In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Tate Dobson, known on trail as Pyro. Tate is a certified wildcard. It’s not just that he’s hiked the PCT, AT, Long Trail, and Te Araroa, but how he’s done it, including hiking the Appalachian Trail and Long Trail spending $1,000 (alongside Quadzilla), hiking long stretches with carrying a Jansport pack, another stretch using tote bag, hiking the R2R2R eating only Motts Fruit snacks and the 100-Mile Wilderness consuming only maple syrup and a jar of peanut butter. He’s run a pair of ultramarathons around a roundabout, he’s run a beer mile with his mom, and has accomplished another mile consuming four shots of tequila and a tube of toothpaste. In other words, strap in.

We wrap the show with some bucket list hikes you can do over a long weekend, the triple crown of stuipd word spellings, a listener poop story, and more.

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Interview with Tate “Pyro” Dobson

Time stamps & Questions

00:06:34 - Reminders: Check out The Trek and Backpacker Radio on Youtube, listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon, and apply to blog for the Trek!

00:9:40 - Introducing Tate

00:11:40 - How do Chaunce and Tate know each other?

00:14:20 - How did you get into the outdoors?

00:15:11 - What trajectory led to dropping out of high school and college and how did you start thru-hiking?

00:18:25 - Tell us about your 2019 PCT hike?

00:20:55 - What’s your perspective on continuous footpaths?

00:22:53 - Where was your head at when you got off the PCT?

00:24:03 - When did you next get on trail?

00:25:37 - Are you a known figure in Durango?

00:28:00 - How did you get on the Colorado Trail?

00:31:22 - Any standout stories from the Colorado Trail?

00:31:51 - Do you have any poop stories?

00:35:40 - How was the Sierra High Route?

00:42:00 - Tell us about the PCT in 2022

00:44:45 - When did things start to get weird?

00:53:15 - Did you hike the whole trail in sandals?

00:54:20 - What other weird things did you do on the PCT?

00:56:10 - Where did you get your marathon idea?

00:59:40 - Did you feel any asymmetric pain afterwards?

01:01:07 - Tell us about your beer mile

01:02:50 - What is the toothpaste and tequila mile?

01:05:45 - Did you see any interesting people during the roundabout run?

01:07:45 - Tell us about your other impractical backpacks

01:11:40 - Tell us about your TA hike

01:18:07 - What’s your favorite mom story?

01:19:27 - How’d you clean off the mud?

01:22:50 - How do you keep losing toothbrushes?

01:24:36 - Tell us about starting the AT last year

01:26:35 - What was the budget challenge you did?

01:28:30 - What tips do you have for hiking on a budget?

01:33:24 - What’d you do while Quadzilla was in the hospital?

01:34:30 - What’s the craziest story from the AT?

01:39:30 - When did you stop carrying the tote bag?

01:42:05 - Any fun stories from the Long Trail?

01:48:20 - Tell us about the Rim to Rim to Rim

01:51:40 - What plans do you have for the CDT?

01:53:20 - Stay Salty Question: What’s your hottest take in the world of backpacking?

01:54:55 - What’s your dream sponsor?

Segments

Trek Propaganda: 33 Bucket-List Hikes You Can Do in a Long Weekend by Katie Jackson

QOTD: Would you rather never get blisters again but have to hike in Crocs, or always have the best gear but get a new blister every day?

Triple Crown of stupid word spellings

Mail Bag

5 Star Review

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Hiking with a Tote Bag, Ultramarathons in a Roundabout, and Creative Trail Shenanigans with Tate "Pyro" Dobson (BPR #302)

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