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

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. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek . Gossamer Gear: Use code "BACKPACKER20" for 20% off packs at gossamergear.com . Vaer Watches: Check out Vaer Watches at vaerwatches.com . Bear Mattress: Use code "BACKPACKER" for 40% off at bearmattress.com . Burgeon Outdoors: Use code "BACKPACKER15" for 15% off at burgeonoutdoor.com . [divider] Interview with Tate "Pyro" Dobson Tate's Instagram Tate's Trek page 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 [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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