WINNER OF THE 2017 NATIONAL OUTDOOR BOOK AWARDS (INSTRUCTIONAL CATEGORY)
Make the Dream of a Long Distance Thru-Hike a Reality
Have you been dreaming of the summer when you can hike the Appalachian Trail? Or marvel at the snow-capped peaks along the Pacific Crest Trail? Or simply section hike the Continental Divide Trail? In Backpacker’s Long Trails, Liz “Snorkel” Thomas, former women’s speed record holder for the AT and veteran of twenty long trails, gives you the tools to make this dream a reality. Included is trail-proven advice on selecting gear, stocking resupplies, and planning your budget and schedule, complete with gorgeous photographs of life on the trail. Along the way, enjoy sneak peeks into not only the Triple Crown trails, but also lesser-known long trails throughout North America.
Liz Thomas broke the women’s self-assisted speed record on the 2,181-mile long Appalachian Trail, besting the previous record by almost a week, in 2011. She has completed the Triple Crown of Hiking–the Appalachian Trail, the 2,650 mile Pacific Crest Trail, and the 3,100 mile Continental Divide Trail–and has backpacked over 15,000 miles across the United States on 20 long distance hikes, including the pioneering traverse of the Chinook Trail across the Columbia River Gorge and the pioneering traverse of the Wasatch Range, which she did solo. Liz has been featured in Backpacker magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Yahoo! News, Outside Online, and Gizmodo. She is Vice President of the American Long Distance Hiking Association-West and one of four ambassadors for American Hiking Society. She currently works as a staff outdoor writer at the New York Times.
On my first long trail, it took me until Damascus, Virginia, (450 miles up the Appalachian Trail) to learn much of this information—and through countless bouts of painful and expensive trial-and-error. Reading this book will get you miles ahead in your preparedness and planning for the trail—and proper prior planning prevents poor performance!
— Justin Lichter, author of Trail Tested, over 35,000 miles hiked, and first person to thru-hike the Pacific Crest Trail in the winter
Liz Thomas has to be the most unassuming super-hiker I have ever backpacked with. There is nobody better to discuss the all-important topic of life on the trail. I love her emphasis on hike your own hike, empowering people to discover the right way to hike a long trail for themselves.
— Glen Van Peski, Founder and Chairman of Gossamer Gear
Liz Thomas unpacks the secrets and strategies of how to be successful on a long distance trail. She offers professional tips and personal stories that will help novice hikers and recreational backpackers transition into accomplished thru-hikers.
— Jennifer Pharr Davis, author of Families on Foot, founder of Blue Ridge Hiking Company, and former record holder on the Appalachian Trail
Record-setting Triple Crown thru-hiker Liz “Snorkel” Thomas lays out hard-won practical advice. This book gives the aspiring long-distance hiker the fundamental knowledge and confidence to embark on a life-changing journey.
— David Money Harris, author of many Southern California hiking guidebooks and Pacific Crest Trail section hiker
Backpacker Long Trails is the most inclusive guide to thru-hiking and long distance backpacking out there. Lizs experience and attention to detail will prepare you not only to plan your own hike but to provide you with inspiration to explore trails you probably didnt even know existed.
— Heather "Anish" Anderson, unassisted speed record holder on the Pacific Crest Trail, Appalachian Trail, and Arizona Trail
Smart, entertaining, and chock-full of useful information, Backpacker Long Trails is for anyone who wants to backpack for several day or several months. Liz Thomas has hiked farther than most have ever imagined possible but, lucky for us, she still remembers what it was like just starting out. With clever ideas and useful tips for experienced and inexperienced hikers alike, this book belongs on every outdoors persons bookshelf.
— Peter Olsen, Interim Executive Director, American Hiking Society
Every so often a book comes along, finds broad acceptance, and becomes the bible of a sport. This book is destined to rise to that position among long-trail hiking guides. Authored by Liz Thomas who has hiked the big three—Appalachian, Continental Divide and Pacific Crest—this comprehensive work is literally brimming full of practical advice for backpackers planning to spend weeks on the trail. In addition to Thomas’s fine writing, sidebars written by other experienced hikers offer alternative ideas and strategies. If you have a hankering to go on a long hike, there’s no question about it. This is the one book that you’ll want to read before you go.
— National Outdoor Book Awards
