by Liz "Snorkel" Thomas | Jan 11, 2016 | Hike, Trail
All right guys, s&*% just got real! As many of you know, I’ve been working for the past few months on developing BACKPACKER Magazine’s first on-line course, a 6-week Thru-Hiking 101 class on the Adventure University Platform. I’ve been a little...
by Liz "Snorkel" Thomas | Jan 6, 2016 | Hike, Trail
“The secret of getting ahead is getting started” Mark Twain Maps. Gear. Food. Planning for a thru-hike can involve so much stuff and data, it can seem downright daunting. Before I started my first thru-hike, I obsessed the Pacific Crest Trail, but was scared to...
by Liz "Snorkel" Thomas | Dec 23, 2015 | Hike, Trail
If you or a friend has ever wanted to go on a long backpacking trip, but weren’t sure where to start, Thru-Hiking 101 with Backpacker Magazine is easily accessible, approachable, and unintimidating the holiday present you need to set yourself up...
by Liz "Snorkel" Thomas | Oct 13, 2015 | Hike, Trail
Back in July, I visited Japan for a week to visit my elderly grandparents, but was able to slip away from family obligations at night. Instead of hitting the karaoke bar, my sister, cousin and I went to climb Mt. Nantai, an active stratovolcano and the tallest...
by Liz "Snorkel" Thomas | Oct 9, 2015 | Hike, Trail
My good buddy Whitney “Allgood” LaRuffa thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail almost 20 years ago and worked as a ridgerunner with his dog for two years. Now, he has a job, a house, a dog, and a volunteer job as the President of the...
by Liz "Snorkel" Thomas | Sep 25, 2015 | Hike, Trail
As many of you know, Heather “Anish” Anderson just broke the women’s unassisted speed record on the Appalachian Trail, overcoming my 2011 record by a whopping 26 days. Many of my friends have been asking me “if I’m ok with it” in the sort of way they’d ask me if “I’m...
