Dream. Plan. Live.
Most people are familiar with the United States’ various long trails, but did you know the trail system here was the inspiration for hiking trails all over the world? These are international thru-hikes ranging in length from 50 miles all the way to gargantuan 2,000 milers, both island-traversing long trails and age-old pilgrimages.
The long trails of America catch our imaginations: the Appalachian Trail with its steep rolling mountains, the Pacific Crest Trail with its alpine beauty, and the Continental Divide Trail’s rugged wilderness. These trails span thousands of miles and multiple states, as do most of the other routes in America’s National Trail System. They are serious undertakings that require money, equipment, and most of all, time. What if you’re short on one or even all of these? These are five lesser-known thru-hikes in the US, all one hundred miles or more, that can get you the taste of a long trail without 4-5 months of walking.
When asked why he desired to reach the summit of Mt. Everest, legendary mountaineer George Mallory allegedly replied, “Because it’s there.” Does one need any more reason than that? Of course, we all know how Mallory’s story ends- he disappeared on his summit attempt and his remains weren’t discovered until half a century later. It is still hotly debated whether or not Mallory reached the summit of Everest on that expedition, but most adventurers will agree Mallory’s three simple words were a strangely elegant, sufficient answer: because it’s there.
Since mid-way through college, it’s been a goal of mine to complete a thru-hike of the Tahoe Rim Trail (TRT); Emma has also had this goal. In August of 2021 we set out to attempt our mutual goal.
The outdoors is regrettably full of barriers to entry: far-away destinations, expensive equipment, learning barriers, and, frustratingly, permits. We’ve all run into the permit barrier, forced to waylay plans as we become tangled in red tape. As the popularity of outdoor recreation increases, so too does the impact on the forests, waterways, and peaks we […]
As many of you know, fellow RRT staffer Will Babb and I hiked the Pacific Crest Trail in 2021. A year ago, I was buying food, gathering supplies, and packing boxes. I spent years planning my resupply strategy because I obsess over these things, and ultimately only partially stuck to it. I’ll break down what […]
My first attempt on the Black Mountain Crest Trail did not end successfully but as a slow trudge with a heavy heart.
In a wilderness setting definitive care is over an hour away, anyone with thumbs can provide some level of care, and you may be your sole provider. Chances are that there will be limited resources and an extended amount of time to endure on your way to the trailhead, ambulance, or emergency department depending on the severity of the illness or injury.
The Zoleo is a two way satellite communication device. It pairs with your smart phone via Bluetooth and an extremely intuitive app available on iOS and Android.
When you’re first starting to plan a long trip there’s this big empty slate and you have figure out how you’re going to fill it. Sometimes you start filling it with how you’re going to explore a place, or how you’re going to cram as much as possible into the time you have and other times it’s how you’re going to accomplish a task that seems impossible (like walking 2,600 miles). Thankfully, when you set out to do a thru-hike you at least have a pre-determined route and the general direction of where you’re going. The next step is deciding how far you want to take your planning and that’s where things start to get messy and sometimes confusing.
