Advice
Choosing the Best AT Start Date: Advice From a Former Mountain Crossings Employee
One of my favorite things to do when preparing for a long hike is to whip out my whiteboard and start a countdown, but it's hard to do that if...
My 5 Biggest Regrets From My Colorado Trail Thru-Hike
I did a lot of things right on my Colorado Trail thru-hike. I finished the 486-mile trail with no major gear failures or lasting injuries and came away with wonderful...
How to Thru-Hike with Type 1 Diabetes
I hiked the PCT last year with Type 1 Diabetes and I am here to impart some of the lessons that I learned along the way. Diabetes was definitely an...
Essential Gear for a 4,400-Mile Thru-Hike
Embarking on a thru-hike is no small feat. While the Appalachian Trail and Pacific Crest Trail have secured their place as two of the most popular long-distance trails in the...
8 Essential Safety Tips for Thru-Hiking the AT
You just announced your Appalachian Trail thru-hike, and now your family, friends, and neighbor’s dog-walker are all bombarding you with warnings: “Make sure you bring a portable defibrillator in
Sustainable Trail Magic: How To Help Hikers Without Hurting the Trail
Every hiker learns to love those cardboard signs with hand-scrawled letters: Trail magic ahead! A Coca-Cola at the right time on a tough section of a thru-hike can turn someone’s...
Backpacking Safety for Solo Women: Understanding and Managing Risk in the Backcountry
When sharing news of an upcoming thru-hike, one of the most common questions I get — right up there with “Where do you poop?” and “Where do you shower?” —...
Good Move? 4 Ways Thru-Hiking Can Build Your Career
I value my career. A lot. Over the past five years, I’ve dedicated countless hours to career planning. How can I have an impactful career? What work is a good...
The Best Thru-Hiking Tents of 2024
Choosing a tent for your thru-hike is a big deal, but it's also probably the least stressful house shopping experience you'll have in your lifetime. Enjoy it. The best tents...
The Worst Conditions on the Appalachian Trail and How to Survive Them
There were several times throughout my Appalachian Trail thru-hike where I thought, Why am I doing this? I don’t have to put myself through this. I can just quit. But...