Mary "Badass" Anderson an AT Winter SOBO in the 80s and Hiking the National Scenic Trails as an Older Solo Female

Backpacker Radio

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Helinox, we are joined by Mary "Badass" Anderson. Never has a trail name been more fitting, Mary is the most badass hiker you've likely never heard of. With nearly 19,000 miles under her feet spanning six decades, with her first thru-hike taking place in 1981, Mary has not slowed down with her adventurous ways, as she swung by the studio on her to the Pacific Northwest Trail. Some of the highlights from today's interview include a wild winter SOBO thru-hike of the AT in 1985, just a handful of months after a major back surgery where her doctor told her to give up hiking. She followed her AT SOBO winter hike by immediately hopping over to the PCT, where she battled even more snow, and killed and ate a rattlesnake. Other feats include hiking all of the 4,000 footers in New England with her young son in the 90s, completing the CDT after hitting a new low in 2020, and now she's on a quest to finish all of the National Scenic Trails, with only a couple remaining. In short, Mary's story is one of a kind, you will enjoy today's chat.

We wrap the show with a last call for applications for The Trek's new full-time role, a pair of beloved trail angels close their doors after 17 years serving PCT hikers, what music we would listen to on the way to rescue our significant others from a hostage situation, the triple crown of onomatopoeias, and Chaunce is very afraid of grizzlies.

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Interview with Mary “Badass” Anderson

• Mary's Blog

Time stamps & Questions

00:04:40 - Reminders: Apply for the Trek’s full-time role! Support us on Patreon for exclusive content and send us your recommendations for a hiker meetup this fall in NYC.

00:10:34 - Introducing Mary

00:11:40 - How’d you get your trail name?

00:13:14 - How did you initially get started long distance backpacking?

00:15:22 - How did you prepare for backpacking in the 80s?

00:21:05 - What does your baseweight look like today?

00:23:47 - What was the AT like in the 80s?

00:26:56 - Did the AT feel easy compared to the Long Trail?

00:29:02 - What resources did you have for navigation?

00:32:38 - What were your resupplies like?

00:34:00 - Tell us about your back injury and being told never to hike again

00:38:10 - Where does your toughness come from?

00:39:00 - How much of a physical struggle was the AT southbound in winter?

00:40:46 - Where did you experience the worst weather?

00:41:50 - Did you think it might have been a bad idea?

00:45:30 - What did your winter pack and gear look like?

00:49:39 - How did you keep on the trail?

00:50:45 - What about backpacking do you enjoy?

00:52:20 - Did people know what you were doing?

00:54:08 - How did you afford hiking then and now?

00:56:12 - What trail recipes do you make?

00:57:18 - What did it feel like to get to Springer and then start the PCT?

01:02:09 - What was your experience on the PCT like?

01:04:23 - Tell us about your rattlesnake encounter

01:07:00 - Discussion about fear and wildlife encounters

01:10:30 - Did you encounter other thru-hikers on the PCT in 1986?

01:11:10 - How did you enjoy the PCT relative to the AT?

01:14:00 - What was the scariest moment of your backpacking career?

01:17:05 - Tell us about the hiking you did with your son

01:19:55 - Do you have advice for getting your kids outside?

01:21:15 - What was it like hiking the Long Trail with your 8 year old?

01:22:30 - How have you noticed the concept of gender changing in the backcountry?

01:24:08 - Tell us about a bear paying for your cross country road trip

01:26:36 - How did you get back into long distance thru-hiking?

01:29:22 - When did you switch from map and compass to apps?

01:31:32 - Do you long for hikes from decades ago?

01:35:55 - How was the southern half of the CDT in 2020?

01:37:42 - How was your mental state?

01:42:10 - Tell us about staying with people on the Ice Age Trail

01:44:28 - Tell us about the northern half of the CDT

01:49:55 - Tell us about your Vermont bike trip

01:54:16 - Discussion about the role of the internet

01:55:40 - Discussion about the Catamount Cross Country Ski Trail

01:58:50 - How was the Connecticut River Source to Sea Paddle?

02:06:05 - Tell us about the New England Trail

02:10:08 - Discussion about the Natchez Trace Trail

02:12:00 - Discussion about the Potomoc Heritage Trail

02:17:40 - Anything else to share about the Arizona Trail?

02:24:00 - What’s next?

Segments

Trek Propaganda:

• 17 Years, 8,000 Hikers: Trail Angels Scout and Frodo Retire from PCT Hosting by Arielle Nardizzi
• Professor: The Strategy That’s Helped Me Afford 6 Years, 15K Miles of Thru-Hiking (Jobs, Budgeting Tips, and More) by Carl Stanfield

QOTD: Your wife has been kidnapped and is being held in a location 30 minutes away. You’re driving to rescue her. It’s a warm night and your windows are down. Do you listen to music on the drive there, yes or no?

Triple Crown of onomatopoeias

Power Ranking: Animals You Want to Encounter on Trail

Mail Bag

5 Star Review

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