In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek and brought to you by Topo Athletic, we’re joined by Ben Vaugh, known on trail as Ginger Ballz. Ben is a Navy veteran, accomplished thru-hiker, and currently works as a dog musher, a topic Chaunce and Badger had way too much fun diving into.

Ginger Ballz takes us through his transition from the military to thru-hiking, why he recommends it to fellow service members, and the parallels between the two. He shares stories from his hikes of the Triple Crown trails, the Hayduke, Superior Hiking Trail, and Long Trail. We also get a deep dive into his current gig managing a dog mushing and guiding company in Colorado, working with Iditarod-winning pups. He breaks down the process of training huskies for guiding, the biggest challenges of mushing, and the unique bond he shares with his dogs.

We close out the show with a feature on a man who thru-hiked the AT while legally blind, a debate on whether airplanes have keys, why Zach is no longer allowed to enjoy pho, Chaunce’s honey grease, the Triple Crown of abbreviated insults, and more.

Topo Athletic: Use code “TREKWINTER15” at topoathletic.com.

Gossamer Gear: Use code “BACKPACKER20” for 20% off packs at gossamergear.com.

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Interview with Ben “Ginger Ballz” Vaughan

Time stamps & Questions

00:05:12 - Reminders: Join us for our live show in Austin, listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon, and apply to blog for the Trek!

00:08:05 - Introducing Ben

00:10:00 - Tell us about your Navy experience

00:12:10 - What’s it like chasing down pirates?

00:16:06 - Tell us about transitioning between the Navy and thru-hiking

00:19:00 - How did the AT get on your radar?

00:20:38 - Did your military background help you go into the AT with confidence?

00:22:30 - Did you do thru-hiking specific research?

00:24:02 - Did you feel your purpose restored when you started the AT?

00:24:30 - Do you think thru-hikers could succeed in the military?

00:26:20 - Tell us about the Kona Ironman?

00:28:20 - Tell us about the Navy culture in Coronado

00:31:15 - Did you know right away that thru-hiking was for you?

00:34:10 - How did you feel upon finishing the AT?

00:36:00 - What other traits did you get from the Navy that aided you in thru-hiking?

00:39:44 - Tell us about going from the AT to the PCT

00:42:50 - What was it like adjusting to the high snow year on the PCT?

00:48:00 - Can you completely recover from frostbite?

00:50:00 - Did you freak out when you were stuck in a blizzard?

00:51:55 - Was it fun seeing the Sierra in a different season?

00:53:55 - When did you decide to complete the Triple Crown?

00:57:10 - What was the difference in reactions you got on the CDT versus the AT?

00:58:14 - What did your Big 3 look like on the CDT?

01:00:45 - How does a snowy Smokies compare to the snowy Sierras?

01:05:00 - Tell us about hiking the Hayduke

01:09:45 - Tell us about dropping your pack down a canyon

01:12:20 - Tell us about hiking the Superior Hiking Trail

01:15:12 - Tell us about hiking the Long Trail

01:17:00 - How did you end up in Alaska dog mushing?

01:19:30 - What are the dogs like in their off time?

01:22:00 - What does it take to win the Iditarod?

01:23:10 - How do you train the dog to do what it needs to do?

01:24:50 - How can you tell if one of the dogs is getting tired?

01:26:10 - What do the dogs eat?

01:29:15 - Story from the Iditarod

01:31:40 - How does the tour operation work in CO?

01:33:00 - What types of commands do the dogs know?

01:35:10 - Who are your dogs?

01:39:45 - What do you pack for a backcountry dog mushing trip?

01:40:50 - What is your bond like with the dogs?

01:42:00 - How long can the dogs run for?

01:43:40 - Are Huskies all not great off leash?

01:47:05 - Ben is hiring!

01:49:40 - Peak Performance Question: What is your top performance-enhancing or backpacking hack?

Segments

Trek Propaganda

Thru-Hiking While Blind: Completing the Appalachian Trail With A Visual Disability by Andrew Neylon
The Best Trail Runners for Thru-Hiking in 2025 by the Editors

QOTD: Do airplanes have keys?

Thing of the Week

Triple Crown of short insults

Gross or Not Gross

Mail Bag

5 Star Review

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Dog Mushing, 20+ Years in the Navy, and the Triple Crown with Ben "Ginger Ballz" Vaughan (BPR #294)

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