Madison "Peg Leg" Blagden on the Eastern Continental Trail and the Pros and Cons of Trail Fame

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Madison Blagden, known on trail as Peg Leg. Peg Leg is a thru-hiking powerhouse and a Trek blogging all-star. Over the past 1.5 years, Madison has logged 8,600 miles while cranking out nearly 300 blogs, documenting almost every single day of her journeys on the Eastern Continental Trail and the CDT.

Peg Leg dives deep into her epic ECT adventure, including how she became just the second woman to complete the entire trail. We get into the nitty-gritty of the International AT, dealing with creepy fellas in Florida, and the time she drank booze through her hiking sock.

Madison also gives us the lowdown on her CDT hike this year, sharing a terrifying story of a near-death flash flood experience, what it’s like to be recognized on trail so often, and her big hiking plans for 2025.

We wrap the show with a fuck marry kills of oceans rivers and lakes, the triple crown of genie wishes, and we're blessed with a wonderful listener poop story.

Gossamer Gear: Use code “SNUGGLEBUG” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com. 

Holiday Book Bundle: Get Badger & Chaunce’s signed book package here.

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Interview with Madison “Peg Leg” Blagden

• Peg Leg's Trek Profile
• Peg Leg's Instagram
• Peg Leg's Youtube

Time stamps & Questions

00:04:00 - Reminders: Support us on Patreon for exclusive bonus content and apply to be a 2025 blogger!

00:09:00 - Introducing Peg Leg

00:09:50 - How many blog posts have you written for the Trek?

00:10:51 - What’s your process for blogging?

00:15:15 - What’s your preference between writing and videos?

00:16:00 - How did you end up on the PCT in 2017?

00:18:50 - What were some of your first time backpacking mistakes?

00:21:05 - Was it hard to get off in the middle of the trail?

00:23:20 - Discussion about going through the Sierra in 2017

00:25:30 - Tell us about doing the PCT in 2022

00:28:40 - How long did your IT band issue persist?

00:30:20 - How did your gear evolve from 2017 to 2022?

00:33:12 - Tell us about your initial hiking vision for 2023

00:36:00 - What were your first impressions of hiking in the east?

00:37:30 - Was it hard to incorporate blogging into your day during the hike?

00:41:00 - What stands out to you from your AT hike?

00:44:00 - Tell us about getting norovirus

00:46:02 - Discussion about trail magic

00:47:50 - What does it mean to be on time for the hunting season?

00:49:27 - How did you decide to do the international portion?

00:50:55 - How did you go from Katahdin to the Canadian border?

00:52:28 - Was it hard to go from hiking with people to hiking alone?

00:54:00 - Is there a FarOut map for the IAT?

00:56:00 - What were the towns like?

00:57:50 - You saw a hiker with a cat?

00:59:15 - You saw a Canadian lynx?

01:01:00 - Tell us about seeing a caribou

01:05:00 - Discussion about using ropes

01:06:35 - Reindeer facts

01:08:13 - Did you hike the IAT with a partner?

01:09:40 - What was your week off like in Canada?

01:11:16 - What’s your go to town meal?

01:12:45 - Tell us about the island hopping portion of the IAT

01:14:30 - How did the vibe of your hike change once you joined with more people?

01:17:00 - When did you decide to go back to do the Florida portion?

01:18:45 - Discussion about Peg Leg’s injury

01:19:50 - How long was the Canadian portion of the IAT and how long did it take you?

01:21:35 - When did you start the Pinhoti and when did you get to Key West?

01:24:30 - Discussion about road walking through Alabama

01:25:30 - Did you adjust to the road walking okay?

01:27:20 - Tell us about reaching the Florida Trail

01:29:00 - Tell us about being followed on the trail

01:40:50 - Is being trail famous a net positive or a net negative?

01:41:26 - What would you want to relay to any fans of yours?

01:46:20 - Do you have any advice for people who want to do their hike publicly?

01:48:24 - Tell us about falling in deep water on the Florida Trail

01:52:00 - How do you know if something is in the water or not?

01:55:45 - What should you do if you get attacked by an alligator?

01:58:50 - Did you see any scary animals?

02:00:28 - What was it like to finish in Key West?

02:01:48 - Tell us about doing a sock-ey at the end of your hike

02:04:02 - How did you feel at the end, and had you already planned to hike the CDT?

02:07:57 - Did anybody recognize you while you were off trail?

02:08:19 - How did you decide to go southbound on the CDT and find your group?

02:09:45 - Tell us about the beginning of the CDT

02:11:25 - What are your standout stories from the CDT?

02:12:30 - Tell us about your dicey moment in the Winds?

02:16:04 - How did your group fluctuate over the trail?

02:18:19 - Tell us about your flash flood moment on the CDT

02:25:55 - Was that the scariest moment of your thru-hiking career?

02:26:50 - Was the end of the CDT anticlimatic?

02:27:34 - What’s next for you?

02:30:12 - Are you excited about your future plans or nervous?

02:31:27 - Kumo Question: What is your favorite movie soundtrack?

Segments

Trek Propaganda: You’ll Kick Yourself if You Make Any of These Common Thru-Hiker Mistakes by Kelly Floro

QOTD:  Fuck Marry Kill: Oceans, rivers, lakes

Triple Crown of genie wishes

Listener Voicemail (and leave us your own!)

Mail Bag

5 Star Review

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