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!
A STUDY ON THE BENTON MACKAYE TRAIL WITH PROFESSOR CARL
Words and Photos by Carl "Professor" Stanfield @prof_carl
I’d always thought of the Benton MacKaye Trail as the little, forgotten brother of the Pinhoti Trail. It’s shorter, generally less known, a...
PROFESSOR CARL ON BECOMING A POD-VERT
Words and Photos by Carl "Professor" Stanfield @prof_carl
My favorite piece of gear is the one I haven't gotten to try yet. After eight years of using trash bags to keep my gear dry, I decided to s...
I AM BETTY KELLENBERGER, APPALACHIAN TRAIL CLASS OF 2025
Words and Photos by Betty Kellenberger
Allow us the extreme pleasure of introducing you to, at 80, the oldest woman to ever complete an Appalachian Trail thru hike. Aptly trail-named, "Legend," Bet...
THE STRUCTURE OF FLEXIBILITY ON TRAIL
Words and Photos by Jackson Abhau @switchbackjack
Last June, during his 2025 thru hike of the Pacific Crest Trail, our friend Jackson got a heapin’ helpin’ of what the Sierra Nevada is like–in trai...
IDEAL TO REAL: TRAINING FOR AN 8,000-MILE WALK WITH IZZY TONNESON
Words and Photos by Izzy Tonneson @izzytonneson
Conventional wisdom says that “the best way to train for a thru hike is to thru hike.” But for many of us, getting time off work for several uninterr...
BEAR IT WITH A GRIN: HOW A MODERN, LIGHTWEIGHT SETUP MADE MY THRU HIKE BETTER
Words and Photos by Nicole Kniffen
I'm one of the rare but not unique people who decided to thru hike the Appalachian Trail with basically no experience at all. I knew I could do hard things, I kne...
STEPPING BACK TO STEP FORWARD ON A CALENDAR YEAR TRIPLE CROWN
Words and Photos by Izzy Tonneson @izzytonneson
When I got off trail earlier this year, I knew I needed to take a hard look at what went wrong.
Stepping away from the Calendar Year Triple Crown was...
FROM SKY TO TRAIL: CARLOS BUHLER TAKES ON THRU HIKING AT 70
Words and Photos by Carlos Buhler (Top image - Carlos on Everest summit with Pena Guara Club flag, China)
Climbing on Changabang N Face, India
A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON ME:
I grew up in a town about 2...
The Hardest Thru Hike in the World
If not the most difficult, a hike below the rim of the Grand comes close. Learn about Ambassador Rich Rudow’s thru hike & Hyperlite Mountain Gear CEO Mike St. Pierre’s planning & prep for h...
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...
