#185 | Patricia Cameron on Being Assaulted in a Trail Town, Her PCT LASH, and Living on a Glacier in Alaska

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are once again joined by Patricia Cameron. We catch up on all that she's been up to since our last interview, including a NOLS mountaineering leadership course in Alaska, a 2022 LASH on the PCT, and a hiker trash prom hosted by her organization, Blackpackers. Patricia also shares a distressing story of her being the victim of a hate crime during her PCT hike in Lone Pine, California, in which she caught the entire encounter on video. We play the audio from this incident, get Patricia's take on exactly what went down, some of her thoughts on the risk and reception of being a hiker of color through these rural towns, and despite this incident, why she has no plans to stop long-distance backpacking anytime soon. A warning to listeners that the audio from this video is triggering, but I do believe that it's important for everyone in the community to hear this and get a sense of the depressing reality that still persists for many of our fellow hikers.

We wrap the show with a few reasons why a flip-flop thru-hike might be the way to go on the AT, a triple crown of non-dog pets, a superb listener poop story, and more.

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Organifi: Use code "BACKPACKER" for 20% off at organifi.com/backpacker.

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Interview with Patricia Cameron

• Blackpacker's Website
• Patricia's Twitter
• Patricia's Instagram
• Blackpackers Instagram

Time stamps & Questions

00:06:50 - QOTD: Would you take 5 years off your life to talk back and forth with your dog for one hour?

00:11:45 - Reminders: subscribe to the Trek newsletter for news about the Badger Sponsorship

00:12:20 - Introducing Patricia

00:13:14 - What have you been up to since March of 2021?

00:14:54 - What does a person do on a glacier for 2 weeks?

00:18:41 - What inspired you to take the class and learn these winter skills?

00:20:03 - How does a day on a glacier compare to a day of backpacking?

00:22:02 - What skill were you most excited to learn?

00:24:35 - How did you transition from Alaska to Kennedy Meadows?

00:25:30 - Tell us about starting on the PCT

00:26:40 - Discussion about cold soaking and food planning

00:28:33 - What made the PCT harder than you were expecting?

00:33:27 - Tell us about hiking after injuring your leg.

00:35:11 - Did you consider getting off trail?

00:36:01 - Tell us about the incident that happened in Lone Pine.

00:40:25 - *Trigger warning: Audio clip starts*

00:41:22 - *Trigger warning: Audio clip ends*

00:42:30 - Were you scared at that moment?

00:42:45 - Were you more or less scared going back to trail after that?

00:45:38 - Tell us more about Nicole and Girls Fight Back

00:46:43 - Is there a part of you that feels vindicated by capturing the incident on video?

00:50:18 - What will it take for you to feel safe going to Lone Pine?

00:53:48 - What do you want the listener to take away from hearing this?

00:56:48 - How did the incident impact the rest of your hike, particularly in trail towns?

01:00:30 - Any parting messages related to this?

01:01:04 - Where did your LASH end?

01:03:30 - Discussion about Amtrak ride from Truckee to Denver

01:06:00 - Discussion about the Tahoe Rim Trail

01:08:20 - Would you recommend the TRT to others?

01:10:00 - Tell us about your Good Morning America interview

01:14:15 - Discussion about public speaking

01:15:40 - Tell us about Hiker Trash Prom

01:17:48 - What's coming up for Blackpackers in 2023?

01:20:00 - Thank you!

SEGMENTS

Trek Propaganda

• 6 Reasons a Flip-Flop Thru-Hike of the Appalachian Trail Is the Right Way To Go by Richard "Crossword" Guenther
• That's all, Folks. by MG Hibionada

Triple Crown of non-dog pets

Mail Bag

5 Star Review

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