Last month, I sat down and talked to Backpacker Radio about pretty much everything I’ve ever done in the outdoors up until this year. You can start listening at around 10 minutes in and then sit back to enjoy the last eight years of my life compressed into a little under two hours. Long by many podcast standards, short by others, but an acceptable amount of time for me to hang out and chat.
You can stream the entire episode here or find it on your podcasting app/streaming service of choice. Let me know what you think and whether I made any glaring factual errors in the reporting of my facts. Below you’ll find timestamps for the episode in case you’re not trying to listen to an entire two hours of me talking.
00:09:56 – Intro to Mac
00:11:00 – Do you hate the word “moist”?
00:11:55 – What is your backpacking/adventuring background?
00:12:55 – Do you remember where you discovered the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT)?
00:13:25 – Did you know you might be in over your head starting the PCT?
00:14:00 – When did the website (Halfway Anywhere) start?
00:17:16 – What kind of content were you putting out on your blog?
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?
00:22:26 – What were the biggest differences you noticed between the PCT your first time and when you did it recently?
00:26:09 – Were you using paper maps or Halfmile?
00:27:18 – How did your most recent PCT hike go?
00:28:00 – Which version of the Sierra do you like better (snow or no snow)?
00:28:41 – Are the views better with or without the snow?
00:29:24 – What came after your 2013 PCT hike?
00:32:52- How did you find your job in Japan?
00:33:21 – What do you do for fun in Japan?
00:34:31 – How did you find hikes in Japan?
00:37:44 – How long were you in Japan? What came next?
00:40:00 – You hiked to Everest Base Camp?
00:40:34 – What did you learn about the altitude on the first trip?
00:42:16 – Did you do Whitney on the PCT ‘13?
00:43:55 – What’s the difference in the attire for different elevations?
00:45:06 – Do you have a guide in the Himalaya?
00:46:00 – Is there a language barrier in Nepal?
00:47:10 – Are there ethical reasons for sourcing guides?
00:50:00 – Should you hire a guide for EBC?
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?
00:58:00 – How often were you sleeping inside?
01:00:00 – What do you pay per night/day on an Everest Base Camp or Three Pass Trek?
01:01:00 – How is it navigating transportation?
01:02:45 – Do you have a standout Nepalese meal?
01:04:32 – Tell us about your Australia bikepacking trip!
01:05:30 – Where did you get water?
01:08:22 – Did you arrive with your bikepacking set up or did you buy it there?
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?
01:14:30 – What did you do in 2017?
01:15:30 – What kind of hiking is in Tasmania?
01:17:00 – How did you choose Tasmania?
01:18:00 – How long are the hikes you are doing in Tasmania?
01:18:57 – What was the Rio Olympics like?
01:19:22 – How many languages do you speak?
01:20:05 – Were you doing this with friends?
01:20:36 – Are you doing most of your adventures solo?
01:21:09 – Has it been an adjustment to be in a relationship?
01:21:55 – How old are you?
01:21:14 – Is your fire for adventure still as strong as ever?
01:22:41 – How does your relationship work with adventures?
01:24:32 – Starting the Continental Divide Trail (CDT)
01:25:55 – How would you compare the San Juans in 2017 to the Sierra in 2013?
01:30:42 – Comparison of the PCT to the CDT?
01:32:36 – Fuck, Marry, Kill: Sierra, Winds, Himalayas?
01:36:45 – Should you hike the PCT or the CDT?
01:38:48 – Do you ever get burnt out from traveling?
01:39:42 – What did you do next?
01:40:44 – How much time do you dedicate to the website amidst traveling?
01:43:10 – So you went back to Nepal?
01:43:38 – Why was the Annapurna Circuit your least favorite trek in Nepal?
01:46:14 – What was after the Annapurna Circuit?
01:47:54 – How long did Island Peak take?
01:49:10 – Do you feel safe in Nepal?
01:50:36 – Do you have more Nepal treks on your list?
01:52:05 – Tell us about the Japanese Alps?
01:54:05 – Why don’t you want to hike Mount Fuji?
01:55:49 – Does the traverse of the Japanese Alps involve route finding?
01:56:50 – Is the ridgeline hiking there technical at all?
01:57:30 – And you sprinkled in the Camino De Santiago?
01:58:21 – Do you still enjoy that style of adventure?
01:59:06 – Do you have a stats background?
02:00:13 – What was your track before the Appalachian Trail?
02:02:08 – What’s in the future for Mac?
02:02:56 – Where did you get the trail name Mac?
