Advice
Step by Step: The Thru-Hike CDT Edition
My Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) thru-hiker name is Brainstorm. In 2023, I completed the PCT after graduating from school—something I had dreamed about since 2015. I remember the earlier years...
The Best Shoes For Road Walking: Topo Specter 2 Review
Over the last few years of backpacking across the USA and Canada I’ve really managed to dial in my gear. I’ve tested out all sorts of different equipment, looking for...
Calendar Year Triple Crown Gear List
In the next few days I will be embarking on my biggest adventure yet! Attempting to complete the “border to border” calendar year triple crown. Walking from key west to...
I Survived a Flash Flood on the CDT: Here’s How
When I was preparing to thru-hike the Continental Divide Trail, I considered all sorts of variables: the season in which I would be going, the weather, the terrain, etc. Many...
My Secret to CDT Success? Eating a Whole Stick of Butter Every Day During My Thru-Hike
Yes, really. I ate an entire stick of butter most days while hiking the CDT this year. In a world dominated by diet culture, healthy eating hacks, and calorie reduction...
The Hitchhikers Guide to Hospitality
We’ve all been there, standing on a degrading asphalt shoulder, thumbs towards the heavens, as yet ANOTHER nearly empty car zooms past without acknowledging our existence. There’s no doubt that
12,000 Miles and Counting: Peg Leg’s Backpacking Gear That Survived the Triple Crown and Beyond
When I first got into thru-hiking back in 2017, I was under the impression that once you bought all your gear, you were set for life. Before 2017 I had...
Can You Hike the CDT Before the AT or PCT?
Can you hike the CDT before the AT or PCT? "If you're planning to hike all three Triple Crown trails (AT, PCT, and CDT), most experienced hikers recommend doing the...
CDT Thru-Hike Stats: Showers Make Thru-Hikers Sad and Other Data-Driven Insights From the Trail
A thru-hike is such a transformative, all-encompassing experience that when people ask, “How was your trip?” I struggle to find the right words. How do I explain that it was...
From the Irish Bar to the Continental Divide
I've been off trail for nearly 5 months now. That is the longest time that I've gone without thru hiking in the past 2 years. Back in January I finished...