fear

Fearfulness and Sadness On Trail

Fearfulness and Sadness On Trail

Fearfulness and Sadness I find it interesting how much courage is needed to begin a journey like thru-hiking the PCT.  Yet how much fear is often displayed by the same...

May 19, 2026 : Jacob Stafford
Enjoy the Ride: A Shakedown Roller Coaster

Enjoy the Ride: A Shakedown Roller Coaster

Buckle Up! As I prepare for my summer thru-hike of the Long Trail, I wanted to test out my gear and supplies on a “shakedown” hike. What resulted was a...

Jun 9, 2025 : Tess Rowan
What I Learned <i>After</i> My Hike Changed Everything – Colorado Trail Epilogue

What I Learned After My Hike Changed Everything – Colorado Trail Epilogue

If you followed my Colorado Trail thru-hike, you know it was fraught with challenges. From a suspected UTI that wasn’t to a fall down a snowbank that almost ended my...

Oct 2, 2023 : Joey Ferguson
Fear Won’t End My Hike | Colorado Trail Thru-Hike, Part 7

Fear Won’t End My Hike | Colorado Trail Thru-Hike, Part 7

After my fall down the mountain, I headed home from the tiny town of St. Elmo in defeat, rattled by fear and adrenaline. For 3 ½ hours in the car,...

Sep 25, 2023 : Joey Ferguson
I Fell Down a Mountain! Colorado Trail Thru-Hike, Part 6

I Fell Down a Mountain! Colorado Trail Thru-Hike, Part 6

Dusk was gathering as I wedged my tent between willow bushes next to a creek. It wasn’t the ideal spot to camp, right next to the trail, but it would...

Sep 19, 2023 : Joey Ferguson
What a Crazy Day! Colorado Trail Thru-Hike, Part 5

What a Crazy Day! Colorado Trail Thru-Hike, Part 5

Crystal-clear bluebird skies heralded the start of another beautiful day on the Colorado Trail, perfect for crossing Cottonwood Pass. Monsoon season was here and the afternoon might very well

Sep 15, 2023 : Joey Ferguson
Do It Afraid

Do It Afraid

What if I live the rest of my life allowing fear keep me from fulfilling my greatest and most enduring goal? Sure, it would be devastating to fail, but I...

Apr 16, 2022 : Emilee Hackney
Stories From the Trail: Tough Girl Challenges with Sarah Williams

Stories From the Trail: Tough Girl Challenges with Sarah Williams

File this one under "Inspirational"! Sarah Williams is not only a veteran outdoor adventurer and world traveler, she has spent the past few years curating HUNDREDS of hours of conversation...

Jul 29, 2019 : Gary Sizer
Mighty Blue Goes Number Two on Stories From the Trail

Mighty Blue Goes Number Two on Stories From the Trail

Steve Adams, trail name Mighty Blue, is on the Appalachian Trail, again. Best known for his hiking memoirs Creaking Geezer, Hidden Flagon and Three Weddings and a Sabbatical, he also...

Jul 13, 2019 : Gary Sizer
Stories from the Trail Summer Movie Shakedown: A Walk In The Woods

Stories from the Trail Summer Movie Shakedown: A Walk In The Woods

A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson is the book and/or movie that introduced so many of us to the Appalachian Trail, and it seems almost silly for us...

Jun 19, 2019 : Gary Sizer