Bradford "Rafiki" Bartels just became the first person to thru-hike the Alaska Long Trail, and his hiking poll score of 33 out of 100 — which he describes as just enough to be unmedicated — reflects a man who carried three emergency ponchos (one of which was a skirt), coated his rain jacket in homemade silicone solution, invented the term bear-anoid to describe his scent discipline regimen, and has strong opinions about both bear bells and the proper application of bear spray. In Part 1, Doc and Rafiki cover how a Marine Corps veteran and high school dropout came to thru-hiking, the gear philosophy of someone who likes to tinker, the difference between the bears everyone worries about and the rivers that will actually stop you, and the navigation reality of hiking a trail that is, generously, about 30 percent road walks and only somewhat on CalTopo. Also: frosted animal crackers, instant mash with bacon bits, and the confirmed Hiker Trash Radio position on applying bear spray topically.

Show Notes

About the Guest


Bradford "Rafiki" Bartels is a Marine Corps veteran, backcountry guide, and the first person to thru-hike the Alaska Long Trail — a roughly 500-mile route from Seward to Fairbanks, currently under development by Alaska Trails. Born in Soldotna, Alaska, he grew up bouncing around the East Coast and served at 29 Palms before finding his way to the outdoors through volunteer work and a friend's advice to try trail runners instead of boots. He has done an AT section hike, explored the Pacific Northwest Scenic Trail, and worked as a backpacking guide on the West Coast. He is 32, based in Massachusetts, and planning to retire from thru-hiking in favor of getting 12 to 16 dogs.

What's Covered in Part 1


Trail Name — Rafiki

Trailblazer's Toolkit — A Good Puffy


The Hiking Poll — Score: 33


How He Found Thru-Hiking


The Trail — Overview


Bears vs. Rivers


Gear — I Like to Tinker


Links & Resources



  • Alaska Trails (trail organization): https://www.alaska.org/trails

  • Alaska Long Trail — Information: https://www.alaskalongtrail.org

  • Wes Larson — Bear biologist making bear safety and wildlife content. Rafiki's primary recommendation for anyone heading into Alaska bear country.

  • Tooth and Claw Podcast — Bear safety and wildlife content. Rafiki's top media recommendation for pre-trail preparation on the Alaska Long Trail.

  • Andrew Skurka — The reference for Alaska backcountry trip planning. Rafiki studied his routes and approach extensively in preparation.


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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