Below is some data and a few opinions from my 2023 Appalachian Trail Thru-hike. While most of the data was expected, a few numbers did surprise me. In addition, I’ve listed some of my “Favorite” places along the trail. As always, please chime in with your favorites in the comment section! I started the Appalachian Trail on February 26, 2023, and finished it on September 7, 2023. Appalachian Trail Thru-hike Facts and Data 194 This was the number of days the total hike lasted - longer than expected. 136 The number of days I hiked. This is without on and off-trail zero days. 86 The n ..read more

Virginia is my favorite state on the Appalachian Trail. Often criticized as being a “long green tunnel,” many thru-hikers consider this longest state on the trail tedious, but not me. With its hardwood forests, rolling hills, meadows, deep valleys, and wildflowers, it is one of the most vibrant states I hiked through. Along with its variety, Virginia has some of the friendliest towns and people I met while hiking. I always felt welcome and at ease in the towns. Damascus, VA, was the only trail where day hikers congratulated me as I walked into town. If I did not already have a home down south ..read more

This year (2023), I thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail, starting at the end of February and finishing at the beginning of September. As far as my feet were concerned, it was a challenging hike. The trail provided me with trench foot from wet conditions, blisters, bruises, and a pretty severe sprain in Virginia. Taking care of my feet is always a priority on long-distance hikes, and weather extremes and rugged trails make foot care even more important. This article reviews how I try to take care of my feet. Table of contents Appalachian Trail Conditions Footwear I Used on the AT Foot Care on the ..read more

Appalachian Trail Thru-hike and brevity are not usually in the same sentence. This list offers some brief insights from my 2023 AT thru-hike. The first few weeks, even if leaving in February, are crowded. Georgia was hard – challenging, with significant climbs. I had forgotten this. The hostels were full. If it were raining, hostels and motels would be full. My body had to work hard to stay warm in TN and NC, and I lost a lot of weight REALLY FAST! The Smokeys were brutally cold, icy, and snowy in March. I should have carried an extra quilt. I stayed warmer when I layered my puffy under my qu ..read more

Appalachian Trail Gear Scores – What did I like, and what didn’t I like. These are only my opinions, and I would love for you to offer feedback in the comments below if you have used this same gear on your hikes. For instance, I sleep cold and constantly flip around, so what works for me won’t for others and vice versa. There are longer gear reviews for some gear, and I’ll create more reviews as time allows. Return to this page as I continue adding the equipment I used! 9/10 – The Katabatic Flex 15-Degree Quilt is lightweight, compresses well, is warm, and durable. This quilt meets all my re ..read more

Tennessee is similar to North Carolina, and they share their borders. At times, I was unsure which state I was hiking through on any given day. The terrain is very similar, and I enjoyed some of the same features – the Roan Mountains, Clingman’s Dome, etc. I also met and hiked in Tennessee with some of my favorite hikers – Pig Pen, Big T, etc., stayed in one of my favorite trail towns AND had the BEST breakfast on my AT thru-hike. My favorite thing about Tennessee was that I finally began to get my trail legs, and Spring began to appear with warmer temperatures and budding trees. Roaming acros ..read more

North Carolina is the state where I grew up backpacking, tromping through hardwood and pine forests as I learned to backpack and hike. It is where I saw my first bear, was exposed to my first scare with hypothermia, and explored some of the best hiking along the Appalachian Trail. Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina are my favorite states on the AT. I’ve hiked the Benton Mackaye Trail, have the Pinhoti Trail on my list, and will hike the Mountains-to-Sea Trail this Spring. North Carolina was the coldest trail on the Appalachian Trail this year. I experienced single-digit temperatures and p ..read more

I started the trail on Springer Mountain at the end of February, wanting to beat “the bubble” and hopefully get ahead of the heat and bugs. I knew the weather would be cold, but I have backpacked in cold weather. The Superior Hiking Trail hike the year prior is a recent example. Because I started early in the year, Georgia had fantastic views from its ridges and overlooks. Climbs were steep, but there were plenty of shelters and campsites when I needed to stop early or wanted to hike late. Table of contents Georgia Terrain on the Appalachian Trail Georgia Weather on the Appalachian Trail Geor ..read more

My Appalachian Trail Gear changed due to my early start in February. Temperatures were colder than I expected and stayed colder longer than anticipated. Because of this, I carried more gear and layers in a larger pack. I also had gear that failed and did not work out well. In this post, I’ll discuss what gear did and did not work. My gear and the weights are listed in the link above at Lighterpack, along with some short comments. The total weight reflects all of the gear I used over the course of the hike and not my pack at any one time. The individual weights are accurate. There are two Light ..read more

October 6, 2023 I’m glad I moved my tent last night. Wind and rain raged along the Superior Trail last night as a front moved down from the north, plummeting temperatures! I had awoken to my tent snapping in the wind as sheets of rain pummeled it for several hours. The tent held up like a champ, and I had no leaks or flying tent stakes. I was pretty impressed with its performance. It was freezing and still drizzling when I dashed out of my tent in the dark and climbed the steep hill to the toilet seat. Sitting on a freezing wet toilet seat is almost as bad as putting on freezing, damp hiking c ..read more