Geology professor, ultrarunner, nordic skier, father, PCT class of 2025

Hi y’all! My name is Alex/Birdie and I am passionate about the outdoors and love to share my passion with curious readers such as yourself! Last year I successfully thru hiked the Appalachian Trail and this year I will be thru hiking the Camino De Santiago! I will be starting within the month and am looking forward to another grand adventure!

Hey I'm Andrew. I am a 22 year old from West Virginia with a dream and a gap semester. I just finished my undergrad degree in December 2024, and now I am going to squeeze in an Appalachian Trail thru-hike before I head off to law school in August 2025. Now is the best chance in my life I could have to thru-hike, so I hope I can make it to Mt. Katahdin before I need to go back to school.

Hey there! I’m Anna, a west coast native with a passion for long trails and type 2 fun. My husband and I are lacing up our trail runners to attempt to thru-hike the Pacific Crest Trail. I’ve spent years exploring the Pacific Northwest, including the Wonderland Trail ('22). My blog will share daily stories from the trail, reflections on what fuels my journey, and the realities of thru-hiking with celiac disease. Whether you’re fellow hiker trash, an armchair adventurer, or someone curious about gluten-free trail life, follow along!

Anna is from western North Carolina and grew up romping through hollers and hills. Her love of the Appalachian mountains drew her onto the Appalachian Trail in 2021 where she became "Magic". The AT was her first thru hike and the place where she would meet her future husband, Truffles. After completing the AT, the pair moved to east Tennessee to work as backpacking guides in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Between guiding gigs, Magic hiked the Arizona Trail in 2023 and the West Highland Way in 2024. In 2025, Magic will travel west to thru hike the Pacific Crest Trail. When she isn't in the woods, Magic enjoys writing, playing disc golf, and teaching yoga. You can follow along with all of Magic's adventures on her Instagram (@annamckinney22) or by checking out her blog, magicinthemountains.blog.

My name is Platinum (or Annie) and I am an AT 2022 thru-hiker and PCT 2023 thru-hiker! I am currently prepping and planning for a SOBO Direttissima for summer of 2025 and the CDT for a SOBO start in 2026! With lots of little adventures in between!

Antal Bokor is a retro game collector, Chicago-based game journalist and co-founder of CultureCombine.com. He’s also a video game historian and US Army veteran. Antal’s a Trekkie, a musician, a great cook, and some people believe he’s actually a bear in a man-suit. He also owns and operates his own small electronics repair business where he restores video game consoles to their original splendor. He’s wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail since he was a kid, and will be setting out in March of 2025 to accomplish that goal.

I choose a word to inspire my growth each year. This year my word is adventure. From 2019 to 2021, my word was brave. Clearly, I struggled to grow into THAT word. Since I was a child, I dreamed of sailing. But I had been living in the grip of fear. In 2021, I wriggled painfully out of fear's grip by learning to sail a Hobie 14. I was brave in many other ways in 2021, but bravery was fun on the days I learned to sail. Pain and fun can walk hand it hand. Hikers know this, ask our feet. I came to hiking via hunting as a child with my dad, granddad and great-granddad. I had no idea it was hiking until I went on my first hike in Amicalola Falls, Georgia with Bill. I dropped him off at the start of the Appalachian Trail, and his plan was to hike the full trail. My take away from that momentous hike: hiking is hunting without the guns. Two weeks later, I went from hike one to hike two up Blood Mountain with gusto. At the top of Blood Mountain on a wide, flat rock overlooking the most beautiful view I had seen in my life, I decided I was going to hike the Appalachian Trail. From that moment until now, Bill and I have been rearranging the pieces of our life to accommodate this commitment. And now, we are ready for the joy and the pain of hiking the entire 2,197.4 miles of the AT.

Hi! My name is Bettina, I’m from Austria and I'm tackling my dream of a NOBO PCT thru-hike in 2025. For anyone curious about this exciting adventure, whether you know me personally or are just looking for some PCT-related content, I hope to be able to virtually take you on this journey with me.

Mom in an empty nest, ex-science technician, translator to be, the trail will help me make the transition real. Walking home to my cute little house on the stream. Vous voulez lire mes aventures en français? walkthewoods.net

Hi! I'm Cam (they/them)– or "Peebz," if you happen to catch me as I thru-hike the Appalachian Trail in 2025! I'm also "Dad" to Small Fry, "Captain" to Susan the Subaru, and "Boss" to an army of sourdough starters. But more on them later. For now, all you need to know is I'm a Proud Queer and Trans Southerner championing "Queer Joy in the Woods" with every step I take and every packet of ramen I consume. So grab your sporks, and let's get to it!

Hey y'all! My name is Carson (they/them), and I'll be thru hiking the PCT in 2025. I also thru hiked the AT in 2021. I'm super into ultrarunning, caving, hiking (duh), and writing, and I'm excited to share some of my PCT adventures, preparations, and general trail thoughts with you.

My name is Molly aka Crayon. I am a teacher in North Carolina. I have completed the Appalachian Trail from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia which accumulates to 1026 miles. I’m going to finish the AT. I look forward to sharing my hiking adventures and meeting new people.

My name is Elayna (no trail name yet!), and hiking the AT in 2025 will be my first experience thru-hiking! You can blame all the other bloggers on the Trek for making me think this was a good idea... Follow along on by subscribing to my blog and my YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/@OriginalSpacewhale

I've spent the last 53 years doing all the things I'm supposed to do, so now it's time to do a few things that most people would say I shouldn't! I'll start my 2025 AT thru-hike in my home state of Virginia this April. To offset some of my mom-guilt over doing this deeply indulgent thing, I'll be raising money for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy in their 100th year!

I'm a long time outdoorsman with my main passions being backpacking and skiing! I got my start in backpacking as an Eagle Scout before tackling the AT in 2021! I'm setting out on the PCT this year and hopefully will be sharing my experiences with all of you. Follow me here, on my Instagram Georgekindahikes, or my youtube George Gristina!

I am an aspiring Thru Hiker for the 2025 hiking season. I am looking to hike the Appalachian Trail from the Southern Terminus to the Northern Terminus.

I just graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and am thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2025! I decided to thru-hike the AT in 11th grade and have been planning this for seven years. I did my time in school and now have my Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Mechanical Engineering from one of the most rigorous technical universities in the country. I am stoked to spend five months of my life outdoors traversing the Appalachian mountains this year! Follow me on Instagram @themountainengineer

I’m Jenn, and I’ll be attempting a flip-flop thru hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2025. My friend Keith and I plan to start from Harpers Ferry, WV sometime in late winter. I hope you enjoy reading about my adventure this year!

Long time day hiker transitioning into semi-feral forest creature on retirement. Former research chemist and long time Appalachian Trail thru hike lurker. The time of lists, research and rabbit holes is done and Class of 2025 awaits.

Hello, all! I am a 64-year-old Pennsylvanian (he/him), retired from government legal services and the Coast Guard Reserve, who is excited to be pursuing a decades-old goal of thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail. I am fortunate to have a likeminded good friend who has the same aim. I look forward to documenting our double flip-flop jaunt!

Hi, I’m John Kriz (AlphaGal). Some just call me Kriz. 2024/25 will finally be my time to attempt a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. Starting SoBo late 2024, I made it 220 miles before the weather stopped me. I’ll resume my journey in February, this time NoBo. Eight years ago, for our 25th wedding anniversary, my wife and I decided it would be fun to summit Mount Washington. Afterwards, we continued to hike different sections of the AT and since then, I’ve become serious about completing the whole thing. I’ve completed just over half…but I CRAVE the day I can just keep hiking. 2024 coincided with my retirement, and the opportunity to just keep hiking until I’m done. Somewhere along the way, I was bitten by a Lone Star tick and I became severely allergic to red meat and dairy, a condition known as Alpha-Gal allergy. Seven years later, I believe I’ve finally grown out of it. So, 2024 was also a celebration of recovery…and with it, opportunity for a new trail name. Looking forward so much to the journey and sharing it with you.

Greetings! I'm Tom Kaczmarek, a.k.a. Kazanobo (Kaz-a-NOBO...get it?). I'm a proud husband and dad, section-hiking my way to Katahdin before I turn 50. Thru-hike: Long Trail 2016 | Adirondack 46er #10276 | Section-hike: AT 2023 - ?

Canadian mountain goat ultra runner now embracing the #disconnecttoreconnect of the backpacking/thru hiking world!! Excited to see where this journey takes me including the beautiful spaces, shenanigans, and the cool people I meet along the way!!

Hey there! My name is Megan/T-Rex. I'll be attempting a thru-hike of the PCT in May. My Hiker Trash journey began in 2020 when I completed the Colorado Trail. I have The ADHD, which is why I thrive when I'm long-distance hiking. When I’m not on a trail, I’m a traveling Speech Language Pathologist with a special interest in NeuroDiversity-affirming therapy and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). I’m also a proud cat mom of two lovely ladies - Izzmund the 3rd (Izzy) and Rizozos (Zoey). I can't wait to hit the trail and take you along for the ride! If you want to follow me after my PCT hike, my Substack is: mnhantz.substack.com

My name is Misty, and I hail from Nebraska, where I live with my husband, two cats, and flock of chickens. I worked in healthcare for over 16 years before giving it up for more outdoor pursuits. I can't wait to share my Superior Hiking Trail experience with you!

Hey there! I’m Natalie. My dad Mark and I (Salty Dawg and Glam Girl) are setting out to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail February 28. Born and raised in the Western Maine Mountains, the AT has always felt close to home. I grew up exploring New England via hiking, mountain biking, skiing, and running with my dad, family, and friends. We are beyond grateful and excited to have the opportunity to thru-hike the AT this year. My blog will explore daily reflections from the trail (including the highs and lows), nutrition, and what fuels us to keep trekking. Follow our journey along!

Nick kindred (Sgt Pepper) lives in Florida and spent the majority of his adult life working as an engineer on NASA’s manned flight space program. His journey into backpacking started by section hiking the AT when he could. It took 18 years but in 2023 he finished the entire AT. With kids out of the house and calling it quits on his 40 year career Nick will be thru hiking the PCT in 2025. In addition to completing the AT he has also completed shorter hikes including the Zion traverse hike, Peru Salkantay trail and sections of the Glacier National Park and Florida trail. He will begin his PCT thru hike in March and looks forward to another great adventure, meeting lots of fellow hiking enthusiasts representing the OG’s on the trail.

Nina grew up in the South African wilderness roaming barefoot beneath sunny skies, in awe of earth’s wonders. She was a high-school drop-out who traded the classroom for a yacht skipper’s qualification and started working on private yachts in the Mediterranean at 16 years old. This was the ultimate ‘university of life’ that led her into various culinary, viticultural, spiritual, and artistic pursuits around the world. She eventually navigated back to formal education and defended a Doctorate in Philosophy in 2015. Nina is the founder of a yoga travel and adventure experience business - www.inretreat.co. Connect with Nina - www.instagram.com/inretreat.co. In 2025 Nina and her husband Chris will be hiking the PCT!

Oliver has been itching to complete a thru hike and get a trail name for many years, satisfying himself with shorter objectives while his children grow up. He has completed the Boreal Trail in Saskatchewan (2021), the Northern and Long Range Traverses of Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland (2023), part of Section B and all of Section C on the Great Divide Trail in BC and Alberta (2020, 2021), the Labrador Footpath in Newfoundland (2022), and a bunch of shorter overnights in BC and Alberta. Oliver is an active duty chaplain in the Canadian Armed Forces, and will be taking on a thru-hike of the Arizona Trail in March, 2025 after completing a 100 mile section in 2024. In addition to blogging his time on trail, he will be producing trail videos (youtube.com/@untakentrails) talking about the the trail and touching on the intersection of thru-hiking, mental health and spirituality.

Hi. My name is Rómulo. I live with my wife and two dogs in the Central Mountain Range (Cordillera Central) of the Dominican Republic and will be attempting my first tru-hike of the Appalachian Trail starting in April. After decades living in the US, I settled back in my native island and became an independent contractor in the hospitality industry. As a result of my work I spend a significant amount of the year supporting hotels in the US. This has given me the opportunity to travel and meet amazing people throughout the country. I am a Soto Zen practitioner, mindfulness instructor, outdoors enthusiast and part-time hiker. I am looking forward to meeting some of you on the AT this year and contributing to this beautiful community of hikers.

Ryan “KidzMeal” Gallagher was born and raised in The Woodlands, Texas where he fell in love with the outdoors while achieving the rank of Eagle Scout in Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts of America). Seeking to make a career out of studying the natural world, Ryan attended the University of Texas at Austin and earned a bachelor's degree in Geography in 2018 with the plan to work in water conservation. While there, Ryan also helped found the Longhorn Outdoors Club to find others to camp with and create an avenue for future students to connect with the outdoors. After college, Ryan struggled to find meaningful environmental work that would pay the bills, so he pursued work as a GIS Analyst and took advantage of every opportunity away from the office to explore the vast landscapes of Central and West Texas. Despite these short trips, he still felt a nagging urge to get outside and reconnect with the outdoors community. So in March of 2023, he sold half of his belongings, moved into storage, and thru-hiked the 2,198 mile Appalachian Trail. While on the trail, he fell in love with the thru-hiking dirtbag lifestyle and (more importantly) his sweetheart Anna Tallmadge (aka “The Instigator”). Ryan met Anna at mile 344 on the porch of Uncle Johnny’s where he didn’t give her a hard cider because he “didn’t know her” and they have been hiking together ever since. After the Appalachian Trail, Ryan and Anna moved in together, along with Ryan’s grumpy 40-something-year-old Three-Toed Box Turtle (Boxy) to an apartment in Seattle, Washington so that they could have unparalleled access to the Pacific Northwest’s incredible public lands. Despite spending the last year climbing volcanoes, exploring islands, and hiking through old-growth forests, both Ryan and Anna have felt the persistent urge to return to thru-hiking. So on March 22, 2025, they will arrive in Campo, California to begin the 2,650 mile Pacific Crest Trail!

Sarah was born and raised in Hawai'i, which started her love for all things outdoors. This passion grew when she moved to the mainland in 2010 for work and educational opportunities. When Sarah got her first dog, Rogue the retired racing greyhound, she started hiking with him and the rest is history! During 2020 she started training Jyn, the terrier extraordinaire, to follow in Rogue's paw prints as a trail dog. They started their backpacking journey together and couldn't get enough! Sarah is proud to be representing other queer women of color out on the trails.

35 y/o Jewish gal from England, living nomadically since 2017. Michelin trained chef, professional beer pourer, wanderer, dreamer, world traveller. Walked the Pacific Crest Trail in 2022 in search of adventure, mountains and to fall in love with myself. Thru hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2024 because life simply hasn’t made sense since the PCT. Excited to be starting NOBO on the CDT end of April!

My name is Shan and I began spending more time outdoors after a mastectomy and retinal issues radically changed my outlook on life. After 2020 (we all know what happened there) derailed my plans to hike the Pacific Crest Trail, I set my sights on Scotland. That first trip—hiking the West Highland Way and Great Glen Way—marked a shift in the way I would live my life going forward. Since then I’ve returned several times, hiking multiple trails in the United Kingdom and even dipping my toes into bike packing with a 10-day 10 island traverse of the Hebridean Way in the remote and wild Outer Hebrides. In 2025 I will be embarking on the biggest adventure I have yet undertaken (other than parenthood)—the 2,650 mile Pacific Crest Trail.

Hiking the PCT in 2025 is the biggest thing I´ve ever done and my dream for the last 17 years! I´m Simon and the hike is my personal peak of a 2 years travel break from work. Can´t wait to share my adventures with you <3

After 25 years in the Canadian Airforce, I have been struggling with major chronic pain for the last 10 years which at one point confined me to a couch 20 hours a day unable to do anything nor sleep. Refusing to accept the fact that i could not hike anymore i embarked on a very long and difficult journey to fight against pain while also trying to live with it. Major changes in treatment and pure stubbornness enabled me to start walking from a few hundred yards a day to miles in a matter of years. I now can combine my amateur radio hobby with hiking for a sideline activity called “Summits on the air”, where i bring a portable radio set on a summit and contact “chasers” for points. I will attempt thru hiking the Long Trail and document my hike, trying to hack a way trough the daily pains which are still very much present.

Hey-oo!! Trail name Near-miss here. AT ‘23 alum, CDT ‘24 alum, 29/58 Colorado 14ers and 2/7 Summits. I’m thru hiking the AZT in prep for an unguided (and possibly solo) attempt at Denali in the summer. I’m also on a quest to finish the rest of the Colorado 14ers before the end of the year. I’ll be writing all about these experiences/attempts. Follow along if interested! 😁🎿🥾🏔️

Howdy 👋! I’m Steve- a husband, Dad, Grandpa, Ultrarunner, Hiker, Fisherman and lover of the outdoors from Central VA! I’ll be thru-hiking the A.T., the Lord willin’, in ‘25! Come along with me on my journey as I prepare, set off and write about my 2198 mile walkabout! Keep smilin’!

Hi All! My trail name is Stevie Wonder (he/him) and am excited you found your way to my page on The Trek! I'm a 36-year old hiker and explorer of wild places. Prior to 2019, I lived my entire life in West Michigan when, after going through a divorce and needing a change, I stumbled on to the Pacific Crest Trail. Since that first thru-hike, I have found my trail legs and have lived a somewhat nomadic life, altering my career path to include seasonal land stewardship jobs working on public lands in Utah, Alaska, and in Yosemite National Park! I also completed the Continental Divide Trail in 2022 and have snuck in some smaller treks throughout the years too. I love documenting adventures through journals and photos feeling it creates a connection I wouldn't otherwise have with folks living all over the world. My past stories are posted at wanderingstevie.com and I just started a YouTube channel (@stevie.g.wonder) with a few videos too. I'm excited to join The Trek to bring y'all along on my biggest journey yet... The Eastern Continental Trail!!!