Jess «Stitches» Guo, the first woman to connect the CDT and GDT in a calendar year (BPR #336)

On today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, presented by LMNT, we’re joined by Jessica Guo, known on the trail as Stitches.

This year, Stitches became the first woman on record to connect both the Continental Divide Trail and the Great Divide Trail northbound in one calendar year. We talk about this logistically and physically impressive feat, hiking the Sierra during a record snow year, how she earned her trail’s name the hard way, her unconventional relationship with pain, how her 10-day silent meditations better prepare her for the hike and gives us a 2-minute meditation sample, what it was like to become famous on social media this year: going from less than 2k followers to 50k, and much more.

We end the show with a call to Trek Vloggers, a breakdown of how difficult the Long Trail is as measured by Katie’s steps per mile, apparently some people can smell the ants, and the triple crown of peanut butter combinations.

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Interview with Jessica “Stitches” Guo

Timestamps and questions

00:05:00 – Reminders: Apply to VLOG for Trek, subscribe to our youtube channeland listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon!

00:11:47 – Entering points

00:14:15 – What is your experience?

00:20:00 – Scenario: If Zach and Chaunce are fighting, how would you help them get over it?

00:22:25 – How did you get outdoors?

00:30:15 – Were you an athlete when you were younger?

00:31:35 – What did you think of the Teton Crest Trail?

00:32:40 – Tell us how to get started with the PCT and your injury.

00:40:20 – What does it feel like to walk with the injured leg after 8 days?

00:48:35 – What is your meditation practice like?

00:55:50 – What is a silent meditation retreat like?

00:58:05 – Are there purists in the world of meditation?

01:03:00 – Stitches leads a guided meditation.

01:08:20 – Tell us about your second injury on the PCT

01:20:55 – Was the Sierra Type 1 fun for you?

01:21:30 – Tell us your funny Colorado Trail story

01:26:20 – Where did the idea of ​​CDT + GDT come from?

01:32:50 – Why can it be good to have a detailed itinerary and plan?

01:38:10 – If someone is interested in GDT, what advice would you give them?

01:40:20 – What were the differences between your three itineraries?

01:42:10 – Would a silent retreat be a good way to mentally train for a hike?

01:44:15 – What are some highlights from CDT?

01:47:38 – What are you afraid of?

01:51:10 – How did your experience change when you gained a lot of followers?

01:55:55 – Tell us more about making videos on the trail.

01:59:00 – Discussion on the evidence of climate change on the way

02:00:05 – Tell us how you interacted with your ethnicity along the way.

02:08:22 – Tell us about your post on women outdoors.

02:14:20 – Tell us about your friction video

02:16:00 – What were the highlights of the GDT?

02:19:00 – Did you have any practices for when you were feeling mentally down?

02:22:45 – Tell us about the birds you saw.

02:27:15 – What are your five great teams?

02:34:15 – Stay Salty Question: What is your best view of the backpacking world?

02:39:30 – Where can people go to keep up with you?

Segments

Propaganda clues

QOTD: Can you smell ants?

Infection thing of the week

Triple Crown Peanut Butter Combos

mail bag

5 star review

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

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