A Beginners Guide to Thru-Hiking

With famous trails ranging from 200 to over 2,000 miles in length, hiking just became so much more than a little day trip to the top of the mountain and back. Now it's a lifestyle.

This isn't your typical weekend backpacking trip. This is thru-hiking. Shorter trails may take a handful of weeks, while the famous Appalachian trail can take the better part of a year.

While thru-hiking requires plenty of preparation both physically and mentally, it's guaranteed to be an unforgettable experience. Equipped with its own slang and a few angels along the way, many who have become established thru-hikers can attest to the payoff of the hike.

Whether you're interested in meandering along Minnesota's shoreline for 300 miles on the Superior Hiking Trail or trekking from Canada to Mexico on the PCT for more than 2,600 miles, thru-hiking is sure to prove a lifechanging - or life-starting - experience.

A Beginners Guide to Thru-Hiking will help you learn about and prepare for your first thru-hiking excursion.