20. Creating a Thru-Hike and Conserving Our Trails with Rue McKenrick

In episode 20 of the Outdoor Minimalist Podcast, we will be discussing conservation and how that applies to our hiking trails.

We’ve talked about conservation pretty consistently on the show, but this will be a more in-depth look into how one conservation organization is creating a thru-hike, building community, and encouraging conservation action all across the US.

To help me discuss these topics, I had the pleasure of hosting Rue McKenrick.

Rue McKenrick is a professional backpacker, triple crowner, and avid hiker. He now calls Bend, OR home, but grew up in Pennsylvania and hiked in the Appalachians as a teen. Rue’s long distance backpacking began with the Appalachian Trail in 2003. From there, he took on the Pacific Crest Trail (2005) and Continental Divide Trail (2007), completing the triple crown. In 2004, Rue thru-hiked the Pinhotti Trail and the Long Trail, then onto the John Muir Trail in 2016l. Spending yet more time on the Appalachian Trail, he was a ridge-runner on the Pennsylvania section in 2008. All of these years and miles of thru-hiking experience have led Rue to follow his heart in embarking on his current journey- creating the American Perimeter Trail.

The APT will roughly follow the border of the contiguous United States and cross 32 states, clocking in at about 12,000 miles. Rue left his home in Oregon to begin the first scout hike in July of 2019, and backpacked continuously until his return home for a rest in October 2020. He will finish the 12,000 Miles in 2022.

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AMERICAN PERIMETER TRAIL

WEBSITE: https://americanperimetertrail.org/

SUPPORT THE APTC: https://americanperimetertrail.org/support-our-work/

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/americanperimetertrail/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/americanperimetertrail/

RUE MCKENRICK: https://www.instagram.com/ruemckenrick/