Bears
Breaking Through the Fear
A surprise encounter leaves a hiker wondering, how do you break through your fear to become a solo hiker?
The Shenandoah
Into the Park Sarah and Scott made Waffles the next morning! Then after a slow start (I didn't want to leave!) they drove me back to the trail where...
Smokies Secrets: Revealed!
Some life experiences contain in them so much superlative that it’s hard to convey to others what they were like. We resort to hyperbole, or we simply shake our heads...
5 Easy Tips to See More Wildlife On Your Thru Hike
You want to see wildlife on your hike, right? Here are 5 ways to increase your odds of a memorable wildlife encounter.
Things That Go Bump In The Night
Over the years, I’ve been mauled by bears—exactly never, although I have seen bears on different outings. And to the best of my knowledge, I’ve never crossed paths with psycho...
Seven Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Guns and Bears
Weeks ago I had suggested to some hiker friends that I might write a blog weighing in on discussions from social media regarding the Scott Jurek controversy. But today I'm...
The Appalachian Q&A with Tom and Shannon
I just ran out of deodorant and I have have 4 days before leaving for Baxter State park to start my southbound hike. My mind has been a mess of...
Coco and Magnus — Days 108 through 111 — New Jersey, Bears, and Bullfrogs
6/23 Tuesday -- Day 108 The quintessential day on the AT. It couldn't have been planned better. We exited the strange lodging known as Pocono Inn and made our way...
Let Me Tell You About The Bears And The Bees
Sometimes, I wish that when I started my thru-hike, I had known nothing about the trail. The hikers that have never stepped foot on the trail seemed to always have...
The Five – No, Six – Questions This (Hopeful) Thru Hiker is Already Tired of Hearing
I have already heard these questions 100 times or more. It's easy to forget that while I have been "all AT, all the time" for the past year or more,...