Thru-Hiking Culture

Reflections From My Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike

Reflections From My Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike

Today, January 17, marks six months since I completed my 2024 Appalachian Trail thru hike. On July 17, 2024, with passersby-turned-friends by my side, I clambered up the rocky path...

Jan 17, 2025 : Will Skipworth
The Top Footwear on the Appalachian Trail: 2024 Thru-Hiker Survey

The Top Footwear on the Appalachian Trail: 2024 Thru-Hiker Survey

The third installment of the AT 2024 Survey is here, and this time we’re covering all things footwear. What you wear on your feet is one of the most personal...

Jan 7, 2025 : Kate Richard
Is It Getting More Expensive To Thru-Hike the Appalachian Trail?

Is It Getting More Expensive To Thru-Hike the Appalachian Trail?

Is it getting more expensive to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail? It sure feels that way. You might think spending six months eating ramen in the forest would be a real...

Jan 2, 2025 : Kelly Floro
This Is The Weirdest Depression I have Ever Experienced: Life After the AT

This Is The Weirdest Depression I have Ever Experienced: Life After the AT

I cannot begin to count the amount of times I’ve sat down and tried to write something post-trail. About the victory lap, about the devastation down south, about what going...

Dec 31, 2024 : Spark
The 2024 Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker Survey: General Information Part 2

The 2024 Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker Survey: General Information Part 2

Here we are again with the second installment of the 2024 Appalachian Trail Survey! This is part two of the general information. While the first general post mainly covered demographics,...

Dec 23, 2024 : Kate Richard
The 2024 Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker Survey: General Information Part 1

The 2024 Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker Survey: General Information Part 1

It’s once again time for the annual Appalachian Trail survey! We’re getting things started with our first of two posts covering general information. This first post will largely include demographics

Dec 10, 2024 : Kate Richard
The Hitchhikers Guide to Hospitality

The Hitchhikers Guide to Hospitality

We’ve all been there, standing on a degrading asphalt shoulder, thumbs towards the heavens, as yet ANOTHER nearly empty car zooms past without acknowledging our existence. There’s no doubt that

Nov 30, 2024 : Robert Greenier / "Moxie"
Congratulations to These 2024 Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers: Part 9

Congratulations to These 2024 Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers: Part 9

As the last of our Appalachian Trail thru-hikers trickle in to the northern terminus of Katahdin, we continue to celebrate this epic, 2,190+ mile accomplishment. Nearly 150 Trek Bloggers have...

Nov 27, 2024 : Ariella Nardizzi
How I See

How I See

This is a personal essay by Nicholas Reichard. I was 700-odd miles into my Appalachian Trail thru-hike in 2015 when it finally “clicked.” I had spent years searching for this...

Nov 14, 2024 : Guest Post
An important message from Jabba, The Real Hiking Viking

An important message from Jabba, The Real Hiking Viking

This message has been edited for length and clarity. All photos courtesy of Jabba. All right, so here's the deal. I grew up in central Pennsylvania. I was the youngest...

Nov 8, 2024 : Jess