Notes From The Trail
Winter hiking, with its snow-laden landscapes and crisp, invigorating air, offers a unique experience for outdoor enthusiasts. As temperatures drop and nature undergoes a transformative slumber, winter hiking unveils a serene beauty that is both challenging and rewarding. Let’s explore the essentials of winter hiking, from gear considerations to safety measures, and delve into the magic of winter trails in the United States.
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.
Happy Halloween! We hope that everybody has had fun decorating their yards, and is looking forward to trick or treating with their little ones. This time of year makes us think of some of the fun spooky campfire stories that put us on the edge of our seats while we roast marshmallows.
This is my tale of hiking in the 100-Mile Wilderness and up (and then down, because, well, once at the summit, you have to go somewhere!) Katahdin.
I have been section hiking the Appalachian Trail (AT) in small bites since 2010. I was a latecomer to the hiking party. I am a 23-year retired Air Force pilot who then flew for an airline, so big chunks of time were hard to come by. Even though I grew up in Virginia, I had zero knowledge of the AT until my son started skipping class to go hiking while he was at VA Tech in his senior year, 2006. Being the straight-A student he was, my wife and I didn't yell at him and I thought, "How cool." So the seed was planted in my brain, but as I was just starting my airline career, the time wasn't right.