Why I’m Thru Hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2025 | My Story + Plans

[@jsweevil]

For years i was unable to get out and do more than a day hike or a very rare overnight backpacking trip at a local state park. I absolutely loved binging hiking videos and living vicariously through vloggers thru hiking long trails. As a caretaker, i had no ability to get out there, so watching those videos was my lifeline. This year, i am finally getting the chance to thru hike the AT at 62yo. Just know that vlogging can be incredibly helpful to those that cant get out there themselves. I doubt i will vlog myself, just have a facebook page and IG account to keep family and friends updated on my progress, but know that many out there will be highly appreciative to those like yourself who do vlog.

[@adventure_outdoors]

@@jsweevil thank you so much for your encouragement!! I wish you the best on your own journey 🥾

[@jsweevil]

@adventure_outdoors thank you! ❤️

[@timmonahanjustoutforawalk7331]

I follow 3 to 5 thru hikers a year. 2 things I look for from the vloggers are videos that are not crazy long & videos that show alot of the terrain. I hope ur one of them. Good luck on ur hike

[@danielstoddart]

I've watched about 4 or 5 video through hikes so far. Based on my experience, I think 10 minute updates are the ideal length of time. 10 minutes is a doable daily investment. If a video is an hour long, I'm just not going to have enough time to watch it all.

[@soniadowney7427]

I follow hikers who don't use music, don't talk too much and keep the camera focused on the trail. In other words, no long selfie. 😊

[@soniadowney7427]

​@@danielstoddart try Loamseeker, just love her informative videos

[@dougwoods9885]

Congratulations on your trip. I plan to start February 1 2026. I live in up state new York and work outside so the cold should be no problem. I'm almost 70 so it's now or never for me. I'll be following you so good luck

[@adventure_outdoors]

You got this! So cool to hear about your journey 🤙🏽

[@karenpaulson]

I'm so happy you popped up on my feed! I was looking around for a thru-hiker to follow and here you are! My husband and I love to tune in to a hiker in the evening and see how things are going. Good luck!

[@adventure_outdoors]

Thanks so much, and welcome to the channel 🤗

[@jamesadams2334]

I wish you good luck on your hike. Have a great time and enjoy the process of walking there. It will change your life forever. I throw a St. Patrick's Day party for the new batch of thru hikers each year at Gooch Gap and have been doing it since 2003. Good to hear about your trail magic. Looking forward to following your vlog. geek

[@adventure_outdoors]

Awesome!! I’ve done TM at Gooch Shelter the past few years on the first weekend of March. Usually we’ll hike a few pizzas + fruit into the shelter!

[@kaishinbrough7639]

NOBO '24. Just subscribed. Super excited to see your vlog and re-live the AT

[@jhayft0703]

I follow a few people each year for the last couple of years and super excited to follow you!

[@adventure_outdoors]

Thanks so much! Excited to have you along for the journey ☺️

[@jhayft0703]

@ 💕💕💕💕💕

[@stanthemanhikes2965]

Hi good luck to you. You’re gonna love it. My year was 2022. If I had to do it again I would probably vlog daily instead of several days at a clip. I think editing and uploading would have been much easier that way. I’m out doing trail magic quite a bit so hope to see you out there. Have fun!!

[@adventure_outdoors]

Thanks for the insight! Hope to see you out there!

[@WanderingGadget]

Stan has the best trail magic!

[@sixpackhikers]

Hope to see you out there! My husband, 4 kids, and I are starting a little before you. You’ll probably catch us 😉

[@adventure_outdoors]

That’s awesome! I’ll be looking out for you 😊 happy hiking!!

[@sixpackhikers]

@ happy trails to you too!

[@forrestwhite8052]

I volunteer to drive the free shuttle for the City of Hiawassee. I love meeting the different people doing this hike.

[@adventure_outdoors]

Very cool! I just might see you on a resupply 😊

[@jaritza9625]

I’m turning 30 this year and planning to hike the AT as well! 🤗❤️ see you there !

[@adventure_outdoors]

@@jaritza9625 happy trails!

[@divemaster289]

Good luck on your journey. I thru hiked it this year, it's life changing!

[@adventure_outdoors]

Congrats on your thru hike! I can’t wait!

[@Casual_BackPacking]

I am rooting for you in your AT thru hike quest.

[@crmasek39]

Congratulations! I'm excited to follow your journey and enjoy the trail through your perspective.

[@adventure_outdoors]

Thank you! I hope you enjoy the journey!

[@Go-With-Mo]

I appreciate your attitude concerning your thru hike attempt. Make it your hike. Thanks for taking us along. Looking forward to the adventure.

[@MikeM.nomiles]

Hi there Megan. Best of luck on your amazing journey. Im a trail angel here in ME and have helped many hikers im sure you are aware of including candy mama this year on her FKT run. Looking forward to watching your vids. "No Miles"

[@adventure_outdoors]

Looking forward to connecting when I get further north on trail!

[@iwnlis4347]

Can’t wait for your AT thru hike! 👍🥾⛰️

[@bevgipson1959]

I follow a few through hikers each season. Glad I ran across you now so I can subscribe and follow you! You are easy to listen to. Look forward to joining you on your adventure!

[@adventure_outdoors]

Thank you! I’m excited to have you along!

[@ISuckatHiking]

I will be following! I finished my thru hike in 2024 and look for a few to follow every year. You have made my list!

[@sheilahenry7279]

Good to see you here. I followed your (& Leo) hike all of this year. Picking out mine to follow this yr. I was hoping to be one of the hikers & maybe I will??

[@ISuckatHiking]

@sheilahenry7279 you should

[@divemaster289]

I thru hiked it this year also. Had a day hiker ask me if I was "I suck at hiking" from KZbin. Lol

[@ISuckatHiking]

@divemaster289 then you must be one good looking dude

[@divemaster289]

@@ISuckatHiking obviously! I started with Chuck and Heather Reed, I know he was talking to u. Glad they made it. Congrats to u!

[@derekbaggett189]

That’s awesome. I’m in GA also. Just got into hiking to become more active. I live near Columbus so have a State Park near me (FD Roosevelt State Park). March 9th is a good day. It’s my b-day.

[@adventure_outdoors]

@@derekbaggett189 awesome! Happy trails!

[@KatieHikes]

Thanks for answering my questions from your last video. Wishing you the best adventure! Hope to see you out there

[@MJG70]

Thanks!

[@adventure_outdoors]

Thank you so much!!

[@miken7629]

Good thing you are doing this while you are young, once a person gets debt & responsibilities they will be trapped into working for the next 40 years.

[@Lifesvagabond]

Yeah buddy!! I am doing a thru this year too!! Good luck!!

[@adventure_outdoors]

@@Lifesvagabond awesome! Wish you the best on your thru hike as well!

[@BackCountryBean]

I’m starting march 15! Best of luck! I’ll give you a follow!

[@adventure_outdoors]

@@BackCountryBean happy trails! Hope to see you out there!

[@fl-rando]

Great video, thanks for sharing

[@boxman48patrickcasey32]

Looking forward to following your hike...you seem to know what you're about to embark on!!!

[@elizabethcole5582]

Every year I follow a few thru hikers. I enjoy all the different perspectives. I live very close to the trail, only about 30 minutes away from several road crossings, so I try to get out there a few times a year. Having watched several thru hikers and their vlogs, I prefer almost daily 15 to 25 minute vlogs. However, many of the hikers say it's a lot of work, and I'm betting it is. So every few days is great as long as we all know you're OK. I look forward to watching your journey.

[@steveblindlost9424]

Wish you the best in your upcoming hike. Enjoy your positive attitude.

[@robertbarnes4]

I been following hikes fir about 8 years. I try to follow 3-4 people. I wish you the best and I be watching. I have done different part of the AT. 👍

[@Lucitt13]

I'm planning on starting March 1st. The temps up here is southwest Ohio finally dropped into the high teens low 20's during the mornings. Perfect training weather for the start. Maybe I'll see you out there. Good luck and have fun.

[@adventure_outdoors]

Good luck on your journey as well! It’s gotten down in the 20s here in Georgia too 🥶

[@leelagreenwood]

I’m starting on March 14th I hope I run into you on the trail!

[@adventure_outdoors]

Hope to see you out there!

[@myjourneytosanity]

I'm so excited to watch your journey! I can't hike the trail due to disability (working on conditioning so one day I can!), but I am planning on driving down from Nova Scotia each year to do trail magic. Maybe I'll see you out there!

[@OG-PapaDude]

My "official" start date is March 5th, but I'm heading out there next month (from Oklahoma) to lend a hand making sure we can make it all the way to Mama K. I'm sure I'll see ya out there.

[@adventure_outdoors]

Thanks for helping out on the trail!!

[@somerandomguy4149]

Definitely looking forward to watching you hike the A.T every year for the past 4 years I follow about 4 or 5 people and I just love the A.T it's actually live in NC about 2 hours away from roan mountain near Charlotte which is the last mountain other than hump mountain. Before you go into TN so Definitely looking forward to watching your hike from start to finish.

[@adventure_outdoors]

@@somerandomguy4149 I’ve hiked the area on Roan Mountain a few times - it’s beautiful there! Thanks for coming along on the journey.

[@robertrossi4038]

Looking forward to following your adventure. My wife and I are attempting in 2026. Always trying to learn tips and tricks prior to our start date. Good luck.

[@adventure_outdoors]

So exciting! I’m still dialing in my gear, but watching past thru hikers has definitely been a huge help 🥾

[@jenniejenkins6608]

Thank you from the southern portion for calling it the Appa-latch-in trail 😊

[@adventure_outdoors]

😊🙃

[@HikingwithRouletteRun]

So funny, as somebody who has spent some quality time in the woods in the South, very near the beginning and well before you told us you were from Georgia, I thought to my self, "the woods look like they're in the South." Somehow, I got lucky last season and I only followed one hiker from start to finish Rissa Roams, and she did a flip flop hike and took seven months to do it. She did almost daily vlogs of her hike, she may have missed one or two day during the entire hike, but it wasn't many at all. She's from the North Georgia/Chattanooga area somewhere. In regards to the trail, I highly suggest you check in with Ramdino Hiking the Trails. He's really keeping people updated on the condition of the trail in the aftermath of Hurricane Hellene. There is major damage to the trail in East Tennessee, West North Carolina and Southwest Virginia. The hiking clubs are working very had to get the trail cleared. I'm looking forward to seeing how you get along.

[@adventure_outdoors]

I followed Rissa as well this year and was happy to see when she finished! I know there will be a few sections that might be diverted, but lots of friends working on the trail have said there are lots of developments being made!

[@MrGhris]

Have fun! Might see you around, I'll be hiking the trail somewhere starting in March 2025.

[@adventure_outdoors]

@@MrGhris Awesome, happy trails!

[@Camp43Maine]

Best of luck and when you get to Rangeley, be sure to stay at Camp 43!

[@KrizAkoni]

Enjoy the journey - hope to see you out there!

[@jjames2925]

Hi there! We are from near you and Sandy Creek nature trail! We are going to join you and root our local hiker on!!

[@adventure_outdoors]

Awesome, thanks for the support!!

[@BRIANDRAUGHN-o8x]

Good luck on your epic journey. I look forward to your vlogs. 👣👣👣

[@markviers998]

Have a good hike, looking forward to getting to tag along.

[@MJG70]

WOW! You are well l traveled. I love hiking in the UK. I hope you get far more subscribers/attention to your channel for doing this hike!

[@adventure_outdoors]

Thank you! And I love hiking in the Lake District (UK) as well!

[@alexwbanks70]

I find a few hikers every year to follow and I think you're one of them for next year.

[@jamesbonner5989]

Looking forward to following.

[@richardh.5404]

Best of luck!

[@DarrellSampson-s9m]

Congratulations on your thru hike attempt, you will do great. Are you going to do a gear list video before you start?

[@adventure_outdoors]

I’m thinking I might hold off and do a video afterwards about what I started with vs what I finished with!

[@SusanMcGahee-sc1fr]

Great video!

[@Outcast.takes.a.hike.]

Look forward to seeing you on trial 😊

[@flippinwithamy3397]

New subscriber here. I’ll follow you. Good luck.

[@adventure_outdoors]

@@flippinwithamy3397 welcome along! Thanks for the follow ☺️

[@walterlangston4484]

Would love to thru hike the trail but don't have the but at least I can section hike every year

[@annehedonia156]

Aren't sections of the trail closed indefinitely now?

[@adventure_outdoors]

@@annehedonia156 There is still an ~150 mile section down here that currently has a suggested reroute. I’ll plan to skip that section if it’s still closed when I get there and come back later to either hike the trail or the reroute.

[@MJG70]

smart to start at the trail head . i would do the same.

[@idoeverything]

I’m registered for March 8th. I hope to see you!

[@adventure_outdoors]

Awesome, hope to run into you!

[@crocketthikes7717]

I’m legally blind hiker Crockett

[@flashconti]

IMHO - Read my book Only When I Step On It to get a good dose of motivation - good luck and enjoy your journey!

[@adventure_outdoors]

I will check it out - thanks for the recommendation!

[@flashconti]

@ LMK and I can send you a code to listen to the audible version for free - great job with your videos

[@alexwbanks70]

Oh just got to the part where you said you normally don't show your face a lot. You might want to and hope you do. It seems like the viewers like to get to know the personalities. Its like hanging out just like you said. EDIT: I just watched another video of yours of the 4 pass loop. You don't have to change a thing!

[@adventure_outdoors]

Thanks for the kind words! I'll keep that in mind as I decide what kind of videos I want to create on the AT!

[@crocketthikes7717]

I’ll be 3 weeks ahead of u in mid February just after valentines day

[@wandering_butnotlost]

Excited to go on your journey with you! But please don't give us your start date or real time updates on where you are, it's not safe!

[@adventure_outdoors]

I’ll be delaying my videos quite a bit per usual. I feel alright sharing my start weekend seeing as loads of people will also be starting then, and I’ll be starting with a group of friends 😊 Thanks for the concern!

[@jhayft0703]

Also what do you do for a job? How did you get enough time off to do this?

[@adventure_outdoors]

I stepped down from my admin job last year and have been working as a substitute teacher + farm sitter since then. Both jobs are super flexible with timing, so I get to make my own schedule! Thanks for the questions!

[@jhayft0703]

@@adventure_outdoorsI work from home also and make my own hours! It’s the best! I’m new subscriber so I’ll follow your entire journey!

[@TheP1rata]

Looking forward to your AT hike. Just my opinion, but don’t share your posting gap in the future.

[@sausagefingers2885]

Hiked it 20 years ago. Keep a journal of good stories and pics of people / events, preferably non digital or with redundant backups. Memories fade with age and old computer hard drives go bad. Don't bother capturing scenery