Your backpacking clothes for an Appalachian Trail don’t have to be overly complicated—in fact, simpler is better because you don’t want to carry anything you won’t use. What you do want is durable clothing, doesn’t chafe or rub you the wrong way, …
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10 Appalachian Trail Tips for Women
If you’re a woman who dreams of walking the Appalachian Trail as either a thru-hike or in sections, you probably have thoughts and questions you’d prefer answered with a female perspective. Based on my experience preparing for my Appalachian Trail thru-hike and …
Read More »How to Eliminate Spare Clothing from your Gear List
Many ultralight backpackers bring extra clothing on trips that they never wear and end up carrying for no purpose. Doing this has a ripple effect, because it means you need a larger backpack to carry the extra clothing, which is probably going …
Read More »Do You Need to Stay in the White Mountain Huts When You Hike the New Hampshire Appalachian Trail?
I ran into some section hikers in Maryland who asked me if you need to stay in the Appalachian Mountain Clubs (AMC) Huts when you hike the Appalachian Trail through New Hampshire. Absolutely not! Priced at $150 per person/night, you get a …
Read More »Do You Need a Tent to Hike the Appalachian Trail?
When hiking the Appalachian Trail, you always want to bring some kind of camping shelter, be it a tent, floorless tarp, or hammock, because there’s a very real chance that the shelter will be full when you arrive. Shelter occupancy is first …
Read More »What are PUDS (Pointless Ups and Downs)?
PUDS, otherwise known as pointless ups and downs, are a frequent topic of conversation among hikers and backpackers, up there with blisters and butt chafing. They signify the numerous ups and downs found along many hiking trails, which are viewed as deliberate …
Read More »How to Section Hike the Appalachian Trail: FAQ
People who section hike the Appalachian Trail, hike it a segment at a time, on weekends or whenever it’s convenient for them to get away for a few days. There’s no need to quit your job or school. While it’s not as …
Read More »Gas Station and Convenience Store Resupply Guide
It’s a sad fact that many of the grocery stores you used to find in small towns along the Appalachian Trail and other hiking trails have been replaced by gas station convenience stores. The quality of food available has suffered and it can …
Read More »How to Hike the 100 Mile Wilderness
The 100 mile Wilderness is a bucket list hike if there ever was one. The route is arduous but extremely beautiful, running over mountain ranges and past beautiful Maine lakes along the northern most section of the Appalachian Trail. However, it’s quite …
Read More »AT Section Hike: The Mahoosucs and Old Speck Mountain
“Pull on my ankles!”, I shouted to Ken, from under a house-sized rock in Mahoosuc Notch. I’d dropped a water bottle as I scrambled between the giant boulders in what is often referred to as “the hardest mile on the Appalachian Trail” …
Read More »New Hampshire Appalachian Trail Section Hike: Rattle River to Lost Pond
The first backpacking trip I ever took in New Hampshire’s White Mountains started at the Rattle River Trailhead on Rt 2 outside of Gorham. We met at the shelter that first evening, 2 miles up from the highway, and then climbed Mts …
Read More »New Hampshire Appalachian Trail Section Hike: Hanover to Wentworth
The New Hampshire Appalachian Trail begins at the bridge over the Connecticut River that separates Vermont and New Hampshire. That’s where I had my shuttle driver drop me off, before I headed up the hill thru Hanover Center, which was bustling with …
Read More »Pennsylvania AT Section Hike: Fayetteville to Boiling Springs
Like a moth to the flame…my cabin fever gets so bad each April that I schedule Appalachian Trail section hikes for this time of year. Unfortunately, some unexpected family and domestic issues forced me to cut my trip short and return to New …
Read More »Appalachian Trail Shuttle Guide
Appalachian Trail Shuttles are hiker taxis that will ferry you to and from the trail when you need to leap-frog to the end of a section or need a ride to a nearby town, hostel, train or bus station. They’re part of …
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