Notes From The Trail

Springtime is a reawakening. Flowers stretch up toward the sky, black bears crawl out from their hibernation and the Appalachian Trail becomes alive with hikers who are just beginning their 2,000 mile trek to or from Mt. Katahdin. Along the way they’ll eat, sleep and live under the open sky and carry everything they need on their backs. Knowing what to take and what to leave behind can make all the difference. As Earl Shaffer put it, “Carry as little as possible but choose that little with care.”


If you’ve already made the decision to hike the Appalachian Trail, the prospect of shopping for your new adventure can be exciting! Take the time to research the best items to suit your personal needs and ensure your success in completing a thru hike. In this blog we‘ll cover the ten most important things you need to take to make it the trek across 14 states.

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The year is 1993. With the back of his car loaded full of hopes, dreams, and American Backcountry’s first tee shirt designs, Frank Hintz set out on his journey to the Appalachian Trail Conference’s Headquarters. He was in search of someone who would give American Backcountry the shot it deserved and he found Brian King. Brian not only agreed to try some of the designs, but also suggested setting up a booth at the annual Appalachian Trail Days festival in Damascus, VA. Frank may not have known it at the time, but that day was just the first step in a long journey to come.
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The end of January is often a New Years resolution checkpoint. Whether you’re getting outdoors more, exercising or cutting down on screen time - it’s important to give yourself credit for making it happen! Though as the year progresses, it can be easy to drop them or practice them less frequently. One of our resolutions every year is to do right by the planet and practice environmentally friendly habits. It’s a resolution that’s critical to maintain year-round!


In need of a couple ideas to get started, for everything from outdoor adventure to everyday lifestyle? We’ve got you covered with five eco-friendly resolutions. 

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Winter time isn’t easy on hikers and campers. Getting to trailheads can be super dangerous, and a lot of proper preparation and gear is required to make the most of a winter adventure. That said, it’s still entirely possible and can be worthwhile for views that aren’t available year round. One of the best ways to experience that is via snowshoeing, and today we’ll break down why you should give it a shot and how to get started. 

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