Show notes
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Livvy "Stumbles" Weld, a Triple Crown thru-hiker, Trek Writer, and budding ultrarunner. In this one, Livvy breaks down how a tub of frosting earned her the trail name "Sugar Mitts," how her own thru-hikes accidentally talked her dad into becoming a thru-hiker himself, and how a kitten she found under a car turned into her cat back home. Livvy goes deep on how she was able to thru-hike the AT on less than $2,000 (nearly 75% less than the average AT thru-hike), her take as a former AMC hut crew member on the tension between thru-hikers and hut staff over limited work-for-stay spots, and the safety tricks she uses as a solo female hiker. We wrap the show with a comparison between the perception and reality of ultralight backpacking taking over thru-hiking, what hobbies we are bad at, despite our best efforts, and the triple crown of back in my days. 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[divider] Interview with Livvy "Stumbles" Weld Livvy's Instagram Livvy's Trek Author page Time stamps & Questions 00:06:04 - Reminders: Submit your hike finish photos, subscribe to The Trek's Youtube, and listen to our bonus content and episodes ad-free on Patreon! 00:08:30 - Introducing Stumbles 00:14:12 - Tell us your trail name saga 00:22:30 - Did using your regular name change how you felt about trail names in general? 00:25:00 - Discussion about the tension between AMC hut crew and thru-hikers 00:28:20 - What's the solution for thru-hikers in the Whites? 00:32:36 - Can people bribe their way into the huts? 00:35:28 - Discussion about getting into thru-hiking 00:37:38 - Did you do a gear shakedown at Mountain Crossings? 00:41:00 - Do you carry any luxury items? 00:43:00 - Walk us through your current big five gear list 00:45:40 - Discussion about sleeping pads 00:48:10 - Discussion about not using a pillow 00:49:46 - Discussion about shelter choice 00:51:31 - What's your response to ultralight skeptics? 00:52:40 - What quilt do you carry? 00:53:40 - Discussion about trail running shoes 00:55:25 - How long did each AT thru-hike take? 01:00:00 - Discussion about music and thru-hiking memories 01:03:30 - What headlamp did you use for night hiking? 01:04:25 - Were there big differences between your two AT hikes? 01:07:40 - Was it lonely hiking solo? 01:11:45 - How has solo hiking carried over into your post-trail life? 01:13:15 - Tell us about backyard ultras 01:17:29 - How was your 100-miler race? 01:22:06 - Tell us about your FKT attempt on the New England Trail 01:25:01 - Discussion about river crossings on the FKT route 01:26:01 - Discussion about thru-hiking the AT on $2,000 01:30:49 - Discussion about hiker boxes and scrounging for food 01:34:34 - Discussion about the worst hiker box food find 01:37:28 - Tell us the story of how you met your cat 01:41:25 - Tell us about your dad as a thru-hiker 01:44:14 - Do you have aspirations to do a hike with your dad? 01:45:21 - Stay Salty Question: What's your hottest take in the world of backpacking? 01:51:05 - Discussion about permethrin safety 01:54:30 - What strange things has thru-hiking done to your body? 01:57:40 - What snow was worse, PCT or CDT? 02:06:10 - Fuck, marry, kill: AT, PCT, CDT 02:10:40 - Would you rather double Triple Crown or hike the AT again? 02:11:08 - What's next for you? Segments Trek Propaganda: Ultralight Is Taking Over Thru-Hiking … Or Is It? by Kelly QOTD: What's one hobby you wish you were good at and have actively tried but you continue to be bad? Question Thing of the Week Triple Crown of 'Back in my day's' - things that existed in your youth that no longer do 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek's newsletter Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok. Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years. 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