Valentine's Day 2026: Pistol and Lobo's Appalachian Trail Love Story, McAfee Knob Engagement, and Advice for Courting on Trail (BPR #345)

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, in honor of Valentine's Day, we are once again putting love front and center-stage.

We're joined by Annie and Jake, known on trail as Pistol and Lobo, who met at mile 166 of the Appalachian Trail in 2021 and are about to come full circle, getting married at Fontana Dam, the exact spot where they first met.

We get the low down on how this romance was absolutely love at first sight, how and where things evolved from flirtation to romance to a full-blown committed relationship on trail, moving into a school bus post-trail, their attempt at recreating the magic on the PCT a few years later (spoiler alert: it was less magical), and tips to aspiring romantic hiker trash on how to find and sustain love on trail.

We wrap the show with which pieces of gear a Trek Writer with more than 10,000 miles has eliminated from her pack, our internal dialogue while eating ice cream (and why maybe I have a problem), my ENEMY of the week (fitness influencer edition), and the triple crown of relationship hacks.

Topo Athletic: Use code "TREKWINTER15" at topoathletic.com.

Mountainsmith: Use code "TAKEAHIKE" for 20% off at mountainsmith.com.

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Interview with Annie & Jake

• Annie's Instagram
• Jake's Instagram

Time stamps & Questions

00:09:05 - Reminders: Apply to vlog or blog for the Trek, enter the Badger Sponsorship, listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon, and subscribe to The Trek's Youtube!

00:11:50 - Introducing Annie & Jake

00:14:22 - Discussion about wedding planning

00:17:55 - How did you each individually get into the outdoors?

00:22:35 - Walk us through the first parts of your hikes

00:28:20 - Did you have any major fuckups at the beginning of your hike?

00:29:45 - Tell us about the day you met

00:32:14 - Did you have a conversation about making it "one tent official"?

00:34:00 - More about the day Annie & Jake met

00:37:46 - Walk us through your first meeting to your first kiss

00:42:25 - What was the next level up in your relationship?

00:45:10 - Did it feel like you were venturing into real relationship territory?

00:46:25 - Why do you think you vibed together so quickly?

00:49:20 - How soon did you start discussing your plans for after the trail?

00:53:50 - Discussion about living in a bus over the winter

00:55:24 - What are green flags or red flags for couples approaching the end of a trail?

01:00:00 - What advice do you have for fellas to court a fellow thru-hiker?

01:03:00 - Did you have any moments where you unexpectedly learned a lot about the other person?

01:06:20 - Do you have advice for managing petty arguments on trail?

01:11:40 - What grocery store recommendations do you have?

01:16:00 - Tell us about doing the half gallon challenge

01:17:40 - Tell us about your scariest day on trail

01:23:00 - In what ways is your second thru-hike different from the first?

01:26:10 - Were you on the same page about leaving the PCT?

01:27:00 - Are you interested in trying the PCT again?

01:29:45 - What questions should someone ask their partner on trail?

01:34:20 - Do you plan on having kids?

01:35:10 - Peak Performance Question: Do you have a top performance enhancing or backpacking hack?

01:36:20 - Tell us your proposal story

Segments

Trek Propaganda: After 10,000 Miles on Trail, These Are the 10 Pieces of Gear I'll Never Carry Again by Livvy Weld

QOTD: What is your internal dialogue while eating ice cream?

Enemy Thing of the Week

Triple Crown of relationship hacks

Mail Bag

5 Star Review

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Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee.

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