Thru-Hiking the AT on a $2,000 Budget with Livvy "Stumbles" Weld (BPR #377)

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Livvy "Stumbles" Weld, a Triple Crown thru-hiker, Trek Writer, and budding ultrarunner. In this one, Livvy breaks down how a tub of frosting earned her the trail name "Sugar Mitts," how her own thru-hikes accidentally talked her dad into becoming a thru-hiker himself, and how a kitten she found under a car turned into her cat back home. Livvy goes deep on how she was able to thru-hike the AT on less than $2,000 (nearly 75% less than the average AT thru-hike), her take as a former AMC hut crew member on the tension between thru-hikers and hut staff over limited work-for-stay spots, and the safety tricks she uses as a solo female hiker. We wrap the show with a comparison between the perception and reality of ultralight backpacking taking over thru-hiking, what hobbies we are bad at, despite our best efforts, and the triple crown of back in my days. LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek . Gossamer Gear: Use code "BPR10" for 10% off shelters at gossamergear.com . Darn Tough: Use code "BACKPACKER" for free shipping from darntough.com . 57 Hours: Use code "TREK100" for $100 off your booking at 57hours.com . [divider] Interview with Livvy "Stumbles" Weld Livvy's Instagram Livvy's Trek Author page Time stamps & Questions 00:06:04 - Reminders: Submit your hike finish photos , subscribe to The Trek's Youtube , and listen to our bonus content and episodes ad-free on Patreon ! 00:08:30 - Introducing Stumbles 00:14:12 - Tell us your trail name saga 00:22:30 - Did using your regular name change how you felt about trail names in general? 00:25:00 - Discussion about the tension between AMC hut crew and thru-hikers 00:28:20 - What's the solution for thru-hikers in the Whites? 00:32:36 - Can people bribe their way into the huts? 00:35:28 - Discussion about getting into thru-hiking 00:37:38 - Did you do a gear shakedown at Mountain Crossings? 00:41:00 - Do you carry any luxury items? 00:43:00 - Walk us through your current big five gear list 00:45:40 - Discussion about sleeping pads 00:48:10 - Discussion about not using a pillow 00:49:46 - Discussion about shelter choice 00:51:31 - What's your response to ultralight skeptics? 00:52:40 - What quilt do you carry? 00:53:40 - Discussion about trail running shoes 00:55:25 - How long did each AT thru-hike take? 01:00:00 - Discussion about music and thru-hiking memories 01:03:30 - What headlamp did you use for night hiking? 01:04:25 - Were there big differences between your two AT hikes? 01:07:40 - Was it lonely hiking solo? 01:11:45 - How has solo hiking carried over into your post-trail life? 01:13:15 - Tell us about backyard ultras 01:17:29 - How was your 100-miler race? 01:22:06 - Tell us about your FKT attempt on the New England Trail 01:25:01 - Discussion about river crossings on the FKT route 01:26:01 - Discussion about thru-hiking the AT on $2,000 01:30:49 - Discussion about hiker boxes and scrounging for food 01:34:34 - Discussion about the worst hiker box food find 01:37:28 - Tell us the