BrainCan - bloggers

can it please get here already? oh, wait…

Left to concludeEight hours.One shuttle.Two planes.Three buses.One day of rest.[br]nowadays,my Mom,...

hiking across iceland with your family… what...

Who’s Bringing the Brennivín?“So this tiny dinky blue squiggle is the river we have to...

ok at, if you dish it out, i can take it!

So I say to myself,“Self, how can you possibly find enough fabric for a blog after just four...

weird thru hiker traditions on the appalachian...

Every day,I meet new hikers that astound me with their stories, humor, or charisma. And for a bunch...

a meandering older hiker crosses the pct hundred...

I passed the 100 mile brand on the PCT,and it was a real thrill! I was alone, so I danced and sang...

at part six: a thousand miles ahead, a thousand...

Bluff Mountain,VA, to Harpers Ferry, and WVDistance: 229.7 milesTotal Distance: 1025.3 milesAfter...

naked push ups and taco madness - days 19 and 20

Day 19Mileage: 301.3 to 320.1The legendary Deep Creek Hot Springs are a destination every hiker is...

shakedown hike on the pct

I can’t believe my PCT start date is less than one week absent! Hiking the PCT is a long-held...

from the cornfields of illinois to thru hiking the...

My Hiker Origin StoryGrowing up,yearly trips to Montana filled my midwestern dreams with nightly...

finding my happy medium

Howdy everyone,guess what? This girl is headed back to the trail! I’ve been off for a week now,...

pepperoni juice everywhere, and other week one...

When we started our AT flip-flop last week both my wife and I were laser-focused on avoiding those...

rule 1 of pct planning: be ready to change your...

Week one total!As I sit here at Warner Springs,having just taken a bucket shower and soaking my feet...

pacific crest trail day 8: morning, geographic...

MorningI’m hiking with my dear friend Diane,who got her trail name, Guppy, and a couple days ago...

recovery days: making the most of your zero in...

Weather. Holidays. Scenic towns. These are all common (and valid) reasons that a thru-hiker may...

and before the beginning, some things have to come...

The discontinuance Before the BeginningI believe never been away from my home for more than four...

the hardest part of the journey: getting started

I woke up on the couch,grumpy because Burt had a rehearsal the night before and we weren’t able to...

week one on the pct: roller coaster of highs and...

The first week on the trail made a enormous impact on me already. I started in kind wintry weather...

my worst day on trail

The trail,as in life, gives you superior days, and infamous days,and everything in between. More...

hiking home: at days 80 82

Lott Road to Waywayanda Shelter,16.7 milesAfter a fun and restful evening at the house, Mr Rogers...

feet don t fail me

eople will tell you that the AT in Pennsylvania is nothing but rocks. The truth is it’s much more...

one month of living with less: what thru hiking...

I’ve lived out of a backpack for a month.It’s easy to skim over how little we own out here while...

shitty air pad 1, steve 0

Shakeout lessons learned…the capable,the bad, and the unpleasant!As a last tune-up before my NOBO...

towards a new dawn

One week,and I have a chance to try again.[br]I cannot get that thought out of my mind as I...

alcohol free on the a.t.: why i will forgo ales on...

Not too long ago in a galaxy not so far away,Virginia’s own Devil’s spine Brewery announced...

my top 5 recommendations for new hikers

I will be the first to confess that it can be intimidating to start hiking seriously –...

ready to quit the appalachian trail? read this...

Let mercy lead / Let love be the strength in your legs / And in every footprint that you leave /...

it s been awhile

What a whirlwind. I’m over 1600 miles into the trail now and I often need to pinch myself to get...

day eight, or whatever

I needed to collect words out and Frosting needed to collect calories in. He had come down with a...

mount whitney (june 5)

I heard someone stirring around midnight,packing their bags and starting off to catch the dawn at...

what the connecticut section of the new england...

final topple I dedicated myself to doing a thru-hike in the spring of 2021. I had dreams of far-off...

lost and found my first 100 miles on the...

100 miles. Just a blip on the map of the entire Appalachian Trail,but the trail teaches you lessons...

why the $*! would you hike this far?!

accomplish you ever think about what it means to be human? Not how it’s portrayed through a...

why i m hiking the great divide trail (gdt) during...

So I guess I’m hiking the distinguished Divide Trail (GDT) this year. Like many others,I had...

wahoooo…gettin on the road again

I know there is more. More life to live,to experience, to find in awe, and to share,to memorize....

day 11 - 17: squatting, mating, and small town...

The time off has been unbelievable. Spent a week with the fam in Malibu celebrating my sisters...

at part seven: seven things i loved about...

Harpers Ferry,WV, to Delaware Water Gap, and PADistance: 270.1 miTotal Distance: 1295.4 miBecause of...

how to beat the virginia blues

Virginia has 556.2 miles in it. Being over a quarter of the trail,it has the potential to feel...

falling in love on the pacific crest trail

Sorry,it’s been a long time since my last post.After 50 days on trail (March to April), I guess I...

changing my big four for the pct 2019

final year I hiked the PCT NOBO and I thought I had my gear dialed in. After 2652 miles I realized...

introducing marlene, sobo on the pct… because...

It would be sensible not to proceed.[br]But to be sensible is to be commonplace.To be commonplace is...

the first 200: the good, the bad, and the ugly

Our favorite and least favorite items in our packs and on our backs. Along with a very small trail...

summits, toilets, and pizza

Days 17-24Miles 266.1 to 454.5The easiest way to reflect of a thru-hike is as a bunch of section...

hiking to heal: at for mental health awareness

Hi! Who Are You?Hi everyone! I’m Cassidy Camp,a 23 year primitive gal born in Idaho, but I’ve...

15 days until departure - what s on my mind

With less than a month now until I hit the trail,some days I feel like it is torture to wait another...

how to survive the desert on the pct

A few years back when I first started thinking approximately thru-hiking the PCT,the conception of...

appalachian trail sobo: mile 0 59

The unfortunate part about hiking the Appalachian Trail Southbound is that you must launch with...

superlatives: miles 0 400

When it comes to writing,Charles Bukowski once said, whether it doesn’t come bursting out of you...

long time no see

It’s been a while since my last post and so many things maintain happened in that period of...

mistakes and miracles: 677.7 miles on the...

The ego is a son of a bitch.I just hiked over 677 miles of the Appalachian Trail,but my brain and...

days 6 8: perseverance, trail magic, and new...

After a luxurious night at the Fairfield,I was anxious to fetch moving. As soon as I realized there...

trail magic comes just when you need it!

Things are clicking into spot. Breakfast,breakdown your camp site, hike a few miles, and score water...

days 0 3: sunburns, miss janet, and the yellow...

First four days on the AT: check! I still can’t believe I’m actually out here,but I mediate...

the magic of hostels

A Feel for the AT CommunitySitting around in a circle,talking shit in what Nimrod calls the Liar’s...

a trail name that shines

Damn it. Every episode of This is Us brings me to tears. I found Season 5’s “One Small Step”...

great gear for the great loop

STOP! whether you want to try to guess how much some of my gear weighs before I reveal the answers...

to approach or not to approach…

I judge I’m going to bear to bear the unpopular opinion and be a strong advocate for the Approach...

my 2nd backpacking trip is a 2,650 mile thru hike...

As I type this I am exactly 4 weeks absent from beginning my thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail....

snow traces, old faces, new places

It’s July and Colorado still has a lot of snow which puts me in a bit of a dilemma. I’ve already...

maine - look what you did to me… one week left!

June 26- July 3June 26-NERO at Shaws hostel- a superb establishment- mighty staff,friendly and...

i might die in canada

So the title may be a bit over dramatic,but with less than 48 hours before I hit the Great Divide...

for the love of the trail gods listen to your body

Hey everyone,greetings from approximately 200 miles off trail.The trail provides us with what we...

a morning on forester

Miles 702.2 to 788.5,Kennedy Meadows to Bullfrog Lake.All you beget to carry out is take one more...

when life gives you lemons, hike the sierra high...

I decided to solo hike the Colorado Trail. I was going to take my 6 weeks of my 2019 summer vacation...

the great trail - the first 225 km of a 24,000 km...

Canada’s worthy Trail has no official starting points. This is wonderful as the trail passes...

these are a few of my favorite things

Folks,let’s salvage real approximately the AT: it’s amazing. I’m more than 40 days and 400...

walk the line - johnny cash

North Carolina piece 3 – Tennessee piece 1Appalachian Mountains as State LinesThe AT generally...

trail update five: hail, rain, and marathon miles

I am blister free at nearly 500 miles! Here’s the news from the past few weeks.Wednesday,April 24:...

walking and eating; how i spend my day

I’ve been asked a few times,“What exactly accomplish you accomplish out there all day?”Well,...

pacific crest trail update: the majesty and...

A few days out of Kennedy Meadows we got word that one of our enthusiastic,experienced, and...

at (the new era) journey across 2016 - 2021...

– Elkton,VA to Tom Floyd Shelter –As 5:30 AM hits, the unavoidable, and waking up early happens....

first 5 days

Well it’s Day 5 including the approach trail,day 4 on the Appalachian trail. We’ve speed out of...

the plans changed a little and i almost got off...

I’ve hiked 70 miles in 7 days,but only about 15 of those were with Ollie! My first night on trail...

guess who s back?

Alright,we’re back! This time, to hike the Pacific Crest Trail!It’s been nearly 4.5 years since...

what i look forward to

A world with too many optionsI believe in today’s day and age we hold too many options. Yes,it’s...

the final showdown - pct trail prep vs real world...

I can feel my vision focusing,my mind fitting more alert. The present moment is alive and closer...

enjoying the process, the people, and the...

Note to self moment…don’t drink as much water before bed. I had to pee not once but twice in the...

the final countdown

Here. We. Gooooooo.After months of pouring over spreadsheets,receiving incredulous looks from...

why i m choosing blogging over vlogging for my...

First,I must preface this post by commending the blogger, vlogger, and every artist in between. To...

who s afraid of the big, bad whites

I am. Or was. I was nervous about the White Mountains since before I even stepped on trail. I...

at sobo 2019: katahdin and the 100 miles

It has only been a tad bit over a week,and already I can feel a change both physically and...

connecticut! i walked home!

I think I started smiling the second I hit the Connecticut border and not certain I stopped all the...

an ode to pennsylvania (that s not an ode at all)

Oh Pennsylvania.You were no funand from you I now shall runto novel Jersey.All the hikers you seemed...

i walked 500 more

Time is weird on the trail. Well,time is weird anyway. But when you measure your life in...

a week in the whites!

Days 107- 114June 10- day 107 halt -1829.1.Our hiking plans evolved around the weather and getting...

on to a new state!

These past five days of hiking believe been both rewarding and challenging. In fact,that pretty...

it s ok to be cliche

There are a million cliches out there: actions speak louder than words,you can’t judge a book by...

the moon, or why we need more hikers, roamers, and...

These days I am constantly asked – Why? Why give up your career? Why sell your house to fund a...

what does a golf ball, pair of crocs eeyore...

Pack weight is a really considerable thing to think approximately before a thru hike. So is what you...

the one with the desert

“Of all the paths you engage in life,make certain a few of them are dirt!”-John MuirA wide, dry...

first 85 miles and damn it s hot outside!

Southern Terminus to Lordsburg,NMPlanes, Trains, or AutomobilesLiterally,this is what it took to...

the truth about on trail miles guilt

It’s in every book. Its mentioned in videos and in conversation. “Hike your own hike” — but...

allow me to (re)introduce myself

TLDR; I’m hiking because I’m sad my mom died and a medium told me to fade to the woods to find...

beginning the sierras (may 30 31)

On this day,after doing some preparation things at Kennedy Meadows General Store (charging my...

hiker dictionary vol. 1

Hiker culture is weird. You’re doing a lot of strenuous work,occupy either very little or way too...

trail magic milestones

Hello all! It has been a very exciting week with our first snake encounter,briefly setting a...

final days pre trail (april 16, 2021)

I spend a lot of time musing over how starting this thru hike feels a petite different from starting...

days 1 3: beast mode from springer

Day one started out just as youd expect. Fail to really pack your pack the night before,sleep in a...

days 4 6: action packed and meeting a hiking...

The 4 inches of rainfall during the Gooch Mountain shelter stay was enough to need a profitable...

the dirty bubble: the tale of an unusual and...

What’s more notable: what you conclude in life,or who you conclude it with?When I first set off on...

love letter to the pct

Oh man,I met someone… and I gotta say it was appreciate at first sight. I know it seems fast, but...

learning to accept the fog

It’s thick,humid and suffocating. The early morning juxtaposition of weather has created a gray...

a.t. prep: 5 day night hikes i tackled before the...

In a world where time seems to slip through our fingers so effortlessly,there is one way to form it...

have you seen a white blaze recently?

final night I went to bed way earlier than usual. Since my body isn’t quite used to getting 12hrs...

week five: roan highlands, i love you

Day 29: 4.4Final day in Erwin! We went to McDonald’s and the nicest Dunkin’ I’ve ever been...

the great basin part 1: it s still winter...

It snowed and rained for most of my zero day in Chama.Locals said spring had been coming,before this...

88 miles through austria - and why that s enough...

Seven days,and 88 miles. Two blog posts so far, and now the third—the one which I have been...

trail update - big bear to cajon junction

Deep CreekToday puts me en-route to Deep Creek Hot Springs. Which,you may be disappointed to read,...

vegan on the trail - the best restaurant on the...

Haven’t I Told You That I’m Vegan?One of the conversations I’ve had many times on the trail is...

the great trail - halfway through our first...

Halfway through our first province on an adventure across Canada that is just beginning!It has been...

what to expect on the at through vermont

There was no shortage of signs that announced my arrival in Vermont.[br]The first and most obvious...

goldilocks and the three bears

Once upon a time there was a little thru-hiker named Indy. Among other things,Indy was named for her...

pct week two featuring trail tattoos and tent...

My moment week on the PCT prominently featuring the lovely town of Idyllwild.PCT Day Eight / 8.4...

dear cdt diary, let the adventure begin

It’s 1:30 a.m. and I wake up with a startle from what seems to be the sound of running feet. Under...

my love hate relationship with at towns

Although the large majority of my time in the States had been spent out in the woods there is also a...

the one where winter is coming

”When the snow falls and the white winds blow,the lone wolf dies but the pack survives” GOTI...

backpacking the pemigewasset loop 2019

Our gear for spring backpacking in Lincoln,NH.June 1-3, 2019This hike is a 31.5 miles, and like...

the importance of changing up your gear during...

When preparing for a thru-hike,it’s easy to get lost in the wormhole of sleep systems, shelters,...

filthy gorgeous (new jersey and new york)

top me whether you’ve had this dream before: as a fully grown adult,you occupy to relive a random...

from maine to colorado - thoughts before heading...

It’s a familiar feeling. The preparation stage. Logistics,excitement, nerves, and butterflies,gear...

five delicious backcountry recipes i found on...

When it comes to eating on-trail,there can be fairly a range of dedication to the craft. Some hikers...

a guest on stolen land

Work in ProgressLike most historic places in America,you’re likely to come across a plaque while...

another day, another mountain

Sierra mountains. Everyone always talks about how it is their favorite section. So radiant. So...

franklin, smokies, and new friends

Writing while on the trail is tough. When you sit down,staring off into space or at a tree is very...

milestones - week 6

Amidst the highs and lows,the gear failures, the challenges and victories, or there has been one...

some people call me the space cowboy

Some call me the gangster of cherishIf only,Space Cowboy is such a badass trail name… Most people...

5 things i learned in my first 5 days on the trail

Between the peaks and people,my first five days on the Appalachian Trail were better than I...

packing rocks??

I am finalizing my gear a few weeks before starting my trek and I am debating bringing… rocks....

we re in this together (days 1 4, campo to mt...

Day 1Start: Southern Terminus / Mexico BorderFinish: Bushcamp just before descent to Hauser...

the approach trail off and running!

The morning finally arrives for me and my 34# backpack to start the approach trail from the...

the life of luxury

When I talk to family and friends about trail life,I’m often greeted with wide eyes or an “I...

at days 1 3

Day 1: Approach Trail 8.5 miles + Springer Mt to Stover Creek Shelter 2.5 milesOn Sunday,March 28th,...

quarantine dreams: 11,000 miles in 2022

“If your dreams dont scare you,you aren’t dreaming great enough.”I first came across this...

learning to live with imperfection on the at

People often associate the antithesis of perfection with failure,but the true opposite of perfection...

my quickly approaching start date

In less than a week I have graduated from high school,packed a total of fourteen resupply boxes,...

is the thru hiker diet affecting your performance?

Most thru-hikers reflect that a thru-hike is the perfect moment in your life to have a kid’s dream...

first post: why i m hiking the appalachian trail

“I went to the woods because I wished to live intentionally,to front only the fundamental facts of...

a few of my favorite things: zeros, canyon, and...

Admission: I’m a proud member of Team Double Zero! I love having one day to do town chores and one...

the best way to get lost in the green mountains

I was on the trail and then I wasn’t. There were no blazes in sight,no hikers either, and no clear...

where the deer and the antelope roam. part one

This last section was long so I’m splitting it up into two sections. I sit in Lander wondering how...

where the deer and the antelope roam, part one

This last section was long so I’m splitting it up into two sections. I sit in Lander wondering how...

farewell to sand

The desert is over. The thought crossed my intellect as I walked next to a flush river amid pine...

little skittle s pacific crest trail 2019 vlog 17:...

It was a trustworthy day to fill a trustworthy day as I hiked up Mather Pass. The weather worsened...

embracing the suck: my little moan about the at

Don’t let this post mislead you. I am still having a wonderful time on the AT. I like this trail...

hiking through weather: grants to cuba

After an evening in Grants we hiked out the next day,opting not to zero. Though we left in the...

11 surprising and controversial tips for at thru...

1. Don’t carry full water bottles up every goddamn mountain. Drink at the bottom,where there’s...

this bloggers insane taylor swift transformation...

If you needed any proof that there are women in the world who would love to borrow Taylor...

my old country house blogger s fixed up farmhouse...

If you read the blog My Old Country House,then you probably believe a crush on Lesli’s charming...

night before the colorado trail

Back to the Original arrangement After day hikes on the CDT,longer day hikes in more local areas...

relaxing and then back to sierra hiking (june 1 ...

June 1- On this day the goal was to hike towards the desert town of Lone Pine,and lift a much needed...

sierras altitude adjustment (monday may 31)

I woke up late,with the sun shining warm on my tent, which was good because there was a sheen of...

the past, present, and future of dirt

possess my gear list more or less dialed down. I shelled out for novel a novel pack and a kind...

frameless packs - fitting and packing

I recently bought my first frameless backpack,the Mountain Laurel Design Prophet 48L.I was always...

traversing the smokies pt. 1: at days 15 16

Day 15: Fontana Marina to Spencer Field Shelter; 19.4 milesAfter being dropped off back at the...

international adventures in pandemic times

It was not an easy decision to take this trip in the current world,but everything in my life...

at thru hiker s hot or not list after one week...

I’ve officially been hiking north from Springer Mountain towards Maine for one week. Below are my...

at days 8 10

Day 8: Dick’s Creek Gap to Standing Indian Shelter,16.7 milesBy 9:15, I was back at Dicks’s...

first state feels

Okay. This is real now.This thought crossed my intellect as I rounded the trail and revealed a...

packing self care

When I first started backpacking,I excelled honest absent. Not because I was particularly...

foxfeet s return and our first 150 miles

Trail Update | 1Hello again and welcome to anyone just tuning in for my first blog post from the...

bent, broken, but whole

After you finish the first half of the Sierra Nevada you may think the worst is in the rearview...

i ll take thru hiking with a side of...

As we drove up to Cumbers Pass the truck barely maintained traction. With each fishtail I asked...

southbound and down: at gear and beginning our...

Downsizing WeightWell,after three years of planning and several gear swaps later, I judge I’ve got...

handy trail tips

DISCLAIMER: This post was written in Ruth’s perspective by Ruth’s son,based soley on pictures...

happy place

Made it to Twin Lakes. This has been one of the most fair sections of trail I’ve ever hiked. I’m...

the pennsylvania pouts: trail update seven

Before heading out to the Appalachian Trail,I had heard all about the Virginia Blues from former...

two weeks to summit!

June 19- June 25June 19,Day 115 – Human Nature Hostel to Sabbath Day Pond Shelter. Human Nature...

prof on the pct: desert part 2 and prepping for...

I’m writing on day 52 (mile 745) from a motel in Lone Pine after a short night of hot sleep. We...

magic on the appalachian trail

Written on June 8,2019Today is my 11th day on trail. I’ve already experienced so many moments of...

me, my phone, and a hard place

I knew a climb was coming just ahead on yet another hot one in the desert. I still had a day to rep...

i ve got friends in high places

Wow,what a great week I’ve had! And I’m so cheerful that you believe chosen to follow me on my...

little skittle s pacific crest trail 2019 vlog 19:...

My group of 4 left Mammoth on day 60. We experienced a setback as we planned to cross McCabe Creek....

tehachapi to lake isabella

Mile 566.5 to 580.6Day 33Woke up at trail angel Brenda’s house only to realize the power was still...

little skittle s pacific crest trail 2019 vlog 16:...

I attempted to start the moment leg of the Sierra to Mammoth,but Mother Nature had other plans. The...

changing directions

So I was all geared up (pun intended) to start at Springer in early April. However,flexibility is...

highlights from the first 500 miles

Every 100 miles crossed on the Appalachian Trail is a cause for celebration. We take a photo,think...

1,000 mile update

I’ve walked over 1000 miles now and it is tough to attach into words. My feet are a size larger,my...

at part four: of pastures and ponies

Roan Mountain,TN, to Bland, or VADistance: 196.5 milesTotal distance: 591.7 milesI stared at the...

through the gila part one, hot springs!

Following a restful nero in Silver City,just 10 miles in and an afternoon off, getting back on trail...

i m not nervous, you re nervous!

T-1 day until I start hiking the Pacific Crest Trail southbound. Hart’s Pass is showing zero...

at days 78 79

Backpacker’s Site to Gren Anderson Shelter,26.8 milesMr. Rogers and I were up and ready to hit the...

from inside a prickly shrub

My body is scrunched,warped into a pretzel-like configuration in my best attempt to stay cool in the...

meet scooter

I woke up this morning overlooking Compass Lake in Florida and decided that this is the time to...

a twisted obsession with type ii fun : why the jmt...

So It BeginsI blame Caitlin for all of this. 5 years ago,she gently bullied me into joining her...

at days 22 25

Hot Springs to microscopic Laurel Shelter,20.0 milesLeaving Laughing Heart Hostel right around 7 AM,...

healing is hard: injuries and setbacks on trail

I sat precariously on a rock adjacent to a perfect foot-soaking pool formed in the river running...

at days 19 21

Standing Bear to Walnut Mountain Shelter: 20.3 milesAfter a chill night hanging out at the Standing...

why am i going? (april 16, 2021)

There is something approximately backpacking that fits me better than any other interest or past...

the first 100 miles of the benton mackaye trail:...

I remembered a fact I had heard long ago- most people die of hypothermia in 40 degree weather. They...

how to healthily satiate hiker hunger for three...

IntroductionFood tastes better in the woods when you are hungry. And,the more you walk many miles...

week 1 on the pct

As a New England hiker accustomed to the craggy scrambles and dense forest of the northeast,the...

pancakes, pubs, playing real life frogger

Throughout the night I could hear raindrops hitting the rain wing of my tent. Fortunately when the...

five healthy snack hacks while thru hiking

As a LASHer,or long-ass section hiker, in the summer of 2019, or I learned a few things that helped...

springer mountain to neels gap…and a lil more

Ryan,Parker, and I started our adventure surrounded by family at Springer Mountain parking lot on...

getting my trail name, thru hiker stank, and...

Written on June 22,2019My Trail NameEarly on in my journey, when people would inquire of me what my...

weeks two and three on the pct: growing pains and...

Week Two: Growing Pains and StormsLet’s talk about what most of us dont talk about when we hit the...

a struggled stretch

I’ve been struggling a bit lately. This last stretch had a lot of challenges and,unfortunately, a...

highs and lows in the bigelows

Things got better after Rangeley.The weather didn’t improve,and the terrain was as tough as ever....

my final gear list for the pacific northwest trail

Let’s obtain down on some gear talk for a second. I love nerding out on my spreadsheets (believe...

chaunce s at vlog 29: delaware water gap -...

The Appalachian Trail from Delaware Water Gap to Unionville (miles 1294.7 – 1346.2). Easy/Nips is...

the section of passes

788.5-801.2Kearsarge and Glen PassI awoke for the moment time on this trip from the comfort of a pit...

bloggers

Search category post