After my tirade calling out thru-hikers who hike with zero money, I thought it appropriate to examine another money-adjacent aspect of the thru-hiking world, trail angels. If you're unfamiliar with the concept of trail angels, they're basically people who help hikers during their thru-hikes. A
(Un)Popular Opinion: Stop Thru-Hiking with Zero Money
Carrying a backpack through the wilderness for thousands of miles for what could be as long as six months may not sound like an activity that demands much financial support, but thru-hiking is not as inexpensive an endeavor as you may imagine. According to the Pacific Crest Trail Survey, thru-hikers
NOW OPEN: The 2021 Continental Divide Trail Hiker Survey
The 2021 Continental Divide Trail Hiker Survey is now open for responses - fill it out here! If you hiked the Continental Divide Trail this year (2021), as a thru-hiker or section hiker, this survey is for you. It doesn't matter whether you completed the entire CDT (i.e. if you got off early or
What to Put In a Thru-Hiker Care Package
If you know someone who is hiking or plans on hiking a long-distance trail, you may want to send them a hiker care package at some point along the trail. The trick of sending a care package? Knowing what to put in it. At first thought, you may be tempted to fill it with "things hikers like" -
(Un)Popular Opinion: Why Your Trail Family Sucks
Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, I meet a hiker from Australia near the turnoff for Mount Whitney. This hiker appears to be experiencing something bordering on an existential crisis. The origin of her plight? Whether she should detour from the PCT and hike to the summit of Mount Whitney. First,
Platypus QuickDraw Microfilter Review
The Platypus QuickDraw Microfilter is a 2.2 oz / 62 g hollow-fiber membrane water filter that removes bacteria and protozoa from water sources. It's designed with simplicity and ultralight backpacking in mind - certainly something you'll find hikers using on trails such as the Pacific Crest Trail
Continental Divide Trail In Photos: Colorado
Colorado, the second state of the Continental Divide Trail (for northbound hikers), presents a set of new challenges for hikers leaving New Mexico. Hikers face elevation, snow, thunderstorms, cold, moose, recreational cannabis, and increased prices once they cross the border into Colorado from New
Continental Divide Trail Advice for 2021 (from the Class of 2020)
No matter how much you read or how many videos you watch, the Continental Divide Trail can be a (seemingly) overwhelming thing to plan for. To help you Once you've decided what gear to get, where you (think you) want to resupply, and when you're starting your adventure, what comes next? Wait?
Continental Divide Trail Week 15: The Final State(s)
Week 15 on the Continental Divide Trail brings us into the final two states of the CDT, Idaho and Montana. The trail only makes a small appearance in Idaho and spends a lot of time tracing the Idaho-Montana border. We leave Yellowstone, take the Mack's Inn Alternate, and arrive in Lima, Montana