A TEST PILOT CHECKS IN FROM THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL

Words by Ryan Fournier

The Appalachian Trail (AT) is a 2,200-mile continuous footpath which runs from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Baxter Peak, Katahdin in Maine. My girlfriend, Ingrid, and I set out on April 17th , 2024, with the intention of thru-hiking. This would be our first backpacking trip ever. The first month on trail kicked our ass, it rained nearly every day until we reached Virginia. After a couple days, once the allure of the trail had worn off, and reality set in that we would be doing this for the next five to six months, the trail quickly began to feel like work. Hike, eat, sleep, repeat. As we put on our cold wet clothes in the morning, we started to question how we convinced ourselves this would be fun.

I have run marathons, completed century bike rides, and hiked in the White Mountains my whole life, but this felt different. Looking at the scope of the trail was extremely overwhelming and felt a bit torturous at times. This was not a sustainable space to exist in, so we began breaking things down into three-to-five-day segments. We would organize rides into and out of town, book rooms in hostels ahead of time, locate grocery stores, and review the mileage-per-day to get to the next town. This regimented scheduling seemed to work and helped us get through those rough first couple weeks.

As the months went by, once we adapted to the mental and physical grind of the trail, things began to slow down, and we were able to stop planning every detail. “Hike, eat, sleep, repeat” became routine and we started to enjoy the simplicity of our life. We would show up at road crossings without a ride, no place to stay, and no food, but things always seemed to work out. It felt surreal to reflect on our suffering early on as we climbed through alpine peaks of New Hampshire and Southern Maine, closing in on our goal.

There is a certain power in voluntary suffering, and for me this concept always becomes central in any endurance feat. When you put yourself out there and attempt something that scares you, it is always going to be overwhelming, painful, or maybe downright unenjoyable from the start, but that’s the point. I knew I loved being outside, pushing my limits, and spending time with people I love, and I had this to fall back on every time I felt like the trail would never end.

We finished the AT together on September 21st , 2024. Reflecting on the trip, I made a lifetime of memories, some good, some bad, but all cherished. The trail made me realize I’m only scratching the surface of what I am capable of and I’m eager to go after bigger goals.

When Tony reached out to ask me if I wanted to test some gear while on the AT, I was all for it. I wore the Cordura Trail Shorts for around 700 miles and through some of the most brutal terrain on the Appalachian Trial in New Hampshire. The durability was like nothing I have ever experienced before, even now as I wear them for day hikes and trail runs, there is no visible wear and tear. The zippered pockets were a huge plus as they guaranteed I did not lose any trash, snacks, or my phone when scrambling up and down steep inclines.

Other FMX gear used: Airtex Long Sleeve Hooded Shirt, Airtex Short