The Continental Divide Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail are both long-distance hiking trail connecting the Mexican and Canadian borders of the United States. Every year, a class of hopeful thru-hikers sets out on (what is many times) a once-in-a-lifetime journey with the hopes of completing the
Why the PCT Is Better Than the CDT
The Pacific Crest Trail and the Continental Divide Trail are largely regarded as two of the greatest long-distance hiking trails in the world. Hiking one of these trails requires a huge amount of time and dedication; time and dedication that many people will only be able to accommodate once (if
Japan Traverse in Photos: The Kita Alps (北アルプス)
My traverse of the Japanese Alps began at the eastern edge of Toyama Bay (富山湾) in Niigata Prefecture (新潟県). From the coast, my hiking party of two Kiwis and I headed up the northernmost ridgeline in the Kita Alps (北アルプス) - aka the Northern Alps. The trip began with nearly a week of nonstop rain as
Japan Alps Spreadsheet: Peaks, Huts, & Distances
I don't know that I would say I love data, but I do love being organized and data is one of those things that can be organized nicely. Maybe it's because of that that I spent way too long creating a spreadsheet listing all of the peaks, passes, huts, and trailheads of my Japan Alps Traverse (this
Japan Alps Traverse Map, Itinerary, and GPS Track
The route I would take through across the Japanese Alps was unsure at best before starting this traverse, but I managed to stick to my original plan (if you could call it that) fairly closely. Having now completed the traverse, I am sharing my day-by-day itinerary, statistics, and maps to help those
Why I’m Hiking The Pacific Crest Trail Again
My decision to hike the Pacific Crest Trail for the first time (in 2013) was rather spontaneous. Without getting existential, I can trace this decision back to a chance encounter I had with a man in New Hampshire. It's one of a handful of moments I can honestly say forever changed the course of
25 Movies To Watch Before Hiking The Pacific Crest Trail
Sitting around waiting for the start of a Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike can be a boring task (this is why I fill said task with junk food). However, as with everything else in life, there are always movies if you need a good old-fashioned distraction from life (but are they old-fashioned if they're
17 Movies To Watch Before Hiking The Continental Divide Trail
Waiting to start your thru-hike can be a lot like sitting on the toilet waiting for a bowel movement. You don't want to rush it, you're excited for it to happen, and you need something to keep you entertained during the wait. Thankfully, we have movies to solve this problem. But before we get
Pacific Crest Trail Gear List (Round Two) – UPDATED
I've come a long way since my first Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike and my first Pacific Crest Trail gear list. With the exception of my spork, anti-chafe balm, and head net, every piece of gear I now have in my pack is different (this includes my pack). I know I've said it before somewhere, but I'm