thru hike

Day 152: The Way Life Should Be

Day 152: The Way Life Should Be

I love Maine. I’ve forgiven it for trying to kill me on its New Hampshire-like trail near their border. I’ve forgotten the rain and cloudy summits during the first two...

Oct 4, 2023 : Jon
Day 150: After the Rain

Day 150: After the Rain

A half mile later, I reached the 2,000-mile point. Two thousand miles. That’s a long walk, for sure, but it’s a hard number to comprehend. Most people have no basis...

Sep 29, 2023 : Jon
Day 149: Rain and Big Water

Day 149: Rain and Big Water

Most of the trail flowed like a small mountain stream. At first, I tried stepping around and over the rushing water and puddles, but after a few slips and missteps...

Sep 25, 2023 : Jon
Day 144: What? Another Easy One?

Day 144: What? Another Easy One?

The thrill of hiking in the woods is back. As I sped along a soft, well-graded trail at over two miles per hour, past moss-blanketed terrain, bear-scratched trees, and fragrant...

Sep 18, 2023 : Jon
Day 141: The AT’s Toughest Ten Miles

Day 141: The AT’s Toughest Ten Miles

But when the trail gets really crazy, like it did today, I’d just stop and say, “You gotta be kidding me. That can’t be the trail.” It wasn’t that I...

Sep 16, 2023 : Jon
Day 140: A Real Thru Hike – Part 1

Day 140: A Real Thru Hike – Part 1

Once I left the dirt road for the woods, I felt excited to be walking past the white blazes again. It felt right. My legs were a little shaky at...

Sep 14, 2023 : Jon
Day 136: Lake of the Clouds

Day 136: Lake of the Clouds

Everybody has at least one day where they think about quitting. And about 75 percent of those who start a thru hike do more than think about quitting. Most wannabe...

Sep 8, 2023 : Jon
Day 123: Déjà Vu

Day 123: Déjà Vu

I think a lot of hikers are feeling the miles, the months, the weather, and their feet. I know I am, but I am resolved to keep running around the...

Aug 20, 2023 : Jon
Day 122: Conversation and Heresy

Day 122: Conversation and Heresy

No Name also said something I’d just said to Northstar the night before. While talking about the cumulative effect of months in the long green tunnel he said, “At this...

Aug 19, 2023 : Jon
Day 121: Zero Day in Manchester

Day 121: Zero Day in Manchester

I love our zero days. I’m sure I fall behind some of the hikers I’ve just met or passed while I’m lazing about doing nothing, but after four months of...

Aug 18, 2023 : Jon