Advice

15 All-Too Common Beginner Backpacking Mistakes

15 All-Too Common Beginner Backpacking Mistakes

We all start somewhere. We all begin as beginners, as novices. And even for experienced hikers, new gear constantly demands we play catch-up. An experienced backpacker in the early ‘90s...

Aug 4, 2022 : Madison Dragna
If I Could Plan Again

If I Could Plan Again

A change in planning strategy for the Appalachian Trail

Jun 15, 2022 : Mountain Goat
Two Weeks on the Appalachian Trail

Two Weeks on the Appalachian Trail

135 miles on the Appalachian Trail There have been trials and a lot of misdirection. Even though there are blazes all over the place I still sometimes get confused. The...

Jun 15, 2022 : Brit
How To Plan an Appalachian Trail Thru Hike as a Canadian

How To Plan an Appalachian Trail Thru Hike as a Canadian

Top down planning First thing is first, you have to determine how you're going to plan this thing. In my opinion, top down is the only way to approach it....

Apr 20, 2022 : Mountain Goat
Managing Others + Self

Managing Others + Self

“You’ll get homesick.” “You can’t do this alone.” “You’re a vulnerable woman.” “You’re avoiding the real world.” “You’re not an experienced backpacker.” Manifesting the worries of others and

Mar 21, 2022 : MG Hibionada
Don’t Be an A**hole and Other Helpful Hostel Tips

Don’t Be an A**hole and Other Helpful Hostel Tips

Towns along these trails offer amenities and supplies to hoards of footsore and funky-smelling folk that wander through. Hostels are a key part of this infrastructure. For those unfamiliar, hostels

Feb 1, 2022 : Jake Arens
Tennessee-North Carolina-Tennessee..where am I?!

Tennessee-North Carolina-Tennessee..where am I?!

The AT criss crosses the NC/TN border for miiiiilessssss. And ya know, the days are flying by out here. It’s weird, collectively they are flying by, but the days themselves...

Jun 4, 2021 : Annemarie Athey
Happy Gnomads Hiker Hostel: A Review

Happy Gnomads Hiker Hostel: A Review

Run by thru hikers Jumanji and Sunshine, Happy Gnomads is a place for thru hikers, by thru hikers.

Mar 30, 2021 : Wes Laudeman
Neels Gap to Franklin

Neels Gap to Franklin

Well, I made it farther than 25 percent of hikers! After passing through Mountain Crossings without giving my shoes up to the shoe tree, I have now made it past...

Mar 15, 2021 : Wes Laudeman
Amicalola to Neels Gap

Amicalola to Neels Gap

And so the journey begins on a rainy day in North Georgia as we drive into Amicalola Falls State Park to begin my thru hike of the Appalachian trail. After...

Mar 4, 2021 : Wes Laudeman