Wander Women Kristy and Annette Talk About Retiring to Thru-Hike, RV and Adventure Full Time (BPR #333)

On today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we’re joined by Kristy and Annette Burns, better known as Wander Women.

About seven years ago, Kristy and Annette left the house with the white picket fence, retired, moved into a mobile home, and shifted their focus to a life centered on freedom and adventure. Since then, they’ve hiked the AT, PCT, CDT, Arizona Trail, Tahoe Rim Trail, and O Circuit, plus a number of biking and rafting trips. We look at what it takes to keep your body ready for hiking at retirement age, why downsizing has made them so much happier, the community they found along the way, and much more.

We finish 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.

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Interview with Kristy and Annette Burns

Timestamps and questions

00:02:45 – Reminders: Take the Triple Crown Survey, apply to the blog for the Trekand listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon!

00:05:06 – Introducing the wandering women

00:07:00 – How did each of you get outdoors?

00:09:44 – How did you two meet?

00:12:20 – How did you go from the sweat lodge to the hike?

00:16:50 – Did you have physical fitness as a priority before you started hiking?

00:19:05 – How far did you plan to walk before you retired?

00:22:55 – What specifically would you do differently, financially?

00:26:25 – How was the staff reduction?

00:31:30 – What physical activity do you do in the RV?

00:36:04 – Do you ever get tired of each other?

00:38:55 – How do you handle difficulties in your relationship?

00:41:00 – Did you know there would be other retirees on the AT?

00:45:17 – How have you expanded your social networks during your retirement?

00:48:35 – What are some of the most common questions you receive?

00:50:03 – How do you slowly increase your mileage when hiking?

00:51:52 – Describe your team to us

00:57:40 – Was the transition between RVing and hiking easy?

01:01:15 – Do you feel like time has slowed down since you retired?

01:10:45 – At what point did you come to this mentality?

01:12:40 – Are you picky about your nutrition?

01:16:20 – Featured stories from the OT?

01:19:35 – When did you know you were going to the 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 changing the PCT

01:38:46 – What were your creepiest or scariest moments along the way?

01:49:23 – When did you start getting the YouTube fanfare?

01:50:30 – What is the best magic trail you have ever obtained?

01:53:10 – Tell us about adventures outside of 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

Propaganda Clues: Desert Hiking Clothing: The Backpacker’s Guide by Katie Jackson

QOTD: How do you dry the inside of your water bladder when you are done using it?

Triple Crown of chairs

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