SOBO
Kaibab to Coconino on Forest Roads
"No food on the bus." Per Bear looked at the bus driver, then down at the remaining half of his Nutella wrap. Then back to the bus driver. Then he...
Reflections on My AT Thru-Hike
Summary I started my southbound (sobo) thru hike at Mt. Katahdin in Maine on June 1, 2017 and finished at Springer Mountain, Georgia on November 26, 2017. Based on 179...
Punishment and Reward. Welcome to the Arizona Trail.
Champagne lap. That's what I had begun jokingly calling a thru-hike attempt on the Arizona Trail. After the PCT, Arizona's 800 miles sounded like an extended cooldown after the main workout....
A SOBO’s Song
"Oh my God, this is the ending. This is over. What is beginning?" Cole Blume, 34. Eugene, Oregon. THE BASICS: Start/finish day: July 16, 2017 to November 14,...
Week 25- Atkins to Troutdale, VA
I have been rescued from the trail by Chunky, one of the best trail angels I have met, at the Quarter Way Inn Hostel. I will finally kick the poison...
Experiencing Every Inch: Canada to Mexico on the PCT
I wasn't at my finest leaving Julian. There was a stitch in my side and saliva was turning to glue in my mouth. My feet were throbbing in shoes that...
Making Tracks to Mexico: A PCT SOBO’s Final Chapter
For some reason, arriving in Wrightwood flipped a switch for me. Mexico is right there, I started telling myself. Just don't get hurt, and you're there! I went about my errands in...
The Cold, Hard Facts of Finishing. And Now What?
I left Marion, Va., on Wednesday, Nov. 16, and arrived at Springer Mountain on Tuesday, Dec. 19. That’s 34 days, two of which were zeroes in Hampton, Tenn., and Hot Springs,...
Through the Mojave Heat as Mexico Looms Ahead
I mentioned at the end of my first pack had taken a beating. I've had several fantastic customer service interactions with Osprey in the past. Let's just say I was...
Descent From The Cold Into The Desert Heat
It was a hell of a jaw workout, but I wolfed down like five of those protein bars for lunch. Summiting Whitney was thoroughly draining, but we still had about...