Spirituality and Backpacking with Vicar Lyndsay "Wreckage" Monsen (BPR #349)
Backpacker Radio
Zach Davis
4.6 • 1.7K Ratings
🗓️ 23 March 2026
⏱️ 183 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek brought to you by LMNT, Jess and Chaunce are joined by Lyndsay "Wreckage" Monsen. Wreckage is a pastor in training and civil rights advocate and she reflects on what it means to bring spirituality into the backcountry in a way that resonates even with those wary of organized religion. We also touch on formative spiritual moments in Colorado, why the Superior Hiking Trail earned a spot on her hate list, and how her foot got fudged up real good on the Long Trail, complete with photographic evidence.
We wrap the show with news of a climber who's accused of manslaughter after leaving his girlfriend near a mountain summit, we discuss whether my getting a carwash is diva behavior, the triple crown of pies, and an unhinged tangent into the subject of AI.
LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek.
Mountainsmith: Use code "TAKEAHIKE" for 20% off at mountainsmith.com.
[divider]
Interview with Lyndsay "Wreckage" Monsen
Time stamps & Questions
00:08:25 - Reminders: Sign up for the Trek's newsletter, subscribe to The Trek's Youtube, apply to vlog or blog for the Trek, and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon!
00:13:39 - Introducing Lyndsay
0:17:10 - Do your hikes help you in any way in your seminary work?
0:18:25 - Have any of your religious beliefs changed based on your hiking?
0:19:25 - Tell us about who you were when starting the AT
0:24:45 - What are your thoughts on body image as it relates to thru-hiking?
0:28:37 - What other standout moments did you have on the AT?
0:32:05 - What is seminary school?
0:39:55 - Tell us about doing the Long Trail
0:43:57 - Did you find that you were more spiritually challenged on the Long Trail?
0:45:35 - Tell us about the connection between the outdoors and spirituality
0:51:10 - What are your dates more shocked by?
0:52:25 - Discussion about the Lake City Hiker Center
1:00:31 - Did you find that your discussions on trail naturally veer towards spirituality?
1:05:09 - What was your confession at the Priest Shelter?
1:11:55 - What did you think about the Superior Hiking Trail?
1:22:05 - Tell us about the Colorado Trail
1:30:25 - Tell us your pee story
1:37:37 - Any standout stories from the Colorado Trail?
1:40:45 - Lyndsay's raccoon story
1:43:55 - Tell us about the relationship between nature access and church attendance
1:55:40 - What are your thoughts about the concept of sex?
1:58:00 - What are your future hiking plans?
2:00:25 - Tell us about getting arrested
2:11:55 - Stay Salty Question: What is your hottest take in the world of backpacking or the outdoors at large?
Segments
Trek Propaganda
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Climber Accused of Manslaughter After Leaving Girlfriend Near Summit of Austria's Highest Peak by Kelly Floro
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Hiker Rescued From Appalachian Trail in the Smokies After Emergency SOS by Katie Jackson
QOTD: Is getting a car wash diva behavior?
Triple Crown of pies
Mail Bag
5 Star Review
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Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | In today's episode of Backpack Radio, |
| 0:02.1 | with Zim of the Trek brought to you by Element, |
| 0:03.8 | Jess and Chance are joined by Lindsay Rackage Monson. |
| 0:07.5 | Reckage is a pastor in training and civil rights advocate, |
| 0:11.0 | and she reflects on what it means to bring spirituality into the backcountry |
| 0:14.7 | in a way that resonates even with those who are wary of organized religion. |
| 0:19.4 | We also touch on formative spiritual moments in |
| 0:22.6 | Colorado why the Superior Hiking Trail earned a spot on her hate list and how her foot got |
| 0:28.7 | real fudged up on the long trail complete with photographic evidence. We wrap the show with |
| 0:34.8 | news of a climber who's accused of manslaughter after leaving his girlfriend near a mountain summit. |
| 0:39.9 | We discussed whether my getting a car wash is diva behavior, more context there, the triple crown of pies and an unhinged tangent into the subject of AI. |
| 0:50.6 | But first, just a quick note before we dive into today's show, you might have noticed that the previous episode is missing from the feed. We made the call to unpublish it. Some of the stories did not reflect how we want to represent the through hiking community, and that is on us. We messed up. And above all, I messed up. |
| 1:11.7 | Not our finest hour, but we'll do better. |
| 1:14.5 | Thanks for sticking with us. |
| 1:15.9 | To the show. |
| 1:18.5 | If you've listened to this podcast for any period of time, |
| 1:21.6 | I've sounded like a broken record about the importance of supplementing with electrolytes while backpacking. |
| 1:27.1 | During my first through hike, drink, I landed in the hospital with a condition called electrolytes while backpacking. During my first |
| 1:27.8 | through hike, drink, I landed in the hospital with a condition called hyponotremia, |
| 1:31.6 | a fancy term for low blood sodium levels. Symptoms included intense headaches, |
| 1:37.1 | dizziness, and generally feeling like a bag of Richards. This happened as a result of heavy sweating, |
| 1:42.5 | over-consuming water, and under-consuming electrolytes. |
... |
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