Behold The Trek’s Most Popular Posts

Like any content-driven platform, our posts have a huge variance in popularity. Here are the most popular posts in our entire history (which is only around four years, to be fair). Google Analytics tells us that 1) everyone love numbered lists (listicles?), 2) nudity is always a winner, and 3) readers are eager to learn facts, tips, and hacks.

1) 11 Common Beginner Backpacking and Hiking Mistakes

“We all start somewhere. We all begin as a beginner, a novice. New gear also demands we catch up. An experienced backpacker in the early ‘90s might not know all the tricks of the trade in this new decade. I like to think I worked out my beginner kinks during my thru-hike but I am still learning new hiking hacks. Whenever I hike now, I notice many people committing the same beginner mistakes I did and as many others tend to do.”

2) Hike Naked Day: Photos Celebrating Hiking in Your Birthday Suit (NSFW)

 

3) 10 Hiker Traditions on the Appalachian Trail

“We humans are pretty ritualistic creatures. We crave routine and seek out the familiar. When we start to pass these behaviors down through enough generations, we start calling them traditions. Every culture has its own traditions, including the community that surrounds the Appalachian Trail. Hiker traditions and customs can be hard to understand for those on the outside, but that’s not surprising. Life on the AT is almost the exact opposite of what most people in the U.S. consider “normal” life. We hikers are a quirky group of people, indeed. Sometimes we can’t even explain why we do what we do, but there’s something kind of fantastic about that.”

4) 18 Backpacking-Specific Hacks

“I have read a million and one tricks, tips, and hacks for outdoor living. I think they’re fun and every 32nd one is something rational enough that I may use it in my lightweight backpacking adventures. But most of them seem to be for car campers living out of the back of a mini van. No matter how hard it is to shove a roll of toilet paper into a plastic bag bag, I will never carry around a homemade TP dispenser. Here, we’ve  curated a list of hack for backpackers. These do not require carrying any large or heavy items and they are tailored to build convenience for backpackers.”

5) The 4 Major Differences Between the AT and the PCT

6) 21 Fascinating Facts About the Appalachian Trail

“How well do you know the Appalachian Trail? You thru-hikers in the crowd probably think you know the AT like the back of your dirty, mud-stained hands. After taking those five million steps can you recall the many incredibly minute factoids about where you spent six months of your life, or is everything some sort of green blur?”

7) Why You Should Definitely Not Hike the AT

8) Guide For Cheap and Affordable Hiking Gear

9) Hiking The AT With a Dog

“The topic we’re asked about most frequently is hiking with a dog.  It fascinates people and they are always curious how our dog, Rooney, handles living in the woods. He’s a 3 year old Weimaraner, which is a very high-energy bird hunting dog with a natural prey drive. He’s incredibly athletic and strong.  He weighs anywhere from 70-80 pounds, depending on his level of exercise and his diet.”

10) 33 Things Only AT Thru-Hikers Understand

Tripping because a stick got caught in the hole in your shoe…. Realizing that the reason your pack is so light is because you are going into town to fill it back up again… Wearing crocs in the shower, and more things that are oh-so relatable.