By Staff Writer: Jamiliere Luranc Sweeney
For those who love adventure, thru hiking offers the challenge of a lifetime. Unlike day
hikes or weekend backpacking trips, thru hikes span hundreds or thousands of miles and
are completed in one continuous trip. Popular trails like the Appalachian Trail, Pacific
Crest Trail, and Continental Divide Trail take between five and seven months to complete.
Although the trails are long, thru hiking isn’t just about covering miles, it’s about immersing
oneself in nature, building resiliency, and embracing the unexpected. Hikers must carry
everything they need including food, water, and shelter. Because these hikes often take
months, hikers also carefully plan resupply points where they will stop to pick up
necessities. While these hikes are physically demanding, the mental challenge is even
greater, requiring perseverance though blistering heat and pouring rain, steep and uneven
terrain, and, at times, complete solitude.
Despite the intense challenge, many find thru hiking to be a life-changing experience. The
sense of accomplishment, the beauty of the outdoors, and the friendships formed on the
trail make the journey unforgettable.