Redefining Selfishness: Thru-hiking as Self-Care
As a thru-hiker I’ve heard all of these comments—and more—about my hikes. Often couched in terms of concern, they are in fact judging the responsibility of embarking on a multi-month...
Inside AppGearCo
Redefining Selfishness: Thru-hiking as Self-Care
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In It for the Long Haul: Friendships on the Long Trails
Thru-hikers and backpackers share more than the trails; they share a goal and a tight-knit community. Since the purpose of backpacking is simply to enjoy it and complete it, relationships...
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How to document an experience while still living in the moment
I’ve written two trail memoirs—Mud, Rocks, Blazes quoted above and Thirst: 2600 Miles to Home. Each is a detailed account of my experiences while thru-hiking (the AT and PCT, respectively). However, unlike...
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Last Person Standing
The concept of the race caught my attention. It had no defined distance or time. It was unlike anything I had ever done. Called a “Last Person Standing” Race, the...
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How To Keep Your Trail Legs All Winter Long
You spent the summer peak bagging and squeezing in as many miles as possible before the inevitable first flake of snow begins to fall. Now you’re faced with the ultimate...
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Looking Back, Looking Ahead:
The start of a new year always brings a sense of reflection, as well as a chance to look ahead and set new goals. For so many people, including the...
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Passing the Torch: A Chat with the Youngest Calendar Year Triple Crowners
In 2016 I completed the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Divide Trail to become the youngest known person to complete the Triple Crown in a single calendar year....
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Use It Up & Wear It Out: Part II
In the first installment of this blog series, I emphasized the importance of care and repair to keep your gear and activewear functioning for as long as possible. However, at some...
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Use It Up & Wear It Out: Part I
Part 1: Repair My father was born to a poor farm family in the waning years of the Great Depression. Thus, he raised me with the same mentality he was...
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From Failure to FKT: Perseverance on Costa Rica’s Highest Peak
With five miles left, my stomach rebelled. An altitude-induced headache had been crushing my skull since the summit of Mt. Cerro Chirripó, the 12,536-foot high point of Costa Rica. I...
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Apocalyptic Wasteland: From the Frontlines of the Wildfires Out West
“We call the fire's destruction ‘the black.’ I've seen burnt-over heavy machinery, foundations of houses, and it's common for the chimneys to be the only thing left of the houses,...
