Thru-hiking

Thru-hiking, or through-hiking, is the continuous end-to-end hiking of an established long-distance trail. The term is used especially in North America in reference to trails such as the Appalachian Trail (AT), the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), and the Continental Divide Trail (CDT). Similar end-to-end hikes are also undertaken on long-distance footpaths in other parts of the world, including Te Araroa in New Zealand, the Camino de Santiago in Spain and France, the Via Francigena in Europe, the Great Divide Trail in Canada, and the Great Himalaya Trail in Nepal.

A hike completed over multiple trips rather than in one continuous journey is generally known as section hiking.

History

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, long-distance walking and hiking became increasingly popular in the United States. This period saw the establishment of dedicated trails such as the Long Trail in Vermont and the John Muir Trail in California.

The trail most closely associated with the development of thru-hiking in the United States is the Appalachian Trail, proposed in 1921 by Benton MacKaye and completed in 1937. Myron Avery, an early promoter of the trail, traversed its full length in sections while helping to develop and mark the route. In 1948, Earl Shaffer completed what is generally regarded as the first continuous south-to-north thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. In 1951, Chester Dziengielewski completed a continuous north-to-south thru-hike.[1][2]

Emma "Grandma" Gatewood became one of the best-known early thru-hikers after completing the Appalachian Trail in 1955 at the age of 67. Her hike, undertaken with relatively simple equipment, has often been cited in discussions of the history of lightweight and ultralight backpacking.[3][4]

Practice

A thru-hike typically takes several months to complete and often requires planning in advance. Hikers may rely on mailed resupply packages or purchase food and other necessities in towns near the trail.

According to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, only a minority of Appalachian Trail thru-hike attempts are completed; the organization reported completion rates of about 25% in recent years.[5] The most common reasons for abandoning a thru-hike include injury, financial constraints, limited time, and loss of motivation.

Long-distance hikers who have completed the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Divide Trail are known as Triple Crowners.[6]

Section hiking is the completion of a long-distance trail over multiple trips rather than in a single continuous journey. In common usage, a section hike is distinguished from a thru-hike by the lack of continuity between sections.

See also

Further reading

  • Lugo, Derick (2019). The Unlikely Thru-Hiker: An Appalachian Trail Journey. Appalachian Mountain Club Books. ISBN 1-62842-118-5
  • Bruce, Dan (2000). The Thru-Hiker's Handbook. Hot Springs, North Carolina: Center for Appalachian Trail Studies.
  • Norton, Russell (1997). Long Trail End-to-Ender's Guide. Waterbury Center, Vermont: Green Mountain Club.
  • Shaffer, Earl V. (1983). Walking With Spring. Harpers Ferry, West Virginia: Appalachian Trail Conference.
  • Berger, Karen and Daniel Smith (1993). Where the Waters Divide: A Walk along America's Continental Divide. New York: Random House.
  • Bryson, Bill (1998). A Walk in the Woods. Broadway Books.

References

  1. ^ Shaffer, Earl V. (1995). Walking with spring: The first thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. Harpers Ferry, West Virginia: Appalachian Trail Conference. ISBN 0-917953-84-3. OCLC 37561784.
  2. ^ Hammack, Laurence (2 July 2011). "Did the man heralded as the first to walk the entire Appalachian Trail take a shortcut into history?". The Roanoke Times. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  3. ^ Freeling, Elisa (November–December 2002). "Hiking the Appalachian Trail". Sierra.
  4. ^ Montgomery, Ben (2014). Grandma Gatewood's walk: The inspiring story of the woman who saved the Appalachian Trail. Chicago: Chicago Review Press. ISBN 978-1-61374-718-6. OCLC 858940255.
  5. ^ "About the Trail – 2,000-Milers in Recent Years". Appalachian Trail Conservancy. 3 January 2020.
  6. ^ "Triple Crown". ALDHA-West.
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