In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, we are joined by Jack Jones better known on trail as Quadzilla.  Quadzilla has packed a lot of life into his time on this earth- he is a bonafide renaissance man with a great outlook on life.  We chat about his time in the army, running a CrossFit gym in his late 20s, serving as a wildland firefighter, participating in several multi-day meditation retreats, backpacking thousands of miles including the triple crown, we touch on his bikepacking, and Chaunce and I lather him with an uncomfortable amount of praise on those giant, beautiful quads.  Needless to say, this conversation covers a lot of ground- we certainly enjoyed it a lot and hope you do too. We wrap the show with a triple crown of our new year's resolutions, we give a shoutout to the youngest person to complete all eleven National Scenic Trails, and the details for the Backpacker Radio Sponsorship are officially announced.  2022 thru-hikers, you can enter today.  [divider] Listen   Download this episode. [divider] IndexIQ: You no longer need to choose between supporting the environment and investing in your financial future. Visit clnretf.com today! Be sure to read IndexIQ information below before investing.  Enlightened Equipment: Save 10% off Enlightened Equipment’s Stock Revelation Quilt or Torrid Jacket with code “ultralight10” here.  Organifi discount code: Go to organifi.com/backpacker, use code “backpacker” and get 20% off your entire purchase. [divider] Interview with Jack “Quadzilla” Jones Time stamps & Questions 00:04:07 - QOTD: Is chewing gum a suitable substitute to brushing your teeth? 00:05:41 - Reminders: Backpacker Radio Sponsorship  00:07:30 - Introducing Jack “Quadzilla” Jones 00:07:36 - Is Quadzilla your trail name?  00:09:09 - What’s the recipe for good quads?  00:09:26 - Are the good quads genetic? 00:10:22 - Is your muscular make up a help or hindrance to hiking?  00:12:12 - What is your trail resume?  00:13:49 - Does lyme disease stay in your blood?  00:16:54 - Did you do the full Oregon Coast Trail? 00:18:08 - Do you commonly do impromptu thru-hikes?  00:19:05 - Have you tallied all your hiking miles? 00:19:41 - What was your inspiration to start thru-hiking? 00:20:49 - After almost 6 years of hiking, do you ever get lonely?  00:24:52 - What was your life like before finding thru-hiking?  00:28:55 - What is the retreat like?  00:31:58 - How long does that clarity last you? 00:33:43 - Can you give us a summary of the meditation type?  00:34:59 - How do you practice your meditation on trail?  00:37:11 - Tell us about your earlier years in the Army?  00:39:55 - Do you hold any resentment over the way your dad passed?  00:44:05 - Do you feel your time in the Army influenced your interest in hiking?  00:45:21 - Do you feel like you battle aggression issues?  00:46:06 - What do you attribute your centeredness to?  00:46:56 - What is the Deadman Peaks Trail Race?  00:49:44 - Were you pacing yourself towards the end of the CDT?  00:51:33 - We need to hear about you smashing a watermelon between your legs!  00:54:26 - Did you all eat the smashed watermelon? 00:54:44 - Are you a runner outside of hiking? 00:55:58 - Zone 2 Cardio  01:00:23 - How did you get into Wildland Firefighting?  01:04:03 - How does the intensity compare to bootcamp?  01:07:45 - How do you deal with fear on the job?  01:09:18 - How do you handle the hydration aspect?  01:10:09 - Will you return next year?  01:13:07 - What would you tell people that still have fires during fire bans? 01:15:06 - If you could redo one of the trails you’ve done, which would you do?  01:17:08 - What is your backpacking advice for new hikers?  01:18:54 - What are your big 3? Or 5?  01:25:02 - What goals do you have for 2022? 01:26:32 - Do you have any gear sponsors? 01:27:03 - Follow Quadzilla on Instagram 01:29:47 - Thank you, Quadzilla!