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PODCAST

Gear Abby: An Outdoor Advice Column For Your Ears

Rock Fight, LLC

Gear Abby: Outdoor Advice Without the BS! Sick of outdoor podcasts that gate keep, worship influencer gear lists, or make you feel like you don’t belong? Yeah, we do too. That’s why Gear Abby exists. With Gear Abby you won"t get an ounce of shame or gear snobbery. It"s just unfiltered advice, honest conversations, and the occasional "WTF" moment in the wild. Hosted by outdoor journalist and adventure junkie Shawnté Salabert, this show answers the real questions you’re too embarrassed to ask out

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All Episodes

48:55

The Skunk Ape, the Wood Booger & the Scariest Thing...

Gear Abby: An Outdoor Advice Column For Your Ears ·

2026/10/02

Is Bigfoot just a West Coast thing? What the hell is a Wood Booger? And why should outdoor lovers care about the Roadless Rule?It's Spooky Season on Gear Abby, and Shawnté heads east in search of Bigfoot's lesser-known cousins: Florida's stinky Skunk Ape and Virginia's magnificently named Wood Booger. She digs into their lore, the gloriously terrible videos that supposedly captured them on film, and whether she and Colin actually believe any of this stuff. Spoiler: they want to believe. Then Gear

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47:10

Murder, Fearmongers & Power Banks

Gear Abby: An Outdoor Advice Column For Your Ears ·

2026/09/25

Who investigates a murder in a national park? How do you separate legitimate trail warnings from good old fashioned fear mongering? And for a month on the Appalachian Trail, should you carry a power bank or go solar?This week on Gear Abby, Shawnté investigates the National Park Service's unfortunately acronymed IBS (listen to find out what that means - it's not what you think), including the real-life murder case that shows how these backcountry detectives work. Then she tackles the fine line

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42:15

Honey Buckets, Free Balling & the Ultimate...

Gear Abby: An Outdoor Advice Column For Your Ears ·

2026/09/18

Who empties a toilet in the middle of the wilderness? Is there actually a benefit to hiking commando? And what finally turned technophobe Shawnté into an adventure-watch convert?This week on Gear Abby, Shawnté digs into the surprisingly fascinating history of toilets on Mount Whitney, from summit outhouses and solar composters to helicopters hauling away “honey buckets”, before tackling the pros and cons of letting it all hang out on trail. Then What’s In Your Pack? returns with Shawnté’s new

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40:36

Where Is the Quietest Place in America & Do You Need...

Gear Abby: An Outdoor Advice Column For Your Ears ·

2026/09/12

Where can you go to find real silence in the outdoors? Which lodge kicked off the grand tradition of national park lodging? And is buying an ultralight backpack actually worth the money?This week on Gear Abby, Shawnté searches for the quietest places in America including the famous “One Square Inch of Silence” in Olympic National Park, dives into the history of Yellowstone's Old Faithful Inn, and explains why the lightest backpack isn't necessarily the best backpack. Plus: Bluetooth-speaker rage,

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36:26

Tarantula Sex, Walmart Camping Gear & a New Favorite...

Gear Abby: An Outdoor Advice Column For Your Ears ·

2026/09/04

How exactly do tarantulas mate? Is Walmart’s Ozark Trail camping gear actually good enough for beginners? And has Shawnté found a water filter she likes even more than the Platypus QuickDraw?This week on Gear Abby, Shawnté celebrates the show’s first anniversary by diving way too deep into tarantula mating season, explaining why inexpensive camping gear can be perfectly fine for casual car campers, and revealing her newest What’s In Your Pack? favorite: the LifeStraw Peak Solo water filter. Plus:

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42:09

The Trail Is Burning, His Finger Is Naked & Women Are...

Gear Abby: An Outdoor Advice Column For Your Ears ·

2026/08/30

This week on Gear Abby, Shawnté tackles three very different outdoor dilemmas:What should you actually do if a wildfire breaks out while you’re deep in the backcountry?Should you worry if your spouse takes off their wedding ring whenever they hike, climb or backpack?And which women-owned outdoor brands are doing great work around sustainability, accessibility and giving back?Plus: marmot slander, sausage fingers, silicone wedding bands and a whole lot of sweating. Advice that doesn’t suck.Send your

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41:41

A Plane Full of Weed & Are Fanny Packs Dorky?

Gear Abby: An Outdoor Advice Column For Your Ears ·

2026/08/22

This week on Gear Abby, Shawnté digs into what happens when airplanes crash in national parks, including the absolutely wild story of Yosemite’s infamous Dope Lake, before settling an important outdoor relationship dispute: are fanny packs dorky overkill or ridiculously useful?Then Shawnté and Colin face a truly devious question: if you could only eat one protein bar for the rest of your life, which one would you choose?Plane wrecks, waist packs, weed, snack fatigue and more outdoor advice that

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38:47

What If a Ghost Steals Your Garmin?

Gear Abby: An Outdoor Advice Column For Your Ears ·

2026/08/14

What should you do if a ghost steals your Garmin on trail? Which of your favorite movies were actually filmed inside national parks? And just how desperate do you have to be before stale tortillas, canned chicken and sun-melted Kraft Singles qualify as a gourmet meal?This week on Gear Abby, Shawnté shares some haunted Sierra lore and offers up her best ghost etiquette, then takes a trip through national park movie history from Star Trek and Star Wars to Indiana Jones and The Shining. Plus, she digs

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42:09

River Pee, Trail Trauma & the Perfect Pillow

Gear Abby: An Outdoor Advice Column For Your Ears ·

2026/08/08

Why does Leave No Trace tell backpackers to pee away from water but rafters to pee directly into the river? And why do so many hiking memoirs seem to require their authors to endure a dark night of the soul?This week on Gear Abby, Shawnté explains the surprisingly logical bathroom rules of river trips (and the origin of the wonderfully named groover), then digs into why trauma, suffering and misery have become such reliable ingredients in outdoor books. Plus, What’s In Your Pack? returns as Shawnté

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41:56

Mountain Sex, Monument Fights & Are Crocs for the Trail?

Gear Abby: An Outdoor Advice Column For Your Ears ·

2026/08/01

What do you drink after a night of passionate mountain romance? Is there actually reason to be hopeful about Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante? And are Crocs secretly the ultimate outdoor shoe?This week, Shawnté tackles one of the most unforgettable hydration questions we've ever received, breaks down what's really happening with America's national monuments and welcomes thru-hiker, ultrarunner, and FKT legend Jeff Garmire to settle the Great Crocs Debate once and for all.Plus: viral poop

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46:38

The FKT Debate: Should You Slow Down on the Trail?

Gear Abby: An Outdoor Advice Column For Your Ears ·

2026/07/24

This week on Gear Abby: Should backpacking be about slowing down or moving as fast as possible? Shawnté and Colin debate FKTs, explain the difference between trail angels and trail service providers, and welcome Lloyd Vogel of Garage Grown Gear to talk about ultralight backpacking, base weight, and the gear that's actually worth carrying. Plus: bison, British accents, and frozen Snickers.Gotaquestion?Set an email FKT and send it to DearGearAbby@gmail.com. Gear Abby is a production of Rock

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47:37

Naked at the Hot Springs? Gear Abby's Guide to Good...

Gear Abby: An Outdoor Advice Column For Your Ears ·

2026/07/17

Gear Abby is back!This week, Shawnté and Colin dive into the unwritten rules of the outdoors. First up: what's the proper etiquette for skinny dipping at alpine lakes and hot springs and how do you avoid becoming that naked person?Then they explore whether Indigenous peoples climbed North America's highest peaks, how to respectfully visit culturally significant places, and why some sacred landscapes deserve a little more consideration from modern recreationists.Finally, they settle a classic trail

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52:15

Flashback Friday: Trail Cred Is Fake & the Cold Run...

Gear Abby: An Outdoor Advice Column For Your Ears ·

2026/07/10

Come back next week on July 17 for all new episodes of Gear Abby! Until then enjoy this flashback Friday episode and leave us a written review on Apple Podcasts!Do thru-hikers lose their trail cred if they car camp? What's the most responsible way to offload extra outdoor gear without sending it straight to a landfill? And how do you train for a spring trail race without freezing your ass off all winter?ThisweekonGearAbby,ShawntéSalaberttacklesoutdoorgatekeeping, gear hoarding, and cold weather

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46:34

Flashback Friday: Gear Abby Confesses Her Biggest On...

Gear Abby: An Outdoor Advice Column For Your Ears ·

2026/07/04

Shawnté is on the trail and Colin is traveling for work. So it's time for another Flashback Friday! Mark your calendar for Gear Abby's return on July 17th and make Shawnté's birthday wishes come true by leaving a written review on Apple Podcasts.This week on Gear Abby Shawnté and Colin tackle outdoor ethics, bear safety, true confessions, and real-food fueling you’ll actually eat. Here's the rundown:More Michelino: What should happen when athletes break trail rules (education > prosecution).Bear

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48:22

Flashback Friday: Bougie Hikers & Dysentery Demons

Gear Abby: An Outdoor Advice Column For Your Ears ·

2026/06/27

Shawnté is on the trail and Colin is traveling for work. So it's time for another Flashback Friday!After a Gear Abby show update from Shawnté we revisit episode 12: Bougie Hikers, Dysentery Demons, and Busted Gut Feelings.As always, there are no dumb questions—just smart advice.Email your buring outdoor questions to Gear Abby! deargearabby@gmail.comGear Abby is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

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35:21

Flashback Friday: Gear Abby Episode 3!

Gear Abby: An Outdoor Advice Column For Your Ears ·

2026/06/19

New to Gear Abby? Then enjoy this trip back in time to our third episode!Shawnté Salabert and producer Colin “P.I.G.” True are back with another round of Gear Abby, where the gear questions get real... and sometimes a little gross.This week’s adventures include: • The Triple Crown of Hiking – Do you really need to hike the AT, PCT, and CDT to earn your stripes, or is the whole “Triple Crowner” thing kind of overrated? • Chafing in the Wild – From sticky thighs to “fire crotch,” Shawnté breaks down

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37:24

Wild Didn't Ruin Thru-Hiking (You Did) Plus: What's...

Gear Abby: An Outdoor Advice Column For Your Ears ·

2026/06/12

This week on Gear Abby, Shawnté tackles one of the most persistent debates in backpacking: did Cheryl Strayed's Wild ruin thru-hiking?Then it's time for a surprisingly deep dive into backpacking water filters, freezing temperatures, storage tips, and how to avoid turning your water treatment system into an expensive paperweight.Finally, Colin asks the all-important question: "What's In Your Pack?" which somehow leads to a passionate discussion about street corn grits, Renaissance Faires, and the

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35:36

Ice Planet Barbarians & Other Outdoor Emergencies

Gear Abby: An Outdoor Advice Column For Your Ears ·

2026/06/05

This week on Gear Abby, Shawnté and Colin tackle some truly important outdoor questions:Why does the PCT seem to have a norovirus outbreak every year? Should beginner climbers always wear helmets outside? And if you were abducted by the Ice Planet Barbarians and taken to their frozen world, what three pieces of gear would you bring?Along the way, they discuss AI-generated Ansel Adams prints, shirtless climbers, trail hygiene, college outdoor clubs, and why hand sanitizer isn't enough when norovirus

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42:19

Goobies, Boobies & Bike Rides

Gear Abby: An Outdoor Advice Column For Your Ears ·

2026/05/29

Big Titty Mountain. Mushroom poop tabs. No-drop bike rides that definitely drop people.This week, Gear Abby explores weird outdoor place names, the science behind mycelium-powered bathroom kits, and how to handle a cycling group that isn't living up to its promises. Plus: thru-hiker drama, Poo Poo Point, mastodon boners, and a (not-so) shocking amount of poop-related expertise.Send your questions to DearGearAbbyMail@gmail.com. There are no dumb questions, just smart advice.Gear Abby is a production

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47:00

Dirty Underwear & Good Decisions

Gear Abby: An Outdoor Advice Column For Your Ears ·

2026/05/22

This week on Gear Abby, we tackle one of the toughest trail dilemmas yet: what should you do when you come across a hiker who clearly looks in distress but refuses help?Then it’s time for an extremely important backpacking discussion: how many pairs of underwear should you bring on a trip, really? Gear Abby dives into trail hygiene, dirty chonies, wet liners, and why changing underwear at the trailhead can feel like a spiritual experience.Finally, Shawnté welcomes Rawlogy founder and fitness coach

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