how-this-class-works-and-what-is-thru-hiking

Getting Started

choosing-the-right-trek-for-you

Choosing the Right Trek

section-hiking

Section Hiking

finding-the-time-and-money

Finding the Time and Money

rallying-your-team

Rallying Your Team

understanding-your-why

Understanding Your "Why"

Week 1: Refining the Dream

the-importance-of-planning

The Importance of Planning

physical-fitness

Physical Fitness

calculate-your-budget-and-set-the-homefront-to-autopilot

Create Your Budget and Homefront Plan

Week 2: Making It Real

route-planning-and-permits

Route Planning and Permits

when-and-where-youll-start-and-hard-stop-end-dates

When and Where to Start and Stop

getting-to-the-trailhead-and-basic-navigation

Getting to the Trailhead and Basic Navigation

getting-to-the-trailhead-and-roughing-out-your-itinerary

Roughing Out Your Itinerary

Week 3: Route Planning

the-role-of-food-and-food-rules

The Role and Rules of Food

decide-on-a-resupply-strategy

Resupply Strategy

mail-drops

Mail Drops, Grocery Stores, Bounce Boxes

Week 4: Resupplies

letting-go-of-perfection-and-asking-the-right-questions

Gear Rules and Principles

how-to-lighten-up-on-a-budget

How to Lighten Up on a Budget

where-to-spend-your-time-and-money

Gear Focus for Thru-Hiking

other-key-gear-decisions

Other Gear Essentials

whats-in-their-pack

What’s In Their Pack?

Week 5: Gear

what-its-really-like-and-eating-and-drinking

Eating and Drinking On The Trail

making-camp-and-daily-routines

Making Camp and Daily Routines

tricks-for-the-long-haul

Tricks for the Long Haul

trail-etiquette-and-safety-basics

Trail Etiquette and Safety Basics

special-concerns-for-women-and-older-hikers

Special Concerns for Women and Older Hikers

common-thru-hiker-medical-issues

Common Medical Issues

staying-motivated-making-trail-friends-and-loved-ones

Staying Motivated and Making Trail Friends

Week 6: Life on the Trail

course-wrap-up-and-words-of-wisdom

Course Wrap-Up and Words of Wisdom

resources

Thru-Hiking Resources

This week, we&#8217;ll finally dig in to that topic that everyone seems to obsess over: gear. You’re going to be living out of your backpack for the next long while, so what goes into that backpack is important. But maybe not quite as important as you think. <h2>Asking the Right Questions</h2> As I just mentioned, I’m not going to tell you exactly what to buy. That would be impossible—and not just because what’s available is constantly changing. This truth is so important, I’ll say it yet again: There’s no ONE right piece of gear. The best gear is what works for you. Not what the magazines (even Backpa...