Backpacking Books & Ultralight Guides
See You Down the Trail: My 2002 AT Thru-Hike
See You Down the Trail is Bert Nemcik’s first-person account of his 2002 Appalachian Trail thru-hike, walking from Maine to Georgia over four months. Written years after the hike, it describes the trail as much more of a tour of America than his earlier bicycle ride across the country. Bert has since passed away, and we share his book in his memory, hoping his story keeps inspiring hikers to set out on the trail. See you down the trail, Bert.
A personal note: the author of this book was like a second father to me. I’m proud to share his story here. — Scott
Beyond Backpacking: Ray Jardine’s Guide to Lightweight Hiking
Ray Jardine’s Beyond Backpacking takes the lightweight approach from his Pacific Crest Trail Hiker’s Handbook and applies it to any trail, giving a fuller explanation of what hikers came to call “the Ray Way.” It covers light clothing and gear (including making your own), food and nutrition, running shoes in place of heavy boots, stealth camping, handling rain, cold and bugs, and planning a long-distance hike. We like that it’s written for hikers at every level, from an afternoon outing to a summer-long trek; Jardine later revised it as Trail Life.
Take a Thru-Hike: Dixie's How-To Guide for Hiking the Appalachian Trail
Jessica “Dixie” Mills wrote Take a Thru-Hike after the Appalachian Trail became her very first overnight backpacking trip, and it shows: the guide cuts through the flood of trail advice and lays out AT planning in a straightforward, simple way. Short chapters cover packs and trekking poles, shelter and bedding, food and water, resupply and mail drops, footwear, a breakdown of what her own hike cost, hygiene, safety and wildlife, trail etiquette, and hiking with a dog. We like that it’s written with first-time thru-hikers in mind and stays practical from start to finish. Dixie is also known for her Homemade Wanderlust YouTube channel.