Hello, friends! This year's Pacific Crest Trail and Continental Divide Trail Surveys will be posted a little later than normal. This is due to two factors. First, there are still people completing trails and filling out the surveys. Second, I am going to be completely disconnected from the date
Continental Divide Trail in Photos: Wyoming
Wyoming, the third state of the Continental Divide Trail (for northbound hikers) is another dramatic shift in the trail for thru-hikers. The transition from Colorado to Wyoming is just as dramatic as the shift from New Mexico to Colorado. The small mountain resort towns of Colorado are replaced
(Un)Popular Opinion: Thru-Hikers Stop Depending on Trail Angels
The thru-hiker/trail angel relationship has been put under strain with the increasing popularity of thru-hiking. And it's not just because thru-hikers are hitting the trail with zero money (but that's not helping). For this article, we're going to define trail angels as being anyone who regularly
(Un)Popular Opinion: Trail Angels, Stop Asking Hikers for Money
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