My eyes cracked open as I scrambled to my phone to silence the alarm before it woke the others in the shelter. I had set the alarm for 4:30am so that I could get a jump on the day and finish the trail. It was still dark with no hint of sunlight peaking through the trees and the cold was biting. I couldn’t muster the courage to get out of the warmth and comfort of my sleeping bag. I shivered, not thinking anymore about sleep, but the finish line. I had 36.7 miles to go before

The second most question I receive, after "What do you eat on the trail,” is "Well, how do you get the food?" Most folks figure if you're on the Trail for six months then you‘re in the wilderness for that long and that's just not possible unless you’re hunting and gathering along the way. It might become possible if Amazon figures out the shipping drones with precise GPS location. Hell, the drones might even Sherpa your gear in the future. Your move Bezos. If you plan to hike

Many underestimate New England’s backcountry. However, for those that venture into its wilderness know that there are both difficult challenges and peaceful tranquility to be had. Whatever adventure you seek you will find it within one or all of these five places that you need to explore! Catskill Mountains: Whether you’re looking for a serene walk through nature or a challenging steep uphill trek, this wilderness has what you’re looking for. This New York Forest is lush and

Hiker hunger is a blessing and a curse. Sure, I can beat most eating challenges I come across, but gluttony has its downsides. While at home resting my foot I still had 'the hunger,' but was no longer burning those calories. I ate like I didn't know where my next meal was coming from and in six weeks I had gained nearly 40 pounds. I had no idea I gained so much weight until the night before climbing Katahdin. I jumped on a scale in the bathroom and was shocked when I saw 210.

Everything was going so great … until it wasn’t. We had nearly made it to the VA/ WV boarder when my left foot started to hurt. It wasn’t much at first, just dull pain at the end of the day, but hey, I had just hiked 15-20 miles. It should hurt or at least that’s what I thought. A few days later, the pain was ongoing. It hurt with every step I took. We had planned to stop and see Andy’s childhood friend for the night and that stop couldn’t have come at a better time. I was h

No trail should be underestimated. With that said, nothing in the White Mountains should ever be underestimated. Before my first visit to New Hampshire, and its beautiful White Mountains, I read an article that compared them to some of the more difficult and dangerous ranges in the world. I figured the writer was just trying to stir intrigue and reach more readers with his intense writing. As it turns out, he wasn’t wrong. Though the Whites are a part of the Appalachians,

There are countless ways to stay entertained on the trail. You can take in the views. You can sing the song that has been stuck in your head all week ("Summer Night" by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. Hey, don't judge me! It's not my fault it's such a great song). You can call out the flora and fauna you come across. You can talk about the NBA playoffs (oh goodness, it's almost over and then we’ve got nothing!). We have, however, an option to stay entertained most can o

Currently we’ve traveled 861.7 miles into our journey from Georgia to Maine. It's mind-boggling to see the coverage that we have actually made from Google maps. I still can't wrap my head around it. Yea, I'll toot my own horn. I'm cool with that. In 67 days I’ve had some great experiences and learned a lot from the Trail. Here are just a few tips. #1 - Hike Your Own Hike: This is the most (over) used term on the Trail, but the importance cannot be overstated. The Trail offers

The trail has led me to some gorgeous parts of this beautiful part of the country and many of them have been difficult to reach. Sure, there are a few places like Clingman's Dome, Newfound Gap, and Hot Springs, NC that are easily accessible by car and/ or a short walk. But the majority of places that are forever etched in my mind - the old pine forest in the Smokies, Max's Patch, and Lover's Leap Rock - take some true effort to reach. But what I have found that can make those

No matter how in shape you are when you start the trail you will be huffing and puffing at some point in the first week. Without fail someone will come by at your lowest moment and say, "You'll get your trail legs in a couple of weeks!" Trail legs seemed like some magical happening when bearded elves come out at night and switch your puny civilian legs with bionic hiker legs. You can jump over massive roots in a single bound, climb 3k feet of elevation without taking a break,