2024 2,000-Miler Takeaways

Adam “Waterboy” Anderson

NOBO thru-hiker 

“I’m still processing this incredible journey. Starting in early February really gives you a lot of solitude on the Trail. I thought the Trail couldn’t get much better to be honest. I appreciate all the ATC has done for the Trail. It’s really something special.” 

Chloe “Cricket” Andrie

Section hiker 

“The Appalachian Trail has changed my life. As a section-hiker over three years, with three long hikes on the A.T., I feel that the community and love for the trail is unlike any other. I hope that I was able to show love and respect for the Trail and the community through my actions. I believe I left the Trail better than I found it, and I’m convinced that I left the Trail better than I was.” 

Kelsey “Good Moss” Bentrem

NOBO thru-hiker

“Hiking the Appalachian Trail was the most incredible adventure. The highlights of the trail were the people I met and the beautiful views. I loved Franconia ridge and saw a double rainbow on the first night in the hundred-mile wilderness. I made a best friend for life on Trail.” 

Congressman Don Beyer, “The Mule”

Section hiker 

“Every moment was special, even those that were decidedly unspecial. Summiting Moosilauke in arctic conditions was great fun. I loved climbing the open face of Blue Mountain above Lehigh Gap in the predawn January hours. I will never forget the rock band on the climb up Katahdin. Jeff Lowe’s immortal words define my hike: It doesn’t have to be fun to be fun. 

I fulfilled the A.T. Hiker Pledge in so many little ways, but none dramatic: donating to the ATC when possible; promoting the AT in almost every speech; founding and chairing the A.T. Caucus in the U.S. Congress; engaging 90 different people to hike parts of the A.T. with me, introducing it to many; always leaving more firewood than we found; scrupulously obeying LNT, including carrying out anything others left behind; in general, trying to be a good citizen of the A.T. community.” 

Stephanie “Tinker Belle” Byrd

Flip Flop thru-hiker 

“The best experience of my life! I sectioned hiked a lot before my thru-hike and always said I never want to finish the whole trail (never want to not have any A.T. left to do)! But my thru-hike was an incredible experience I will always treasure.” 

Timothy “Guinness” Cain

NOBO thru-hiker 

“The kindness I experienced on the Trail was truly awesome. If you have lost faith in humanity, hike this Trail!” 

Ihsan “Lobster” Erdem

NOBO thru-hiker 

“When I was hiking in Maine, I reached a breaking point. The Trail was rough, I was exhausted, and I was so ready to be done. Right after Stratton, I stumbled and fell hard. Luckily, I only ended up with a couple of bruises, but unfortunately, my beloved spoon fell out of the side pocket of my backpack. (Everyone knows I always keep it within easy reach). I was tired and upset, so I stopped at the first shelter to take a quick break and get some water. When I reached inside the logbook case, I grabbed something that was wrapped in plastic—a disposable plastic spoon! I can’t describe the feeling I had at that moment. It sounds ridiculous, but that plastic spoon was exactly what I needed right then. It was the best thing that could have happened. The Trail provides exactly when you need it.” 

Jake “Shaggy” Keeley

NOBO thru-hiker

“We had so many great experiences on the A.T. We hiked it with my wife, a friend, and 2 dogs. They all did great! In Vermont, we had to get off trail to go get warmer gear once the cold was settling in. We had an incredibly nice couple give us a ride to town. We found out their son was a thru-hiker in 2018 and had passed away since. His trail name was Sweetwater and we made sure to sign his name in hiker books for his parents.” 

Caitie “Kaleidoscope” Kennedy

NOBO thru-hiker

“I’m still processing this amazing adventure, but I’m so, so grateful to the trail maintainers and the ATC for making it possible.” 

Angelika “THT (The Hiking Tomato)” Laird

NOBO thru-hiker

“Starting as early as I did meant a lot of solitude. This was both a blessing and a curse. I loved hiking alone all day to enjoy the beauty and serenity of the woods, mountains, fields, and breathtaking views. But I quickly found that I hated the long nights alone at camp with no one to share the daily highs and lows with. That changed in New York when I started hiking with another thru–hiker who was hiking similar miles as me, but hiked a different pace. A few other thru–hikers leap frogged us at times as well, which rounded out that experience. This meant I could hike alone all day, but still have the end of the day camp comradery that I had been missing. This was just enough “thru–hiker social life” for me to put the icing on the cake for my journey. Although I loved the southern section of my thru–hike with its familiar beauty along with the extreme cold/weather challenges at the start, the northern end gave me the thru–hiker experience I had been hoping for both in challenge and beauty AND the daily sharing of it all with a few other amazing fellow thru–hikers. The friendships continue long distance even now as we all continue in our off-trail lives.” 

Charlene “Kiosk” Luthi

Section hiker 

“With hiking in all 4 seasons it was so cool to see how the Trail changed. Whether it was the views or how Trail towns helped out when I hiked outside of the main season. Everyone was so polite. The views were absolutely amazing no matter where you were on the Trail. At the end of my section hike I was able to become a New Jersey Ridgerunner and it changed my views of the Trail and opened my eyes to how many people are not educated about Leave No Trace. It was great to help and assist those folks. My last 220 miles I had left to hike after Ridgerunning were amazing. I enjoyed it more than I ever did, and it was great to see some of the thru-hikers I met in the summer. The hikers I have met will always be a part of me till the day I die. Also thank you to all the volunteers you work hard to keeping the Trail as beautiful as it is.” 

Haley “uno” McKay

NOBO thru-hiker

“I found a very small kitten by a creek just north of Daleville, VA! My trail family and me carried him for about a week and half until we met up with my parents, and they took him home and fostered him until I finished the Trail! He is now thriving at home with my family and me. Great Value Premium White Chicken is his full name, but he is known as Chicken or Chickie!” 

Ivan Montanez

NOBO thru-hiker

“As a retiree I am thankful for many things to include the beauty of parts of the AT. There were many highlights but the one I will mention is the relationships built throughout the Trail and sharing our stories of the reason we choose to hike the AT.

As a military retiree it was an honor to hike a part of the country I spent so many years protecting and defending.

I appreciate and thank all of the trail maintainers, trail angels, volunteers, and caretakers for all the support they provide to keep the Trail healthy for hikers to enjoy.”

Emily “Sunshine” Pepin

Flip Flop thru-hiker 

“Hiking the Appalachian Trail has been a magical journey. I could write a lot of stories here! I planned and saved to hike the A.T. for over seven years while putting myself through college and working as a waitress. My grandma first told me about the A.T. in 2017, and I headed out for my first hike on the A.T. that same year, hiking over 300 miles. In 2018, I hiked the Vermont Long Trail, and after deciding I was finally ready to thru-hike after college in May 2023, I skipped my college graduation to head out on the Trail. Within the first week of hiking, I got an email from a professor who told me that I had an incomplete in the class because of one missing essay, so I ended up finishing my degree at the library in Helen, Georgia, and then hopped back on the Trail. I hiked over 1,800 miles from Georgia to Vermont, then from Katahdin south to the Kennebec River, but had to get off the Trail in November 2023 due to some impassable trail conditions in the Whites and an injury. I was devastated that I couldn’t finish, but got back on as soon as possible and finished the following year. I met my hiking partner, Scarecrow, just outside of Hot Springs and we hiked together for over six months to finish the Trail. We got engaged on the Bigelows just before finishing our hike at the Kennebec River, where we took the ferry across to finish. I love the A.T. community.” 

Erik “Trail Boss” Prince

Section hiker 

“I section hiked the A.T. with my wife and two sons over a twelve-year period (2012-2024) and it was an unbelievable journey that I would do all over again. We grew much closer as a family and genuinely enjoyed one another’s presence. There were plenty of tough times, but we supported each other along the way. We also enjoyed being a part of the unique Trail community. We will surely miss the many trips to the Trail we took each year, but we have made long lasting memories that will stay with us forever.” 

Julia “Little Bit” Stith

Flip Flop thru-hiker 

“Honestly the entire experience was wonderful. The Trail brought me a sense of peace and gratitude for the small gifts of life. I’m indebted forever for the trail maintainers and the trail angels who found me along the way.” 

Genevieve “Chickpea” Andress

NOBO thru-hiker & ATC’s Relationship Marketing and Membership Director

“Completing a thru hike of the AT was such an amazing, pivotal experience, and I know it will take a long time to truly comprehend the power of the journey. I’m honored to join the staff at the ATC after my hike and keep the trail as a central part of my life!”