Our Best Trail Magic Stories Mary Beth Skylis|September 20, 2024 Trail magic is a special kindness shown to a long-haul hiker. Maybe it's a snack, a ride or a friendly face, but it's always unforgettable.
The SWEAT Crew Is the Toughest Team on the Appalachian Trail Graham Averill|May 27, 2022 Each year, millions of backpackers and day hikers set out to tackle all or part of the Appalachian Trail. This is the team tasked with stewarding the 71-mile section that winds through Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Hikers, Climbers, Mountain Bikers Reconsider Plans Amid COVID-19 Ashley Brown|March 25, 2020 Land managers and nonprofit organizations provide updated recommendations for recreationists planning thru-hikes and backcountry adventures amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.
At Home on the Appalachian Trail Jonathan Olivier|February 13, 2020 Janet Hensley grew up a stone’s throw from the AT. Since then, she’s devoted her life to helping people hike it.
Hiker Trash: A Love Letter to the Appalachian Trail Aer Parris|October 10, 2019 A new book offers a rare glimpse into the heart of the thru-hiking community.
Put a Hike to This North Carolina Lookout Tower on Your List Graham Averill|March 1, 2019 Fire lookout towers like the one at Rich Mountain were once the primary source of fire detection in North Carolina. Now, the Forest Fire Lookout Association, in collaboration with local nonprofits, has begun restoring them.
Community Stories: Akuna Hikes REI Staff|November 12, 2018 The new short film, “Akuna Hikes,” produced by Stept Studios and presented by Merrell, follows veteran Will Robinson’s journey to healing through hiking.
Karel Sabbe Sets New Fastest Known Time on the Appalachian Trail Jonathan Olivier|August 29, 2018 Moving at an astonishing pace, the Belgian ultrarunner smashed the previous Fastest Known Time on the AT by more than four days.
Appalachian Trail (AT) REI Staff|August 3, 2018 One of America’s most iconic footpaths, the Appalachian Trail travels nearly 2,200 miles between Georgia and Maine. Each year thousands of people head north from the trail’s southern terminus in an attempt to hike the whole trail in one year, but only one-fourth of them finish the journey.
There’s No Such Thing As a Perfect Hike Matt Crossman|July 13, 2018 We all have great expectations when we set out on a hike. We go in with preconceived notions and come out disappointed when they aren’t met. But I’ve noticed a strange trend in my hiking life: Some hikes have a way of becoming retroactively better than I had ever hoped.
The Joys of Section Hiking Shawnté Salabert|May 22, 2018 Many backpackers dream of spending weeks—or even months—on trail. But most folks can’t swing the time commitment required to thru-hike classics like the Pacific Crest Trail, Appalachian Trail and Continental Divide Trail. The solution? Learn to embrace the joys of section hiking.
What Does It Take to Set a Fastest Known Time? Liz Thomas|April 27, 2018 Record-setting distance runner Jennifer Pharr Davis reveals the science and psychology of endurance running in her new book.
