‘Hike your own hike’: equipment and serious leisure along the Appalachian Trail

Abstract

We use qualitative methods to extend the understanding of serious leisure among hikers, specifically by examining the processes of acquiring and adapting equipment during an Appalachian Trail (AT) thru-hike. By studying the process of preparing for and embarking on this 2000-mile long, 4–6 month hike, we examine how learning about equipment takes place in close physical and social proximity to other hikers. We find that as experience is gained, hikers use less equipment and adapt equipment they use to more closely meet their needs. Our results suggest that experienced thru-hikers use their knowledge and experience to substitute for equipment in a way that transcends their awareness of equipment.

Keywords:

• equipment
• serious leisure
• hikers
• ready-to-hand
• community of practice
• social learning

Notes

aA participant was interviewed over more than one season (follow-up discussions).

bNovices have hiked over 200 miles, but less than 2000; experts have completed over 2000 AT miles.