How do you survive in a desert town that has a record high temperature of 117F? You go into hiding, literally. The mining town of Coober Pedy, Australia uses the dirt for both their livelihood and their lives. CNET Senior Editor Claire Reilly visited recently as part of her web site’s “Road Trip 2018” series. She joins the show to discuss her venture into one community’s existence in the subterranean Outback!

• Connect: Claire Reilly Twitter
• Read: Claire’s Coober Pedy trip report for CNET
• See: Claire’s pictures of Coober Pedy
• Visit: Crocodile Harry’s Underground Nest and Dugout
• Gear: Bose in-ear noise-canceling headphones, recommendations from friends
• Media recommendations: David Attenborough documentaries, “Vanity Fair“, “One for the Road” by Tony Horwitz (Mike’s pick on the Australian Outback)

Subscribe: iTunes|Android|Google|TuneIn|Stitcher|RSS

Woody Connette (right) and his guide on Mt. Hood in Oregon.

The “Highpointers Club” has only 300 members and is reserved for people that have scaled the peak of each of the 50 U.S. It’s harder than you think. Woody Connette joined after 49 years. His first job as a teenager was right at the summit of Mt. Mitchell in North Carolina. He gradually knocked off more and more states, but it wasn’t until his 60s that he completed this grand quest! Hear how Woody did it, his tips for specific states, and what his next quest will be.

• Connect: Woody Connette’s professional page
• Read: Woody’s quest, in his own words in the “Charlotte Observer”
• Listen: Woody being interview on Radiolab about an important legal case
• Gear: shoehorn!
• Media recommendations: New York Times Travel Section, Outside Magazine, Books by travel writer Redmond O’Hanlon

Subscribe: iTunes|Android|Google|TuneIn|Stitcher|RSS

From the East Coast to the West Coast to the Rockies to Iceland, Will Wood knows a good trail. Now, he gets paid to hike. He began with the Appalachian Trail, sharing his videos along the way. That led to some gear recommendations, and fidelity to the ultralight products of the revolutionary Zpacks company. After also going northbound on the Pacific Crest Trail, Zpacks came calling and asked Will to join their team. See what it’s now like for Will to get paid to follow his passion!

• Connect: Will Wood’s Youtube channel
• Youtube Playlists: Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Uinta High-line Trail
• Complete through-hiking gear videos
• Zpacks company
• Gear: Brooks Cascadia trail runners (also now worn by Mike), Zpacks Ultralight Duplex Tent (made in USA)
• Media recommendations: AT documentaries (for purchase or for streaming), “The A.T. Guide” and “AWOL on the Appalachian Trail” both by David “AWOL” Miller

Subscribe: iTunes|Android|Google|TuneIn|Stitcher|RSS

Host Mike Klein’s favorite travel documentary of all time, is “180 Degrees South.” The film’s star Jeff Johnson discusses how me met Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia, and how finding some lost tapes of Yvon’s early vagabonding led to the making of the film. Jeff learned how to sail, was briefly marooned on Easter Island, but eventually made his way to Southern Chile to reunite with Yvon and they attempted to recreate the climbing trip that inspired the making of the company of Patagonia.

Listen now: Extreme Travel Odysseys Episode 11

• Connect: Jeff Johnson’s photography web site
• Watch: “180 Degrees South“
• Watch: “Mountain of Storms” — Part One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six
• Read: “Jeff Johnson on the First Time He Saved a Life” (Outside Magazine, July 2018)
• Visit: Conversacion Patagonica
• Gear: Leica Camera, Patagonia Houdini jacket
• Media recommendations: The Surfer’s Journal, Alpinist Magazine, The Sun Magazine, “Waking Up” podcast, “Cocaine and Rhinestones” podcast, “Your Favorite Band Sucks” podcast, “The Enormocast” podcast, “Henry and Heidi” podcast

Subscribe: iTunes|Android|Google|TuneIn|Stitcher|RSS