Advice

Top Stoves, Filters, and Power Banks on the Appalachian Trail: 2022 Thru-Hiker Survey

Top Stoves, Filters, and Power Banks on the Appalachian Trail: 2022 Thru-Hiker Survey

Each year here at The Trek, we ask long-distance hikers on the Appalachian Trail (AT) about the stoves and water filters they used on their 2022 thru-hike. This year we...

Feb 16, 2023 : Kate Richard
Top Backpacks on the Appalachian Trail: 2022 Thru-Hiker Survey

Top Backpacks on the Appalachian Trail: 2022 Thru-Hiker Survey

Each year here at The Trek, we ask long-distance hikers on the Appalachian Trail (AT) about the backpack they used during their thru-hikes. In this post, we’ll cover all things...

Jan 31, 2023 : Kate Richard
12 Helpful Tips for Dealing With Rain While Hiking the Appalachian Trail

12 Helpful Tips for Dealing With Rain While Hiking the Appalachian Trail

No pain, no rain, no Maine. Every AT thru-hiker knows the expression. Unlike its western counterparts, the Pacific Crest and Continental Divide trails, the Appalachian Trail is perpetually damp.

Jan 25, 2023 : Kelly Floro
15 Surprising Sections of the Appalachian Trail No One Tells You About

15 Surprising Sections of the Appalachian Trail No One Tells You About

You’ve heard of the dreaded Rocksylvania and the harrowing beauty of the Whites. The Smokies are widely known for their beautiful ecology and Shenandoah for its rolling hills and plentiful...

Jan 13, 2023 : Brian Garner
4 Ridgerunners Share Their Top Advice for AT Thru-Hikers

4 Ridgerunners Share Their Top Advice for AT Thru-Hikers

“It’s just a simple trail,” says Jim Fetig, describing the Appalachian Trail. “It’s just a simple trail. Which is to say, it’s not a simple trail. There are people doing...

Jan 5, 2023 : Ann Marie White
The Best Job on the Appalachian Trail: What It’s Really Like To Be an AT Ridgerunner

The Best Job on the Appalachian Trail: What It’s Really Like To Be an AT Ridgerunner

This is a guest post by Jim "Sisu" Fetig. The synonym for an Appalachian Trail ridgerunner is “janitor.” They pick up a lot of trash. Yet being a ridgerunner is...

Dec 22, 2022 : Guest Post
Rain, Rain, and Rain: A Look at Weather on the AT

Rain, Rain, and Rain: A Look at Weather on the AT

Despite our best efforts, we’ve all found ourselves caught unprepared when the weather had a change of heart. “But the App said it wasn’t going to rain!” you protest to...

Dec 22, 2022 : Geoff Hutton
23 Crucial Things 2023 Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers Need To Know

23 Crucial Things 2023 Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers Need To Know

If thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail is on your agenda for '23, you've come to the right place. Planning an adventure of this scale is no easy thing, but luckily for...

Dec 19, 2022 : Sarah Wolfson
6 Reasons a Flip-Flop Thru-Hike of the Appalachian Trail Is the Right Way To Go

6 Reasons a Flip-Flop Thru-Hike of the Appalachian Trail Is the Right Way To Go

This is a guest post by Richard “Crossword” Guenther. Let me start with a little background. I retired in February 2020 with the intention of doing a thru-hike that year,...

Dec 14, 2022 : Guest Post
Tips for Flying With Your Backpack from A Flight Attendant

Tips for Flying With Your Backpack from A Flight Attendant

Stressing about traveling to your next backpacking trip? I hope that sharing some of my experiences can help!

Oct 19, 2022 : Sarah Lesiecki