The opportunity to take six months away from real life to attempt an Appalachian Trail thru-hike is a gift of which most people can only dream. Open your mind to gain a piece of wisdom or two from those who have successfully persevered through months on end of the good and the bad and trekked their … More Regret Nothing about your Appalachian Trail Thru-hike
*Please note, this article was written after my 2015 AT thru-hike. It has not been updated since 2017. If you know of changes, please let me know and I’ll make them as I learn of them. Thanks! <3, Clarity For a downloadable copy of this post, click here: Major resupply points on the AT. One … More Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker Resupply Points
Before embarking on an Appalachian Trail thru-hike, set yourself up for success by engaging in some pre-hike training. Though physical preparation is important, I’m going to start this article with the mental prep you should consider because frankly, it is the most crucial to your success. Hikers who begin their journey in the best physical shape often … More Start Your Thru-Hike Out Right with Pre-Hike Training
Flip-flops aren’t just for feet! Find out how a flip-flop thru-hike offers you the best weather and terrain at the right times during your 6 month journey. You may only get one shot at this, right? Make the most of it! … More Why a Flip-Flop Is More Comfortable
This is part two of an article that lists some points of interest you will encounter on your A.T. thru-hike. Part one takes you from Springer Mountain to Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia, the unofficial halfway point! Click here to access part 1. Part 2 picks up where that left off and takes you all the way to … More Cool Places to See on the Northern A.T.
Sitting here revisiting my trail notes two months after finishing my A.T. thru-hike, I stumbled across a 2-page journal entry describing all my “oopses” as a brand new hiker written after the first three days of my hike. Somehow, even with the humorously clumsy beginning, I learned how to survive in the woods on my own, laugh at … More I Name My Journey, “Oops”
Hey guys! I get asked these questions a LOT, and I think they could help others who are just getting started. My answers only reflect MY experience. There are multiple other ways to do things, but I will try to explain the most common ways I observed thru-hikers doing the following tasks. Frequently asked questions: … More FAQ About a Thru-Hike
How do you keep clean living in the dirt? Hygiene is important. That said, your hygiene on trail will change. Forget daily showers, every other day hair washings, or constant access to hand soap and running water. Your new BFF will be wet wipes. I recommend Wet Ones brand as they are tougher than some … More Keeping Dirty Girls Clean
Should I treat my water? Treating water is of vital importance to your health while living in the wilderness. None of the water on the A.T. is guaranteed safe, and with the large number of hikers and the plentiful wildlife that use the creeks, the ATC and I recommend that all water should be treated … More To Treat Or Not To Treat?
What a difference a hundred miles make! The trail transformed from a consistently drab, gray, foggy mud to an explosion of vividly vibrant colors. Every little girl dreams of finding that elusive end of a rainbow for that promised pot of gold, but even more enriching is the joy of walking through one, futilely hoping … More 1,500 mile journal – Kaleidoscope of Colors
AppalachianTrailClarity 