By: Matthew Landis – Gulf War Veteran, two-time PCT Hiker, and Gregory Ambassador What is it we covet in the mountains? What’s out there that calls us so deeply? Where is your sacred space outside? Do you remember its color? The details of the landscape? On your last visit, were you alone or with someone?…
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…
Before hitting the trail, here are some ideas for getting you started on the right foot (pun intended).