On a journey up the Appalachian Trail, Maggie Slepian learned just how hard it can be to weather other people's judgement—and how difficult it is to stop worrying about it.
At a modest 6,288 feet, Mount Washington seems like an unlikely candidate for one of America’s deadliest mountains. But with more than 150 known fatalities, it can be a hazardous hike. Here’s what beginners need to know before hitting the trail.
Getting to Madeira, a Portuguese island off the northwestern coast of Africa, isn't easy. But make the effort and you'll find miles of rugged trails—and equally rugged views—waiting for you.
Learning how to talk about problems you're having on the trail—and how to listen—can be the difference between a frustrating, demoralizing hike and a fun, fulfilling one. What can psychology teach us?
The rise of social media has created a new breed of influencers who tackle the world's longest trails with their audiences in tow. But success isn't guaranteed on a thru-hike—and bailing with thousands of eyes on you is more complicated than it looks.
I gave up having a career and a family in favor of seasonal work and the freedom to hit the trail any time. Do I regret the sacrifice? No, but I’d be lying if I said I don’t think about it.
Gear companies are constantly upgrading their products and pulling old ones off the market. But there are some advantages to being a few seasons behind.
Americans live in one of the most individualistic nations on Earth—and it can be one of the most isolating, too. Could hiking be a way for us to find our way back to community?
No one likes having to jump through a bunch of hoops just to hike a popular trail or visit a national park. But with more and more areas reaching their carrying capacity, it’s time to consider our options.
We're taught from a young age to fight our fears. But in the outdoors, sometimes the smart thing to do is to respect them instead.
After fatal accidents on the trail, there are always a handful of hikers ready to tear apart the victims' choices—or even suggest they deserved their fate. What would it take to get us to choose compassion?
The trail is for everyone, even—especially—those of us who always got picked last in gym class.
Beginner hikers often overpack and overprepare. But as Maggie Slepian learned the hard way, experienced hikers have their own special way of messing up.
You've learned the basics and know enough to keep yourself safe. Want to take the next step toward honing your backcountry skills? Maggie Slepian explains why hitting the trail alone is the way to do it.
Some backpackers are just dedicated soloists. But as our writer discovered on her first big group trip, sometimes there's magic to hitting the trail with some new friends.
When a massive flood wrecked the Yellowstone area—and derailed her backpacking plans—Maggie Slepian had to contend with the ways the changing climate is already affecting hiking's most storied spaces.
From the Wonderland Trail to the Wave, many of the most spectacular places in the United States are only available to people willing to go through a permit lottery. For Maggie Slepian, it’s just not worth the hassle.
Backpackers often turn their noses up at the Havasu Falls and Horseshoe Bends of the world. But that’s elitist, and it ignores one important fact besides: these places are gorgeous.
Most people who start a long trail won’t finish it. But when you’ve built your identity around perseverance, what does it mean to throw in the towel?
Hiking a long trail is a challenge no matter who you are. But not everyone is equally able to make the compromises it requires.
At a crossroads in her personal life, writer Maggie Slepian decided to go on a thru-hike. But as it turns out, your problems will follow you no matter how many hundreds of miles you go.
Gear keeps getting lighter and better—but there are some products we refuse to give up. Three hikers explain why.
Winter backpacking requires an entirely different strategy than hiking in the summer. Get ready for it with these five expert picks, including a tent, a stove, a sleeping bag, and more.
Through two breakups, career changes, and more, the Beaten Path has been a welcome constant—and a yardstick for just how much everything else has shifted.
Take a long hike, and you’ll find yourself falling in with people decades older and younger than you. There’s good reason for that.
Cruise snowy trails in comfort with this dialed-in kit.
Cairns—navigational aids made out of piled or stacked rocks—get a lot of hate nowadays. That's not justified.
Campfires used to be a ubiquitous part of the outdoors; thanks to wildfire risk, they’re getting rarer and rarer. Could we see the day where they’re a thing of the past?
It doesn’t matter how beautiful the scenery is, or how lucky you are to be out there: Hike for long enough, and you’ll have bad days. And guess what? There’s nothing wrong with that.
Stay found, shaded, and hydrated with this hot-weather kit.
There's nothing wrong with a leisurely hike. But when hikers sneer at people who choose to go fast, they prove that they don't get it.
Electronics can make our hikes easier and more safe. But we may have gone too far.
Plot out a long hike too much, and it starts to feel like work. But there’s a better way.
Long-distance hikers face a short window to finish their treks. Climate change could close it even further.
These products will keep you protected and prepared on high-alpine treks.
Featherweight gear takes a lot of the pain out of carrying a load. But when it breaks in the middle of a long hike, it puts that pain right back in again.
Stay comfortable amid the sun and sand with these products.
Some hikers prepare for years to thru-hike the AT. Others do it on a whim.
With information about “secret” trails and campsites all over the internet, finding a balance between conserving the wilderness and welcoming people to it has never been more important—or more challenging.
Seven products that will help keep you and your gear dry
The OCT might not have the wilderness solitude of other long trails. But lean into its unique charm and you'll find a thru-hike experience unlike any other.
Jobs, trips, moves: Every time I tried to hit the trail with my dad, life got in the way. Then something happened that made me realize just how much time I had wasted.
Is lighter really always better?
For almost a decade, I avoided camping alone. Now, I wish I had tried it sooner.
I grew up hiking in the White Mountains. But I never fully appreciated them until I moved away.
If you think of these natural treasure troves as the B-list of the national park system, you’re missing out.
Backpackers have a habit of glorifying the big adventures. But the little ones can be just as sweet.
Hiking isn’t all gorgeous sunsets and glowing campfires, but you wouldn’t know that from looking at Instagram. And for people just getting into backpacking, that matters.