Video: Hiking The Appalachian Trail In 3.5 Minutes

Ever wanted to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail but just don't have the time? Then you'll certainly enjoy the video below, which features an end-to-end trek along the 2200 mile (3500 km) route that stretches from Georgia to Maine. It may not be as enjoyable as the real thing, but it certainly isn't bad when you're stuck inside on Friday.

Video: Trail Angel - Finding Inner Peace on the Appalachian Trail

For many of us, the outdoors provide solitude and tranquility that we don't always get in our daily lives. They are an escape that reconnects us with nature and the world around us. In this video – brought to us by REI – we meet Paul Stiffler, better known as Ponytail Paul, who discovers his own personal peace on the Appalachian Trail, where he has taken on the role of "Trail Angel" helping many thru-hikers to accomplish their goal of walking the AT end-to-end. The short film shares Paul's story, and gives us a glimpse of the joy he gets from helping others.

Trail Angel from REI on Vimeo.

Backpacker Maps America's Best Long Distance Hiking Trails

Everyone knows about the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and even the Continental Divide Trail, but did you know there are a number of other great long-distance hiking routes in the U.S.? In fact, there are numerous other options for those who like to trek for days on end, covering hundreds – if not thousands – of miles in the process. And now, thanks to Backpacker magazine, we have a comprehensive map of the very best of them.

The map, which you can view in its larger format by clicking here, shows dozens of different trails scattered across the entire U.S., many of which most of us probably aren't all that aware of. For instance, did you know that there is a Centennial Trail that stretches for 111 miles (178 km) through South Dakota? Or that the Buckeye Trail covers 1445 miles (2325 km) on a circuit through Ohio? Heck, there is even a Florida Trail that stretches for 1400 miles (2253 km) across the entire length of the state, including the panhandle.

This is just the tip of the iceberg of course, as there are plenty more interesting long-distance hiking routes all over the U.S., stretching from one coast to the other. That includes the American Discovery Trail, which literally does just that, covering some 6800 miles (10,943 km) in the process. The point is, no matter where you live, chances are there is an epic trek to be had somewhere near by, and Backpacker wants to help you find it. This map is a great place to start.

As the magazine also points out, these trails wouldn't exist if it weren't for the tireless efforts of dedicated volunteers and conservation advocates all over the country. We get to reap the benefits of their hard work, and we all owe them a debt of gratitude. Hopefully in the years to come, there will be even more impressive trails to add to this map.

Karl Meltzer Sets New Speed Record on Appalachian Trail

Last week while I was away, the news broke that ultra-runner Karl Meltzer had broken the record for the fastest time on the Appalachian Trail, besting the time set by Scott Jurek just last year. The two top endurance athletes are both friends and rivals, so naturally they would compete against each other on the AT too. This was Meltzer's third attempt at a record, and this time he finished at 45 days, 22 hours, 38 minutes, which put him roughly at 13 hours ahead of Jurek.

According to Outside, Meltzer began his assault on the record book back on August 3, starting on top of Mt. Katahdin in Maine. That's the northernmost terminus of the Appalachian Trail, which stretches for 2190 miles across 14 states before ending on Springer Mountain in Georgia on September 20. That means that Karl had to average roughly 47.6 miles each and every day just to get into the conversation with Jurek, something he was able to do on his way to setting the new mark.

Amongst ultra-runners, Meltzer is considered one of the most successful endurance athletes of all time. Over the course of his career he has racked up more than 38 wins in races of 100 mile (160 km) distances or longer – including 5 in the legendary Hardrock 100 ultra-marathon. That's more than anyone else in history. Still, he did want to take on the AT and nab that record too, something he was finally able to do last week.

Considering that it takes most of us a good six months of hiking to complete the AT, doing it in just 45 days is quite an impressive feat. Congratulations to Karl on pulling off this accomplishment. I am in awe of the strength, stamina, and speed necessary to set this kind of record.

Video: On the Appalachian Trail with Jennifer Pharr Davis

Jennifer Pharr Davis is a n Appalachian Trail thru-hiker. In fact, when she walked that iconic route end-to-end back in 2011, she set a speed record for the time, covering the full 2200 miles in 46 days, 11 hours, and 20 minutes. To put that in perspective, that means that she averaged 76 km (46 miles) per day, which is an impressive feat to say the least.

In this video, we travel to AT with Jennifer to experience just a small portion of the trail as she shares her thoughts about this amazing hiking route. Over the course of her hiking career, she has walked the entire thing three times, and visits it often from her home in North Carolina. She calls it the great American trail, and as you'll see, it is hard to argue with that.

On The Appalachian Trail (With Jennifer Pharr Davis) from Kerrin Sheldon on Vimeo.