Thru-Hiking
Archive
The shredders, climbers, policy-makers, barrier breakers, and scientists who forever changed the way we view the world
Perry鈥檚 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鈥檛 miss.
Nick 鈥淐hezwick鈥 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鈥檚 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鈥檛 want to race鈥攜et.
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鈥檚 wardrobe, but they often get gross, fast. Not Coalatree鈥檚 new Suray.
The results, however hilarious, remind us how hikers destigmatize the body
Andrea Sansone spent the summer scouting Nolan鈥檚 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鈥檚 previous fastest time
On Thursday, they finished the last leg of the triple crown, but they鈥檙e not done yet
On Sunday night, British hiker Josh Perry decimated the trail鈥檚 long-standing self-supported records after chasing Timothy Olson鈥檚 2021 time
They鈥檙e 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鈥檚 Black Hills, I鈥檝e 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鈥檚 way more expensive and not as comfortable. Our gear director weighs the pros and cons of an 眉ber-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 鈥淕randmaster鈥 Classen鈥檚 fatal fall is still unclear
For many hikers, stopping can be harder than continuing, even if it鈥檚 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鈥攁nd 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 国产吃瓜黑料 Book Club, on Tuesday, April 5
Our March pick is Cheryl Strayed鈥檚 classic memoir of hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. We鈥檒l 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
鈥淭he world and how it interacts with me changed the day I came out as trans鈥
I want to thru-hike part of the AT or PCT, but I鈥檓 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:聽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鈥檝e learned their lessons from鈥攁nd found love on鈥攖he 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 国产吃瓜黑料 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鈥檛 live without, and why thru-hiking is always worth it in the end.
Lo Phong La Kiatoukaysy, a.k.a. Lil鈥 Buddha, started thru-hiking America鈥檚 trails after 9/11. He hasn鈥檛 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鈥攆rom thru-hiking dispatches to Neko Case鈥檚 reflections on nature
Pawel Szafruga recently did the unthinkable by summiting all of Colorado鈥檚 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鈥檚 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鈥檙e dead set on walking every inch of a trail, but your partner doesn鈥檛 mind skipping a section or two. How do you compromise?
When hikers have leftover food or gear, they don鈥檛 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鈥 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鈥檛 spoil it by obsessing over a bunch of YouTube videos.
In an excerpt from his latest book, 鈥楩reedom,鈥 the celebrated nonfiction writer describes a journey along Pennsylvania鈥檚 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 Ice Age Trail in winter. She鈥檚 also become an unintentional ambassador of the outdoor industry鈥檚 quest for inclusivity.
Hiking can be a blast, but it won鈥檛 be if you're struggling every few feet. Here鈥檚 how to get ready for trekking, from easy day hikes to the longest thru-hikes in the world.
Sometimes the biggest threat in the wilderness is another human
Hiking was in vogue in 2020, but COVID-19 closures decimated the thru-hiking ranks. What did prospective hikers do with their unexpected time back home?
Monica and Vince Strawbridge and their four children hiked the PCT in 2018 and the CDT in 2020. Now the family has begun the AT.
What happens when a lifelong fraidy-cat sets out into the wilderness alone?
Staying in hiking shape during the off-season is a serious challenge, but it鈥檚 not impossible
Lots of people say they hike to change their lives. For some, that starts by changing their love lives.
Many hikers hope their treks will make them better at other sports. Instead, mine kept me from distance running for a year鈥攁 common side effect we don't discuss enough.
After devoting their spring to COVID-19 patients, two West Virginia brothers became the first identical twins to earn the triple crown of American hiking
From Washington to California, here are nine of our favorite short treks along the famous route
A pair of protective, breathable, comfortable bottoms is foundational to any adventure kit. We're here to help you find ones with the right features and fit.
Grizel is using her rising social media profile to spark a more nuanced conversation on nature's power to heal
Plus, how to make up for missing an important day
After months of trespassing and hiding from rangers, two hikers completed the Appalachian Trail in June. Their sagas raise questions about what it means to be outdoors in the United States right now.
Thru-hiker traffic on this western trail is growing faster than the volunteer community's ability to handle it
What a locked-down 国产吃瓜黑料 travel editor has been making to eat her way around the world during the pandemic
In his latest video for Backpacking TV, Eric Hanson breaks down what kind of shoe might be the right choice for your hiking style