This Weeks Trail Lingo:
900 Miler – A person who has hiked all 150 trails of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and joined the elite club by either thru-hiking or section hiking.
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• What Is The 900 Mile Club?
• On The Trail Updates
• Hiking W/ Mans Best Friend
• Trail Magic

The 900 Miler Club

What Is The 900 Miler Club?

The 900 Mile Club is a group of elite and avid hikers who have traversed the entire length of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) on the Appalachian Trail including all 150 of the branched trails in the Smokies, which is about 900 miles in total length.

They do not have to be done thru-hike and can be section hiked over a longer period of time. The current fastest known time of the 900 Miler Club is currently held by Jeff Woody.

History of The 900 Miler Club:

There is not much recorded online of who the first hikers were to complete and log their 900 mile trips through the Smoky Mountains but over the years there has been an unofficial group campaign started by The Smoky Mountains Hiking Club. They have a small, one-time membership fee that gets your name added to the documented list of completed 900 Milers! You can also get a sweet badge from them for your completion.

Current Members of The 900 Miler Club:

As of 9/8/2021, there are 705 members of the 900 Miler Club.

How Do You Join the 900 Miler Club?

To join the club as a 900 Miler, you must document your completion of each trail hiked in the GSMNP. Once you have completed all 150 trails, you are able to submit your application with a $15 fee and claim ownership of your member status to an elite hiking club! Once a member, you can buy badges, stickers and magnets for a small fee as well.

Resources for The 900 Miler Club?

Check out the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club as the current premier source for information regarding The 900 Miler Club.

Also stay tuned for a future feature here at Trail Lingo in regards specifically to The 900 Miler Club.

On The Trail: Issue 2

Kelly Hays Hikes has uploaded Day 87 of her 2021 AT Thru Hike, she is reaching the Palmerton, Pennsylvania portion of the App Trail.

KK On Trail has returned with quite a few updates. Day 149 “Sunrise Setup” episode for his AT Thru-Hike. Completing a “nero” out of Lincoln to Liberty Springs Campsite to set himself up for a sunrise on top of Mt. Liberty. Day 150 shows him conquering Franconia Ridge! On Day 151 KK endures a disappointing white out on the White Mountains. And finally on Day 152, he has some fresh blue skies before getting stuck in North Conway.

Lucky is having an issue with rocks. In Chapter 13 of her vlogging her AT Thru-Hike with The Trek she gives many, many examples of why this chapter hasn’t exactly…rocked (we’re sorry).

Lauren is back! After her recent NOBO on the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail) she began a SOBO attempt, however fires in the NW have required her to alter that plan. Now she will be documenting her journey on the Colorado Trail! Enjoy and best of luck to her!

Eva has updated us with Chapter 33 of her Appalachian Trail thru-hike journey. She appears to be “living her best life”!

Dine N Dash asks us to follow along with his glorious locks of hair on his trek through the CDT (Continental Divide Trail) on Days 51-57 as he covers 5 states from the Canadian Border to the Mexican Border!

Terry uploaded a short update on his AT SOBO Thru-Hike as he is completing the great state of Maine at this point of his journey!

Syd is updating us on Chapter #16 of his PCT Thru-Hike saying goodbye to some good family and friends and moving on from Three Sisters through Mt. Hood to finally reaching The Bridge of the gods!

Hiking With A Dog:

We all love mans best friend. They’re loyal, protective and bring a level of energy to day to day life that most other animals can’t match; so why wouldn’t we want to take them with us to enjoy a good hike?

There’s a million reasons why hiking with our furry travel buddies is a good, fun activity. But how do we go about doing that in a safe, smart way? What are some good tips for hiking with a dog? Are dogs even allowed on this hike/trail? Let’s break it down.

Tips for Hiking with a Dog:

1: Bring a Dog Pack

Packing a dog up a mountain is hard work. You may find yourself having to carry your dog up and down the mountains. A dog pack will keep your dog’s back and hips from getting sore and allow your dog to carry their own weight. A general rule of thumb is to not exceed packing extra material on your dog that exceeds 25% of their bodyweight. Just because they have 4 legs doesn’t mean that they can do 4x the work you’re doing. Keep it light, let them carry their own food/treats, but be smart about it.

2: Bring Dog Boots

Dogs with short hair will need dog boots. Trails can be rocky and there can be a lot of steep areas that your dog will slip on. Find a set that are sturdy, comfortable, and waterproof. Your dog will adjust and get used to wearing them and hiking in them the more often you’re able to practice walking in the dog boots.

3: Bring a Dog Harness

A dog harness is a great way to keep your dog close to you while hiking. A harness will help keep your dog under control while hiking. If you’ve ever had to hike with a dog that’s off-leash, you know how much harder it can make the hike. Keeping them under control with a harness makes for a much more enjoyable hike and safer for both you and your dog. Not to mention other hikers that may feel uncomfortable with a loose dog. This may come as a surprise to those of us who love our 4-legged hiking buddies, but not everyone is a dog person gasp!

4: Bring a Dog Bed

Dogs need a comfortable place to rest. Hiking can be strenuous for your dog no matter their age and conditioning, so they will need a good place to rest after the hike. Even a simple, old blanket is better than nothing but hard trail on their body. There are quite a few options for dogs on the market that are easy to pack, light and set up is a breeze.

5: Bring Dog Treats

When it comes to hiking, I like to keep things simple. I like to keep it to the bare minimum. Make sure the treats are able to withstand most weather and store them in a weatherproof container. Sometimes dog treats don’t quite smell as good as our own food, so getting them wet or frozen, etc just doesn’t make for a good hiking experience. The main reward is a good time with a best bud, but solid yummy treats are still always welcome.

6: Bring Water

Dogs can become overheated, dogs can also get dehydrated. Keep your dog hydrated by bringing water. Dogs should not carry their own water, so you’re going to have to bring extra for them. Be sure to bring water for yourself, too. Hiking can be very strenuous for us humans and of course it’s best to drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated. Planning ahead and ensuring you have plenty of water (and future water sources) is imperative to having a good hiking experience!

7: Bring Dog Leash

A dog leash is important for keeping your dog under control. If you need to keep them close, you can use it to keep them near you. If your dog is hiking off-leash, you may need to use it to reel them back in if they get too far away. Dogs can have a natural instinct to run off, so it’s important to keep them close by. Not to mention they can get lost, get hit by a car (in parking lots, etc), or get attacked by another animal. This should be a common sense approach for anyone taking their pal on a journey with them. No matter how trained your bud is, this is a good safety measure.

8: Bring a Dog Bowl

If you’re hiking with your dog off-leash, you may want to bring a dog bowl with you. It allows you to maximize your water supply by not having to pour it out for them to drink and waste the excess. Cupping your hands works in a pinch but again, too much loss of H20 in that scenario. You can also put their food in it and avoid them getting into other things (plants, rocks, dirt) while eating their food off the ground.

9: Bring Poo Bags

Dogs will poop. It’s inevitable. If you’re hiking with a dog, you will need to bring some poo bags with you. I recommend picking up a large pack of poo bags from a grocery store. I like to use a large pack that has a dispenser on it. This way, I don’t have to fumble around with a bag of poo bags. If you’re unable to do this, I recommend taking your dog for a walk at least 100yd or more from where you’re camping/staying to let them use the bathroom. This will hopefully keep anything they pass that would interest other animals, away from them also finding you, who could interest other animals as well.

Are Dogs Allowed On This Trail or Hike?

A good rule of thumb is to always call ahead or look on the website for that park. Many parks and campgrounds are dog friendly (but require a leash), however many National Parks have rules and regulations that limit where those dogs can go, especially on the trails. Don’t be “that guy” who thinks your dog is more important than the rules. They’re in place for your [and your dogs] safety. Many times there are other wildlife that could endanger you or feel threatened by the presence of your dog. Read the signs at the trailhead and heed the advice of the governing authority.

Look, we all want our best friends with us on the trail. Just please be smart about it. Your dog is awesome, I love each and every one of your dogs, but they are not more important than a human life and there can be situations where having your dog somewhere it’s not supposed to be could endanger other human lives. Albiet a rare and small situation to happen, that doesn’t make the risk okay for you to choose. Be safe, be smart and enjoy the great outdoors with your furry travel friend!

Trail Magic: Issue 2

Trail Lingo has completed and released their Trail Lingo Dictionary, a round up of resources on the internet that breakdown the definitions of commonly (and uncommonly) used phrases and terminology specific for hiking and camping. Give it a read! (Warning: It’s looooong.)

Julia Gladstein writes a very personal story about Hiking Thru Grief over at The Trek. Losing her brother Bob while on the trail and detailing what that journey started as and then became was a beautiful story.

Janine posted a great article about “Doing What I Love, While Doing What I Love“. A quick summary for the article is that she is a yoga teacher with a passion for hiking that got to mix those two activities for one day.

Our friends over at SmokyMountains.com have released a “Fall Foliage Prediction Map” that will show you the estimated peak time of the year to catch the amazing colors of leaves changing throughout the country.

Jacob Deutsch has released his tips for Beginner Backpacking Mistakes to Avoid. Check it out at The Trek!

Friends of the Smokies have released a 3-part series detailing some behind the scenes maintenance of the Abrams Falls trail in the GSMNP.

Philip Werner has released a blog update at SectionHiker showing and telling how to Hike and Fish the Little River in NH.

The Big Outside is giving us their take on the “Best Hike In Bryce Canyon National Park” with some amazing photos to prove their theory.

The Hiking Guy lists his Best Hiking Gear of 2021 in this detailed review article. No paid sponsorships here, just tried and true tested equipment.

Thank you so much for reading this issue of Trail Lingo! We appreciate you taking the time and hope to see you again. Please consider referring a friend and letting others know about our newsletter and blog. We’d greatly appreciate it!

“You’re Gonna Hike It Here!” – Trail Lingo Staff