Trombone Triple Coronation, Hiking Guide Work, and the South Dakota Centennial Trail with Amy «Slider» Hunsucker

On today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, presented by Topo Athletic, we’re joined by Amy Hunsucker. On the trails, Amy is known as “Slider” because she walks with a trombone, something she has done throughout the Triple Crown. Of course, we learn all about this fun quirk, including which animals appreciated his trail concerts the most, what parts of the trail provided the best acoustics, the reactions he’d get from other hikers and the trail community at large, and his trombone jams on the trail. Slider also gives us the inside scoop on earning his sawyer certification, his trail maintenance work with the Carolina Mountain Club, hiking South Dakota’s Centennial Trail, and life as a hiking guide in North Carolina.

We end the show with hiking tips we wish we’d never given, Chaunce gives his opinion on whether she’d rather be alone in the woods with a man or a bear, we do the frozen food triple crown, I do a one-minute gear review of my current raincoat, and a listener lectures us about how we dropped the ball in our interview with Liz Kidder.

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Interview with Amy Hunsucker

Timestamps and questions

00:04:50 – QOTD: What is more upsetting, losing the Bills or losing footage of the ceremony?

00:06:40 – Reminders: Take the AT Thru-Hiker Survey, apply to the blog for the Trekand listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon!

00:11:00 – Introducing Amy

00:11:34 – How did you get your route name?

00:12:12 – How do you find an ultralight trombone?

00:14:40 – Give us information on how to play the trombone.

00:18:55 – Did you learn new songs while walking?

00:22:40 – Have you ever used your trombone for something other than music?

00:24:30 – How did you start backpacking?

00:27:50 – What was it like to start the AT?

00:30:54 – Why don’t you think your trombone is a luxury item?

00:31:48 – Is there a GOAT in the world of trombone?

00:36:10 – Tell us how to enter the CDT

00:37:30 – What is your best opinion on the PCT?

00:42:50 – Why did you decide to go south on the CDT?

00:45:15 – Why did you decide to go around the PCT?

00:52:15 – How did you maintain your mindset during the flip-flop?

00:53:55 – What was your best day on the trail?

00:56:10 – What was your worst day on the road?

00:57:40 – What was your scariest day on the road?

01:00:02 – What was your stupidest day on the road?

01:02:45 – Tell us about working for Blue Ridge Hiking Company

01:10:40 – What was it like being in Asheville during the hurricane?

01:17:12 – Tell us how to get your Sawyer certification

01:20:30 – What is chainsaw 101?

01:23:20 – Tell us about the South Dakota Centennial Trail

01:28:05 – Would this be a good tour to do using PTO?

01:30:54 – Peak Performance Question: What is your top trick for improving performance?

Segments

Propaganda Clues: Six Hiking Tips I Wish I’d Never Given by Katie Jackson

QOTD: Would you rather be alone in the woods with a man or a bear?

Triple Crown of frozen foods

One minute equipment check

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Check out our sound technician. @mi_chico_pauly/ and your coffee.

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