“Dude, you should try some olive oil,” hiker after hiker commented to me. “Why olive oil?” “Because it has the highest amount of calories for its weight of any food.” Calorie vs. weight. In summation, that is one of the direct challenges that the majority of thru-hikers will face on the two great national scenic trails, the Appalachian Trail (AT) and Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). For those of you who have read my...

 I am currently reading, ‘The Power of Now’ by Eckhart Tolle. Many of you have probably read this bestseller by the expat German author. Tolle consistently harps on the need to rid ourselves of the ‘tyranny of the mind’, and focus instead on the glory of the present moment. What does he mean? And what about all the misfortunes we have suffered in the past and problems we face in the future. Tolle mentions peace, love,...

There was silence at the other end of the telephone. I was talking to Warren Doyle, a legendary name on the Appalachian Trail (AT). He has hiked the entire trail 16 times, which puts him at around 35,000 trail miles and counting. In fact, he has spent more miles on the trail than any other human. It was February, 2005. I was planning to attend his Appalachian Trail Institute class, in which he coaches aspiring thru-hikers on how to make it all...

  The annual Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) Kickoff will be held at Lake Morena County State Park, California on April 26-28, 2013. We know you’re anxious to register! In 2012, registration opened on March 17, and we were essentially full by March 21. They expect to be on a similar schedule this year. Yes, full in four days. And there’s a good reason why. This is one heckuva party. Any outdoorsperson would love soaking up all the...

As most AT (Appalachian Trail) hikers know, Amicalola Falls is one of the names that resonates deep within the psyches of AT hikers. This is where the Appalachian Trail begins. To be perfectly concise, the AT begins at Springer Mountain, which is several miles further up on an approach trail (If you ask me, the AT should begin at Amicalola Falls). In any event, Amicalola Falls is the logical place to have a seasonal kickoff event for the great...