Thru-Hiking Culture

Trail Reflections 3: Sierra Nevada mountains

Trail Reflections 3: Sierra Nevada mountains

My husband, Chris, and I are attempting a Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike and are now in a ski resort town below the Sierra Nevada Mountains called Mammoth, as we stop...

Jul 8, 2025 : Nina Butler
The Future of the Pacific Crest Trail in Trump’s America

The Future of the Pacific Crest Trail in Trump’s America

A now-familiar story emerged from the Pacific Crest Trail last month near Truckee, California, when the Truckee Trails Foundation (TTF) announced that the federal government had frozen $20,000 in

May 27, 2025 : Katie Jackson
This Section of the PCT Has Been Closed for 20 Years. The Reason? MYLFs

This Section of the PCT Has Been Closed for 20 Years. The Reason? MYLFs

If you’ve hiked the Pacific Crest Trail, chances are you’re familiar with the Williamson Rock closure — nicknamed the “frog closure” — in Southern California. This closure covers a 3.6-mile...

May 14, 2025 : Kelsey Nannini
“We Are Transforming These Mountains in a Way Humans Have Never Seen”: The Future of the Sierra Nevada, John Muir’s Range of Light

“We Are Transforming These Mountains in a Way Humans Have Never Seen”: The Future of the Sierra Nevada, John Muir’s Range of Light

John Muir called the Sierra Nevada the “Range of Light” in his 1894 book, The Mountains of California, writing about the exceptional quality of light there, calling it "the most divinely

May 12, 2025 : Karl Ford
The day I met Shit Hand

The day I met Shit Hand

I'm currently one month into hiking the Appalachian Trail. I'm balls deep. By the time you read this I'll be 900 miles in. Jump in the time machine with me...

May 4, 2025 : Katie Buxton
How I prepared for entering US immigration for my thru hike as an international hiker

How I prepared for entering US immigration for my thru hike as an international hiker

I made it into Denver! After many sleepless nights, reading lots of horror stories of people who got turned away, I was an absolute nervous wreck going through immigration. I...

Apr 26, 2025 : Scorpion Queen
I Completed my PCT Thru Hike at a Sequoia Tree (An Ode)

I Completed my PCT Thru Hike at a Sequoia Tree (An Ode)

This is a story of thru hikes, snow, and blizzards as much as it is an ode to a very special tree. 

Apr 20, 2025 : Anna "Blaze" M
The WHY of Why I’m Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail: About Challenges, Nature and Expectations

The WHY of Why I’m Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail: About Challenges, Nature and Expectations

Honestly, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to write this post, but as my start date is coming closer, this topic popped into my head again, leading to new realizations...

Apr 7, 2025 : Simon von Hubatius
A Surprising Bucket List Item I Had No Idea About

A Surprising Bucket List Item I Had No Idea About

I was raised fairly conservatively. I suppose that's the reason I can count on one hand how many times I've actually been skinny dipping Ironically, all 4 times have been...

Mar 26, 2025 : Starfish
Doing Your Research: Small Connections in a Big World

Doing Your Research: Small Connections in a Big World

I like to think of history as a whole as a big tapestry, or spider's web. Each thread in the whole helps make a beautiful image, but is deeply interesting...

Mar 16, 2025 : George Gristina