Completed Thru-Hikers
Wisdom From the (Recent) Past: Interviewing 2017 Thru-Hikers
Hi, Friends! As I'm impatiently waiting for my start day to roll around, I contacted a few of my favorite past thru-hikers. All five of these hikers are inspiring and...
The PCT Desert: Myths vs. Fact
Most Pacific Crest Trail thru-hikers begin their journey in the desert the first steps on the trail that theyll be walking on for the next five months. The desert...
10 Things People Say to You as a Solo Woman Thru-Hiker
Gender stereotypes and expectations are still rampant in the world, including the outdoors that we dirtbags like to think of as so pure. As a woman, people will treat you...
How I Learned to Adjust to Post-Trail Life
A deep breath of the crisp fresh air filled my lungs, and I opened my eyes. It was still dark out, and there were snow patches surrounding me. My feet...
The 2017 Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker Survey: General Hiker Stats
Each fall, The Trek conducts an in-depth survey of long-distance hikers on the Appalachian Trail (AT), this time surveying the class of 2017. We have several posts to come on...
Bringing Leave-No-Trace to Life Off Trail
On trail, we follow Leave No Trace practices every day. Since Katahdin, I've thought more about how these principles can apply to my off-trail life as well.
Thru-Hiking Reflections One Year Later: The World is Burning
A year ago this week, I completed my thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail. It was a trial by fire, in the proverbial sense; I had been backpacking just three...
No Questions: The Real-World (Lack of) Curiosity About My Hike
I was surprised and hurt by how few questions I got about my thru-hike once I was off trail. But now, I'm putting the emotional pack down permanently and focusing...
Springer – Neel Gap Revisited
On 28 February 2014 my son and I were stood on Springer Mountain ready to start our Appalachian Trail thru-hike. On 4 August 2014 we summited Katahdin after what turned...
The Hardest Part Is Coming Home
In the cold early Maine morning Luna and I climbed into the car surrounded by the mountains that had been our home for nearly six months. It didnt seem much different...