Gretchen Pardon was one month and more than 270 miles into her Appalachian Trail thru-hike when she realized she had to leave the trail. It was March 23, less than two weeks after the World Health Organization had officially declared COVID-19 a pandemic, when she walked into the city of Hot Springs, NC expecting to…
There are two truths about duct tape during a thru-hike…
It’s the eternal question for any backpacker—what do you bring along, and what do you leave at home? Thru-hikers have it particularly tough, as the decisions they make determine their comfort and safety for weeks on end. This guide features about 30 things you should include in your thru-hiking pack, which sounds like a lot….
If the last hints of summer have you airing out your tent, packing away your sleeping bag, and fishing the last trail mix crumbs out of the bottom of your backpack—wait!
We spent the next five months dirt-bagging and country-hopping around Europe. And that’s how we found ourselves in the French Alps, getting ready to embark on one of the world’s most famous treks, the Tour du Mont Blanc.
Before hitting the trail, here are some ideas for getting you started on the right foot (pun intended).