Thru-Hiking Culture
22 Trek Bloggers on the Appalachian Trail You Should Be Following in 2024
As the hiking season officially kicks into high gear, the Appalachian Trail welcomes yet another class of thru-hikers, all of who are hopeful to complete the entire 2,190-mile journey. Some...
Excerpt From “You Carry the Tent, I’ll Carry the Baby” by Jack McClure
This is a guest post brought to you by Jack McClure. McClure's new book, You Carry the Tent, I'll Carry the Baby, is available now through all major online book...
Starting Big: Brandon Weis’ First Thru-Hike Was a Calendar-Year Triple Crown
Ottawa, Ohio native Brandon Weis first saw the vast open spaces of the Western United States on a road trip during his freshman year at Ohio State University. “I believe...
Guide, Veteran, Mother, Cancer Survivor: Rebecca Walsh on How To Hike Like a Woman
When outdoor guide and army veteran Rebecca Walsh was in treatment for breast cancer two years ago, there was a moment when she was so weak, she couldn’t walk around...
Backpacker Radio LIVE in Denver on April 23rd!
Calling all hiker trash, lovers of poop stories, and cinnamon connection OGs: Backpacker Radio is coming LIVE to Denver! Get ready to deepen those smile lines as Zach "Badger" Davis...
The AT Is Crowded. Why Not Start Your Thru-Hike on the Benton Mackaye Trail Instead?
It’s March, and the Appalachian Trail is teeming with humanity. Thousands attempt to hike the iconic footpath each year — and for better or worse, many of them start in...
Lessons Learned: Going into my 2nd Thru-Hike
New Year, New Trail After a year away from thru-hiking, it's time to get back onto the trail. Since immersing myself in thru-hiking culture in 2017, it's been a significant...
“This Is What Everyone in the World Needs”: Michael “Grizzy Smurf” Monahan on Healing, Resilience, and the Triple Crown
Content Warning: This story contains brief mention of child abuse and neglect. Michael “Grizzly Smurf” Monahan completed his Triple Crown in 2023, a nearly 8,000-mile hiking feat that fewer than
Excerpt From Where the Rhododendrons Bloom: New AT Memoir by Audrey Payne
There was a time, not so very long ago, when doing the most mundane activities sent my body into spasms of pain. Sitting at my desk for more than 15...
The Slow and Grueling Transition to Society
It has been well over a minute since I summited Katahdin and my return to society, the "real world". While it is nice to sleep in a warm soft bed...