Blog | mountains-and-me

TEAR Updates Spring 2022

Apart from writing a book and editing some video from my 2019 hike, I've also spent some time during the pandemic to digitally scout for...

Steepest Climbs of the AT, PCT, CDT, and the TEAR

The ‘Triple Crown’ of US long-distance hiking is made up of the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Trail. The three...

I Hiked 6000 km Across Europe's Mountains - These Were The Best Trails

It was actually a bit over 6250 km, but who's counting? In 2019 I hiked for seven months across the mountains of Europe. My path was a...

Introducing the Trans-European Alpine Route

It's been almost three months since I finished my hike across Europe. It was always my goal to not just go off on an adventure, but to...

I think I'm quite ready for another adventure

Well, my bag is packed once again. Tomorrow I fly to Europe for another foot-powered odyssey, a 6500 km walk from the Black Sea to the...

The TEAR vs AT, PCT, CDT (Stats)

Update Jan 2022: The data presented here was a rough analysis of the of the Trans-European Alpine before it was hiked in 2019. The route...

DIY Ultralight "Bathtub" Groundsheet for $2.50

#DIY #MYOG Weight: 2.2 oz Bathtub Wall Height: ~6 inches Material: Polycryo Window Insulation (Shrink wrap) Time Required: 15 min...

Going Light Without Going Broke

Whether you're relatively new to the world of backpacking or just tired of shouldering that heavy pack again, everyone likes the idea of...

The Story of Steve the Spoon

Of all the pieces of gear I took with me on my first thru hike, there are very few still remaining. Long distance hiking is expectedly...

TEAR Update: Initial GPX Route Complete

Jan 2022 Update: Current GPX tracks are available at the TEAR overview and section pages. Original post follows: GPS routes for the...