Backpacker Radio #224 | Pony 4.0: The Cape Wrath Trail, A Challenging CDT Section, and Retiring from Multi-Month Backpacking

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are re-re-re joined by listener favorite and our pal, Clay Bonnyman Evans, aka Pony.

We catch up on all that Pony’s been up to since his last appearance on the show including a thru-hike of the Cape Wrath Trail, which he refers to as the AT of the UK, his trek from Edinburgh to Glasgow, his stint as a caretaker at Woods Hole Hostel, and his latest section hike of the Continental Divide Trail, which he cites as his most psychologically challenging hike to date. In typical Pony fashion, this chat is wild- we get an extended Scottish accent, some explicit poop stories, and we are introduced to the erotic world of hedging. You might be able to guess what that is, either way, you’re soon about to find out.

We wrap the show with a feature from a Trek blogger about how backpacking made her less independent, a triple crown of bummer places to be, and Chaunce triggers the internet.

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Interview with Clay “Pony” Bonnyman Evans

• Pony’s Instagram
• Pony’s Website 

Time stamps & Questions

00:03:48 – Reminders: Check out our new merch, submit your poop story for a chance to win a BPR RTIC mug, and apply to be a blogger!

00:05:35 – Introducing Pony

00:06:02 – Tell us your poop story

00:10:20 – Tell us about caretaking at Woods Hole hostel

00:12:25 – Tell us a second poop story

00:14:38 – Discussion about the murder you got interested in

00:17:35 – Did you consider writing a book about it?

00:19:38 – Tell us about the Cape Wrath trail

00:26:46 – What are the pros and cons of going south or north?

00:28:50 – Are you planning on doing the West Highland Way?

00:29:25 – Did you notice the accent change as you got further north?

00:31:03 – What was resupplying like?

00:33:28 – What was the camping like?

00:38:00 – Anything else you want to share on this hike?

00:40:12 – Do you remember any legends?

00:42:50 – Tell us about hiking from Edinburgh to Glasgow

00:46:33 – Which city would you return to if you could only pick one?

00:47:16 – What’s the hiking culture like?

00:50:24 – Did you do anything between Scotland and going back to the CDT?

00:51:20 – Tell us about hiking alone for the most part

00:58:30 – What constitutes a bad day on the CDT?

01:02:03 – What other things did you do to make you realize you were losing your sanity?

01:05:52 – Is it surprising to you that you’re still learning a lot about yourself?

01:07:54 – Did you have any standout favorite days?

01:11:07 – Did you do any uncommon alternates that you think more people should do?

01:14:15 – What do you attribute red line fever to?

01:17:18 – What led to you still needing to mop up some miles?

01:21:32 – Tell us about recovering from giardia

01:25:02 – How does overdoing it manifest for you?

01:30:00 – Discussion about the weather

01:31:13 – Tell us about the Glacier permit system

01:35:08 – Why don’t the national parks all use the same system?

01:39:30 – Did you have any gear you loved or loathed?

01:43:30 – Do you have any hot takes for us?

01:51:40 – What’s next for you?

Segments

Trek Propaganda: How Thru-Hiking Made Me Less Independent by Gillian

QOTD: What is something you’ve been doing recently to intentionally annoy your partner?

Trigger the Internet

Triple Crown of bummer places to be

Mail Bag

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