Smokies region? We talk about irresponsible wildlife feeding, unsecured food and garbage, and why keeping wild bears wary of humans matters.😳 Jeremiah's Neighbor UpdateThings take a serious turn in Jeremiah's ongoing story about his neighbor's aggressive dog. Hear the latest developments and why the situation has become so frightening.🎒 Plus: Outdoor Vitals' Resolve Down Anorak jacket, our upcoming Big South Fork meetup, Kentucky's legendary Ale-8-One soda, plenty of laughs, and a special rockabilly version of the Backpacking Podcast theme song at the end!

Meetup AllTrails Link: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/custom-routes/creator-meetup-route-to-camp-a0671d7?u=i&sh=luwlk4This week on **The Backpacking Podcast**, John and Jeremiah are back with backpacking news, questionable gear, wildlife encounters, and plenty of opinions along the way.We kick things off with our first-ever **Pro Tip** segment: if you’re hiking with people who are faster than you, make sure YOU have the car keys. 😂Then things get serious in **Hiker News** as we discuss the disappearance of well-known hiker **Chris “Mischief” Phillips**, a double amputee who has logged thousands of miles on trails across the country.In **Animal Encounters**, we break down the terrifying story of a black bear that climbed through a 17-year-old girl’s bedroom window in Durango, Colorado—and then came back a second time. We also take a look at Colorado’s massive **I-25 wildlife overpass**, where officials have reported a dramatic reduction in wildlife-vehicle collisions.Then it’s time for **Backpack or Send It Back**, where we dig through a collection of ultralight backpacking gadgets and decide what actually deserves a spot in your pack. Windscreens, cord spools, pot lids, bear-bag toggles, sport caps, folding utensils, refillable lighters, titanium sporks and more all go before the court.Some of it gets a thumbs up.Some of it definitely needs to be sent back.Finally, **That Don’t Make No Sense** takes us into the strange world of overnight Amazon deliveries. Is getting a package at 4:00 in the morning incredibly convenient—or is sending gig drivers onto strangers’ porches in the middle of the night asking for trouble?Let us know where you land on these stories and gear picks in the comments!🎒 **The Backpacking Podcast** with Jeremiah Stringer and John Kelly — backpacking gear, hiking news, trail stories, outdoor culture, and everything else that happens when backpackers start talking.📧 Send us your backpacking pro tips, guest ideas, pictures, theme-song ideas, and show suggestions at:backpackingpodcast@gmail.com👍 Like the episode, subscribe, and join us for the next one!#Backpacking #Hiking #BackpackingGear #UltralightBackpacking #HikingNews #ThruHiking #BackpackingPodcast #BlackBear #Wildlife #OutdoorGear #CampingGear #TheBackpackingPodcast

Meetup AllTrails Link: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/custom-routes/creator-meetup-route-to-camp-a0671d7?u=i&sh=luwlk4Outdoor Vitals Mountain Pursuit Line: https://alnk.to/dLmgnji📧 Send us your photos, guest ideas, and ridiculous theme-song genre combinations:[backpackingpodcast@gmail.com](mailto:backpackingpodcast@gmail.com)Welcome back to The Backpacking Podcast! This episode has a little bit of everything: backpacking news, gear, ridiculous outdoor stories, Appalachian Trail discussion, Trail Court, and one of the most ridiculous boating stories we've told yet.We kick things off talking about Outdoor Vitals gear and the Mountain Pursuit line before getting into our Sub Pick of the Week — a vintage backpacking photo that shows just how different hiking looked decades ago.Then things get serious with a disturbing story about **5,000 gallons of diesel fuel spilling from a data center into a New Jersey waterway** and a conversation about data centers, technology, and their growing impact on the outdoors.Next up: Yellowstone. And apparently people have been throwing some absolutely bizarre things into Yellowstone's hydrothermal features — including camera lens covers, sunglasses, toys, coins, retainers, and other random objects. More than 20,000 pieces of trash were reportedly collected during a record-setting cleanup effort.Then we get into **Hiker News**, including the future of shelters and campsites along the Appalachian Trail. Could some aging AT shelters eventually be replaced with tent pads or other camping options? We talk about the history, usefulness, problems, and culture surrounding Appalachian Trail shelters.And then things get weird.We introduce **Poop Talk**, talk about "pooping with a view," explore some incredible backcountry privies, and discuss the unique experience of using an outdoor bathroom with absolutely no privacy.Finally, it's time for **Trail Court** — involving a broken boat, two jet skis, a giant camping chair, a marina slip, and a situation that definitely deserves a courtroom.Plus, we talk about our upcoming Hiker Awards, listener-submitted theme song ideas, backpacking stories, and more.If you love backpacking, hiking, camping, Appalachian Trail stories, outdoor gear, hiker news, trail culture, and a healthy amount of ridiculousness, you're in the right place.

GPS Pin For Parking Meetup (Oct 9th-11th, 2026): https://maps.app.goo.gl/7NFAWh3hv4ajryKN6Trail Map From Car to Campsite (1.3 miles): https://www.ccl-bsf.com/mapsCharit Creek Lodge Website: https://www.ccl-bsf.com/
Gear, hiker news, trail trends, and a little “poop with a view” — this episode of The Backpacking Podcast has a bit of everything!We’re checking out the 3FUL water filter and other gear, talking about what’s happening on the trails, looking at the biggest gear trends of 2026, and, if there’s time, we might be talking about some animal encounters.Trails, campfires, good conversations, bad jokes. 🥾🏕️🐻

GPS Pin For Parking Meetup (Oct 9th-11th, 2026): https://maps.app.goo.gl/7NFAWh3hv4ajryKN6Trail Map From Car to Campsite (1.3 miles): https://www.ccl-bsf.com/mapsCharit Creek Lodge Website: https://www.ccl-bsf.com/
In this episode, we explore humorous and practical aspects of backpacking, including gear reviews, funny anecdotes, and safety tips for encounters with wildlife. Join us for a lighthearted yet informative discussion perfect for outdoor enthusiasts.