So who’s this Leftover guy?

Hello everyone! My name is Levente (trail name Leftover) and this spring I have the privilege of taking 7 weeks to thru-hike the 800 miles of the Arizona Trail, which spans the length of Arizona south to north. Just a few months ago, I finished graduate school and got a masters degree in Environmental Management with a goal of dedicating my life to protecting the environment and outdoors, giving everyone the right to access clean air, water, soil and our beautiful public lands. Before life gets too serious and I need to get a big kid job, why not go wander around the desert of Arizona first? Who knows, it might even help me in my next career! 

Me on the top of Mt. Whitney for sunrise during my PCT thru-hike in 2021

More about me and my hiking background 

Hiking and backpacking have always been my passion. When I was just 13 years old I was lucky enough to go to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico with my Boy Scout Troop and hike 150 miles over 11 days in the gorgeous New Mexican wilderness. This is where it all began. Between then and 2020, I did a handful of overnight backpacking trips. It wasn’t until my sister got me the book “Lost on the Appalachian Trail” by Kyle Rohrig that my obsession with thru-hiking was born. Following this, in 2021 I successfully completed the 2,650 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail going NOBO walking from Mexico to Canada in 152 days. The PCT was glorious. Don’t get me wrong, it was downright rough and painful at times, but it built the foundation for my love of thru-hiking. The desert was dry, the Sierras were rugged, NorCal was a smoldering tinder box, and the PNW was wet and cold. Despite all that, it never leaves my mind. The deep love and nostalgia I feel when I think of that trail is immense and I have been chasing the feeling that trail gave to me ever since. I know I’ll never catch it but I can at least try!

PCT northern terminus with my OG trail fam in 2021 (minus frosty)

In 2022 I was able to complete the 493 miles of the Colorado Trail in 32 days with a part of my trail family from the PCT. This trail was the confirmation to me that the PCT wasn’t a fluke and that I am and always will be a thru-hiker. While undoubtably gorgeous, the CT brought a mix of new challenges like daily afternoon thunderstorms and frigid nights. The CT was an amazing experience post PCT trail depression but as soon as I started to hit my stride on trail in terms of physical and mental well-being, the trail was already nearing its end. While it’s not always realistic to do a 5 month thru-hike, the Colorado Trail allowed me to experience trail life again in a more reasonable fashion. 

Colorado Trail northern terminus in 2022

Most recently, in August of 2024, I was able to take a trip up North to Vermont and hike the 273 miles of the Long Trail, stretching the length of the state of Vermont from South to North. The Long Trail is undeniably gorgeous in its own green tunnel fashion, but trail technicality wise, it was of the most challenging things I’ve done. That trail is rugged and rough. While the LT won’t go down as my favorite trail ever, it tough me that it’s always worth it to be out there, no matter what. I made such incredible friends on the short span of that trail and will now embark on the AZT with one of them. 

Long Trail northern terminus in 2024

The Obligatory Gear Picture 

It wouldn’t be a thru-hike without the gear layout pic, right? No major changes to my gear set up between my last few trails now as I’ve dialed in my equipment and let go of my want to be ultralight. If you ask me, it simply ain’t worth it. Some of my favorite gear pieces that you’ll never see me without are my Zpacks sit pad, Thermarest Vesper 20 degree quilt, and my Oofos recovery slides. Feel the ooooooo! I’m expecting a drier and cooler AZT season so I’ve made a few gear accommodations for that. Let’s hope everything works out as I hope! (It never does) 

My final gear set up for AZT 2025

Prepping for Trail Life 

With the trail right around the corner, I have been doing all I can to physically and mentally prep myself for this hike. In my opinion, you truly can’t prepare for a thru hike beforehand unless you do a thru hike before your thru hike, as the physical role you put on your body is so intense and specific. Before trail I always attempt to be generally fit by running and doing practices hikes with weight while simply hiking slow in the first two weeks of a hike to let my body adjust. This year I’m unfortunately entering the trail with lingering Achilles tendinitis in my right foot that I have been going to PT for. It’s actually improved significantly in recent weeks and I am optimistic it will be ok on the trail. Nevertheless, slow and steady wins the race. I’ve been fortunate enough to spend the last two weeks in Europe visiting family and friends and eating far too much good Hungarian food. It won’t kill me to be at a calorie deficit starting later this week. In a quite hectic week I’ll be going from relaxing in thermal bathes in Hungary to exposing myself to the harsh desert conditions. I just have to keep reminding myself that I wanted this…

My friends and I braving the single digits temps deep in the White Mountains of New Hampshire in January 2025

With trail life just days away I am anxious and excited to be getting outside and doing what I love most! If you’ve managed to find my page, I am excited you are here and hope I can inspire you a bit and share this journey with you along the way. Thru-hiking is my favorite thing to do on this planet and I am always thrilled and so lucky to be doing it. I look forward to sharing this adventure with you all! More to come…

-Leftover