Backpacker Radio #148 | Carly Moree on Hallucinating in the Sierra, Starting a Guiding Company, and Co-Authoring Pacific Crest Trials

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Carly Moree.  Carly is a thru-hiker, the co-author of Pacific Crest Trials, an OG Writer at The Trek, entrepreneur and a long time friend.  We chat about her transition from the cushy world of finance to backpacking, her personal pitfalls of getting into a relationship on the AT, some hilarious hallucinations during her JMT FKT attempt, and learn all about her new guiding company, Rocky Mountain Hiking Company.

We wrap the show with a brief overview of some of the top day hikes on the AT, some more details of our upcoming road trip, and a dad joke of the week.

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Photo credit: “Stephanie Weezer” (@stephlotus_ on IG)

Interview with Carly Moree

Time stamps & Questions

00:04:24 – QOTD: If you married to yourself, what would be the reason for the divorce?

00:05:54 – QOTD 2: What’s the correct amount to tip for pickup orders?

00:13:14 – BPR Announcements: Asheville Meetup at Hi-Wire Brewing May 11, 6:30pm, Trail Days: scavenger hunt, limited edition t-shirts

00:14:20 – Introducing Carly

00:16:08 – Tell us about your introduction into the world of thru-hiking.

00:18:15 – What’s your trail name origin story?

00:19:19 – Why don’t you want to date on trail anymore?

00:20:39 – What attracts you to someone while on trail?

00:22:48 – Tell us about getting Lyme disease.

00:25:44 – Where did you go after the AT?

00:26:41 – Tell us about the epiphany you had about the direction your career was going.

00:28:33 – Give us an example of a crazy moment from your finance job.

00:32:04 – Tell us about the transition from your job to the AT?

00:34:27 – Tell us about deciding to hike the PCT after the AT?

00:35:30 – Did you get any grief for skipping Pennsylvania?

00:36:50 – Discussion about big mile days on the PCT.

00:37:49 – What changes did you make when deciding to date a second person?

00:38:52 – Is there anything else you want to share from the PCT?

00:41:01 – Do you feel like you were drawn to Jennifer Pharr Davis for any other reasons?

00:44:13 – Discussion about co-authoring Pacific Crest Trials.

00:47:25 – Tell us how co-authoring the book has helped your dating life.

00:47:58 – Discussion about Reddit AMA.

00:49:38 – What was your life like after the PCT?

00:51:42 – Why did you only do Mount Sanitas?

00:52:35 – Tell us about starting your PCT FKT attempt.

00:54:44 – Was it weird that you were both going for the FKT?

00:55:42 – Tell us about transitioning from the PCT FKT to the JMT FKT?

00:57:48 – The FKT was a really important moment in your life, right?

00:58:53 – Doesn’t going through a breakup during lockdown suck?

01:01:00 – Discussion about training for the Grand Canyon run.

01:01:55 – What’s your hiking pace?

01:02:11 – What’s your aggressive hiking pace?

01:03:04 – Discussion about training for the JMT FKT.

01:04:33 – Did you plan the hike around a good weather window?

01:06:24 – Tell us the fun facts of the hike.

01:07:05 – What are the hallucinations and did you realize you were hallucinating?

01:14:03 – How do you know what you thought was real was actually real?

01:16:02 – Discussion about the end of the FKT attempt.

01:17:26 – Why do you think you couldn’t feel anything until you decided to end the attempt?

01:17:58 – Discussion about getting off the trail.

01:20:38 – Discussion about getting lost and deciding to press SOS.

01:22:39 – Discussion about the SAR suitors.

01:26:18 – You had to pay for the SOS rescue?

01:27:13 – What did the rescue cost?

01:27:55 – You seemed way too comfortable with hallucinating – were you scared?

01:30:18 – Do you have any advice for the Tahoe Rim Trail?

01:32:41 – Anything else from the Tahoe Rim Trail?

01:33:40 – Tell us about your company.

01:35:40 – When did you start the company?

01:37:11 – Who is the target market for your guided hikes?

01:38:37 – How many trips have you guided so far?

01:39:08 – What are some of the challenges of running a guiding company?

01:40:28 – Who’s the other guide?

01:42:25 – When is your Death Valley trip?

01:43:25 – What has been the biggest surprise in starting the company?

01:45:20 – How does hiring and paying guides work?

01:47:25 – Is it just a three person team right now?

01:48:48 – Tell us about the workshops.

01:50:00 – Tell us about the coaching element of the company.

01:53:30 – Anything else we should know about Rocky Mountain Hiking Company?

01:54:05 – Thank you!

SEGMENTS

Trek Propaganda

Dad Joke of the Week

Roan Mountain, Ghosts, and Supernatural Stories

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5 Star Review

Book Update

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