Why Do You Hike? | Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker Interviews from Trail Days 2019

“Why do you hike?” is a question that most thru-hikers get asked. Understanding the “why” can give hikers a sense of purpose and can serves as motivation to start the trail and as the motivation to finish it.

Everyone has their own reasons. Some hike for the challenge. Some hike for mental health. Some hike for someone who can’t. Some hike to get away from the city or society. Some hike simply because they want to.

The Trek caught up with a few dozen Appalachian Trail thru-hikers at Trail Days 2019 in Damascus to learn all about their journeys thus far.  In today’s edition, we learn why they hike.

Thanks to Sawyer for partnering with The Trek and making these videos possible.  See how they’re bringing clean drinking water and changing lives by partnering with charities and Third World countries all over the world.

Here are a few more stories about why hikers hike:

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