What is thru-hiking?

What is a thru-hike? What, or who, is a thru-hiker?

You are an enthusiastic hiker and like to keep exploring your limits. Maybe your next challenge will be a mountain trial where you walk from hut to hut or a trekking through the Himalayas. At some point, longer trails become your goal and you dream of hiking that one trial someday. A good preparation, however, is needed before you can start with this new adventure. So, before you start: what exactly is a thru-hike and what types of hiking are there? Thru-hiking is walking a long-distance path from start to end. In most cases you will cross multiple regions or maybe even several countries. However, this is not necessarily the case, since some long-distance paths comprise smaller regions. The aim is to hike the trial in one or connecting season(s) and in one go. Sometimes this will mean that the hiker needs to deviate from the route, for instance to re-supply, but he will return to the trial to continue. Often only long trials are thru hikes, such as the Pacific Crest Trail (4.265 km) or the Santiago de Compostela (780 km). Despite this, the length of the trial does not determine whether a trail is a thru hike or not. Shorter trials, like the Haute Route (180 km) or the West Highland Way (153 km) are also considered to be thru hikes. Next to thru hikers, there are also section hikers. This group will also walk the entire length of the trial, but not necessarily in one go or in the same geographical order. On longer trials, like the ones in the USA, section hiking is popular. Another option would be to start backpacking. When choosing the last option, most people like to pick a location from which they start each day for shorter (day)hikes. In the end is does not matter what type of hiker you are. The different ways of hiking have similarities and differences. The most important thing is to choose what works best for you and to enjoy. Hike you own hike!