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!
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...
BACKPACKING LEGENDS, TAKE TWO: MIKE ST. PIERRE AND R&D GET INTO THE NEW WINDRIDER, SOUTHWEST, AND JUNCTION
Words and Photos by Hyperlite Mountain Gear
Hyperlite Mountain Gear's origin story is rooted in our founder, Mike St. Pierre's love of adventure and backcountry exploration by way of long trails or...
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 BRUCE TRAIL: THRU HIKING A LESSER-KNOWN BUT FULLY BELOVED CANADIAN TRAIL
Words and Photos by Carl “Professor” Stanfield @prof_carl
For as much time and energy that goes into preparing for a thru hike, sometimes the hardest part can be accepting the need for change. As p...
PRETTY INSANE OUT THERE: IZZY CHECK-IN #2 FROM THE PCT
Words and Photos by Izzy "Spoons" Tonneson @izzytonneson
“It’s only insanity if you fight it,” a trail angel told me as we bumped along the winding mountain road from Idyllwild back to the Pacific ...
GET THE DEETS FROM SHEETS: BARTRAM TRAIL, NORTH CAROLINA AND GEORGIA
Words and Photos by Josh "Soulslosher" Sheets @soulslosher
LENGTH: 114 miles
WHEN TO HIKE: Spring, Summer, & Fall
WHY HIKE: Different views, healthy dose of solitude, well-maintained trail, ...
A CALENDAR YEAR TRIPLE CROWN FOR THE PEOPLE - MEET IZZY TONNESON
Words and Photos by Izzy Tonneson @izzytonneson
Friends and family often ask me, “What’s your favorite part about thru-hiking?” usually trying to wrap their heads around why I’d commit to something...
