In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Nathan Wright, known on trail as Switchback. Nathan is an ambassador for the Pinhoti Trail and Alabama trails more broadly, wearing almost too many hats to count. He is the co-founder of the Pinhoti Outdoor Center - a hostel he runs with his wife, President of the Alabama Hiking Trail Society, Vice President of the Alabama Pinhoti Trail Association, Chairman of the Board of the Pinhoti Experience Foundation, and serves on the Advisory Board of the Alabama Trails Commission.

In this conversation, we go deep on everything to do with the Pinhoti Trail and Nathan’s many roles in supporting it. We cover the best time of year to hike it, what to expect in terms of wildlife, resupply, water, and logistics, as well as the standout physical features of the trail. Nathan also shares why the trail’s surrounding community makes it so special, the can’t-miss town stops and restaurants, and why he believes it’s the best off-season thru-hike in the US.

We wrap the show with a FREE STUFF alert for 2025 PCT Thru-Hikers, how to get college credit for thru-hiking the AT, how our lives would be totally different if our first names were spelled differently, the triple crown of thru-hiker fads, a shortest day of the year of the week, and a listener shares some intel on Texas' most underrated trail.

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Interview with Nathan Wright

Time stamps & Questions

00:05:20 - Reminders: Sign up for the Trek’s newsletter, apply to blog for the Trek or to run Trail Correspondents and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon!

00:13:20 - Introducing Nathan

00:14:30 - Tell us about your hiking experience

00:15:00 - What made you fall in love with hiking in Alabama?

00:17:40 - Did you get involved with the trail first or hike it first?

00:19:30 - Tell us about finding out you were having a baby

00:21:44 - Discussion about section hiking the AT

00:23:45 - Tell us about all the organizations you’re involved with

00:25:15 - What are the basic stats of the Pinhoti Trail?

00:29:30 - What’s the best season to hike the Pinhoti?

00:30:25 - What’s the APTA?

00:33:40 - What’s the Pinhoti Experience Foundation?

00:36:00 - What’s the Alabama Trails Commission Advisory Board?

00:37:00 - What’s your tech company?

00:38:48 - How does your hostel work?

00:42:00 - Discussion about resupplies along the Pinhoti

00:44:14 - How much of the trail is on a road?

00:47:05 - What’s the process for creating a trail town?

00:51:40 - How does your business background interface with your trail work?

00:55:38 - What’s the water like on the Pinhoti?

00:58:40 - What’s the wildlife like?

01:01:10 - If we go on an Alabama road trip, which football game should we go to?

01:03:04 - When are the ticks bad?

01:04:00 - Could you bring your dog on the Pinhoti?

01:06:42 - Are there shelters on the Pinhoti?

01:08:43 - If you had to sell someone on the Pinhoti, what would you tell them?

01:10:30 - What’s some cool history related to the Pinhoti?

01:14:20 - What are some standout trail towns and town spots?

01:19:50 - What are the main characteristics of the trail?

01:22:24 - What is Alabama food culture?

01:23:15 - What are the logistics of getting to or from the trail?

01:26:50 - Tell us about Pinhoti Fest

01:29:00 - What do you see for the future of the Pinhoti?

01:36:03 - What are some lessons of running a hostel?

01:39:00 - Stay Salty Question: What is your hottest take in the world of backpacking or the outdoors at large?

Segments

Trek Propaganda: How I Got College Credit for Thru-Hiking the Appalachian Trail by Jordan Charbonneau

QOTD: Do you think your life would turn out different if your name was spelled slightly differently?

Triple Crown of thru-hiker fads

Mail Bag

5 Star Review

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The Pinhoti Trail with Nathan "Switchback" Wright (BPR #317)