Ask a Thru-Hiker: Help! I’m So Bored on the Trail.
Your thru-hike is supposed to be the trip of a lifetime. So why is your mind wandering to literally anywhere else?
Latest
The Secret to These Backpacking Crepes? Pre-Make Them.
Whether for breakfast, lunch, or an after-dinner treat, these make-ahead crepes add a touch of class to any campsite.
A Hiker Tried to Burn a Spider. He Allegedly Sparked a Wildfire Instead.
“Um, don’t do drugs kids (and don’t start spiders on fire during a drought),” Utah governor Spencer Cox tweeted Tuesday
NOLS Student Dies by Lightning Strike
A 22-year-old died in camp in the Absaroka Mountains on Tuesday evening.
Hikers Are Now Banned from the World’s Tallest Tree
Redwood National Park officials cite damage visitors have caused to forest.
Hiker Traffic on Colorado Fourteeners Plummeted in 2021
Driven by closures and new parking rules, hikers spent 27% fewer days hiking the state's highest mountains in 2021 than they did in 2020.
60 Pacific Crest Trail Hikers Rescued from Fire Near Oregon Border
Fires have killed at least four people so far; backpackers face extensive closures.
First Look: A Trekking Pole that Doubles as a Water Filter
Is the PürTrek pole-filter mashup a brilliant idea or a Frankensteinian mess?
Subpar Parks Makes Art Out of Hilariously Bad National Park Reviews
Too many rocks? Not enough people? Illustrator Amber Share says bring it on.
Arlette Laan’s 16,000-Mile Journey to Hike All of the National Scenic Trails
The first woman to tick all of the United States' National Scenic Trails spent 20 years on her quest.
Sponsored Content
Explore the Other Side of North Lake Tahoe
Get a different perspective on Lake Tahoe (and fewer crowds, too!) when you head into the mountains surrounding North Lake Tahoe
Member Exclusives
Stories, gear reviews, hiking guides, and more just for Outside+ members.
Join Outside+ See All2022 Summer Gear Guide
The 13 Products That Won Awards in the 2022 Summer Gear Guide
We reviewed 341 pieces of gear. But these ones stood above.
Fitness
The Best Hiking Workouts for Every Fitness Level
Reality check: Hitting the gym is the quickest way to hike farther, easier, faster, and pain-free. Get into a routine—or take yours to the next level—with these smart workouts for three different levels.
The Best Hikes
The Best Hikes in Colorado
Lace up your boots for a hiking destination that includes Rocky Mountain vistas, alpine lakes, wind-swept sand dunes, and memorable urban parks.
Backpacking Skills
Learn How to Use a Compass and Never Get Lost Again
Make sure you never get lost again by mastering the underappreciated art of navigating with a compass and map.
Gear Round-Ups
The Best Backpacking Kitchen Gear of 2022
Feast-making cookware that won’t slow you down
Trail Guides
The Ultimate Guide to Hiking the Zion Narrows
The Narrows at Zion National Park offers an incredible adventure in America's most amazing slot canyons. Here's how to safely explore them.
Survival Skills
How to Remove and Treat Thorns, Splinters, and Other Prick Wounds
Nature can be brutal. Learn how to to deal with wounds from all kinds of thorns, spines, splinters, shards, quills, needles, and anything else that might get under your skin when you’re on the trail.
Classic Destinations
Experience Deep Backcountry on the Appalachian Trail’s 100-Mile Wilderness
Hike some of the East Coast's wildest wilderness on the AT.
Backpacking Gear
Best Backpacking Tents of 2022
Find shelter from the storm with these excellent backpacking tents.
Long Trails
100 Years Ago, the Appalachian Trail Was One Man’s Dream. Now, It’s Everyone’s.
Benton MacKaye's original proposal for the Appalachian Trail came out 100 years ago. While the trail may have changed, the appeal hasn't.
Listen
Out Alive
Real people who survived the unsurvivable
Listen
Impossible Odds
Two friends, 8,000 trail miles, one year
Featured Story
A.T. Phone Home: Backpacker Wants Your Appalachian Trail Stories
Have a tale from the AT? We want you to give us a call—literally.
From Grandma Gatewood‘s walk to Bill Bryson‘s misadventures to the Instagram hiking heroes of today, some of backpacking’s most compelling stories have originated on the Appalachian Trail. Whether it’s for 3 months or a weekend, everyone who sets foot on this path has their own tale: a bear encounter, a spectacular sunrise, or an unforgettable night with a shelter full of new friends. Now, Backpacker wants to help you tell yours. All you need to do is leave us a message.
This season, we’re highlighting ordinary AT hikers’ extraordinary stories. Here’s how it works: give us a call at 303-253-6424 and leave us a message with your name and a story from your section hike or thru-hike. Anything is fair game: we’re looking for your best moments, your worst moments, a story about your tramily, your favorite summit, an experience that got your pulse pounding, a tale about the friendly space alien you met along the way, or just how the trail has changed your perspective. We’ll pick our favorites and feature them on our Instagram and Facebook accounts for everyone to enjoy. Our only requirement: that it’s out of this world.
Tell us your Appalachian Trail story at 303-253-6424
FAQ
Where will you share these stories?
We’ll share our favorite stories from A.T. Phone Home on Instagram and Facebook, and may also feature them on our site, podcasts, and other social media platforms.
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