The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a UNESCO heritage site due to its biodiversity, and it’s the most popular national park in the world. However, the elusive 900 Miler Club currently has just over 800 members. The club is reserved for those who have completed every trail within the park, and they must have hiked at least 900 miles in the process. Founded in 1995 by “Louisiana” Lou Murray, those who wish to enter the club have to apply.

The brother/sister duo joins what appears to be a trend of “toddler treks”—children heading out on long and difficult expeditions with their parents, like 10-year-old Sawyer Howard, who is hiking multiple mountains at 4,000 feet, and five-year-old Bellamy Korn, who is attempting 100 hikes during her leukemia treatment.

Brought up in the outdoors, the two siblings have enjoyed exploration from a young age—as young as 18 months, in Landon’s case. The kids’ mother, Jennifer Stoneking-Stewart, hikes alongside the kids, enthusiastically supporting their thirst for adventure. Hiking 900 miles is no small feat for grown-ups, and these two have spent months pushing themselves to complete their 900 miles across North Carolina and East Tennessee. 

The two young hikers completed a distance of 1,165 miles by the time they were done with their expedition and hiked around 150 trails, including every trail in the park, some of which are quite difficult and/or extensive. The two were not deterred and spent countless hours on the trail to reach their goal. Now, they’ve got their 900 Miler Club medals to commemorate their wonderful experience.

The post 8 and 10 Year Olds Join Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s 900 Miler Club  appeared first on Outdoors with Bear Grylls.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy, a non-profit organization that oversees the trail, says they’re looking for volunteers at three different offices. Volunteers help educate visitors about the AT and the work the Conservancy does. Positions are now available in these offices:

• Damascus, VA
• Harpers Ferry, WV
• Monson, ME (seasonally)

Besides greeting visitors, volunteers take phone calls and answer emails and are the go-to people for all things Appalachian Trail. The role is pivotal for the millions of people who hike parts of the trail annually and thousands of thru-hikers.

Learn more about the roles in Virginia, West Virginia, and Maine.

Ready to hike the trail instead? Here’s what you need to know to get started.

The post Be Part of an Appalachian Trail Adventure By Volunteering to Help Thru-Hikers and Other Visitors appeared first on Outdoors with Bear Grylls.

Fortunately, there are millions of miles worth of trails in the U.S. and plenty of amazing adventures that make you feel like an Appalachian Trail thru-hiker.

Here are a few that we recommend:

The Foothills Trail – 77 Miles

The Foothills Trail in the Carolinas has the scenery of the Appalachian Trail but with a fraction of the miles. The 77-mile-long trail connects South Carolina’s Oconee State Park to Table Rock State Park. Along the way through thick wilderness, you’ll see amazing views and more than a handful of waterfalls. The lower elevation, combined with most of the trail in South Carolina, makes this hike accessible for most of the year. 

Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail – 70 Miles

For those living in the Northeast, the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail may be calling your name. This 70-mile trail goes through Pennsylvania from the Ohiopyle State Park to the Conemaugh Gorge. Like the AT, you’ll find beautiful views along the Youghiogheny River. There are even overnight shelters along the way where hikers can set up camp. The Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail is part of the Potomac National Heritage Trail, so technically, you can connect it to other trails and head all the way to Washington, D.C.

California Riding and Hiking Trail – 36.6 Miles

If the desert is calling your name, it may be time to head to the California Riding and Hiking Trail in Joshua Tree National Park. At just under 37 miles, this trail is shorter than any others on this list, but when you factor in the lack of places to get water, the trail isn’t necessarily easier. The path covers many miles within the national park and connects the Black Rock Canyon to the North Entrance. The hike usually takes two to three days. A campground is located in the middle of the trail and is a great place to cache water for the trip. 

Wonderland Loop Trail – 93 Miles

The Wonderland Loop Trail goes all the way around Mount Rainier. The nearly 100-mile hike goes up and down different terrain and through distinctly different ecosystems, from forests to high alpine. This trail is the ultimate way to experience Mount Rainier National Park. Weather is a major factor for this hike, and the window can be fairly small, so the national park has a lottery system for a permit to do the hike. The lottery opens in late February.

The John Muir Trail – 211 Miles

The John Muir Trail (JMT) is no easy feat, and at 211 miles, it’s longer than any other trail on this list. However, it may be the best way to capture the feeling of being on the Pacific Crest Trail. The JMT goes through central California from the Yosemite Valley and ends with an epic hike up Mount Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous United States. The trail is a great way to visit multiple national parks as it goes through Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia. Similarly to the Wonderland Loop Trail, one of the hardest parts of this trail is getting a permit.

Choose Your Own Adventure: Hike a Segment of the Appalachian Trail

One of the great parts of the Appalachian Trail is how many states are part of the adventure. As a hiker, you can jump on the trail and cover as many miles as you want. In fact, section hiking is a popular way to conquer the entire trail, even if it takes a few days or weeks every year for decades. So, which of the trails are you going to hike first?

The post 6 Amazing Long Hikes When You Don’t Have Time for the Appalachian Trail appeared first on Outdoors with Bear Grylls.

Megan W., who goes by @smoky.mountain.soul on Instagram, shared a recording of the incident on social media. She says the entire ordeal was about 45 minutes long. 

In reply to another comment, Megan said she eventually escaped after throwing a pack of trail mix at the bear, which gave her time to get away and call 911. She says the bear returned right when the help arrived.

Megan says she wanted to share the video as a reminder that black bears can be aggressive and that everyone should take proper safety measures while hiking. However, that didn’t stop some from being critical of her post.

“I admittedly had been lured into a false sense of security based on past experience with black bears, my lack of even seeing them throughout my hundreds of miles of hiking, and the overall narrative around here that black bears aren’t aggressive,” posted Megan in response to negative comments. “I am an avid hiker and ‘bear aware’ of proper protocol, so I am not ignorant or stupid, but I am the first to admit that I made a careless, foolish choice to go without protection when I changed plans last minute by myself.”

Black Bear Safety

The truth is black bear attacks are extremely rare. The North American Bear Center says there are only 61 recorded deadly black bear attacks in North America since 1900. Your chances of being killed by a pet dog, bee or lightning are higher. 

However, safety is still important, and incidents happen, including two separate issues in Colorado this year. One involved a camper bit by a bear while relaxing in a hammock. The other involved a security guard who came face to face with a bear that broke into a hotel kitchen. 

If you do come across a black bear while hiking:

• No matter what, do not run.
• Make loud noises like clapping your hands or yelling.
• Fight back if the bear attacks you.

Grizzly bears, the black bear cousin, are far more aggressive, with multiple incidents and deaths recorded this year. The grizzly territory is much smaller than that of the black bear, and is only found in Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Washington State and Alaska.

The post This Terrifying Video From Great Smoky Mountains National Park Reminds Us to Stay Aware Around Black Bears appeared first on Outdoors with Bear Grylls.

Mules, which are part horse and part donkey, are amazing at climbing trails and carrying heavy loads. The combination makes the animal great at SAR operations.

Yosemite National Park officials recently shared a series of posts to celebrate their mules and the vital part they play on the Yosemite Search and Rescue team, also known as YOSAR.

“When injuries happen, it’s mules to the rescue! Why mules, do you ask? Because if someone injures their ankle at Nevada Fall, it’s going to take a whole team of rescuers to carry them all the way out to the trailhead,” says the post on Instagram. “Every time we send a mule instead, we save approximately $650 in staff expenses, not to mention leaving rescuers available to quickly respond to other more urgent matters.”

Yosemite officials say the mules also help with trail repairs and transporting tools to maintain other parts of the park. 

Mules are not new to Yosemite and other parks. In fact, mules have helped maintain trails in the U.S. National Park System for more than 100 years.

The post ‘Mules to the Rescue’: Why Mules Are Key Members of Yosemite’s Search-and-Rescue Team appeared first on Outdoors with Bear Grylls.

“We have completed our goal of hiking the entire Appalachian Trail as a family,” wrote Bettis. “The past few weeks have been emotional as the gravity sets in of just how life changing a thru hike has been for our family. What we started fairly quietly as a family we also wanted to spend the last few weeks ending quietly as a family. Our days of online silence have been filled with laughter, hiking our last remaining miles in some of the most beautiful places we’ve ever seen, campfires, our first snow of the AT, memories that long outlive me and hopefully leave a legacy for my kids.”

Bettis says that the family chose to celebrate with a small intimate gathering rather than having a large summit celebration, which she hopes to postpone for a later date.

The Bettis family, including Nikki and 13 of her children, who range from toddler-aged to early 20s, began their hike in March 2023. Two additional children (making a total of 15) elected to stay behind to take care of the family’s home and dogs, although they did join the hike for sections of the trail whenever possible.

After eight months of the AT, if you’re wondering where this trail-blazing family will go from here, we have a clue:

“After 4 days of solid work and unpacking from a thru hike of an insane number of people we set out tomorrow to find another trail,” Bettis wrote on Facebook. “Maybe backpacking White Rock/Sand Cave loop. Maybe Rock Castle Gorge. It’s time to sleep outside again and breathe some mountain air.”

It seems trail life is already calling.

Would you take on the AT with kids?

The post Single Mom and Her 13 Kids Thru-Hiked the Appalachian Trail—What’s Next? appeared first on Outdoors with Bear Grylls.

Humans ingest over 100 billion bananas a year, a large majority of which are Cavendish bananas. That could change as TR4 attacks these banana plants, according to Business Insider. TR4 was first discovered in Taiwan and has spread to many of the world’s largest banana-growing countries such as Australia, India, and China. 

TR4 first attacks the roots of the banana tree and spreads throughout the rest of the plant, affecting the tree’s ability to absorb water and preventing it from photosynthesizing. Scientist Dan Bebber told the New York Post, “once it’s in a country it’s very hard to get rid of it.” 

Scientists have been watching the threat of disease and the impact it will have on the world’s banana supply for years now. According to a 2020 article from Time, 99% of exported bananas are Cavendish bananas.

Next time you grab a banana before heading out on an outdoor adventure, feel grateful for that self-contained piece of healthy food, because it may not be around forever.

The post Wait, Are Bananas Going Extinct? appeared first on Outdoors with Bear Grylls.

Many mixed-use trails bring together hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders. While most of the time, the three groups peacefully enjoy the harmony of nature, occasionally, they butt heads. The waste horses leave behind is often the largest complaint against horseback riders sharing trails. 

However, horseback riders get away with leaving a mess. Why? Here’s what you need to know.

Is It Dangerous or Unhealthy?

The good news is health officials say horse manure is relatively “clean.” This means there are few bacteria or viruses in horses’ waste, especially when you’re talking about concerns over pathogens that harm humans, like Giardia and E. coli. 

This information comes from the Wissahickon Trails organization outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that oversees local trails. The organization says horse poop is safe to be left outdoors, especially when compared to dog waste, which is very toxic and carries lots of bacteria. 

Is It Good Trail Etiquette?

While there aren’t many health concerns about leaving horse poop on hiking trails, what about trail etiquette?

Unfortunately, cleaning up after a horse is not as easy as a dog. It’s an even bigger issue if the rider is miles from a trailhead. 

According to American Trails, an organization that works to develop new trails and greenways, there are a lot of rules within the community. While these are not official laws, they guide the horseback community’s principles.

The guidelines say equestrians must clean up after their animals in a parking lot if the surface is paved or gravel. However, if it’s dirt, the manure can stay. People are encouraged to spread it out for the benefit of other visitors. 

While on a trail, horseback riders will generally leave it. The waste will break down in about two weeks and can benefit birds and insects while decomposing. 

Whether you like it or not, these are the guidelines for horses on a trail. Do you agree with the status quo? Tell us your thoughts in the comments.

The post Yay or Neigh: Is It Proper Etiquette for Horses to Poop on Hiking Trails? appeared first on Outdoors with Bear Grylls.

In a press release, National Park Service officials say the area southwest of Kīlauea caldera, Mauna Iki Trail is closed, and the Kaʻū Desert/Footprints Trail is closed past the Footprints exhibit to the Mauna Iki Trail intersection are off limits.

Recent reports from the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory show the summit of Kīlauea volcano remains at “a high level of inflation, and eruptive activity is possible in the coming weeks.” The USGS recorded 86 earthquakes near the summit of the volcano. 

The volcano began erupting last month and left a lake of magma. Since then, the park has kept an extra eye on it.

“Safety is always our top priority, and the potential hazards in this region are significant and could include elevated volcanic gases, dangerous lava activity, and damaging earthquakes with very little notice,” said Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Superintendent Rhonda Loh in their press release. “After any potential eruptive activity occurs, park managers will re-evaluate high hazard areas and access.”

As the name implies, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is unique due to having two active volcanoes within the park. Occasionally, guests can safely visit and hike to watch the volcanic activity in the park. 

The post Volcanic Gases + Dangerous Lava + Damaging Earthquakes = Trail Closed appeared first on Outdoors with Bear Grylls.

Trail Ridge Road is the highest continual highway in the nation, with 11 miles rising above 11,500 feet. In short, winter starts here. The road closes in the winter due to its lack of shoulder and few guardrails. It usually reopens around Memorial Day.

The highway is a popular drive for visitors to enjoy the high elevation and connects the more popular east side of Rocky Mountain in Estes Park to Grand Lake in the west.

Real adventurers can still use bicycles on the road, but a new extreme begins on December 1, when the road changes to “winter trail status.” Only pedestrians at RMNP are allowed to make the trek, but Park Rangers recommend wearing snowshoes or skis. Just know you’ll be dealing with high winds, freezing temperatures and drifting snow.

The post Winter Adventure is Here: The Highest Continual Highway Shuts Down for the Season appeared first on Outdoors with Bear Grylls.