Chris "Rad" Carter is back — this time married, Chattanooga-based, and fresh off the summit of Denali. In Part 1, Doc and Rad cover the practical differences between thru-hiking and high-altitude mountaineering (vertical feet vs. horizontal miles, sled-hauling for the first seven days, 24-hour summit pushes at minus 25), the Denali poop management system and what happens to your waste bucket at minus 20 degrees, and the story of the Diving Board — a mental image Rad has carried since childhood in Kenya and spent three cloud-socked attempts finally getting the shot on. There is also an extended digression about the worst job in the world that goes from backcountry pit toilets to Tanzanian long drops to the near-death experience Rad had when a concrete platform collapsed mid-dump and he had to dive through the door. His score of 22 is, by his own assessment, a career low on the sanity scale, and he seems proud of it.

Part 2 drops in 10 minutes.

Show Notes

About the Guest


Chris "Rad" Carter is a Triple Crown thru-hiker (PCT, CDT + AT in a single calendar year), mountaineer, adventure filmmaker, and senior editor at Switchback Travel, where he runs the climbing, mountaineering, travel, and backpacking categories. Born in the United States and raised in Nairobi, Kenya by NGO parents, he came to America for college in 2014 and fell deeply in love with the country through his thru-hikes. In June 2025 he summited Denali — the highest peak in North America — as cameraman for Brandon's "Seek Your Summit" 50-highpoints record attempt. He is based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, recently married, and currently training for The Shield on El Capitan. His PCT documentary is called To Measure a Mile.

What's Covered in Part 1


Trail Name — The Ass Tat

Trailblazer's Toolkit — Household Bleach


The Hiking Poll — Score: 22


The Origin — Kenya, NGOs, and America


Denali vs. the Trail — What's Different


The Denali Poop System


The Diving Board


The Talkeetna Cemetery


Links & Resources



  • Chris Carter — Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chris.cart.er

  • Switchback Travel: https://www.switchbacktravel.com

  • To Measure a Mile — YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chriscarter

  • Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage — Alfred Lansing. Rad's current read — an unbelievable expedition story.

  • Kon-Tiki — Thor Heyerdahl. Read on Denali. A must for adventure lovers.

  • Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA): https://www.pcta.org

  • Continental Divide Trail Coalition (CDTC): https://www.continentaldividetrail.org


Connect with Hiker Trash Radio



  • Email: mailto:hikertashradio@gmail.com

  • Social: Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok — search Hiker Trash Radio.


Part 2 drops in 10 minutes. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts — it takes 60 seconds and makes a real difference.

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