Thru-Hiking Culture
Slow Motion: Reflections on my Seven-Month AT Thru-Hike
Whenever I tell anyone who knows how long it typically takes to hike the AT that it took me seven months to complete, they tend to ask what went wrong....
Four Books I Read Before My PCT Thru-Hike
Books. Who prepares for a thru-hike by reading books when you can track down a million resources from the internet? While I planned about 95 % of my upcoming PCT...
6 Things You’ll Be Unprepared for at the Start of Your Hike
1. Even the introverts are incredibly social. It will be a rare day when you pass a thru-hiker who doesn’t say hello on the trail. Even at the shelter, it’s like...
Thoughts on Technology in the Backcountry
As millennials continue to embark on outdoor adventures, we bring our idiosyncrasies with us. Sometimes, our preoccupation with sharing every detail of our life pervades even our “escape from real
Why I am Not Ultralight
To go ultralight or not, is that the question? Today, the debate seems over: why carry more when you can carry less and increase the enjoyment of your hike? Technology...
Understanding the PCT Permit System, and Why it Matters
It was a scorching summer day in Southern California. I was taking a break underneath a large tree, elevating my feet to provide my poor extremities some sweet relief. A...
Stories From the Trail Episode 5: Getting Geared Up
Another episode is out! In preparation for his first overnight hike, Daniel calls into the show from REI. If you've ever wanted to virtually help a new hiker select their...
Faces of Hot Springs: Chief of Police, Officer David Shelton
Strolling through the peaceful little town of Hot Springs, NC, you don't get the feeling that you get in so many other cities, the uneasy feeling that makes you want...
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,...
The Case for Thru-Hiking Psychology
I was alone, hurrying to Vermillion Valley Resort to make the 4 pm ferry. I crossed Bear Creek (a.k.a. big-ass river) on a massive log, and then I charged into some...