Mariposa

I was ten years old when my love for the Smoky Mountains first inspired my dream of thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail. Twelve years later, I made that dream a reality when I completed my NoBo 2014 thru-hike. I am now getting my PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), with an Interdisciplinary Statistics minor. In addition to hiking, I try to maintain some semblance of sanity through crafts, piano, fantasy/sci-fi books, beer, and bacon.

Posts

The 2019 Hiker Survey: General Information

The 2019 Hiker Survey: General Information

This is the first post of 2019 in The Trek’s annual survey of Appalachian Trail thru-hikers and long-distance section hikers. This year, we gathered

Dec 6, 2019 : Mariposa
The Long Trail Survey: Favorite Towns, Restaurants, Shelters, Gear, and More

The Long Trail Survey: Favorite Towns, Restaurants, Shelters, Gear, and More

A few weeks ago, The Trek’s founder, Zach Davis, completed the Long Trail, which runs 272 miles through Vermont from the Massachusetts border to the

Oct 25, 2019 : Mariposa
Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker Trends: Examining Gear, Budget, and Resources Over the Past 5 Years

Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker Trends: Examining Gear, Budget, and Resources Over the Past 5 Years

In 2014, we began conducting annual surveys about AT thru-hikers and attempting thru-hikers. Starting these surveys soon after my own thru-hike has

Sep 20, 2019 : Mariposa
2018 Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker Survey: Top Stoves and Water Treatments

2018 Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker Survey: Top Stoves and Water Treatments

We surveyed over 300 section or thru-hikers about their stove, food, and water preferences and their experience of illnesses on the Appalachian Trail

Jan 17, 2019 : Mariposa
Top Backpacks on the Appalachian Trail: 2018 Thru-Hiker Survey

Top Backpacks on the Appalachian Trail: 2018 Thru-Hiker Survey

In this installment of The Trek’s 2018 Hiker Survey, we cover backpacks and base weight. We asked hikers about the frame type, capacity, brand, and

Dec 25, 2018 : Mariposa
Top Sleeping Bags and Sleeping Pads on the Appalachian Trail: 2018 Thru-Hiker Survey

Top Sleeping Bags and Sleeping Pads on the Appalachian Trail: 2018 Thru-Hiker Survey

We surveyed 310 section and thru-hikers who were on the Appalachian Trail (AT) in 2018. They shared about the sleeping bags they used, hammock

Dec 17, 2018 : Mariposa
The Top Tents, Hammocks, and Tarps on the Appalachian Trail: 2018 Thru-Hiker Survey

The Top Tents, Hammocks, and Tarps on the Appalachian Trail: 2018 Thru-Hiker Survey

Each year, The Trek surveys long-distance hikers on the Appalachian Trail (AT) regarding the shelter systems they use, such as tents and hammocks. In

Nov 28, 2018 : Mariposa
The Top Footwear on the Appalachian Trail: 2018 AT Thru-Hiker Survey

The Top Footwear on the Appalachian Trail: 2018 AT Thru-Hiker Survey

Each year as part of The Trek’s annual thru-hiker survey, we ask hikers about the footwear they used, and this footwear data remains my favorite to

Nov 20, 2018 : Mariposa
The 2018 Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker Survey: General Information

The 2018 Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker Survey: General Information

Two years ago, The Trek expanded our annual Appalachian Trail thru-hiker survey to include questions not only about main gear items, but also more

Nov 12, 2018 : Mariposa
Top Footwear of 2017: Results from the Annual Hiker Survey

Top Footwear of 2017: Results from the Annual Hiker Survey

I should start with an apology for the long delay in writing this post. We typically try to get the survey results out before the next class of

Jul 23, 2018 : Mariposa