If you're thinking about hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, then there's a pretty good chance that everyone in your life thinks they have some excellent advice to give you about thru-hiking (even if they've never set foot on a trail). Fortunately you know better than to listen to them, and instead
Choosing Footwear for a Long Distance Hike
Shoes are like love. They are unique to each person, and without them, this cruel world will chew you up (love protects against this happening, right?). During the first few weeks walking a long distance trail (such as the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, or Continental Divide Trail), you
A Letter To Next Year’s PCT Class
Dear Next Year's PCT Class, Your lives are about to change. Chances are that you're peeing in your pants with anticipation (if you're peeing in your pants for another reason it may be wise to consult a physician prior to beginning your hike). With only days remaining before kickoff, the dream
Coping With Readjustment And Thoughts Of Suicide
Writing this is difficult because doing so is an admission that I am no longer on the Pacific Crest Trail. Yes, it may have been close to three months since I last set foot on the PCT, but my mind is still out there somewhere, lost in the wilderness. The transition back into the "real world"
7 Convincing Reasons to Travel Solo
To many people, the idea of traveling alone can be horrifying. Granted, plenty of things can go wrong while traveling solo (getting kidnapped, winding up in a foreign prison, having your organs harvested, being sold into slavery), but plenty can also go wrong if you're traveling in a group, or if
Why You Should Never Ride A Camel
Living up to the tradition of reinforcing stereotypes you decide that you would like to ride a camel during your stint in the Middle East. Good for you. However, as the wide-eyed, camel-adventure hungry traveler you are, what you fail to realize is that your Lawrence of Arabia fantasy of
