Wander Women Kristy and Annette on Retiring to Thru-Hike, RV, and Adventure Full-time (BPR #333)
Backpacker Radio
Zach Davis
4.7 • 1.6K Ratings
🗓️ 24 November 2025
⏱️ 162 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we're joined by Kristy and Annette Burns—better known as the Wander Women.
About seven years ago, Kristy and Annette ditched the home with the white picket fence, retired, moved into an RV, and shifted their focus to a life centered on freedom and adventure. Since then, they've taken on the AT, PCT, CDT, Arizona Trail, Tahoe Rim Trail, the O Circuit, plus a slew of cycling and packrafting trips. We get into what it takes to keep your body ready for thru-hikes at retirement age, why downsizing has made them so much happier, the community they've found on trail, and a whole lot more.
We wrap the show with what to wear when hiking in the desert, how to dry the inside of your water bladder, and the triple crown of chairs.
Gossamer Gear: Check out the Type II collection at gossamergear.com.
[divider]
Interview with Kristy and Annette Burns
Time stamps & Questions
00:02:45 - Reminders: Take the Triple Crowner Survey, apply to blog for the Trek, and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon!
00:05:06 - Introducing the Wander Women
00:07:00 - How did each of you get into the outdoors?
00:09:44 - How did you two meet?
00:12:20 - How did you go from the sweat lodge to thru-hiking?
00:16:50 - Did you have physical fitness top of mind before getting into thru-hiking?
00:19:05 - How far prior to retirement did you plan to hike?
00:22:55 - What specifically would you do differently, financially?
00:26:25 - What was it like downsizing?
00:31:30 - What physical activity do you do in the RV?
00:36:04 - Do you ever get sick of each other?
00:38:55 - How do you handle difficulties in your relationship?
00:41:00 - Did you know there'd be other retired folks on the AT?
00:45:17 - How have you expanded your social networks in retirement?
00:48:35 - What are some of the common questions you get?
00:50:03 - How do you slowly ramp up your mileage when hiking?
00:51:52 - Describe your gear to us
00:57:40 - Was it easy to transition between RVing and thru-hiking?
01:01:15 - Do you feel like time has slowed down since you retired?
01:10:45 - At what point did you reach this mindset?
01:12:40 - Are you particular with your nutrition?
01:16:20 - Standout stories from the AT?
01:19:35 - At what point did you know you were going to Triple Crown?
01:23:35 - Did you know what you were getting into with the CDT?
01:30:11 - How many other CDT hikers did you encounter?
01:34:50 - Tell us about flip flopping the PCT
01:38:46 - What were your spookiest or scariest moments on trail?
01:49:23 - When did you start getting the Youtube fanfare?
01:50:30 - What's the best trail magic you've gotten?
01:53:10 - Tell us about the adventures outside of thru-hiking
01:57:14 - Tell us about your rafting trip in Alaska
02:02:50 - Tell us about your encounter with a grizzly bear
02:10:30 - How did you decide where to camp?
02:13:00 - What were the biggest gear differences for this trip?
02:16:15 - What adventures does the future hold?
Segments
Trek Propaganda: Desert Hiking Clothing: The Backpacker's Guide by Katie Jackson
QOTD: How does one dry out the inside of their water bladder when you're done using it?
Triple Crown of chairs
Mail Bag
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Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | In today's episode of Backpack Radio presented by the truck, we're joined by Christy and Annette Burns, better known on trail, as the Wander Women. |
| 0:07.0 | About seven years ago, Christy and Annette dished their home with the white picket fence, retired, moved into an RV, |
| 0:13.0 | and shifted their focus to a life-centered ground freedom and adventure. |
| 0:16.0 | Since then, they've taken on the AT, PCT, CDT, Arizona Trail, Tahoe Rim Trail, the O circuit, |
| 0:22.0 | plus a slew of cycling and pack-rafting trips. |
| 0:25.1 | We get into what it takes to keep your body ready for through hikes at retirement age, |
| 0:29.3 | why downsizing has made them so much more happy, the community that they've found on trail, |
| 0:34.3 | and a whole lot more. |
| 0:36.1 | We wrap the show with what to wear while hiking in the |
| 0:39.0 | desert, how to dry the inside of your water bladder, and the triple crown of chairs. But first, |
| 0:45.8 | if you've listened to backpacker radio, you know that both Chaunson and I are big fans of |
| 0:50.9 | gossamer gear, manufacturers of lightweight backpacking gear and accessories. |
| 0:55.0 | Chants and I both rock Gossamer gear on trail and I've put in thousands of miles using their packs. |
| 1:00.0 | I love the Mariposa and the gorilla. |
| 1:02.0 | Chaunce has been rocking the Kumo shelters, the one is the one you need, as you already know, and accessories. |
| 1:08.0 | Their light trek hiking umbrella goes with me every time I |
| 1:11.6 | step foot onto the trail in the desert. But today let's chat about Gossamer Gear's |
| 1:15.5 | type 2 collection. I've had the chance to test a couple of these type 2 packs, including the |
| 1:20.6 | Scala 38 on the full Tortemant Blanc, and let me tell you, this pack is awesome. It's lightweight, |
| 1:27.0 | coming in at under 21 ounces with the detachable fast belt and sitlight |
| 1:31.8 | pad. |
| 1:32.4 | It's versatile with its roll top closure that can be fastened at the top or down the |
... |
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