Blog
Hiker Blues: Maintaining Morale While Long-Distance Hiking
by Jaala Freeman Backpacking is full of excitement: orange and purple sunsets, painted mountains, expansive views, deep green forests, raucous animals, fresh air and a thriving community. All of this...
A Thru-Hiker's Pantry
The most common questions a thru-hiker gets asked in town typically refer to our food. “What do you eat out there?” “How do you carry enough food for 5 months?”...
4 Tips For Backpacking With Children
-By Jaala Freeman #TrustyPCT- We call them “The Family.” They call themselves “The Lorzigs.” They are three people walking from Mexico to Canada on the Pacific Crest Trail–two parents, Jeanne...
Does Age Matter On the Trail?
Jaala Freeman: The stereotypical hiker–a 20-something person, with a moderate level of outdoor experience, physical fitness and a sports-like demeanor. Reality, however, shows the hiking community to vary widely in...
The Art of Desert Backpacking - 5 Great Tips
Jaala Freeman: As a hiker approaches the Kennedy Meadows General Store, at mile 702 on the Pacific Crest Trail, the crowd on the deck erupts in applause and cheers. Each...
Hikers And Their Trail Names
by Jaala Spencer: Stayin’ Alive, Chili Willy, Lost and Found, Veggie, DK Shhh, Macho Man Randy Savage, Blue, Slumber Cat–hikers and their trail names!It all started on the Appalachian Trail–so...
#TrustyPCT Field Report from Jaala & Tommy
American Pharaoh is already 2/3 the way to a Triple Crown but so are Jaala and Tommy! These trail thoroughbreds have been hiking the PCT for nearly a month. Survived...
Blisters & Trail Angels
When your major task each day is to walk, your feet become your most important bodily faculty. If those are doing great you can deal with shoulder pain, knee pain,...
Prepping for the PCT: Dental floss and potato chip trail mix
When Jaala and Tommy Freeman leave on their honeymoon early tomorrow, they’ll be equipped like few other newlyweds. Bear canister? Check. Ice axe? Check. Instant hashbrowns? You bet! Gotta keep...
Preparing for a 2,650-mile hike
Tommy and Jaala Freeman are all about efficiency when it comes to thru-hiking. The couple met while both were thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2012, where the trail crosses the...
I'll See Your Oscar And Raise You A Triple Crown
This past weekend Reese Witherspoon almost claimed a second Oscar for her portrayal of Cheryl Strayed in Fox Searchlight’s Wild, a film highlighting the real-life story of a woman’s 1,000+...