Archives
How to Eat (Well) on the Trail
Almonds. You know, I was sure I'd be sick of these things by the time I finished my thru-hike. I generally remember the exact day I said no more to many...
The Top Sleeping Bags on the Appalachian Trail: 2016 Thru-Hiker Survey
We surveyed one hundred eighty-eight section and thru-hikers who were on the Appalachian Trail (AT) in 2016. We asked about the sleeping bags and pads they used. For the second...
The Linville Gorge Loop
Linville Gorge Loop ~ 22 Miles Western North Carolina The Linville Gorge Wilderness is located in part of the Pisgah National Forest in Western North Carolina. It is one of...
20 Ways Thru Hiking is a lot like Christmas
Thru-Hiking is more like Christmas than you might think... 1. You are almost always surrounded by pine trees. Though the trees may not be decorated with ornaments and lights, it...
It’s A Wonderful Life
For many people, hiking the Appalachian Trail, like high school, has the potential to be either the best or worst time of your life. From casual acquaintances to the kindness...
New Hike, New Gear
In the past, my severe budget limited what gear I could afford. I used walmart trekking poles, wore a lot of cotton layers, and had heavy gear that wasn't too...
Sleeping with Strangers: Part 1
Oh, hi, class of 2018! Notebook here. Congratulations on your decision to take the plunge and make a thru-hike attempt! That took a lot of guts! One thing you might...
Decorating The Trek Tree
What hiking, backpacking, trail, or trekking ornaments are on your tree? I know not everyone celebrates Christmas or decorates a cut or artificial evergreen for the holidays, but I do....
Because…Why not?
I'm sure the most repetitive question prospective thru-hikers get, is simply "Why?". "Why would you leave a promising career just to walk for months on end?" "Why do you...
Hello everyone, I’m Flagstaff
Allow me to introduce myself. In the civilian world, I go by Bryan Hickman, but on the trail, I'm adopting the alias Flagstaff. After finishing my first multi-day hike (The...