Episode Details
Back to Episodes#71 | Sarah Jones Decker on Appalachian Trail Shelters
Description
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, we are joined by Sarah Jones Decker, author of the new gorgeous photobook "The Appalachian Trail: Backcountry Shelters, Lean-tos, and Huts". We learn what goes into a project as massive as doing a photo essay of all of the AT's shelters, Sarah's personal favorites, the history of these structures, which have the best privies, and much more. Sarah is also the co-owner of Root Bottom Farms, an organic farm based in North Carolina, and we selfishly pick her brain on how to suck less as plants.
We close out the show with a triple crown of things that start with "W", a pupdate, some suggestions for using trail runners on rocky terrain, and another edition of Backcountry Matchmaking.
- BACKPACKER RADIO MERCH
- Interview with Sarah Jones Decker "Harvest"
- QOTD: "Why is it so hard to keep houseplants alive?"
- Save 15% at GossamerGear.com by using code "ATDRINK15" at checkout.
- Save 5% at Zpacks.com by using code "THANKSZACH" at checkout.
- Hikerlink!
- Backpacker Radio Merch!
- Intro Song: Walking Slow by Animal Years
- Intro beats: Pauly Boy Shallcross
- Check out Trail Correspondents
- Check out The Attempt!
[divider]
00:03:00 - Sarah's Backpacking Resume
00:04:00 - Sarah has hiked the AT twice!
00:05:15 - Differences on the AT in 2008 vs. 2018-2019?
00:07:37 - What was your inspiration to thru-hike the AT?
00:08:25 - Are thru-hikers now the same as when you were 16?
00:08:50 - What is your educational background?
00:10:37 - Give us the intro to your AT Shelters book!
00:13:00 - Have you always been into history?
00:14:00 - How did you document while hiking?
00:14:38 - What are the most inconvenient shelters to get to?
00:18:40 - Is breastfeeding ever an issue on trail?
00:19:30 - When did the initial shelter book idea come to you?
00:20:00 - Did you fall into any type of routine?
00:21:00 - Additional contributors
00:23:00 - Elevator Pitch of AT shelters
00:26:34 - How many shelters can you get pizza delivered to?
00:31:00 - Camera Gear Setup
00:32:55 - What's your favorite shelter?
00:37:47 - What's the most underrated shelter?
00:40:00 - Double Shelters
00:45:00 - What shelter has the most history?
00:47:00 - What is it like to release a book during a pandemic?
00:48:00 - How many events did you have to cancel?
00:49:15 - What is the oldest shelter?
00:54:09 - What's the biggest shelter?
00:54:54 - Which shelter has the best view?
00:57:00 - Conflicting Information
00:58:50 - Best Privy on the AT?
01:07:20 - One shelter you wouldn't sleep in