As part of the Pacific Crest Trail Hiker Survey, I ask hikers what their lowest moments on the trail were and when, if ever, they encountered a situation where they felt legitimately afraid or in danger (e.g. when you're about to be eaten by a bear). Sadly, the PCT is more than following a line
Why Water Caches Are Bad for Thru-hikers
Water caches are locations where water is stored or left out where there would otherwise be none. They have become increasingly common on long-distance trails such as the Pacific Crest Trail and the Continental Divide Trail, which may sound like a good thing - water caches mean hikers aren't forced
Your Pacific Crest Trail Thru-hike Is Canceled
I tried to break the news gently, but now time for willful ignorance has come to an end. The Pacific Crest Trail Association, the Continental Divide Trail Coalition, and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy have all officially requested hikers to postpone or cancel their thru-hikes (in related news,
COVID-19: Time to Cancel Your Thru-hike? (yeah, probably)
Update March 19, 2020: The Pacific Crest Trail Association, the Continental Divide Trail Coalition, and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy have all officially requested hikers to postpone or cancel their thru-hikes. A month ago, it may have been difficult to imagine that what you may have thought
Suffering & Despair on the Continental Divide Trail (Class of 2019)
As part of the Continental Divide Trail Survey, I ask hikers what their lowest moments on the trail were and when, if ever, they encountered a situation where they felt legitimately afraid or in danger. The CDT has a reputation for being more challenging than the Pacific Crest Trail and the
Suffering & Despair on the Pacific Crest Trail (Class of 2019)
As part of the Pacific Crest Trail Hiker Survey, I ask hikers what their lowest moments on the trail were and when, if ever, they encountered a situation where they felt legitimately afraid or in danger (e.g. when you're about to be eaten by a bear). Sadly, the PCT is more than following a line
Horror & Heartbreak On The Continental Divide Trail (2018 Edition)
The Continental Divide Trail is frequently thought of as the most difficult of thru-hiking's "Triple Crown". As part of this year's Continental Divide Trail Hiker Survey, I asked hikers about their lowest moments on trail and the moments on trail that made them legitimately fearful (whether this was
Horror & Heartbreak On The Pacific Crest Trail (2018 Edition)
Is the Pacific Crest Trail a fantastic adventure that you should most definitely set out on? Yes. Is the Pacific Crest Trail a never-ending ride of epic views, happy times, and rainbow-farting trail angels? Not really. Is the Pacific Crest Trail a place where you could end up dead at the
Fear And Sadness On The Pacific Crest Trail (2017 Edition)
Unfortunately, there's often a log of fearmongering that goes on surrounding a Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) thru-hike. Many would-be mongerers of fear have never hiked the PCT (or maybe at all) before and are largely afraid of irrational things (like murderers in the woods). As a former PCT thru-hiker,