Posts
Hiker Hopscotch: Making a New Plan
I don’t know if a thru-hike ever turns out to be what the hiker imagines it will be. Sometimes (most times?) it’s a more amazing adventure than the
16 Bears Fill Up a Week in the Shennies
Other than the fact that many hikers aqua blaze through Shenandoah National Park, I didn’t know much about the Shennies before I entered the park
Back on the Trail: A Rocky Return
The sun is peeking over the horizon, shedding a warm morning glow over the idyllic grounds of the Woods Hole Hostel. The quiet of the morning is a
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. With the exception of veteran backpackers who acquire carefully curated gear collections over the years, most aspiring
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
Code words. Secret handshakes. Silly hats. Every group has signs of belonging that signal to others whether you’re in or you’re not. Long distance
What is a Thru-Hike?
A few months ago saying, “I’m going to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail,” sounded like a pretty straightforward statement. Now it’s suddenly gotten a
Sometimes “Plan M” Looks Pretty Good
I knew it was going to be straight up before I got there. I knew because when my friends and I came out at Unicoi Gap a few weeks ago we climbed