Thru-Hiking Culture
Encountering Change: Friend or Foe?
One thing the Appalachian Trail hasn't changed for me is my stubborn inability to grasp certain fundamental concepts. For instance - "Change Management". The notion of perpetual control over
Stories from the Trail #9 – Starting a Thru-Hike Tomorrow
If you were starting the Appalachian Trail tomorrow, what questions would you have? New AT hiker Chris Clevenger called the show the day before hitting the approach trail. He's been...
Examining the Impact of Overcrowding on Hiking Trails
A wise man once said wilderness is a necessity. Go outside and breathe the pine-scented air, listen to a babbling brook, or feel leaves crunch under your feet. Spend just a...
Stories From The Trail Episode 8: Sir Packsalot’s 10 Golden Suggestions for Hiking the AT
Continuing coverage from the 2018 Appalachian Trail Kickoff! Bob "Sir Packsalot" Gabrielson is the proprietor of iTunes Spotify Youtube And one more very important thing, from me and
Hike Faster, I Hear Banjos: Misconceptions about the Southern Appalachians
For many hikers who've never set foot in the southern Appalachians—especially those who've never been east of the Mississippi or south of the Mason/Dixon Line—some of the only cultural knowledge...
The Summit Is not the End: Thoughts on Post-Trail Depression
Huddled, a sodden mass of wet bodies, we watched the rain come down in sheets. We’d just covered 10-plus miles of trail dashing through puddles and downpour with a single...
When You’re Going Through Mosquito Hell, Keep Going
The mosquitos got bad around Christie Springs, just after Ashland, Oregon. Actually, that’s not accurate. They got bad around Hyatt Lake campground. They got biblical around Christie
How Thru-Hiking Changes Your Relationship to Your Body
Shortly before I left for my Appalachian Trail thru-hike in 2016, I kept fantasizing about how my body was going to become “better” as a result of exercising all day,...
Sights, Sounds, and Silence: Hiking the PCT Headphone-Free
No Strings Attached We live in a world with gadgets and gizmos aplenty, more than even the Little Mermaid had in her collection. Alexa makes our to-do lists, TVs are...