The First Female Hotshot Firefighters, Culture in the 1980s, and the Bigfoot Trail with Mary "Fireweed" Kwart (BPR #328)

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, and brought to you by Topo Athletic, we're joined by Mary "Fireweed" Kwart. Fireweed is a thru-hiker, a Deadhead, and a pioneering figure in wildland firefighting with a career spanning more than 30 years. We dive into the challenges of being one of the first women to join the elite Arrowhead Interagency Hotshots, the culture shock of entering a male-dominated field, and some of the most memorable stories from her decades on the fire line. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fireweed also reflects on how long-distance hiking has evolved since the 1970s, her tradition of tackling a new long trail every year since retiring, and her deep love and advocacy for California's Bigfoot Trail.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We wrap the show with the best backpacking trails in the Midwest, the thru-hiking advice we wish we'd never given, a debate over whether robotic legs sho...