Thru-Hiking Culture
How the Hike Changes You: Reflections from 2019 Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers
“It’s official,” I told my friend on the phone as I stepped outside and braced against the cold. “I just blew up my life.” The day was January 6, 2019,...
When Hiking a Long-Distance Trail Is the Road to Recovery
While serving in Iraq in the early 2000s, Will Robinson was rummaging through a box of books when he found an unlikely distraction: A guide to hiking the Pacific Crest...
Announcing: The Inaugural Season of The Trek Ambassador Program, Now Accepting Applications
Thru-hiking in 2020? Let's chat! The Trek is looking for a handful of thru-hikers to showcase through their social media channels in 2020. Specifically, we're looking to feature those who...
Five Trail Resolutions for the New Year
We take to the trails for a simpler life, engaging the rhythms of nature, joining a community of like-minded people. Our days on trail follow the rising and setting of...
You Might Be Hiker Trash If…
hiker trash haɪk•r træʃ noun US informal the endearing term used within the hiking community to describe a hiker or group of hikers who have acclimated to a lower standard of living....
16 Things 2020 Thru-Hikers Need to Know
It’s that time of year again! Hikers around the globe are crossing the last pieces of gear off their list, finalizing mail drops, and making plans to head toward the...
The 2019 Hiker Survey: General Information
This is the first post of 2019 in The Trek’s annual survey of Appalachian Trail thru-hikers and long-distance section hikers. This year, we gathered new information on hikers' favorite hostels...
Here’s How Trails Have Become Important Boosters for Local Economies
Sustained by more than half a century of vigorous growth, outdoor recreation has become one of the largest economic sectors of the American economy. Hiking, biking, hunting and fishing, water
Congrats to These 2019 Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers: October 17 – October 30
Congratulations to all of the incredible 2019 finishers out there! Whether it is your first thru, or you've added another notch to your long-distance-backpacking belt, your accomplishment deserves to
Poop Problems and Bad Bear Hangs: Is Leave No Trace Working?
The roots of Leave No Trace, a set of principles designed to promote conservation of land and water resources impacted by outdoor recreation, go back more than half a century,...
