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In today\'s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by long-distance thru-rider Gillian Larson. Yes, thru-rider. Gillian has more than 10,000 backcountry wilderness miles via horseback, including two thru-rides of the Pacific Crest Trail, the Continental Divide Trail, the Arizona Trail, and the Colorado Trail. Gillian was the youngest person to solo-thru ride the PCT in 2014, and became the first person to thru-ride both the PCT and CDT. We of course ambush Gillian with an onslaught of ignorant questions of what it takes to complete one of these long trails via horseback. We went into this chat assuming the logistics of a thru-ride were tough, and oh boy, did we underestimate that. A fascinating conversation, we think you\'ll really dig this one.

We wrap the show with a recap and some of Badger\'s top takeaways from his recent 3-night trek through Washington\'s Goat Rock Wilderness, a triple crown of things that float, and what range of times are appropriate for dinner.

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Interview with Gillian Larson

• Gillian Larson Instagram\\xa0
• Gillian Larson Website\\xa0

Time stamps & Questions

00:04:02 - Reminders: We\\u2019re still collecting poop stories for our book. Send your story here! Join us in Iceland for Summer of 2024!

00:08:30 - Introducing Gillian\\xa0

00:09:11 - What got you into the horse life?\\xa0

00:10:50 -Did your mom ever nudge you in the direction of competitions?\\xa0

00:12:18 - Was your mom excited about your thru-riding adventures?\\xa0

00:14:10 - Do you have siblings?\\xa0

00:14:34 - How old were you when you completed your solo ride?\\xa0

00:17:08 - How did you prepare for a thru-ride?\\xa0

00:21:09 - How do you manage two horses at a time?\\xa0

00:24:32 - What differentiates a pack horse from a riding horse?\\xa0

00:25:50 - When you get off to walk, what is generally the reasoning?\\xa0

00:27:05 - Do horses sweat?\\xa0

00:27:34 - Are they at risk for dehydration?\\xa0

00:28:40 - Do you have to hide the water caches off trail?\\xa0

00:29:31 - If you walk with the horses, do you have to guide them with a leash?\\xa0

00:30:27 - Do horses respond to their names?\\xa0

00:32:34 - Are horses spooked by thunderstorms?\\xa0

00:32:58 - How much is a horse\\u2019s personality nurture vs. nature?\\xa0

00:34:25 - How much does it cost to feed a horse a day?\\xa0

00:35:40 - After the desert, are you able to rely on grass for feeding?\\xa0

00:39:34 - How did you handle finding routes with the low meadow access?\\xa0

00:42:53 - Tell us about the camping experience\\xa0

00:44:52 - Do you have the same permit system as hikers?\\xa0

00:46:36 - Do you have to change horseshoes?\\xa0

00:49:20 - Can you replace shoes on trail?\\xa0

00:50:30 - How much does it cost for shoe maintenance?\\xa0

00:54:08 - If you didn\\u2019t have support, how did you manage trail towns?\\xa0

00:56:10 - Do you have any instances where you\\u2019d go to town without any support?\\xa0

00:57:36 - Would you say thru-riding prevents you from having a social experience on trail?\\xa0

00:58:20 - Is it ever tricky to rely on help from online fans?\\xa0

01:03:15 - Is that the common way to self-support?\\xa0

01:04:10 - Do you feel compelled to complete the whole trail, in a purist way?\\xa0

01:06:22 - Is there etiquette around horse poop on trail?\\xa0

01:08:40 - Horse poop not smelling like horse poop\\xa0

01:10:54 - Were you able to connect all the miles on the PCT in 2014?\\xa0

01:13:15 - Have you ever let hikers ride your horses?\\xa0

01:14:14 - Any wild animal encounters?\\xa0

01:16:48 - Do the horses have any favorite snacks?\\xa0

01:17:42 - How do horses react when seeing a moose?\\xa0

01:19:31 - What animals are horses afraid of?\\xa0

01:20:25 - Can a horse outrun a cougar?\\xa0

01:22:11 - Do you carry bear spray?\\xa0

01:23:57 - How does your bond change with your horses when thru-riding?\\xa0

01:33:42 - What other gear do you carry that a backpacker wouldn\\u2019t?\\xa0

01:37:21 - What trail is most horse-friendly?\\xa0

01:39:11 - Is there a reason you picked the PCT for a second ride?\\xa0

01:40:48 - If someone wanted to do this, what should they budget for?\\xa0

01:43:09 - How long does a saddle last?\\xa0

01:45:48 - Do you know you share a name with someone on Survivor?\\xa0

01:47:17 - What does \\u201cretiring\\u201d a horse consist of?\\xa0

01:48:32 - What should people do if they see a horse on trail?\\xa0

01:51:16 - Is there a standard distance that a hiker should stand away from the horse?\\xa0

01:52:08 - Can you get a DUI on a horse?\\xa0

01:52:25 - What are your favorite horse-girl movies?\\xa0

01:55:08 - Where can people get in touch with you?\\xa0

01:57:05 - What is an FAQ that we haven\\u2019t asked?\\xa0

01:58:18 - Thank you Gillian!\\xa0

\\xa0

Segments\\xa0

QOTD: What timeframe is appropriate for dinner?\\xa0

Thing of the Week\\xa0

Triple Crown of things that float\\xa0

5 Star Review

[divider]

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