The Calm Before the Storm & Thru-Hike Media Recommendations

Only 11 more days until my flight, and 2 weeks until I kick off my Continental Divide Trail (CDT) thru-hike. After quitting my job in February, I took some time to visit with family in California. In March, I was living in an odd limbo. I had a ton of flexibility to organize my days. Now that we are rolling into April, I’m finalizing my expenses, connecting with friends, completing my last dog sitting, and finishing a final research project. 

Pre-Thru-Hike Days Look a Lot Like:

• 👀 Staring at my gear.
• 🎒 Weighing my pack (again) to make sure it somehow got lighter since the last time.
• 🥾 Testing out my new shoes I snagged on sale at REI ($60 bucks for some Lone Peak Altras!).
• 🏔️ Going on any day hike, day walk, or day trek I can find (like the 20-mile trek we tested below).

Image Source: Paige Combs “The CCC Trail”, Washington State, March 2025.

• 🏋️‍♂️ Going to the gym and coffee dates with trail friends (i.e., Commissioner who kindly connected with me).

Image Source: Paige Combs, “Commissioner from PCT”, March 2025.

• 📝 Taking notes on trail resupplies…and snack situation.
• 📷 Watching endless photography videos, then fiddling with every camera setting known to mankind.
• 🎁 Getting anonymous support packages at our front door.

Image source: Paige Combs, “Anonymous Support Note and Beverages”, March 2025.

• 📚 Applying for a library card and downloading the app (because…free books and movies on trail?).
• 🐶 Hanging out with dogs. Why? Because dogs.

Video Source: Paige Combs “The CCC Trail Hounds”, Washington State, March 2025.

• 💰 Financial planning and reviewing my cost sheets.
• 🏞 Visualizing starting and finishing my thru-hike.
• 🎈Having some social fun with my partner and friends.

Image Source: Paige Combs “The Seattle Kraken Game”, March 2025.

• 🧘 Meditating.
• 💻 Journaling and drafting blogs.
• 🎬 Watching thru-hiker documentaries.
• ☕ Sipping fancy coffee before I’m confined to trail mochas.

Image Source: Paige Combs “Coffee with That Crema”, March 2025.

Thru-Hiker Entertainment Recommendations

I know. It’s not a thru-hiker blog without some thru-hiker juice mixed in. You caught me. My days don’t fill my cup quite the same way like the trail does. Here are a few of my favorite thru-hiker content suggestions to satisfy your appetite before the mountains.

Books

• “Divided: A Walk on the Continental Divide Trail” by Brian Cornell 
  • Note: I met this guy on PCT ’23!
• “Thru-Hiking Will Break Your Heart: An Adventure of the Pacific Crest Trail” by Carrot Quinn
• “A Walk in the Woods” by Bill Bryson
• “What the Bears Know” by Steve Searles and Chris Erskine
  • I met them at Mammoth’s public library in the Sierra during my PCT thru-hike. He’s amazing and gives us so much perspective about what we can learn from bears.

Image Source: Paige Combs, “What The Bears Know Book” October 2023.

Channel / Vlog Recommendations / YouTube Documentaries

• “Along the Way | Continental Divide Trail Documentary” by Austin Seder
• “Just Passing Thru – A Pacific Crest Trail Film” by Courtney Eve White
• “Out There: Hiking the Great Divide Trail” by Ryan Kodak Brown
• Quadzilla Hikes
  • Note: If affordability for hikes is an issue for you he’s tested out some cheap and durable gear that you could try: “$383 of UL Gear and $1000 Budget for Appalachian Trail Hike“.

Other Thru-Hiker Web Content

This guy does all the heavy lifting for you to consolidate data from other thru-hiker’s journeys. He’s from Washington state.

• Halfway Anywhere – Mac

Thru-Hiking for Families

As I think about starting my own family, I’ve also been considering how to keep up with the hobbies I love. For families out there, check out the recommendations below—there’s plenty more out there! I’ve also heard from others that if you’re planning a longer thru-hike, the AT might be more manageable if you have a toddler, since there are more stops between miles.

• The Trek – Tara Wales

What does everyone else do while waiting to hit the trail? Any other recommendations?

Whose land am I on? Learn why it’s important to respect the land we travel on.