The Trailhead
Every journey has a first step. And some of the greatest, most meaningful journeys begin at trailheads. Welcome to ours! Here you’ll learn about gear, see route and trail intel, and dive into stories, images, and videos from our global community of adventureheads like you. Think of it like "The Third Place"–not home, not work, but your other most important/favorite place. The spot to hang out around like-minded people and have your life decisions and priorities validated. You won't need to justify your latest gear purchase or explain why you're using up all your paid time off hours to this crowd. They get it. Let’s go!
Take a Hike: National Trails Day
Get Out & Hike!
On June 4th we’re celebrating National Trails Day! Occurring the first Saturday of June, this American Hiking Society-sponsored day celebrates America’s magnificent Trail System...
Long-Distance, Lightweight Thru Hiking Gear List (for the Grand Canyon)
Words & Photos by Mike St. Pierre
“I used this thru hiking gear list for my Grand Canyon section hike, but minus the technical climbing and canyoneering gear, it’s basically what I’d bring on ...
Thru Hiking and Photography: Passions Collide on the Trail For Nick “Click” Reichard
The Appalachian Trail under his belt, Nicholas Reichard is onto his next thru hiking and photography mission: The Pacific Crest Trail. Nicholas “Click” Reichard didn’t grow up hiking or exploring i...
America to America: Thru Hiking the Continent’s Longest “Trail”
Ambassador Bethany Hughes weighs in after 5 months of thru hiking the Americas
The scale at the international flight counter weighed each of our packs, full of everything except food and water, at ...
From the AT to the PCT: The Journey to Ultralight
Words & Photos by Robin “Little Spoon” Standish
“I only had a vague notion of what ultralight meant, and that was based on a reddit post about using a Sawyer syringe as a bidet to cut out the w...
Lightweight Appalachian Trail Gear: “Tenderfoot” Drops 9oz
It’s never too late to change your gear. Ambassador “Tenderfoot” alters his lightweight Appalachian Trail gear kit one month in. “Aches & Pains? I thought it was just walking on the AT?!” Photo...
Ambassador Ashley Hill Takes on New Zealand’s Te Araroa Thru Hike
A notoriously difficult thru hike, Te Araroa winds from deep wilderness to wild and scenic beaches, volcanoes and cities.
Most Americans know the Appalachian Trail and Pacific Northwest Trail, even...
A Woman With a Tarp
Words & photos by Ashley Hill
Embracing the Ultralight Flat Tarp
I remember it vividly, the moment I saw her, a solo female hiker named Mountain Spice. She was sheltered beneath a flat tarp at...
AT Thru Hike Gear Guide
Words by Tyson "Tenderfoot" Perkins
Two Hyperlite Mountain Gear Employees Share their AT Thru Hike Gear List Planning & Prep
Early summer 2014, my girlfriend, Kendra Jackson, and I took on our...
Ultralight Backpacking Recipes For Cold Weather
Push Through Cold Weather With These Ultralight Backpacking Recipes
Matt Jenkins and Elyssa Shalla, backcountry rangers at Grand Canyon, have been exploring the southwestern deserts together since ...
The Challenges of Hiking the Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage
The Camino Frances (or “French Way”) is one of many routes that comprise the Camino de Santiago, which is a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. James the Great in Santiago de Compostela first completed...
Ultralight Photography For Backpacking and Thru Hikes
Ambassador Samuel Martin talks ultralight photography in the backcountry.
Samuel Martin maintains he’s an adventurer first, photographer second. His stunning landscapes and surreal trail photos bri...
