#24 | Mike "Kickstand" Papadatos, from Backpacking Novice to the Calendar Triple Crown
Backpacker Radio
Zach Davis
4.7 • 1.6K Ratings
🗓️ 6 December 2018
⏱️ 80 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Starting a thru-hike without any prior backpacking experience, although not entirely rare, is a brave endeavor. To string three consecutive thru-hikes back-to-back-to-back is a whole other level of insanity. Today’s guest accomplished just that. Without any prior backpacking experience, Mike “Kickstand” Papadatos decided that instead of starting with the AT, PCT, or CDT, that he’d string them all together in a calendar year. The Paprika Pals sat down to learn what inspired him to jump headfirst into the world of extreme long distance backpacking, the challenges he faced along the way, and the evolution of his gear throughout the journey. We then touch on some thru-hiker transformations in The Trek Propaganda segment and learn about the trio’s Triple Crown Of hangover remedies.
Subjects discussed in today’s show include:
- New Sponsor: Gossamer Gear. Use coupon code TREK15 at checkout to save 15% at GossamgerGear.com
- Sawyer Micro Squeeze Filter
- Sawyer Micro Squeeze vs Sawyer Squeeze Filter Comparison Video
- Animal Years (the awesome band behind Walking Slow)
- 2019 Trail Correspondents Application
- Kickstand poop pose
- Gear changes depending on trail
- Started on AT on Jan 31st
- The logistics: AT Jan 31 start date, bailed from snow, flew to New Mexico
- Started CDT April 14, got off in Creede (1300ish miles)
- Started PCT May 14, finished PCT in 80 days + 7 days off (August 11 end date)
- Finished 520 miles of AT, 92 days total
- SOBO’d remainder of CDT, finished October 26
- Spent $15k total
- Four Calendar Triple Crowners in 2018
- Biggest mile day (57), 11 total zeros
- Fire closures and snow and road walks
- Gear:
- Pack: Hyperlite Mountain Gear 2400 Southwest
- Tent: Big Agnes Flycreek 1
- Quilt: Katabatic Flex 22
- Footwear: Altra Lone Peak 3.5s
- Follow Kickstand on Instagram
- Thru-Hiker Transformations
- Triple crown of hangover remedies
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Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | In today's episode of Backpack of Radio, we chat with Mike Kickstand Papadados, who is fresh off his calendar triple. |
| 0:10.0 | We learn all about the intimate details of this crazy 8,000 mile trek and how he was able to achieve this rare feat despite not having any prior backpacking experience. That is insane. We also have some trek propaganda as well as a triple crown of hangover remedies |
| 0:26.5 | But first I want to give a shout out to today's first sponsor which is Gossamer gear |
| 0:33.9 | Gossamer gear makes lightweight backpacking achievable at an affordable price. |
| 0:36.1 | Their packs carry comfortably, |
| 0:37.6 | their roomy shelters protect in harsh weather conditions, |
| 0:40.9 | and the tracking poles are some of the lightest on the planet. |
| 0:43.4 | Gossamer gear is changing the perception of delicate ultra light gear. |
| 0:47.1 | Taunts and I are both very familiar with Gossamer Gere's products. |
| 0:50.5 | I use the Gorilla, their 40 liter pack on the PCT last year, |
| 0:55.0 | which I loved. |
| 0:56.0 | The Gorilla is a comfortable, thoughtfully designed affordable pack. |
| 1:00.0 | Chaunts use Gossamer Gere's The One Shelter, |
| 1:02.0 | as she says it's the One You Need. |
| 1:05.2 | It's also a very spacious one person tent that weighs only 21.6 ounces. |
| 1:10.1 | They've since released the two, which is a two-person version of this very popular tent. |
| 1:14.4 | And lucky you, listeners of this podcast can score an exclusive deal on Gossamer Gear products |
| 1:19.6 | until the end of this year. |
| 1:21.2 | Use discount code, 15% off your cart at gossamergear.com. |
| 1:28.2 | And of course we want to give a shout out to Sawyer products. We've talked about it a lot already, but not enough. Of course, I |
| 1:34.9 | refer to the micro-squeeze, which comes in at a full ounce lighter and about two-thirds |
| 1:39.6 | the size of Sawyer's Uber-popular Squeeze Filter. |
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