Thru-Hiking Culture
Not letting go: NorCal blues, life lessons and why I chose to quit my perfect thru hike.
Don’t expect it to heal you. Those were the words that a colleague said to me back in Aotearoa. He had walked the trail in 2019. It’s funny, a lot...
Step 1: Amtrak Ticket
In Spring 2023, I will hike sections of the Appalachian Trail, creating videotaped presentations on the cultural and natural history of each section. I'll be documenting the preparation here, so...
In Defense of Wild: Cheryl Strayed’s Memoir Is Nothing Like Your Trail Journal, and That’s OK
When I was on the PCT, I encountered a lot of hate for Cheryl Strayed's classic PCT memoir, Wild. I saw a fair bit of Wild love too, but the book...
PCT Week 15: July 4th Storms, Paradise Lake, and Reaching Oregon
Castle Crags Wilderness It is finally time to leave Dunsmuir and into Castle Crags we go. The days of rest help with the climb as we pass many day...
Congratulations to these 2022 Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers: Part 2
Tis the season for Appalachian Trail thru-hike finishers. After months of crushing miles and pushing through the highs and lows of thru-hiking, these incredible individuals finished their hike
Pooping on the Appalachian Trail: Important Statistics from My Thru-Hike
The following is a guest post by Brian "Slurpee" Garner. I believe that the best way to share the story of a thru-hike is with poop. There’s lots of talk...
Crossing Paths: A Pacific Crest Trailside Reader Review
Crossing Paths: A Pacific Crest Trailside Reader is a collection of short essays about the PCT by various authors, edited by Reese Hughes and Howard Shapiro. It is an update/addendum to...
Congratulations to these 2022 Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers: Part 1
Months and months spent on trail lead up to this exact moment: The last few triumphant steps to the Katahdin terminus. With an overwhelming feeling of accomplishment and finality, hikers...
13 Hikers Share How They Got Their Trail Names
For every long-distance hiker, there's a trail name, and for every trail name, there's a story. We sent out a survey, and are profiling the best responses! The hikers below...
6 Reasons Why You Should Hike the Tour Du Mont Blanc
Ah, the Alps: Europe's famed and most expansive mountain range system. The Alps stretch approximately 750 miles across eight European countries, gathering the international attention from hikers,