Thru-Hiking
Archive
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
Inspiring stories by badass adventurers
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.
This film 'Fastest Known Time' gives context to a movement growing within the trail community: FKTs.
An energized group of explorers are bringing the spirit of wilderness through hiking to American cities. Record-breaking distance trekker Liz Thomas and others are altering how we see urban spaces and inviting folks new to the outdoors along for the fun.
With no official governing body, it’s up to athletes to prove their fastest-known-time claims. But as the stakes increase, substantiating these feats has become more complex than ever. For those who still intend to pursue an FKT, though, these guidelines will help.
Now you can be part of trail history by helping put signs up along America's often-overlooked (but perhaps most beautiful) thru-hike
It's not just that she's fast—it's that she didn't train at all
From filmmaker Pete Mcbride, Dust in the Blood chronicles McBride’s attempt to thru-hike the Grand Canyon with writer Kevin Fedarko.
Who cares how you funded your nice van or thru-hike? What matters is that you're spending time outside.
We asked a recent Appalachian Trail north-bounder to detail the most essential items during his 2,190-mile journey
The association that manages the West's premier national trail just paid $1.6 million to prevent a property owner from putting up a fence 150 miles shy of the Canadian border
At 82 years old, Dale "Greybeard" Sanders recently became the oldest person to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail.
The Mid Caples Hut along the Greenstone-Caples Track services 5,000 trampers, New Zealand's name for a backpacker, annually.
Holly "Cargo" Harrison has finally reached the U.S. on a 15,000-mile hike through South and North America
On October 26, Dale “Greybeard” Sanders became the oldest person to thru-hike the nation’s most iconic wilderness trail
Christian Thomas, a.k.a. Buddy Backpacker, finished the Continental Divide Trail on September 18, becoming the youngest person to complete all three of the nation's longest hiking trails
They're durable, smartly built, and ridiculously comfy
Granite Gear has begun sponsoring thru-hikers on iconic trails across the world in an effort to promote trash collection and the pack-it-out mentality.
Here's some key equipment and planning advice from a first-timer who just completed the Appalachian Trail
The former fastest woman to hike the AT is stitching together ambitious routes right in the middle of urban civilization
What you eat while on the trail can make or break your ability to make it to the finish
Advice for taking a really, really long hike with your significant other
And the potentially catastrophic injuries he suffered make the time even more impressive
August’s full solar eclipse is the first visible from the United States since 1979. Traveling over 14 states on its way east, from Oregon to South Carolina, the eclipse passes over the southern end of the Appalachian Trail - a 2,200-mile wilderness hike that winds from Georgia to Maine.
Another controversial speed attempt on the country's most popular trail points to the need for a better system for verifying hikers' times
We stopped six trekkers passing through Oregon to find out what they love most so far
We embrace the stereotype to salute the characters who add a little personality to all the backpacking trips we’ve ever taken
The Great Eastern Trail spans nine states and 1,600 miles just west of the Appalachian Trail, but private landowners, meager funding, and sluggish construction are holding up the completion of America's next big wilderness route
California's banner snowfall plus a record number of hikers have kept local search and rescue teams very, very busy
Part Burning Man, part Camino de Santiago, part Fringe Festival thrown in for good measure, Trail Days is 72 hours of hiking mayhem.
Facing a failed marriage and an underwhelming job, Tonya Holt decided to sell her belongings, cancel her apartment lease, and set out on a six-month wilderness backpacking trip. Who she’ll be when she finishes, she isn’t sure.
During the Spring of 2015, video editor Peter Hochhauser hopped on a plane from Austria and flew out to Southern California to hike the Pacific Crest Trail.
As summer approaches, the risk of deadly heat stroke grows. Here’s a list of gear and advice on how to avoid it.
Jim Tabor began stashing hand-carved spoons along the AT six years ago as souvenirs for through-hikers. His creations have come to symbolize the generosity of the tight-knit trail community.
Watch to see why 20 Appalachian Trail thru-hikers decided to attempt the 2,200 mile journey this year.
In 1955, Emma Gatewood became the first woman to solo thru-hike the entire Appalachian Trail