#201 | American Perimeter Trail with Rue McKenrick
Backpacker Radio
Zach Davis
4.7 • 1.6K Ratings
🗓️ 15 May 2023
⏱️ 122 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Rue McKenrick. Rue is an accomplished long-distance hiker and the Executive Director of the American Perimeter Trail Conference, an ambitious project to create a 14,000 mile loop that circumnavigates the continental U.S. We learn all about Rue's scouting of this trail- as he's hiked 12,000 miles of the route in search of the best course already, his inspiration for this project, the challenges he anticipates in completing this, the role partnering with other trail organizations will play, and more.
We wrap the show with Chaunce's very stupid thing of the week, additional details of our attendance at Trail Days, and the hikers we would most like to eliminate from the trail.
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[divider]
Interview with Rue McKenrick
Time stamps & Questions
00:05:15 - QOTD: If you could eliminate hikers from the trail, who would they be?
00:12:36 - Reminders: We’re going to Trail Days! Come visit us on Saturday (you might see Elise there too)! Guest Recommendation form, bonus points if you’re local.
00:15:35 - Introducing Rue McKenrick
00:16:15 - Tell us about growing up near the AT
00:17:28 - When did you realize you wanted to make backpacking a focus in your life?
00:19:16 - How have hikers changed over the years?
00:29:35 - What hikes have you completed?
00:34:36 - What attributed to the lack of enthusiasm? And what brought you back?
00:37:50 - What were your roles with the non-profit organizations and how did it lead to creating your own trail?
00:40:52 - Any insider stories you have from working with AMC or ATC?
00:48:51 - Give us the fast facts on the American Perimeter Trail
01:01:00 - Could you go through the flow of the American Perimeter Trail map?
01:14:30 - What is the undertaking of this project?
01:24:14 - How do you legally secure corridors for the American Perimeter Trail?
01:30:00 - Have you encountered anyone that has interest in thru-hiking the trail?
01:33:03 - Wrap up
SEGMENTS
Trek Propaganda
- Outdoor Exercise Might Be Better for Your Brain Than Hitting the Gym by Rachel Shoemaker
Stupid Thing of the Week
Mail Bag
5 Star Review
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Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | In today's episode of Backpack Already, a present about a trek we are joined by Rue McKinnrick. |
| 0:05.2 | Rue is an accomplished long distance hiker and the executive director of the American |
| 0:09.6 | perimeter trail conference, an ambitious project to create a 14,000 mile loop that circumnavigates |
| 0:15.9 | the continental U.S. We learn all about Rue's scouting of this trail as he's hiked 12,000 |
| 0:21.3 | miles of the route in search of the best course already, his inspiration for this project, |
| 0:26.2 | the challenges he anticipates in completing this, the role partnering with other trail organizations |
| 0:31.2 | will play, and much more. We wrap the show with Sean's very stupid thing of the week, |
| 0:36.8 | additional details of our attendance at trail days, and the hikers we would most like to eliminate |
| 0:42.7 | from the trail. But first, if you've listened to Backpack already, you know that both Zach and I |
| 0:48.3 | are big fans of Gossamer gear, manufacturers of lightweight backpacking gear and accessories. |
| 0:54.0 | Their packs carry comfortably, their roomy shelters protect in harsh weather conditions, |
| 0:58.5 | and the trekking poles are some of the lightest on the planet. Gossamer gear is changing the |
| 1:02.8 | perception of delicate ultra light gear. Zach and I are both users of Gossamer gear's packs and |
| 1:08.8 | shelters. I've used the one and the two, their one person and two person tents, on long hikes and |
| 1:15.2 | shorter trips. The one is both roomy and light weighing less than one and a half pounds, |
| 1:20.4 | and what I like to call the one you need. The two is great for when I hike with Harper, |
| 1:25.2 | with lots of space for activities. Zach has used the Gorilla, their 40 liter pack, for more than |
| 1:30.9 | 3,000 miles of backpacking. He's also a big fan of their Gossamer gear light flex hiking umbrella, |
| 1:36.8 | which he used on the PCT and Trans Catalina Trail. And as many of you already know, the one |
| 1:43.0 | now comes in DCF, which means it's even more durable, even more waterproof, and even lighter than |
| 1:49.9 | the original. Good news, listeners of backpacker radio can score an exclusive deal on Gossamer gear |
| 1:56.0 | products. Use discount code backpacker radio for 15% off your cart at Gossamer gear.com. Again, |
... |
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