Advice
Tips for International Thru Hikers
After travelling half way around the world to complete the Pacific Crest Trail in 2022 and now most recently the Appalachian Trail in 2024, I have a fair bit of...
How Much Does It Cost To Hike the Appalachian Trail?
Living in the woods for five to seven months might sound inexpensive, but gear replacements, resupply, permits, and town days can add up fast. Saving up and budgeting (even if...
How Much Experience Do You Need to Hike the Appalachian Trail?
You don’t need to have logged thousands of hours in the woods to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. Many hikers setting out from Springer Mountain (or Katahdin) every year have relatively...
The Northbound AT Hiker’s Guide to Summiting Katahdin
As the northern terminus of the AT and Maine’s tallest mountain, Katahdin in Baxter State Park is an iconic end for many thru-hikers’ journeys. Finishing the AT involves some logistical...
What It’s Really Like To Flip-Flop the Appalachian Trail
In 2016 I fell in love with backpacking and decided to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. This decision triggered 18 months of obsessive planning, during which I thought and spoke of...
The Backpacker’s Guide to Bear Bagging
What is the deal with bear bags? Which type should I use, or should I use a canister? Once I have one, what do I do with it?
A List of Hostels on the Appalachian Trail
Hostels on the Appalachian Trail are part of what makes a thru-hike such a unique experience. We've listed 100+ places to stay between Georgia and Maine, including a few lodgings...
How Much Water Should You Carry on the Appalachian Trail?
At 2.2 pounds per liter, water is one of the heaviest things you’ll carry on a thru-hike. It’s also the most important thing you’ll carry. Figuring out how much water...
My Half Ounce Windscreen
AT Cook Set I start my AT thru-hike attempt in about three weeks and am mostly ready. This means, though, I have 21 days to obsess and tweak. My latest...
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...