If you’re thinking about thru-hiking or section hiking the Appalachian Trail, make sure you take a buy the latest A.T. Guide, written and compiled by David Miller (trail name AWOL). The Guide has town maps, GPS coordinates to trail heads, mail drop instructions, …
Read More »Appalachian Trail
Backpacking Old Speck Mtn and the West Grafton Loop
Grafton Notch is a magnificent mountain pass in Southwestern Maine, a short drive from Gorham, NH, the last major trail town that Appalachian Trail thru-hikers visit before leaving New Hampshire. Crowned by towering Old Speck Mountain, which has a viewing tower at …
Read More »Camping Fears: Eastern Black Bears and Safety
Had a reader contact me recently asking me how I managed to get any sleep when backpacking solo. He’d gone on their first overnight trip in Dolly Sods (WV) and been freaked out worrying about eastern bears at night and being attacked …
Read More »National Geographic’s Appalachian Trail Map Set
National Geographic publishes a thirteen map Appalachian Trail Illustrated map set of waterproof paper maps that cover the length of the Appalachian Trail from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Maine’s Mt Katahdin. Available as a complete set or in separate 200-250 mile sections of trail ($14.95 each), …
Read More »Section Hiking the Southern Pennsylvania Appalachian Trail
The first thing I did when I got to the Maryland – Pennsylvania border was to cross the Mason Dixon Line. The second thing was going to China King Buffet, an all-you-can east Chinese Food joint in Waynesboro proper. Feeling protein deprived …
Read More »Section Hiking the Appalachian Trail through Maryland
I left the TeaHorse Hostel at 8:00 am after eating their signature waffle breakfast and walked through the town, crossing the railroad bridge to get to the C & O Canal in Maryland. The Maryland section or the AT is only 40 …
Read More »Different Styles of Section Hiking
There are many different ways of section hiking a long trail, perhaps as many as there are section hikers. Some section hikers plan their hikes down to the last detail while others don’t do much planning at all. Here are some of the most common styles of …
Read More »Section Hiking the Appalachian Trail: Front Royal, Virginia thru Harper’s Ferry West Virginia
It started to rain as soon as I left the Mountain Home Hostel on Rt 522 in Front Royal, Virginia (969.1). I’d traveled down to Harper’s Ferry from Boston the day before and gotten a shuttle from the train station to the …
Read More »How to Get a Job After a Thru-Hike
If you’ve just completed a thru-hike on the Appalachian Trail, the CDT or the PCT, or you’re planning one for next year, finding a new job after your hike, might be easier than you think. As a former hiring manager with a …
Read More »How to Get Backpacking Gear Sponsorships
Backpacking and outdoor gear companies sponsor hikers and other athletes because it’s a very inexpensive form of advertising. The basic formula goes like this: they give you a piece of free gear or a steep discount on purchases you make through them, …
Read More »The Pros and Cons of Section Hiking the Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy says that 20% of the people who claim to hiking the Appalachian Trail each year are section hikers, although I suspect that the actual number is much higher. While some section hikers complete the trail in just a few years, many others …
Read More »10 Frugal Thru-Hiking Tips
Taking time to hike the Appalachian Trail can be expensive if you don’t spend your money wisely. Here are a few tips to keep your costs to a minimum without going primal. Being a frugal thru-hiker or section hiker can halve the estimated …
Read More »Appalachian Trail Cell Phone Guide
Cell phones have become a ubiquitous sight in the Appalachian Trail and for good reason. Cell phone service is pretty good along most of the trail, provided your phone is on the Verizon Network or serviced by a discount network like StraightTalk. (StraightTalk …
Read More »Insect Shield Clothing for Preventing Lyme Disease on the Appalachian Trail
Lyme Disease is reaching epidemic proportions on the Appalachian Trail yet hikers still insist on hiking in short sleeve shirts and short pants. The easiest way to protect yourself from Lyme Disease is to wear long pants, a long sleeve shirt, and hat …
Read More »