The Triple Crown: 1,000,000 feet in altitude change. 7,190 miles. 200 people. 3 trails. 1 near impossible goal.

To earn the Triple Crown of Hiking, one has to complete the Appalachian Trail, the Continental Divide Trail, and the Pacific Crest Trail. Each trail presents its own unique challenge specific to its environment. Completing a through hike of any of these trails, let alone all three, requires mental fortitude and physical strength. To date, only 196 people have earned the Triple Crown. Here's what makes the accomplishment so difficult to achieve:

The most important step of hiking is preparation. Without the proper gear and safety precautions, it is easy to become trapped in a dangerous situation. Never attempt a hike you are not prepared for; no one ever thinks something awful will happen to them. Wear clothing that suits the weather, bring extra food and water, and schedule enough time to pack in and pack out. Before you leave, contact a friend nearby the location you are hiking with your intended hiking path, entry date, and exit date. If anything happens and you cannot safely exit the trail, you want someone who able to alert authorities to rescue you. Remember, you would rather be proactive than reactive.

Secondly, the most commonly assumed impediment for hiking is physical ability. Whenever you're deciding upon a trail to hike, you must consider your stamina, experience, and possible contingencies. If you are an inexperienced hiker, begin with afternoon hikes on trail without strenuous altitudes and strengthen your endurance to tackle more complicated hikes in the future! Be aware of your physical limitations and choose your paths accordingly. Listen to your body! If you twist an ankle, slow down and apply the proper first aid. If you push yourself while injured, you risk a more serious injury than the initial injury.

Finally, the most challenging element of any hike, afternoon or through, is the mental aspect. On shorter hikes, convincing yourself to keep traveling up a set of hills to reach the peak can be extremely hard. For longer hikes, you may go several days without seeing another person on the most remote sections of the trail, especially if you are hiking unseasonally early or late. No matter how long or how far you hike, tackling the common obstacles of hiking with a positive attitude is crucial for a successful hike. Knowing how to find water, administer basic first aid, navigate through the environment, and even protect yourself from predators are all necessary pieces of information for hiking.

Worried you can't finish all three trails? Don't be! The youngest person to earn the Triple Crown of Hiking was only 13 years old! I am so enthralled with hiking because it presents a physical challenge and an opportunity to meet people from all walks of life on the trial. During a solo hike, you are entirely dependent on yourself to survive. The independence and separation from every day is my favorite part of being on the trail. It's the disconnect that lets me feel connected to nature.