In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, the Cinnamon Connection catches up with Bill Manning, the Executive Director at the Colorado Trail foundation. We do a deep dive on all things Colorado Trail related, including the best time to hike the trail, the biggest mistakes aspiring thru-hikers make, and the inner workings for keeping such a beautiful trail afloat. Chaunce lets us in on a mega surprise, and we cover the most popular sleeping bags used on the AT last year. Subjects discussed in today's show include: Gossamer Gear Anniversary Video Sawyer Permethrin Sawer Micro vs. Sawyer Squeeze Chaunce's big reveal How to Get to Springer Mountain Barefoot Hills Hostel (formerly Hiker Hostel) NikWax Down Wash DownTek Products Ursack Loksak Opsak Bill Manning interview Bill's backpacking experience - has done full length of the CT split between horse, bike, and hike Difference between cycling and hiking route Do you notice tension between the bikers and hikers How he got involved with Colorado Trail Foundation Responsibilities as executive director Difference between Trail Crews and Adopt-a-Trail Why do Trail Crews cost money? What kind of skills does someone need to work on a trail crew? The biggest challenges the CT currently faces? Biggest mistakes Bill sees people make who want to thru-hike the CT Recommendations for dealing with altitude NOBO / SOBO/ SWOBO / NEBO? How has the trail changed since Bill's involvement with the CTF How have hikers changed Story of Gudy Gaskill Collegiate East vs Collegiate West Bill's favorite section of trail What does the future of the Colorado Trail look like? What to do if you see a moose. What's the most bizarre story Bill's heard on trail? Ideal time to start the trail Ctf@coloradotrail.org Colorado Trail Photos Trek propaganda The Top Sleeping Bags, Quilts and Pads on the Appalachian Trail TOP BRANDS 1. Enlightened Equipment 2. Rei 3. Kelty and Big Agnes TOP SLEEPING BAG MODELS 1. Kelty Cosmic 2. Zpacks Classic (hybrid quilt and sleeping bag) 3. REI Joule and REI Magma TOP QUILTS 1. EE Revelation TOP SLEEPING PADS Therm-a-Rest NeoAire Xlite, followed by the Z-lite Fan mail (podcast@thetrek.co) 5-Star Reviews Have any praise, questions, praise, comments, praise or praise for Backpacker Radio? Reach out to podcast@thetrek.co. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)! Download this podcast. Find us on Stitcher and Google Play. Support us on Patreon! A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Sawyer Products, Travis Smith, and S11N. A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Gregory Gardner, Andre Oosthuizen, Randy Harter, and Peter Leven Follow The Colorado Trail Foundation, Backpacker Radio, The Trek, Chaunce, and Badger on Instagram. Follow The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow The Trek on Facebook, Twitter and sign up for our newsletter.