Thru-Hiking
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Our hiking columnist went to the AT’s legendary Trail Days this year with one mission—to figure out what hikers were and weren’t putting on their feet
A pilgrim seeking peace and purpose on Spain’s famed Camino de Santiago finds much more
A small injury during Morgan Brosnihan’s Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike inspired a big idea: Why not set up a mobile clinic for hikers who need help?
Developed and tested on the Pacific Crest Trail—the new adidas TERREX Free Hiker 2.0 is your next long-distance shoe
Authorities in North Carolina say the duo were selling marijuana, mushrooms, and LSD to thru-hikers
When the thru-hiker’s dream trip was cut short, she learned that failure is just a chance to reset your goals to match your reality
Completing a winter journey on the Appalachian Trail convinced the fun-loving thru-hiker that he can accomplish whatever he dreams up
Like all intense hobbyists, hikers start Instagram pages just for their adventures. Why not integrate it into the rest of your life already?
The PCT traces the west coast of the U.S. over almost 2,700 miles. Our expert trail columnist reveals everything you need to know about what to pack, eat, and read, plus where to sleep and how to have the most fun on this scenic long trail.
Our hiking columnist has spent more than a quarter of the past four years on trail. Every morning out there, without fail, he eats another perfect packet of Pop-Tarts.
Rescue crews in SoCal are already warning hikers to skip the snowy San Jacinto Mountains
Last January, Carl Stanfield set out to break the world record for the most miles ever hiked in a year. In failing, he found his temporary limit—and, he hopes, a renewed version of himself.
This year’s white winter in the Sierra Nevada could create dangerous conditions along the iconic trail in the spring and summer
Long-distance hikers love to reach towns and binge. I temporarily gave up the cycle, and maybe it changed my life.
The shredders, climbers, policy-makers, barrier breakers, and scientists who forever changed the way we view the world
Perry’s time for a self-supported trek on the trail nearly broke the best mark for a supported effort
Our hiking columnist knows firsthand that buying gifts for the hiker in your life can induce anxiety. These affordable finds from independent companies can’t miss.
Nick “Chezwick” Gagnon became the fastest person to circumnavigate the enormous route, which takes in sections of five major thru-hikes
In less than 800 miles, the Arizona Trail offers a steady string of stunning landscapes, uncanny animals, and changing circumstances. If your time is limited, it’s the national scenic trail to try.
The 27-year-old former Navy SEAL may be one of the most gifted runners on the planet. Good thing he doesn’t want to race—yet.
Jon Anderson overcame temporary snowblindness to complete the 2,650-mile journey from Mexico to Canada
After 2,194.3 miles, this is the equipment that they loved the most
Sun hoodies are the multi-tool of the hiker’s wardrobe, but they often get gross, fast. Not Coalatree’s new Suray.
The results, however hilarious, remind us how hikers destigmatize the body
Andrea Sansone spent the summer scouting Nolan’s 14 before setting the FKT
The veteran hiker takes us through his three-day attempt, which saw him battle bladder problems and extreme exhaustion
Your guide to all-things Long Trail for your upcoming thru-hike
The distance runner shaved more than two hours off the JMT’s previous fastest time
On Thursday, they finished the last leg of the triple crown, but they’re not done yet
On Sunday night, British hiker Josh Perry decimated the trail’s long-standing self-supported records after chasing Timothy Olson’s 2021 time
They’re 1,706 miles in and this is what they like most
With inflation on the rise, I scrapped plans for another long summer hike. On little daily walks through South Dakota’s Black Hills, I’ve rediscovered the surprise and delight of getting back to basics.
Michael Charles Lombardo, 55, frequently walked the famed trail with his pet Chihuahua
Scott Benerofe finished a rare and daunting southbound winter thru-hike of the AT. His self-proclaimed normalcy about the endeavor suggests such treks might not stay so rare for long.
It’s way more expensive and not as comfortable. Our gear director weighs the pros and cons of an über-light kit.
Each year, more families seem to earn attention by taking to long trails with small children. What are their motivations, and is it bad for the kids?
The cause of Paul “Grandmaster” Classen’s fatal fall is still unclear
For many hikers, stopping can be harder than continuing, even if it’s a good idea
After finishing the Appalachian Trail, I experienced severe pain in my lower right leg. Little did I know, toe socks and spacers would be my saving grace.
In the ten years since she published her memoir about hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, her life has changed dramatically—and so has the trail itself
Water weighs a lot, audiobooks weigh nothing, and more semi-philosophical tips to guide rookie trekkers to a strong finish
Join us for a live Zoom Q and A with the beloved author, presented by the Outside Book Club, on Tuesday, April 5
Our March pick is Cheryl Strayed’s classic memoir of hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. We’ll conclude the conversation with a live Zoom Q and A on April 5.
After months of pandemic-induced isolation, one Vermont family dove headfirst into a 272-mile adventure
The pain I experience while thru-hiking draws me back to the present and makes me more aware of my privilege
“The world and how it interacts with me changed the day I came out as trans”
I want to thru-hike part of the AT or PCT, but I’m the main caregiver in my household
In their fifties, Marcia and Ken Powers began long-distance hiking. Lessons they learned on trail prepared them for the next phase of their lives.
Initially I was drawn to before-and-after photos of thru-hikers, but after I finished my first long trail, I saw these posts for what they were: unhealthy
Tips for being a backpacking beginner and a woman adventuring alone
Many of the skills involved with long-distance hiking also lend themselves to going faster on trails
In six years, Constantine and Magpie have collectively hiked 30,000 miles. What do they do now that they’ve learned their lessons from—and found love on—the trail?
Rahawa Haile set out on the AT during one of the most tumultuous periods in our political history. The story she wrote about it for Outside in 2017 hit a nerve, and encouraged many others to get out on the trail. We followed up with her to find out what scared her the most, the one piece of gear she couldn’t live without, and why thru-hiking is always worth it in the end.
Lo Phong La Kiatoukaysy, a.k.a. Lil’ Buddha, started thru-hiking America’s trails after 9/11. He hasn’t stopped yet.
A writer with a few such times under her belt ponders whether or not speed enhances or detracts from the experience
I tallied the waste I created for a month of my thru-hike. It was embarrassing. Now I know how to begin fixing it.
Our culture columnist recommends six of the most interesting newsletters out there—from thru-hiking dispatches to Neko Case’s reflections on nature
Pawel Szafruga recently did the unthinkable by summiting all of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks in a single thru-hike. Will others follow?
Want to cook chocolate fondue, grilled cheeses, and cold-soaked meals with one device on trail? The Vargo Bot is the miracle that makes it happen.
This time the former AT record holder is heading southbound and shooting for a time of under 40 days
Because sometimes, you just want to get away from it all
That shiny sheet of plastic you have wadded up at the bottom of your daypack can help you stay alive. Will it help you stay comfortable? That’s a different story.
I always loved hiking but hated sleeping in a tent. When I stopped using one, I found new joy on the trail.
Take a break from NPS crowds by visiting these lesser-known designations, which we chose based on spectacular scenery, great hiking trails, and unique features.
After 2,652 miles, 400,000 feet in elevation gain, and more than 51 days, the ultrarunner finished his PCT thru-hike
You’re dead set on walking every inch of a trail, but your partner doesn’t mind skipping a section or two. How do you compromise?
When hikers have leftover food or gear, they don’t trash it. They drop it in a box for the next person who needs it, forming a beautiful network of anonymous interdependence.
Exercise may not be enough to make up for thru-hikers’ bad diets, a new paper suggests
Master the shakedown for a smoother trek
From a long-distance thru-hike to exploring an urban park in your backyard, here's everything you need to know
More than 3,000 people attempt to walk the entire Appalachian Trail every year. Only about a quarter of them succeed. This intel from an AT thru-hiker provides key information to help you tackle and complete the 2,193-mile trek from Georgia to Maine.
Hiking remains a rare modern opportunity to be stunned by the unknown. Don’t spoil it by obsessing over a bunch of YouTube videos.
In an excerpt from his latest book, ‘Freedom,’ the celebrated nonfiction writer describes a journey along Pennsylvania’s train tracks with friends he met while reporting on the war in Afghanistan
When a group of friends decided to tackle Sentiero Italia, one of the world’s longest and forgotten trails, they had no idea that 1,500 others would join them along the way
In March, Emily Ford became the first woman to complete Wisconsin’s Ice Age Trail in winter. She’s also become an unintentional ambassador of the outdoor industry’s quest for inclusivity.