Zach Davis

We’re thrilled to announce that we will be bringing back a fifth season of Trail Correspondents, a podcast dedicated to sharing the highs, lows, and everything in between that comes along with thru-hiking.

It’s hard to believe that it’s been over 13 years since I first set foot on the Appalachian Trail. Seeing as this was my first backpacking trip, I hadn’t the first clue of what to expect on this journey. While I was surprised by the trail’s beauty, challenging terrain, and temperamental weather, what stood out to me most was the incredible people surrounding the AT.

The 4th of July means summer is officially well underway, and it is too gosh dang nice out to stay inside, darn it! Thousand-degree heat index notwithstanding, we at The Trek stand firm in our belief that life is better with a little fresh air (and anyway, the temperature is nothing a little elevation and/or a quick dip in the river can’t fix). From hiking and biking to chill frontcountry campouts, these are the essential outdoor items our staff and contributors are loving this summer.