Ask a Thru-Hiker

We've been warned against hitchhiking our entire lives—but on a long trail, sometimes it's the best option.

Most thru-hikers are careful about LNT rules—but a few scofflaws can make us all look bad.

From weight changes to growing feet, hiking 2,000 miles can have a big impact on you physically.

Through thick and thin, health and injury, long slogs and zero days, your trail family will be there for you.

In 5 months, a new class of thru-hikers will start the trip of a lifetime. If you hope to be one of them, there are a few things you should start doing now.

Finishing a 2,000-mile hike is tough. But for many thru-hikers, coming back to the “real world” afterward is even tougher.

Getting ill on the trail happens, and it can be scary. Here's how to prevent sickness and ride it out when it happens.

Is your motivation running dry? Try one of these strategies to recharge it.

In a pinch, they can can keep you going—but only if we all do our part.

Buy, ship, or check hiker boxes and just hope for the best? Here's how to keep your stove running on your thru-hike.

For hikers on the western U.S.'s long-distance paths, large wildfires are part of the new normal.

Before you head out on a thru-hike, set expectations at home and at work, and make sure that everyone knows what to do when trouble arises.

Skip the resupply box: There are better uses for your time.

From training to planning, prep right to maximize your chances of going the distance.

Nearly a year into the Covid-19 pandemic, many of us are ready to say goodbye to stay-at-home orders, shoulder our packs, and head out on a multi-month hiking adventure. But with transmission rates still high and vaccination efforts stretching into late summer, should we hold off?

Getting back to "real life" after a long hike can be rough. But if you feel low after coming home, you're not alone.

It can't all be sunsets and bear encounters. Thru-hikers spend most of their time doing one thing: walking.

Thru-hiking lingo isn’t just code, it’s a window into how people backpack.

First of all, should you?

Yes, hiking is wonderful and nature is grand. But when you’re walking for months at a time, you will eventually get bored. Our thru-hiker explains how to deal with trail fatigue.