fear

What Are You Afraid Of? Stories From The Trail Long-Distance Prep School

What Are You Afraid Of? Stories From The Trail Long-Distance Prep School

Class is in session! To help prep for your long-distance hike, we begin by addressing common new-hiker fears - what are you afraid of? To answer that, we present the first...

Jan 8, 2019 : Gary Sizer
Facing the Fear

Facing the Fear

Wants turn to fears My first solo backpacking trip is almost here, and the excitement has turned into fear. Things that I knew were possibilities have turned into probabilities, and...

Mar 29, 2018 : Matt
What I learned hiking Mount Whitney from the Pacific Crest Trail

What I learned hiking Mount Whitney from the Pacific Crest Trail

The old man came through the swinging door of the general store. Worn blue flannel shirt, knife clipped to jeans pocket, big hands that had spent a lifetime working hard....

Jan 20, 2017 : Chuck McKeever
The Titanic Panic of 2017

The Titanic Panic of 2017

Last week, the guy who brings us propane for our RV asked me, “So, do you have any New Year’s resolutions?” He was a little surprised when I responded with...

Jan 6, 2017 : Annette 'The Rainbow'
Breaking Through the Fear

Breaking Through the Fear

A surprise encounter leaves a hiker wondering, how do you break through your fear to become a solo hiker?

Sep 5, 2016 : Kmeg
Smokies Secrets: Revealed!

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...

May 15, 2016 : Notebook
X-Files, Ziggy Stardust, and How I am Terrified to Hike the Continental Divide Trail

X-Files, Ziggy Stardust, and How I am Terrified to Hike the Continental Divide Trail

I. I got sick last week. It was a close call, but this isn't the first time I've escaped death. Being sick is the absolute worst, but it is the...

Jan 11, 2016 : Katie Brown
Breaking the silence

Breaking the silence

I'm so anxious to get some trail under my feet!!! I really dunno how I'm gonna make it another 6 weeks without some dirt! One can only pack, repack and...

Jan 2, 2016 : Sheena
Overcoming Anxiety One (Literal) Step At A Time

Overcoming Anxiety One (Literal) Step At A Time

One of the first questions my husband asked me in all seriousness about my hiking the AT was "You know you will have to talk to people you don't know?...

Nov 14, 2015 : Kimmy Morris
The Whites: Part 2 (My Hardest Day)

The Whites: Part 2 (My Hardest Day)

It all started out fine, leaving Galehead Hut with a full stomach and looking ahead to a few miles of relatively flat trail later on. I launched up South Twin...

Oct 7, 2015 : David