Episode Details

In today's episode of backpacker radio presented by the trek, we are joined by Emily Ford. Perhaps you've heard that name in the backpacking sphere of late, because Emily recently wrapped a thru-hike of Wisconsin's Ice Age Trail- in the dead of winter- becoming just the second person ever to do so, and the first woman. We do a deep dive on Emily's journey, including what gear she used, the weather conditions (spoiler alert- it was cold as hell), how she had to knock on strangers' doors to ask if she could sleep in their yard, and how she managed this trek alongside a husky that did not belong to her. This is a fun conversation.

We wrap the show with a preview of The Trek's brand new podcast- Walking Distance, a Triple Crown of odd firsts, another edition of backpacking advice of the day, and some history of how North Carolina's tallest mountain played a role in the death of the person its named after. But first.

Gossamer Gear discount code: Use code "POOPSTORY" to save 15% off your cart at GossamerGear.com

Greenbelly discount code: Use code: "TREK2021" to save 10% sitewide at greenbelly.co

Reel toilet paper discount code: Use code "BACKPACKER" to save 25% at reelpaper.com

Check out Hikerlink.co to connect with hiker trash past, present and future.

Interview with Emily Ford

• Emily's Instagram

00:04:42 - QOTD: Do you like backpacking in the winter? Or what's the worst part of hiking in freezing temperatures?

00:08:00 - Welcome Emily Ford

00:08:20 - Where are you from originally and how and when did you get into backpacking?

00:09:54 - Did you hear what happened on Lake Superior?

00:10:23 - What kind of stuff did the people who were fishing lose?

00:10:57 - Why don't we hear your Minnesotan accent?

00:11:07 - What's the best accent you've got?

00:12:13 - When did your intro into hiking and backpacking begin?

00:14:02 - How much do you think rugby helped you train you for backpacking?

00:15:37 - Did your rugby coach's mantra play in your mind as you hiked?

00:16:18 - What made you want to do a winter thru-hike?

00:17:25 - Did you feel like it was a hard adjustment to backpacking after being used to quicker movements with rugby?

00:19:34 - How do you get into powerlifting?

00:22:03 - Did powerlifting help with carrying such a heavy pack for winter backpacking?

00:23:17 - Can you give us the full spiel about the Ice Age Trail and what you just accomplished?

00:24:37 - You're the first woman and second person ever to winter thru-hike the Ice Age Trail, correct? Does that speak to the difficulty of the feat or the difficulty of being out in that cold of weather?

00:25:39 - What's the terrain like on the Ice Age Trail? Also you finished in 69 days?! Nice.

00:27:04 - Was it