Below are the words of Heather Anderson–PCT Class of 2013. Hopefully you have read about her courageous journey up the 2,663 mile Pacific Crest Trail this year. It may be one of the gutsiest outdoor adventures ever (I would like to begin a discussion from people with any relevant knowledge about whether or not that is true). I had assumed Heather–trail name, Anish–was a great athlete, in the mode of Jennifer Pharr Davis who...

The Summer issue of the Pacific Crest Trail Communicator had some eye-opening statistics. In 1997 the Pacific Crest Trail Association (governing body of the PCT) issued 16 thru-hiking permits. This year, however, by April 15th it had issued 1,211 to thru-hikers and thru-riders (equestrians) for the 2013 hiking season. The trail could now fairly be said to be wildly popular. And there is no reason to think this trend won’t continue. No, the...

First of all, let me say that I am biased. I am a former Appalachian Trail thru-hiker as well as author of a trail narrative; the trail community has become a big part of my adult life. We hikers constantly chatter about which hiker hostels are the best, friendliest, and cheapest, as well as the ones that treat us like ‘hiker trash’, etc. I’m happy to report that the Twelve Tribes religious community stands out as...

Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine article below on Bill Walker (‘Skywalker). http://www.blueridgeoutdoors.com/go-outside/meet-the-best-athletes-in-the-blue-ridge/   Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine is the premier outdoor magazine (distributed from Baltimore to Atlanta) in the eastern United States. Thus it was with surprise that I greeted the news that the magazine wanted to interview me. And I was outright amazed that the magazine named me an...

We all know that Virginia is the longest of the 14 states on the Appalachian Trail, at more than 500 miles. And those of us in the hiking community have certainly heard of the ‘Virginia Blues’ that afflicts so many thru-hikers to the point of knocking them off the trail. In Skywalker–Close Encounters on the Appalachian Trail, I wrote, “The initial frisson of excitement has worn off by the time thru-hikers reach Virginia....

Are you looking for something in our Travel Books department? If so, you might be interested in these items. Travel Books The Best Way: El Camino de Santiago Bill Walker Price: $4.95 12 Steps To A Lighter Pack Steven Lowe Price: $0.99 ...