Why hike the Appalachian Trail?

As my dad and I prepare to embark on our 2026 AT hike, there’s one question almost everyone asks: «Why do you want to hike the Appalachian Trail?» This question is always asked in one of two contexts: either this person can’t fathom the idea of ​​wanting to spend 6 months living outdoors, or they are asking with genuine curiosity why I chose to hike the AT instead of other common trails like the PCT or CDT.

While this question is usually asked in the first context, I thought I’d take this opportunity to answer both.

“Why would you want to do this?!?”

This is the question. The one that every hiker (and aspiring hiker like me) gets from about 95% of the general public. While it seems simple, I often find myself giving each person a different answer. Honestly, I have too many reasons to count. As I mentioned before, my dad will be accompanying me on this hike. I have always been close to him and he was the one who introduced me to the world of hiking and camping. After this hike, I will have had an unforgettable experience with one of my favorite people and dad in one. I consider myself very lucky for that and it continues to be a great motivation! (Dad, if you’re reading this, I’m taking it back.)

Among many others, one more reason why I want to complete my hike is to prove to myself that I can do it. I have spent much of my life as an athlete playing multiple sports throughout the year. After I stopped playing basketball during college, I didn’t know what a healthy lifestyle without competitive sports looked like. I had always worked out through long practices and competition with others, and I wasn’t sure how to transition to a lifestyle more suitable for me. Over time, I found my love for hiking. While I have always loved the outdoors, I found that I was spending more time than ever camping and exploring trails.

Once I figured out I could make the logistics of a hike work, I never looked back. I’ve been planning my AT hike ever since and I can’t wait to have the chance to compete with myself and not others for a change.

“But why the Appalachian Trail?”

While this is not the most common question, I get asked it by other hikers, outdoorspeople, and those with a basic knowledge of the National Scenic Trails. (Although this knowledge is surprisingly common in Wisconsin—we’re home to the Ice Age National Scenic Trail!) I mentioned earlier that I often answer the first question differently each time. When asked why I chose the AT for my first hike, I will always have the same answer.

After finishing undergrad in 2024, my parents took me on a three-week vacation to Maine. We spent almost our entire trip hiking in Acadia, but on the last day of our trip my dad and I decided to drive north so we could hike Mount Katahdin. At the top of Mount Katahdin is the northern end of the Appalachian Trail, where we will soon return to begin our journey. This hike took us over 11 hours in 98 degree heat, but it was still the best experience of my life. While I had known about the AT for many years before climbing Katahdin, the experiences I had that day shaped my desire to complete the entire trail. Having climbed Katahdin with my dad once before, I can’t wait to get out again in late spring to begin our SOBO trip.

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