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Recent Episodes
S1E147 Episode 147 | Thermoregulatory Debt
Thermoregulatory debt describes the delayed cost of layering decisions made during movement in cold, wet, and windy conditions. A small delay in venting, changing layers, eating, or managing moisture…
S1E146 Episode 146 | Dirtbag Rich with Blake Boles
Ryan Jordan interviews Blake Boles, author of Dirtbag Rich, about redefining wealth through time, purpose, flexibility, and outdoor freedom. They explore dirtbag culture, careers, housing,…
S1E145 Episode 145 | Backpacking at Altitude
Learn how altitude changes oxygen availability, hiking performance, sleep, recovery, appetite, and risk for acute mountain sickness. In this episode, we reframe altitude as cumulative hypoxic dose…
S1E144 Episode 144 | Trail Steepness vs. Difficulty
Hiking effort doesn't scale smoothly with slope. It shifts across physiological regimes driven by muscle contraction type, aerobic limits, gait mechanics, and safety regulation. In this episode, we…
S1E143 Episode 143 | Managing Fatigue
This episode presents an operational framework for fatigue management in backcountry travel grounded in a non-circular load–fatigue–capacity model. Load is defined as external demand, fatigue as…
S1E142 Episode 142 | The 72 Hour Backcountry Reset
This episode explores why time in the backcountry can improve how we function beyond recreation. Ryan Jordan describes how modern life overloads attention through constant interruptions and…
S1E141 Episode 141 | Hiking at Night in a Blizzard
What gear do you actually need to hike out safely through a winter blizzard at night, in sub-freezing temps and high winds, when stopping isn't an option? In this episode, Ryan breaks down a focused…
S1E140 Episode 140 | Winter Storm Decisions
Ryan walks through a structured, six-question framework for deciding whether to stay put or move when a winter storm deteriorates around you, using real backcountry examples to show how terrain,…
S1E139 Episode 139 | Repair Kits
In this Field Notes episode, Ryan breaks down ultralight repair kits using a simple framework: context, consequence, and capability. He compares short-term overnights to long-term expeditions,…
S1E138 Episode 138 | Plan – Focus – Trust
In this episode, Ryan introduces the Plan-Focus-Trust framework - a simple but powerful approach to managing hard, uncertain objectives in the wilderness and beyond. Drawing on lessons from our…
S1E137 Episode 137 | The Risk Control Continuum
In this episode, we introduce the Risk Control Continuum - a practical, evidence-based framework for managing risk in the backcountry. He explores how environmental, psychosocial, and operational…
S1E136 Episode 136 | Fringe Season Layering
What is the difference in layering strategy from summertime to the fall-winter transition? In this episode, Ryan Jordan discusses how the environment of the fringe season (colder temperatures and…
S1E135 Episode 135 | Field Notes - The Metabolic Cost of Bushwhacking
In the Field Notes episode, we explore why bushwhacking miles aren't just harder but metabolically different. The Metabolic Energy Mile (MEM) framework breaks this down into three types of work:…
S1E134 Episode 134 | Sleep Quality in the Backcountry
Backcountry sleep is fragile, and when it breaks down, recovery, judgment, and safety are at risk. In this episode, we examine the forces that fragment rest, including altitude, stress, weather,…
S1E133 Episode 133 | Human Waste Management
In this episode, Ryan Jordan examines why traditional cathole practices often fail in alpine, desert, and high-use environments. Drawing on scientific research, policy gaps, and evolving Leave No…
S1E132 Episode 132 | Satellite Messenger Weather Forecasts
Today's episode of the Backpacking Light Podcast is sponsored by Vaer Watches. A Vaer watch is an expedition-worthy, made in the USA, reliable, rugged, and beautiful timepiece that earns its place on…
S1E131 Episode 131 | Ultralight First Aid Kit Strategies
In this episode, we discuss how to design scalable, evidence-informed first aid kits for backcountry travel. Grounded in the principles of context, consequence, and capability, he outlines three…
S1E130 Episode 130 | Bivy Sack Camping
In this episode, Ryan shares his approach to bivy sack camping above treeline using a waterproof-breathable system built for stealth, weather protection, and minimal impact. He explains why tents…
S1E129 Episode 129 | Field Notes - The Limits of Wilderness Minimalism
In this Field Notes episode, Ryan Jordan explores what happens when wilderness minimalism reaches its limits. Through real-world examples and the lenses of physiology, psychology, and Stoic…
S1E128 Episode 128 | The Metabolic Cost of Carrying a Backpack
What does it really cost your body to carry a backpack in the backcountry? In this episode, we explore the science behind the metabolic demands of load carriage - how pack weight, load distribution,…
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Backpacking Light Podcast has published 100 episodes since November 2021, covering topics in Sports, Wilderness.
Backpacking Light Podcast is currently highly active with new episodes monthly. Average episode length is 38m.
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