In Part 2, Rafiki gets into the substance: the trail's political situation (he read 990 tax forms and called the opposition before deciding to hike), the most beautiful sections (the glaciated terrain in the Chugach and Talkeetnas, the Long Range Bomber Traverse, the crawl-walk-run feel of the whole route), and his unpopular opinion about thru-hiking culture — which happens to be a direct argument against the show's own closing line. He does not think there is any suck to be embraced. He thinks people over-fetishize the difficulty of something that is, fundamentally, a recreational activity you chose to do. He also thinks this framing is like a caffeine hit — short-term useful, long-term limiting — and that the better version of the conversation is: the more you play outside, the more being outside feels like play. He is retiring from thru-hiking. He wants dogs. He might mush them. He called Alaska the cream of the crop and means it. This is his love letter to the trail.

If you haven't listened to Part 1 yet, start there — it dropped 10 minutes ago.

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 2


The Trail's Political Situation

The Most Beautiful Sections


Why This Was His Last Thru-Hike


Andrew Skurka and Doing the Research


There's No Suck to Be Embraced


Why the Alaska Long Trail


Hiking Hack — Have Fun


Off the Beaten Path — Tooth and Claw


Pay It Forward — Alaska Trails


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.


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