Podcasts
I've been fortunate to have been a guest on a number of podcasts revolving around my outdoor adventures. They are listed below from most recent at the top to older ones at the bottom.
The John Freakin' Muir Pod
Calendar Year Triple Crowner Brandon "Horsepower" Weis returns to the John Freakin' Muir studio to talk about what he's been up to since his last chat with Doc. Tune in and hear about some of America's lesser known, but equally stunning, trails. During the episode, the two get into a healthy discussion of Better Call Saul, the proper work to reward ratio on trail, the ultimate bartending story starter, soupy liquids, trail hallucinations, and Horsepower's secret superpower - binge eating.
Off Trail
What is the Bigfoot Trail?
Host Constantine is joined by Horsepower (first recurring guest on our show, so... commence "medal ceremony") as they are fresh off completing their thru-hike of the Bigfoot Trail. Completed on July 2nd, we catch up with them on July 3rd, so please forgive them if the emotions are still running high, well maybe not forgive.. but at least have context before the show begins.
The Bigfoot Trail is a 358~ mile trail that spans from Ides Cove in Northern California to Crescent City a coastal town in Northern California. Along the way you traverse through multiple wilderness areas, touch the PCT or Pacific Crest Trail for a few miles, quickly dip a toe into Oregon and then just as quickly come back to Northern California. It traverses through 32 different type of conifer trees per their website, and in general is a beautiful trail, brutal, but beautiful.
Horsepower and Constantine sit down and give a synopsis of the 14 days it took to hike this trail. They begin at day 1, with sleeping in the fetal position, bushwhacking through thick thorns, the difference between THICC and THIQQ, and continue from there revealing stories shared, pain experienced, and beauty seen.
We chat about Hayfork and its wonderful Mexican cuisine (seriously), we chat about good wounds vs. bad wounds and we chat the mysterious "RV Camp in the middle of the Trinity Wilderness. We talk about Horsepower's "Tent Juke" technique for mosquitoes, carrying 6 sets of clothes, a fun game we played called Rattlesnake Roulette, and how Constantine is an old man in... well an old man's body.
We chat about 1700 miles vs. 200 miles and the "worth" of a mile, we chat peanut butter and soda fueling techniques, we chat oozing and blistering legs, and we chat about Playing Basketball in Pelican Bay! (Training Day reference)
All jokes aside, this episode is meant to be informational as the Bigfoot Trail is still growing with its map data, trail conditions, and awareness, so we hoped to shine more light on a trail system that really is beautiful, and yes brutally difficult.
We chat about the difference between the Big 3 trails and these smaller trails regarding their support, infrastructure, and trail maintenance. We chat about the "flavor" of the Bigfoot Trail and how everyday there will be some form of bushwhack and intense climbs, we talk about trail conditions and alternates, and we go over in detail the essence of what it means to hike the Bigfoot Trail.
The John Freakin' Muir Pod
Prior to 2021, just 10 people had ever completed the Calendar Year Triple Crown, a feat in which a thru hiker must complete the Appalachian Trail, the Continental Divide Trail, and the Pacific Crest Trail in one calendar year. Brandon "Horsepower" Weis decided he would take on this challenge in 2021 despite just picking up hiking in 2018 and never actually doing a thru hike before. Tune in to hear his amazing story.
Off Trail
We have the privilege of speaking with the one and only, Horsepower!
True to his name, it really is like this man is fueled by an internal engine of some sort.
Well, we dive deeper into what this "engine" consists of and how he handled the mentality around a feat few can claim to have accomplished.
Horsepower set out to complete the Calendar Year Triple Crown this year of 2021, completing the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Divide Trail all within a calendar year. Totaling over 7,000 miles, this is a feat few hikers set their sights on, even rarer as their first introduction into thru-hiking. No baby steps for him, instant trail by fire and ice, mostly ice.
Not only did he complete this feat, but he also set his sights upon a new milestone along the journey by trying to reach 10,000 miles in a single year. We talk about this goal and how it differed from the CYTC and what happens when you chose to seek failure.
A one of a kind chat, with a fresh into the thru-hiking world mentality, that takes a new spin on our usual show.
FAVORITE QUOTES: "Confident in my own ability to take misery"
"PCT was fun, CDT was love, AT was respect"
Life in Motion
In this episode we interview Brandon 'Horsepower' Weis. Growing up in Ohio, Brandon didn't see much of the outdoors - at least not in the sense that he does now. That all changed when Ohio State offered him a stipend to perform a transformational experience. He was immediately interested in a month-long backpacking trip in the High Sierras - but not because it was outdoors. He wanted to do it for the challenge. After his trip he was hooked and began planning longer thru hikes to finish before he headed to grad school. Only one problem. There was a global shutdown soon after those plans were made. Rather than ditching the idea - he decided to pack all of the hikes into one year. In 2021 he hiked the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and Arizona Trail. The best part? He's adding more to his list. If you've ever wondered about the mental and physical challenges that come along with so many hikes in so little time, then this one's for you!