Cart
FeaturesIntroduction
There is more to long-distance backpacking then the actual trip itself. Preparing for the trip is vital, especially when the trip will span weeks or months and cover great distances. Pre-trip planning is important not only for the hiker but also for any support team that is staying behind. Ken Knight talks with long-distance hiker Brian Frankle and support team member extraordinaire Karen Skurka about what is involved in the behind-the-scenes planning, organization, support, and all the issues that come with being an active participant in a long-distance hike even when remaining far away as support staff.
About the Participants
Ken Knight, Michigan
Ken Knight
I've been an avid lightweight and ultralight backpacker for the past several years and a day hiker for longer than that. I travel solo and with small groups and have done so throughout the country. My primary stomping grounds though are the the midwest (including parts of Ontario, Canada) and the east coast. While most of my trips aren't generally long enough to require support from back home, I have done a handful of trips, long section hikes on the Appalachian Trail for instance, that do require planning and support.
Brian Franke, Utah
Brian Frankle
Brian Frankle is the owner of ULA Equipment and a veteran long-distance hiker. Based in Utah, Brian's trips have taken him throughout the West. His explorations have taken him to some pretty remote parts of the country where proper re-supply strategy and pre-trip planning are essential. An excellent case in point is his hike of the Hayduke Trail in 2005, a hike that required considerable preparation. Thorough research and organization helped make that hike a success.
Karen Skurka, Massachusetts
Karen Skurka is Andrew Skurka's mother and his primary support staff. Andrew is perhaps best known for his Sea-to-Sea hike of 2004-2005 but has done numerous other long distance hikes and has already embarked upon what could be his greatest to date: the Great Western Loop circumnavigating the American West. Over the years Karen has learned a few things about how to best handle the incredible amount of equipment and supplies that a long-distance hiker requires to complete a major trek.
Reader Comments
You must login to post comments.
Forum Index » Editor's Roundtable » Podcast: Pre-Trip Planning and Support Logistics
( bugbomb - BPL STAFF - M)
Locale:
South Texas
Companion forum thread to:
Podcast: Pre-Trip Planning and Support Logistics
Edited by bugbomb on 06/26/2007 20:54:04 MDT.
( Brett1234 - M)
Locale:
Japan
Listening to a podcast is like having someone read a story to me.. agonizingly slow. There is no way to skip ahead to the sections or parts which might be most relevant or interesting because, of course, they are not visible. Thus, I rarely ever download them unless I'm planning to be a captive audience on an airplane or something.
Fast and light isn't just for backpacking; it is actively filtering information in real-time; podcasts just can't do that.
Please provide the text for each podcast.
Thanks.
( bugbomb - BPL STAFF - M)
Locale:
South Texas
Hey Brett - coming soon... we'll have podcast transcripts for all past podcasts (including the OR interviews) and will publish transcripts with or shortly following future podcasts.
Ben
( djjmikie - M)
Locale:
Mammoth Cave
That would really help, Thanks Benjamin.
( mattbrodhead )
Locale:
Michigan
This is some nice information. Thanks guys.
( dani - M)
podcasts may be chic and nice to listen to but are completely useless for any actual pratical purposes since you either would have to rewind and rewind the podcast to get the desired info or jot down notes by hand, neither of which is very user friendly.
( jshann )
Locale:
North Texas
I thought they had brought up possibly also having the text version of the podcast like on other podcasting sites.
( Tomcat1066 )
Locale:
Southwest GA
I don't know about everyone else, but I miss reading the articles that used to be here all the time. Podcasts are nice, but articles with graphs, photos, and stuff like that beats them hands down every time :(
( Brett1234 - M)
Locale:
Japan
duplicate- disregard please.
Edited by Brett1234 on 10/17/2007 20:53:56 MDT.
View the main forum index