The Appalachian Trail is America’s great trail of the masses. Nothing can–or should–ever replace that. That was Benton McKaye’s plan from the beginning, given the proximity of the Appalachain Mountain Range to the nation’s great population centers. The Pacific Crest Trail is America’s other great trail; better yet, it is becoming greater by the minute, as hostels, trail maintainers, guidebooks, and the like...

“Did you hear?” a hiker friend from the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail) asked me. “The number of people at the Kickoff was almost double. And the number of women tripled.” Folks, can we all agree that’s good news! And please don’t read too much into it! Just a quick synopsis: the number of women on America’s other great footpath, the Appalachian Trail, has increased to approximately half the hiker population....

What are you looking for in a Christmas gift? Obviously, your answer could be a million things. Some of you–if you are like me–are probably just looking to check the box. Done. Move on to next item. But let me please suggest this. My most memorable gifts over the years have been those that enabled, as opposed to provided a temporary surge of pleasure. Personally speaking, I came up with the idea of hiking the Appalachian Trail after...

This is the link to a sample film review for Wild–From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, starring Reese Witherspoon, based on Cheryl Strayed’s book. Hopes are that this movie will help ratchet up foot traffic on the 2,663 mile Pacific Crest Trail which runs from Mexico to Canada. In a country with a 30% obesity rate (tragic in my opinion) that is nothing but a good thing. And let me say this about Miss Strayed’s book....

The Appalachian Trail has traditionally been the safe haven of choice for female hikers. Why? The main reason given is the expansive trail community. Quite simply, with that many of your fellow hikers around, along with the frequent trail towns, hiker hostels, trail magic, and the like, a woman has more protection on the AT. Frankly, this reasoning is sound. Yes, long-distance hiking is generally about as safe as regular life in the ‘real...