Thru-Hiking
Archive
Walking away from the adventure of a lifetime is hard, but it makes coming back to it especially rewarding. Here, five thru-hikers share their stories of failing and coming back for more.
Despite the coronavirus, you can legally thru-hike the Appalachian Trail right now. But should you?
Hostels are closing, volunteers are staying home, and trail organizations are advising hikers to cancel their plans
A wilderness medicine expert and former AT thru-hiker shares her tips for tackling a long-distance backpacking trip
Lucy Parks found trail culture far from fully accepting but refused to let fear stop them from thru-hiking the AT
Doctors told Trey Cate he'd never walk again after Iraq. Now he's organizing the most ambitious thru-hike of the decade.
The Juliana Trail takes hikers through remote villages and settlements in a 167-mile loop around the country's stunning Julian Alps
Ten books that sparked debate, started conversations, and launched movements in the past ten years—and what to read next
Hitting the trail has been a lifeline for the record-setting thru-hiker's ongoing battle with depression
Proving, once again, that kids don't have to slow you down
Cory McDonald's main goal was to restore his health on the Pacific Crest Trail. Becoming a YouTube star, getting stalked, and meeting the perfect girl were just exhilarating extras.
Here's what the expanded regulations mean for thru-hikers next year
In 2016, writer Kevin Fedarko and photographer Pete McBride set out to thru-hike the Grand Canyon
We took a peek inside their packs and had a nutritionist grade their choices
The odds of dying from a falling tree may not be as slim as they used to be. Here's why—and what to do about it.
You can't technically finish the AT without a ride in Greg Caruso's canoe
Marion Mauran's documentary Elevation Change is an honest and compelling look at the ambitions of a young man thru-hiking to raise money for Parkinson's disease
After becoming the first African American male to complete the triple crown of thru-hiking, Robinson is sharing his own experience to encourage more people to get outdoors
In May, Kirby Morrill was nearly murdered during a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. Four months later, she climbed Maine's highest peak, the route's terminus.
These simple packing steps will go a long way (like, 2,000 miles long) to making you a less burdened traveler
'Thru' tracks the traverse of two thru-hikers on Lions Head Ridge in Idaho, an unforgiving part of their hike
When Baltimore Jack died near Franklin, North Carolina, the news shook the Appalachian Trail community. Jack had left behind the real world to live on the AT, thru-hiking it seven times and helping countless others to reach their goals. To some, his choice to live off the grid was irresponsible. Others celebrated that he'd managed to break the shackles of convention. A look back on the life of an AT antihero.
But it is probably farther than you want it to be
Morgan's Diner doesn't charge a dime for a gourmet meal, but it'll still cost you
Before there was 'A Walk in the Woods' and 'Wild,' there was 'The Lord of the Rings'
Five breeds that fit your lifestyle—and your condo
Philip Carcia hiked all of New Hampshire's 4,000-foot peaks every month for a year
New research suggests that the emotion has a singular ability to lower stress and improve our overall well-being. So how do we get more of it?
The answer isn't just throwing everything in your backpack all at once. Here's the right way to pack for a long haul in the wilderness.
This shoe is a multisport machine, tackling technical approaches, long hikes, and overnight backpacking trips
A proposed hydropower transmission line in Maine would impact the AT, wildlife, recreation, and tourism. Is it worth it?
The 1,300-mile Florida National Scenic Trail soaks backpacks and drowns tents with swampy water and sweat. It is not for the feint of heat.
After several months and thousands of miles, ϳԹ's Taylor Gee knows what works and what doesn't
Thinking about tackling the big thru-hike? Consider these four things first.
Stay comfortable on the trail, whether you're out for two days or ten
Everyone's quick to tell you all the reasons to go lighter. Allow me to explain why they're wrong.
For the trail's most venerable volunteer group, retirement means hauling heavy equipment and sleeping outside for days on end
I've spent almost two months testing this tough midweight load hauler. Here are my impressions.
In 'Hike the Line,' from Corey Robinson, these hikers share an experience that's unlike any other thru-hike
The tastiest nutrient-dense options for backpackers on a budget
Making your way over an 800-mile trail through deserts and mountains in less than 16 days is no picnic—except for those gas-station resupply stops
Guthook Guides' maps and crowdsourced information have made hiking the PCT and AT immeasurably easier. But is that a good thing?
Mary Davison didn't catch the thru-hiking bug until she was 60. Since then, she's completed the Appalachian, Continental Divide, and Pacific Crest trails, and is now adding the 6,800-mile American Discovery Trail to her list.
'Thru' is an upcoming documentary about thru-hiking and why it's such a painfully enjoyable activity
Despite an attack that left one hiker dead and another injured, the experience and fellowship of the trail perseveres
Sometimes, able-bodied partners need to be sat down
'Constant Thought,' from Spruce Tone Films, chronicles Iraq War veteran Brandon Kuehn's attempt at the Pacific Crest Trail
The 1,900-mile-long thru-hike winds through the southern Andes from Santiago to the climbing mecca of Mount Fitz Roy. To complete it, adventurers need a lot more than physical stamina.
Retiree and trail angel Carl Springer fires up his Coleman propane stove to make batches of omelets for hungry thru-hikers
A website from the snack company highlights the sweeteners that often fly under the radar on nutrition labels, and shows the percentage of sugar in other brands' offerings
On July 17, 2017, thru-hiker Joe McConaughy set out to claim the fastest known time for a self-supported traverse of the Appalachian Trail
In her new memoir 'Thirst,' the celebrated thru-hiker delves into the physical and mental struggles and triumphs she experienced on the trail
Setting an FKT is already badass. But what these Fastest Known Time award winners pulled off on the Appalachian Trail and Long Trail is downright awe-inspiring.
In 2018, thru-hiker Tyler Lau set out to be the first person of color to complete what’s known as the triple crown in one year
This summer at the southern terminus of the PCT, photographer Ian Tuttle asked a bunch of thru-hikers why they were hiking. Months later and 2,591 miles to the north, he found some of them again and asked what they’d learned about themselves. Turns out, six months in the wilderness is a pretty good crash course in philosophy.
Two hikers just set the only known times on the country's newest state-spanning trail system
Only five others—all men—have completed the thru-hiker’s Holy Grail in fewer than 365 days
Photographer Tommy Corey spent the summer shooting Hiker Trash Vogue, a photo project featuring thru-hikers as models—minus wardrobe changes and plus a lot of dirt
The Altra Lone Peak 4 Mid RSM is lighter, more comfortable, and more supportive than any other boot I've tested. They're not stylish, but hey: Looking good in the woods is overrated.
Excellent breathability and a welcome surge of innovation in the otherwise-predictable rainwear category
How to break it to your risk-averse family that you're trying the whole "quit your job and travel the world" thing
Want to take the kids along? Follow these tips from families who've done it the long way.
Karel Sabbe set a new record of 41 days, 7 hours, and 39 minutes. And he did it without much money or fanfare, proving that you just gotta run like hell.
Up at 4 a.m., then run the equivalent of two marathons before dusk. Now repeat that for 45 days.
‘Hike the Line’ follows hikers Tenny Ostrem and Claire Wernstedt-Lynch as they hike from California to the Gulf of Mexico.
After six months and 2,000 miles of hiking, Tenny Ostrem and Claire Wernstedt-Lynch finally reached the Gulf of Mexico
When it comes to picking the ideal outdoor buddies, it doesn't matter at all
Take it from the people hoofing it between the Mexican and Canadian borders as we speak
A survey of backpackers' tactics on the 220-mile high-country route offers insights on what works and what doesn’t
Ultrarunner Harvey Lewis is vying to clutch the fastest known time for a supported run on the 2,190-mile thru-hike—and so far he's on pace
The sad story behind one of the outdoor industry's smartest hard-shell designs. Turns out, we were the problem.
Judy Gross started LightHeart Gear out of her house in 2006. Today, her shelters are favorites of thru-hikers across the country.
Reporter Kathryn Miles and photographer Ian Tuttle caught up with some of the people hiking the Pacific Crest Trail this year and asked them why they're hiking
There are plenty of ways to lighten your load this season. These tips can help shave off the ounces before tackling a long trail.