Podcasts Sports Wilderness Backpacker Radio #79 | Mac from Halfway Anywhere

#79 | Mac from Halfway Anywhere

Published: Aug. 20, 2020, 4:28 p.m.

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, brought to you by Backcountry.com, we are joined by Mac of Halfwayanywhere.com. Mac gives us the full tour through his short, but very dense adventuring career, including his 1 and a half PCT thru-hikes, his time in Japan, his multiple trips through the Himalayas, bikepacking across Australia, and the list goes on and on.

We touch on why the Arizona Trail is game off for the remainder of 2020, a one minute gear review, a point counter point on quilts vs. sleeping bags, and our last Backcountry Matchmaking for a hot minute.\xa0\xa0

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Greenbelly discount code: Use code: Trek2020 for 10% off sitewide at greenbelly.co.

Backcountry.com discount code: Use code: Backpacker15 for 15% off your first purchase at backcountry.com/backpackerradio.

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Please fill out this survey if you\u2019d like to help BPR!

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00:07:49 - Take our survey, please!

00:09:25 - Applications for Vlogging and Blogging for The Trek in 2021 are open!\xa0

00:09:56 - Intro to Mac from HalfwayAnywhere.com

00:11:00 - Do you hate the word moist?\xa0

00:11:55 - What is your backpacking/adventuring background?\xa0

00:12:55 - Do you remember where you discovered the PCT?

00:13:25 - Did you know you might be in over your head starting the PCT?\xa0

00:14:00 - When did the website (Halfway Anywhere) start?\xa0

00:17:16 - What kind of content were you putting out on your blog?\xa0

00:18:30 - Do you think it was an advantage going into your hike without prior research (when it came to writing)?

00:20:02 - Stand out moments from your PCT hike?\xa0

00:22:26 - What were the biggest differences you noticed between the PCT your first time and when you did it recently?\xa0

00:26:09 - Were you using paper maps or Half Mile?\xa0

00:27:18 - How did your most recent PCT hike go?\xa0

00:28:00 - Which version of the Sierra do you like better (snow or no snow)?\xa0

00:28:41 - Are the views better with or without the snow?\xa0

00:29:24 - What came after your 2013 PCT hike?\xa0

00:32:52- How did you find your job in Japan?\xa0

00:33:21 - What do you do for fun in Japan?\xa0

00:34:31 - How did you find hikes in Japan?

00:37:44 - How long were you in Japan? What came next?\xa0

00:40:00 - You hiked to Everest Base Camp?

00:40:34 - What did you learn about the altitude on the first trip?\xa0

00:42:16 - Did you do Whitney on the PCT \u201813?\xa0

00:43:55 - What\u2019s the difference in the attire for different elevations?\xa0

00:45:06 - Do you have Sherpas/a guide in the Himalaya?

00:46:00 - Is there a language barrier in Nepal?

00:47:10 - Are there ethical reasons for sourcing Sherpas?\xa0

00:50:00 - Should you hire a guide for EBC?\xa0

00:51:00 - Can you tell us about the Three Passes Trek?

00:54:24 - What is the distance of the Three Passes Trek and how long did it take you?\xa0

00:58:00 - How often were you sleeping inside?\xa0

01:00:00 - What do you pay per night/day on an Everest Base Camp or Three Pass Trek loop?

01:01:00 - How is it navigating transportation?

01:02:45 - Do you have a standout Nepalese\xa0 meal?\xa0

01:04:32 - Tell us about your Australia bikepacking trip!

01:05:30 - Where did you get water?\xa0

01:08:22 - Did you arrive with your bikepacking setup or did you buy it there?\xa0

01:09:25 - How long did the whole bike trip take you?

01:10:21 - Do you have any words of wisdom when it comes to fiscal responsibility?

01:11:44 - What was it like working in a bar in Australia?\xa0

01:14:30 - What did you do in 2017?

01:15:30 - What kind of hiking is in Tasmania?\xa0

01:17:00 - How did you choose Tasmania?\xa0

01:18:00 - How long are the hikes you are doing in Tasmania?\xa0

01:18:57 - What were the Rio Olympics like?\xa0

01:19:22 - How many languages do you speak?\xa0

01:20:05 - Were you doing this with friends?\xa0

01:20:36 - Are you doing most of your adventures solo?\xa0

01:21:09 - Has it been an adjustment to be in a relationship?

01:21:55 - How old are you?\xa0

01:21:14 - Is your fire for adventure still as strong as ever?

01:22:41 - How does your relationship work with adventures?\xa0

01:24:32 - Starting the CDT

01:25:55 - How would you compare the San Juans in 2017 to the Sierra in 2013?\xa0

01:30:42 - Comparison of the PCT to the CDT?\xa0

01:32:36 - Fuck, Marry, Kill: Sierra, Winds, Himalayas?\xa0

01:36:45 - Should you hike the PCT or the CDT?

01:38:48 - Do you ever get burnt out from traveling?\xa0

01:39:42 - What did you do next?\xa0

01:40:44 - How much time do you dedicate to the website amidst traveling?\xa0

01:43:10 - So you went back to Nepal?\xa0

01:43:38 - Why was the Annapurna Circuit your least favorite trek in Nepal?\xa0

01:46:14 - What was after the Annapurna Circuit?\xa0

01:47:54 - How long did Island Peak take?\xa0

01:49:10 - Do you feel safe in Nepal?\xa0

01:50:36 - Do you have more Nepal treks on your list?\xa0

01:52:05 - Tell us about the Japanese Alps?

01:54:05 - Why don\u2019t you want to hike Mt.Fuji?\xa0

01:55:49 - Does the traverse of the Japanese Alps involve route finding?\xa0

01:56:50 - Is the ridgeline hiking there technical at all?\xa0

01:57:30 - And you sprinkled in the Camino De Santiago?

01:58:21 - Do you still enjoy that style of adventure?\xa0

01:59:06 - Do you have a stats background?\xa0

02:00:13 - What was your track before the Appalachian Trail?\xa0

02:02:08 - What\u2019s in the future for Mac?\xa0

02:02:56 - Where did you get the trail name Mac?\xa0

02:05:00 - Where should people find your stuff?\xa0

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SEGMENTS

Arizona Trail Association Discourages 2020 SOBO AZT Thru-Hikes and Thru-Rides

Mail Bag / 5 Star Review Hybrid Section\xa0

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1- Minute Gear Reviews

Zach: Kataydyn Befree Filter

Chaunce: Custom Thrupack

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Point/Counterpoint:

Quilts vs. Sleeping Bags

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Backcountry Matchmaking\xa0

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