Though I’ve logged more miles and days in the backcountry on foot, skis, or performing trail work, (and arguably learned more outdoor skills) than my thru-hikes in total, there is no denying that people seem to love the metrics of thru-hiking.
An easy, if sometimes inaccurate, criteria that gives “trail cred” and a topic I’ve discussed in previous articles.
But, I’ll also admit that my longer journeys on foot are incredibly memorable and rewarding.
Something about exploring the wild places on foot one step after another is among my life’s highlights.
So, here is my “alphabet soup” resume for the curious. For simplicity’s sake, I defined a thru-hike as a set route with a specific name that is known to many people. If people believe it to be a thru-hike, and it is named than I guess it is a thru-hike? 🙂
- Vermont’s Long Trail in 1997 and 1999
- Appalachian Trail, 1998
- Pacific Crest Trail, 2002
- The Colorado Trail, 2004
- Continental Divide Trail, 2006
- Ring The Peak Trail, 2008 and 2011
- Benton MacKaye Trail, 2009
- Tahoe Rim Trail, 2009
- Uinta Highline Trail, 2013
- Collegiate Loop, 2017
- A Walk Across Southern Utah, 2017
- Great Divide Trail (Canada), 2018
- Northern New Mexico Loop, 2019
- Grand – Moab Route, 2022