Reach Your Summit

07/03/2025

The long weekend is almost here. What trail will you be enjoying it on? 🎒 👟 🌲

07/01/2025

Sweeping views, waterfalls, history and Connecticut’s 🍋 Squeezer. Just a few of the many highlights along our 4 day backpacking loop trip of the Appalachian Trail and Mohawk Trail. To learn more about this trip and to join us in August, refer to the link below.

🏕️: https://www.reachyoursummit.net/events/backpacking-adventure-on-the-appalachian-trail-mohawk-trail-4

06/26/2025

Geared up for some time in the mountains. ⛰️ 🏕️ 🌧️

06/24/2025

It’s a HOT one out there today! 🥵 Though the first image might not be an option, there are many other ways to address the heat out on the trail. Swipe right to see some favorites and consider the tips found below.

- Stay hydrated and drink before feeling thirsty. Consider packing a water filter or water treatment method to help prevent from running out and keep your pack at a reasonable weight.

- Stay nourished. Pack plenty of salty snacks and hydration mixes to help replace lost electrolytes and nutrients during hiking. Magnesium can be great to have too.

- Wear light and bright loose fitting clothing to help keep cool. Consider UPF rated clothing to help protect from the sun’s harmful UV rays.

- Wear additional sun protection such as a wide brimmed sun hat and sunglasses to help reduce sun exposure.

- Use lip balm and sunblock to help against UVA and UVB rays. Zinc oxide can be beneficial, but may not be for everyone’s skin.

- Consider carrying an umbrella or a lightweight tarp to provide a nice shaded spot for breaks. Take frequent breaks throughout the day to give your body rest. Added bonus: A umbrella can also be helpful while hiking in the sun.

- Consider sandals or non-waterproof trail runners to help with those inviting and safe water crossings (Note: Footwear will be very subjective for us all). Added bonus: Sandals or non-waterproof trail runners will dry fast and help reduce sweat, hot spots and blistering.

- Consider hiking in the early or latter parts of the day when the heat and sun are the least intense.

What are some of your favorite ways for beating the heat out on the trail? 🥾 ☀️

06/20/2025

Happy Summer Solstice! ☀️ Currently out in what has to be one of the Top 10 Days of the year so far. Breezy, sunny, low humidity and not a single mosquito in sight. These types of days are rare in the northeast. Where are you spending time outside and enjoying the longest day of the year?

06/19/2025

06/19/2025

Today we honor Juneteenth. A day that marks two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, when 250,000 Black Americans in Galveston, Texas, were told they were free.

06/19/2025

A microburst storm has caused severe local flooding and a possible rockslide along Interstate 40 near the Tennessee-North Carolina state line. Reports indicate that the Appalachian Trail is impassable from approximately Davenport Gap to Brown Gap/Forest Service Road 148A (NOBO mile 239.4 to 251.9). The interstate is also closed in both directions. Hikers should avoid this section.

While the A.T. remains officially open through Great Smoky Mountains National Park, it is unclear if Davenport Gap is accessible due to damage. Northbound hikers should consider finding an alternative route from Newfound Gap (NOBO mile 208.0).

Learn more: https://appalachiantrail.org/trail-updates/nc-tn-trail-impassable-davenport-gap-i-40-area-6-18-25/

06/19/2025

🚨 ACTION ALERT! 🛑 Stop the Public Lands Sell Off! 🛑

The U.S. Senate is currently considering its budget reconciliation bill. Buried within that bill is language that according to The Wilderness Society would put up to 250+ million acres of public lands eligible for sale and make mandatory the selling of at least 2 million acres of U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management sites!

American Hiking Society and over 100 organizations have been fighting back but WE NEED YOUR VOICE!

Send a message to your Senators TODAY telling them to remove this harmful language!! Your favorite hiking trails and public lands could be sold off! https://buff.ly/USoEcAa

Photo courtesy of The Wilderness Society

06/19/2025

THE PCT IS NOT FOR SALE❗️

The U.S. Senate has proposed a spending bill that would allow the sale of up to 3.3 million acres of public lands across the American West—including areas that surround or intersect the Pacific Crest Trail. It seems improbable, if not impossible, that the government would sell public lands that include a National Scenic Trail; however, the language in this bill is so loosely written that many vital public lands along the PCT are not specifically excluded. That means special places that PCT lovers enjoy could, in fact, be considered for sale.

These land sales would bypass traditional safeguards—no public hearings, no environmental review, and no comment periods. Instead, the final decision would rest with agency heads, not Congress. The bill would require the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to sell at least 0.5% and up to 0.75% of all the lands they manage in 10 Western states. That might sound like a small number—but it adds up to millions of acres.

The stakes are high, and we need YOUR help! 📢 Please contact your Senators and ask them to oppose this provision in the Senate bill. Tell them that public lands are not a bargaining chip.

🌲The PCT and the lands it passes through are part of our national heritage—places that connect us to nature, to each other, and to something bigger than ourselves. You can read more about what's at stake on PCTA's blog. https://www.pcta.org/2025/the-pct-is-not-for-sale-96336/

06/18/2025

Good site selection can help address weather, bug pressure, wildlife, comfort, warmth and more. Learn how to find a 5-star campsite and many other important skills during our White Mountains Backpacking Fundamentals trip to Mount Moosilauke. This trip will help you with everything you need to know so you can backpack safely and confidently on your own. Our Backpacking Fundamentals trips* provide an emphasis on learning and practicing skills with low mileage each day and a slow pace in a fun, small group setting. Visit the link below to learn more about this trip which will also bring us along part of the iconic Appalachian Trail.

⛰️: https://www.reachyoursummit.net/events/white-mountains-backpacking-fundamentals-mt-moosilauke-1

*Private guided Backpacking Fundamentals trips always available upon request.