Trail Guides, Gear Reviews, and Backpacking Tips
Ticks are about as popular as Auntie Mabel’s fruitcake at Christmas time. These sneaky bloodsuckers can carry viruses, bacteria, and parasites, and alongside mosquitos are at the top of the vector class when it comes to disease transmission. Unfortunately, they Read More …
Food represents the most commonly fantasised about subject that occupies a long distance hiker’s mind. Yep, even more than that other one. That being the case, it stands to reason that no matter whether you are a gourmet, spartan or Read More …
Some four and a half years after finishing the 12 Long Walks – of which the Calendar Triple Crown constituted the last three hikes – the PCT, CDT, and AT continue to be the trails I am asked about the Read More …
“Thru-hiking is 90 percent mental” is one of those statements that you regularly hear in the US long-distance hiking community. Indeed, it has been repeated so often in articles, online forums, and books that it seems to be accepted as Read More …
On December 29, 2012, I finished the longest journey of my hiking life. A 14,342 mi (23,081 km), almost eighteen-month odyssey called the 12 Long Walks. I had planned to end my trip at the Appalachian Trail’s southern terminus of Read More …
The Southeastern Serpentine Trail (SST) is a 583 mile (938 km) trek through the southern part of the Appalachian mountains. It passes through four states and consists of a combination of the Foothills, Bartram and Benton Mackaye trails, along with the Smokies section of Read More …
Between 2010 and 2015, I hiked more than 19,000 miles (30,577 km) carrying a Mountain Laurel Designs Burn. This included multi-week trips in Australia, New Zealand and the calendar year triple crown of 2012 (plus eight of the other 12 Read More …
“How far have you hiked today?” About thirty miles. “Seriously?” Yes. “Why don’t you stop and smell the roses?” I chuckle every time I hear this line. Do the people asking the question actually think about what they are saying? Do Read More …
“The path wound its way through the snow laden trees. The forest had an ethereal quality, that made me feel as if I was floating rather than hiking. It was mid-November in the Appalachian mountains. Winter was coming.” ~ Cam Read More …
At a Glance Distance: 2181 miles (3510 km) Avg. Time: 5 – 6 months Start / Finish: Northern Terminus: Mt. Katahdin, Baxter State Park, ME Southern Terminus: Springer Mountain, GA Season: Regular hiking season for northbounders runs from March through Read More …
With the popularity of the Triple Crown increasing, the amount of information on the internet regarding the three long distance trails is staggering. Some of it is good; some of it not so much. That being the case, how does one separate Read More …
I hiked the Appalachian Trail between October 17 and December 28, 2012 (72.5 days). It was the 12th and final thru-hike of the 12 Long Walks. The lowest temps encountered were in North Carolina’s Smoky Mountains (7°F / -14°C), and Read More …
July 2, 2011 to December 28, 2012……………..14,302 miles, 29 states, 4 provinces, 28 pairs of shoes…………..I originally planned on having the 12 Long Walks overview map ready in June……………2011……………timing never was my strong suit. Big thanks to Brian “Beardoh” Ristola Read More …
I recently spent a fantastic few weeks in New Hampshire. In addition to the presentations for the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC), I had the opportunity to do some hiking with fellow Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) alumni Nancy “Why Not” Huber and Read More …
On August 4 and 5 I did a couple of presentations for the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) at Pinkham Notch, New Hampshire. Both talks, the 12 Long Walks and Going Lighter without Compromising Safety were well received………………at the very least no Read More …
DATE: December 4 to 5 START: Stealth site Blackhorse Gap, VA FINISH: Sarver Hollow Shelter, VA DISTANCE: 62.1 miles (99.9 km) DAILY AVERAGE: 31.5 miles (50.7 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 1509.6 (2428.9 km) The Ghost who Walks: Due to increasingly shorter Read More …
DATE: Nov 3 to 6 START: Kinsman Notch, NH FINISH: Inn at the Long Trail, VT DISTANCE: 98.9 miles (159.1 km) DAILY AVERAGE: 24.7 miles (39.7 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 487.9 miles (785 km) The Moose & the Witch’s Titty: The Read More …
Distance: 95 miles (153 km) Start: Cheoah Bald, NC Finish: Green Corner Rd, TN (turnoff to Standing Bear Farm) Time: 3.5 days (Nov.13 to Nov.16) Daily Average: 27.1 miles Highlights: Hot showers at the Fontana Dam shelter; affectionately known by long Read More …