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Gerjan "Hungry" Hertgers

Hi! My name is Gerjan. I'm a 28 year old Dutchman and I will be thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail (NOBO) with my dad in 2026! Besides crushing some miles every day, I will write up all about this journeys' beauty, struggles and everything in between for you to follow along and get a feeling for what it's really like out here.

Posts

The Lake of the Clouds Experience (Day 145 & 146)

The Lake of the Clouds Experience (Day 145 & 146)

Because we slept on the library floor, it didn't feel very comfortable to sleep in. Guests can walk in to get a book or something and it just feels

Oct 15, 2026 : Gerjan "Hungry" Hertgers
Work-for-stay at the huts (Day 144)

Work-for-stay at the huts (Day 144)

It was almost freezing this morning, I must remember to put my water filter in my quilt at night, so it doesn't freeze and break. The descent into

Oct 12, 2026 : Gerjan "Hungry" Hertgers
Contributing to the tramily (Day 143)

Contributing to the tramily (Day 143)

"What about second breakfast?", is what we must have been thinking this morning, because we visited our first hut this morning.  The huts

Oct 11, 2026 : Gerjan "Hungry" Hertgers
The views The White Mountains are known for (Day 142)

The views The White Mountains are known for (Day 142)

After a few days of slackpacking and getting a taste for the White Mountains, it's time to start hiking with our full packs again, which feels

Oct 10, 2026 : Gerjan "Hungry" Hertgers
Kinsman (Day 141)

Kinsman (Day 141)

At 7:30 we were ready to hike. Mount Wolf is first, which started steep, but wasn't the worst climb. Kinsman on the other hand, is a crazy climb.

Oct 10, 2026 : Gerjan "Hungry" Hertgers
A zero at “The Notch” (Day 140)

A zero at “The Notch” (Day 140)

The original plan was to hike out today and get going. But we still have to figure out a plan for the Whites. We don't want to just eyeball it in a

Oct 10, 2026 : Gerjan "Hungry" Hertgers
Starting the White Mountains (Day 139)

Starting the White Mountains (Day 139)

We got dropped off just before 9 am, ready to hike! We're doing a slackpack today where our stuff gets dropped off at the Notch hostel so we can do

Oct 2, 2026 : Gerjan "Hungry" Hertgers
A rocket in town (Day 138)

A rocket in town (Day 138)

Because we didn't make it all the way to the intended camp site last night, we had to puzzle a bit with our plan to hike Mount Moosilauke - the first

Oct 1, 2026 : Gerjan "Hungry" Hertgers
General repetition before the Whites (Day 137)

General repetition before the Whites (Day 137)

Pine cones start falling from the tree, almost hitting us in the head. Fine, fine, we're getting out of here. We're starting with more steep and

Sep 30, 2026 : Gerjan "Hungry" Hertgers
Hard but magical (Day 136)

Hard but magical (Day 136)

New Hampshire immediately shows it's teeth with steep rocky climbs, but it's very much worth it. The forest feels very magical with the sun shining

Sep 29, 2026 : Gerjan "Hungry" Hertgers