Posts
Unencumbered: The Lure of a Life Without Limits
Somewhere between the mountain of dirty laundry, scooping the stinky cat litter, and tackling yet another sink full of dirty dishes, it hit me: In
Beyond Gear: A 36-Point Planning Checklist for Health, Home, and Finances
It’s easy to think that getting the right gear is the key to a successful thru-hike. Building the ideal kit for your hiking style certainly does make
Hunting Down Backpacking Gear On A Budget
Thru-hiking is expensive. Sure, you can go to Wal-Mart or Amazon and get nearly everything you need, but most of it will weigh a ton and be poor quality, or both. To get the really good stuff - or at least the stuff everyone says is really good – rumor has it you’ll need to shell out big bucks. Do you really need to spend that much?
Happy Hiking New Year: 2018 is finally here!
This is THE YEAR I’m awake before dawn on this first day of the new year, filled with anticipation and a slight sense of panic. This is the year I
No Longer Nameless: My Trail Name Found Me
As an aspiring thru-hiker, my lack of a trail name sometimes felt like a brilliantly lit billboard proclaiming, “She’s a wannabe!” Being a nameless newbie backpacker made me feel incomplete at best and at the worst, like an all-out imposter. I know a name is just a name, but having one gives me strength and a sense of belonging I didn’t have before.
What is a Thru-Hike?
For all the years I fantasized about one day hiking the trail, there was only one way. In my mind, thru hiking has always been starting at Springer Mountain and heading north, one foot in front of the other, all the way to Maine. Things have gotten a bit more complicated as I explore the many thru hiking options. Now I wonder, where should I start?
Sometimes “Plan M” Looks Pretty Good
We were ready to head out on the trek from Unicoi to Deep Gap in North Carolina. That first big up, the one I’d be dreading for a month, wasn’t as bad as I expected. We were fresh and well rested at 8:30 in the morning. It was cold out, about 34°, but once I got moving the brisk air was refreshing. I didn't know then this Thanksgiving hike wouldn't turn out quite as planned.
My Hiker Gratitude List
I’ve grown a lot as an aspiring thru-hiker in the past six months and I have a long way to go (2190 miles and counting) before I reach my goal. This is one adventure that wouldn’t be possible for me without help, support and encouragement from others – many of whom I’ll never meet. Knowing that I can’t do it all by myself, I made a list of all the things I’m thankful for as I prepare for my trip. This is my Thru-Hiker Gratitude List.
My Endless Quest for the Ideal Gear List
When I started planning my Appalachian Trail thru hike, I didn't expect to spend hours upon hours researching stoves, sleeping pads, tents and other equipment, meticulously comparing features, prices and warranties. Can’t you just go to Amazon (or REI) and order everything you need? Nope! Finding the right gear is a lot more complicated than that.
The Hardest Question for this Aspiring Thru-Hiker to Answer: Why?
Why do I want thru-hike the Appalachian Trail? Surprisingly it's not the first question people ask me. But I want to know (need to know) my "Why?" Some days it's a hard question to answer, even for myself.