Spring is a mere 67 days away, and if you’re among the thousands who will attempt to conquer a long-distance hiking trail in its entirety within the 2018 hiking season, then you’re probably already busy training, saving, planning, and steeling yourself for some serious communing with nature. In the United States, the term “thru-hiking” is most commonly associated with the Appalachian Trail (AT), the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), and Continental Divide Trail (CDT)—although there are plenty of other satisfying end-to-end hikes to tackle.

Hikers hitting America’s most sought-after thru-hike typically head to the AT's southernmost point in Georgia within three weeks on either side of the spring equinox, so as to complete their 2,189-mile trek before October, which is when its northern terminus, Mt. Katahdin in Maine, closes. Northbound PCT hikers tend to journey to the Mexican border in April or May, with hopes of arriving in Canada, 2,660 miles later, in September. Tackling the CDT? Experts suggest you start the 3,100 miles spanning Antelope Wells, New Mexico, and Glacier National Park between mid-April and mid-May. (You don’t have to take the northbound approach, but most thru-hikers opt to start from the south.)

Before setting out on what is by all accounts a completely transformative experience, you’ll need to muster up some serious courage—along with reliable gear, good maps, and moral support. Planning a thru-hike can be seriously daunting, but keep in mind, you’ll experience profound rewards—just think of the beneficial effects of all that flora, fauna, exercise, trail bonhomie, toughening, and self-reflection. Plus, you’ll get to use the coveted #thruhiker hashtag when posting jaw-dropping landscapes and/or anecdotes worthy of a cocktail party at Bill Bryson’s or Cheryl Strayed’s. While we’d never suggest that one set out on such an arduous journey just for the social media bona fides, we’ll cop to a weakness for accomplished thru-hikers’ Instagram feeds. Whether you’re planning your own trek, prefer vicarious adventures, or simply can’t get enough #natureporn, we hope you find inspiration and insights from the following.

@walkingwithwired: Welcome to the informative account of Portland’s Erin Saver, a substitute teacher, nanny, and “triple-crowner” who, you guessed it, has already mastered the AT, the PCT, and the CDT. During her first thru-hike (of the PCT in 2011), fellow trekkers christened Saver “Wired” for her boundless energy and habit of regularly updating her blog from the trail. Saver, who true to her nickname is savvy about wireless gadgets (as she is about every other form of trail gear), thru-hikes four to six months each year and is recognized as one of the internet’s foremost authorities on the endeavor. She’s also walking proof that working adults really can plan and execute thru-hike adventures. Check out Saver’s site for gear reviews, hiking podcasts, pro tips, her speaking schedule, and updates on her whereabouts—and scroll her feed for stunning photos of iconic and off-the-beaten-path trails around the world. We’re looking forward to the spring, when Wired plans to hit what she writes will be her “most challenging venture yet”: the Great Himalaya Trail in Nepal.

 

A post shared by Erin "Wired" Saver (@walkingwithwired) on Aug 19, 2017 at 12:28pm PDT

@cleverhiker: When lifelong backpacker Dave Collins, a.k.a. the “Clever Hiker,” was preparing to thru-hike the PCT in 2010, he craved video resources to help him prepare. Unsatisfied in his search, he’s since built a comprehensive website that’s chock-full of video tutorials designed to provide both experienced and aspiring thru-hikers with seasoned intel about the skills and tools that’ll help up their wilderness-adventure ante (we highly recommend “Lightweight Backpacking Basics"). Collins’s site also boasts an entertaining blog, a reader Q&A section, and a newsletter. And as his nearly 4,000 Instagram fans can attest, he knows his way around a camera.