Episode Details

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek we are joined by Mandy "Veggie" Redpath and Kevin "Karma" Savage. Combined, the pair have accumulated more than 30,000 trail miles, and an endless number of stories to boot. We get a detailed breakdown comparing a few different variations of Camino de Santiago- Frances, del Norte, and Primativo, a serendipitous hitchhike which kick-started their romantic journey, their first shared trek on the Pacific Northwest Trail, the Hayduke Trail, Oregon Coast Trail, Low to High Route, Scottish National Trail, Grand Enchantment Trail, and more. In a nutshell, if you like trail stories and beta, you will dig this chat.

We wrap the show with a Trek propaganda presented by today's guest on why you should thru-hike trails other than the AT PCT or CDT, the triple crown of things that you eat when you're sick, and the ways in which we align with the boomers.

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Interview with Mandy and Kevin

• Mandy's Instagram
• Karma's Instagram
• Mandy & Karma's Website

Time stamps & Questions

00:04:42 - QOTD: What makes you go, "I'm with the boomers on this one"?

00:06:18 - Reminders: Support us on Patreon!

00:07:42 - Introducing Veggie and Karma

00:08:27 - Give us your trail resumes

00:11:47 - We Love Love: tell us about how you met

00:15:40 - Tell us more about falling in love

00:18:08 - Tell us about the start of the Pacific Northwest Trail

00:19:50 - Was the spark there on the CDT?

00:21:56 - What did you do after the Pacific Northwest Trail?00:23:56 - Tell us more about the various Camino routes you've done

00:27:46 - How much do the different routes overlap?

00:29:00 - Give us a pitch for each of the routes you did

00:32:11 - What did you use the trail guide for?

00:34:06 - Describe the water situation

00:35:00 - Describe the lodging

00:37:40 - What's the language barrier like?

00:39:13 - What drew you to doing the Camino multiple times back to back?

00:42:02 - What did you do your thesis on?

00:43:00 - What type of injuries do people get?

00:44:51 - Give your best elevator pitch for the Camino

00:48:50 - Tell us about hiking the AT

00:51:00 - How did the AT compare to the Camino?

00:54:30 - What standout story do you have from the AT?

00:58:20 - Do you have any beginner mistake stories from the AT?

00:59:35 - Tell us about the Colorado Trail

01:05:37 - How did you get accustomed to dealing with afternoon thunderstorms on the CT?

01:06:14 - Tell us about the Pacific Crest Trail

01:08:09 - Describe PCTAZDKO

01:09:04 - Did the ice ax lessons come in handy?

01:11:00 - How did you navigate the PCT in 2012?

01:13:02 - Do you have any strong feelings about people's dependence on Far Out?

01:15:03 - Have you ever needed a compass in addition to paper maps?

01:17:20 - Discussion about wildfires on the PCT

01:19:00 - Any standout stories from the CDT?

01:22:32 - How bound to