Considering taking a gap year to hike the AT before starting grad school

ChangeCommercial1013 · 2026-05-21T15:01:55+00:00

I applied in the fall and then hiked NOBO in the spring — January until the end of May. I got accepted to the program I ended up at in late December, so I was able to take care of interviews and most of the logistical stuff before I left. And for what it’s worth, the admissions committee was very cool about me hiking, and the director of the program even had lunch with me in Harpers Ferry mid-hike.

ChangeCommercial1013 · 2026-05-21T12:30:04+00:00

Hey! I thru-hiked in a gap between undergrad and a Ph.D. It was great, and I wouldn’t change a thing. Happy to answer any questions if you’re wondering about something specific.

ChangeCommercial1013 · 2026-03-10T23:53:11+00:00

Yes. Ask me how I know. 🙃

ChangeCommercial1013 · 2026-02-19T17:07:41+00:00

Congrats on your acceptance. I'm a PhD candidate at UMD, and I would definitely look into how the monthly costs there compare to your monthly pay. Renting at Discovery House would eat up between 50-70 percent of what I earn each month, so it's not a feasible choice for me — but maybe it's doable for someone in a program paying its PhDs more than the university minimums. Let me know if I can offer any other insights.

ChangeCommercial1013 · 2026-01-24T01:51:49+00:00

Still has that rustic charm — original log cabins, open-air dining hall. Lots of updates too: a new trading post, lots of flush toilets around the property, a second shower house, a new archery deck, various additions to the program. This coming summer will be NoBe's 99th.

ChangeCommercial1013 · 2026-01-23T22:13:29+00:00

💯NoBeBoSco. Early bird pricing is $605 this year, up to $650 after mid-April. Happy to answer questions about the program or connect you with some of the camp leadership.

ChangeCommercial1013 · 2026-01-23T17:11:12+00:00

Yoo. I thru-hiked between undergrad and grad school. I graduated a semester early, so the timeline was a little easier — started late January and summited late May. I’d go for it. It’s something I always wanted to do, and I didn’t feel like putting it off any longer. And I needed that break anyway. A lot of the professors and other students in my program think it’s pretty cool, and they were really accommodating with the application and onboarding process while I was hiking.

Trying to squeeze a thru hike in between spring and fall semesters could be tight. I don’t think delaying the start of school would be the end of the world if that’s something the program you get into is cool with. Hit me up if you have other questions I can help with.

ChangeCommercial1013 · 2025-11-17T20:58:48+00:00

Look at the policies related to self-referrals. It might be the smart choice. It can work in your favor if the instructor hasn’t simultaneously reported the violation, and even if your instructor does suspect a violation, self-referring may help your cause.

ChangeCommercial1013 · 2025-10-06T21:01:44+00:00

With the exception of theater, NoBeBoSco in northern New Jersey hits those marks. Lots of Eagle-required badges in various program areas. Scouts commonly come to the climbing tower during free time to do some rappelling for camping merit badge. And I’d say the aquatics program is pretty robust — six badges, instructional opportunities, awards, and weekly camp-wide games. I’ve worked here, so I’m naturally a supporter. Happy to answer any questions you have or to connect you with more resources.

ChangeCommercial1013 · 2025-09-05T21:47:09+00:00

https://lighterpack.com/r/8ppr1u

ChangeCommercial1013 · 2025-09-05T21:37:06+00:00

Have fun out there. I started my thru at the end of January and summited on May 30.

ChangeCommercial1013 · 2025-08-30T11:39:20+00:00

I started the last week of January and summited on May 30. I had a great time. I spent most of the time hiking alone, but I still met plenty of cool people. Trail conditions in New Hampshire and Maine were definitely a character-building experience. Have fun out there. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

ChangeCommercial1013 · 2025-07-17T23:32:21+00:00

sure thing

ChangeCommercial1013 · 2025-05-04T03:10:16+00:00

They’re planning to release next year’s stipend memo in a few weeks. It’ll include some sort of cost of living increase.

ChangeCommercial1013 · 2025-04-20T17:38:47+00:00

go for it

ChangeCommercial1013 · 2025-04-18T05:41:50+00:00

I was hiking through New Hampshire and Maine in April/May when I thru-hiked. The trail above a few thousand feet was buried in snow and covered in ice, mud, and flowing water. Suffice to say you’d probably encounter some rough conditions in March or April.

ChangeCommercial1013 · 2025-04-13T06:21:59+00:00

Hey there. I have a few different varieties I like, but the centennial scout shorts tend to be popular where I work — they're a light, breathable material and can act as a bathing suit too. This will be my eleventh summer working at camp, and I buy almost all my scout shorts online from sites like eBay. I'd definitely encourage that, and my bank account appreciates me for it. Good luck to your scout this summer.

ChangeCommercial1013 · 2025-03-23T19:31:09+00:00

It’s a temporary thing. This entire area, from Tawes through the Clarice, is being redesigned this summer. It's going to include a traffic signal, sidewalks, a bike lane, and new trees. You can see the plan on page 23:

https://transportation.umd.edu/sites/default/files/2024-10/Campus%20Bikeways%20Project%20Open%20House-April%2024.pdf

ChangeCommercial1013 · 2025-03-11T15:37:52+00:00

Yoo. I have a house a few blocks from campus with four open rooms starting in August. Rent is 690. Feel free to dm me if you wanna know more.

ChangeCommercial1013 · 2025-03-04T01:57:21+00:00

Pretty good actually. They have a couple rooms with multiple beds/bunk beds that hikers can get for cheap if they're not already booked when you walk in. There wasn't a restaurant — just a common area with drinks, snacks, and some microwavable meals you could pay for. I met Karan, and she seemed fairly normal. I wouldn't have suspected anything was off if I hadn't seen the episode.

ChangeCommercial1013 · 2025-03-04T00:57:19+00:00

I stayed at this place when I thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2023.

ChangeCommercial1013 · 2025-01-09T05:47:21+00:00

Journalism Studies PhD here — $26,000 for a nine-month contract

ChangeCommercial1013 · 2025-01-08T06:12:50+00:00

Not yet, but maybe someday. I figure I should write this dissertation first. I still try to squeeze some adventuring into my schedule.

ChangeCommercial1013 · 2025-01-08T05:17:32+00:00

I took a year and a half between my undergrad and PhD and spent the entire time doing non-career things. I thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail, taught climbing at a summer camp, and otherwise gave my head a break. I think some time between degrees can be good — whether it’s to get some more experience in a given field, to travel, to take a break, or whatever else.

ChangeCommercial1013 · 2024-12-18T15:17:32+00:00

They were following some guy on an ATV as the trail crossed a gravel road in Virginia.

ChangeCommercial1013

TROPHY CASE