Nick Panetta

Husband & father of two. Director of Recreation

Mighty Blue,

I’d like to start by saying how great your podcast is! I started listening in 2023 and I’m almost caught up (I’m in episode 422)

I’m a husband and father of two young children (ages 2 and 4). I turn 40 years old this year (February 7th, 2025). I live in northern New Jersey about 45 minutes from any point of the Appalachian Trail of NJ.

I attempted a SOBO thru hike in 2012 directly when I graduated college. That attempt was my first time doing an overnight backpacking trip. I have always day hiked but was wildly underprepared for a thru hike and threw in the towel pretty early. From that I did not backpack for a number of years but the idea was always in the back of my head. In 2019 I completed the NJ section of the AT to get experience. I have been able to take a week off of work every year to hike a section. The past couple of years I have hiked 2019: NJ section NOBO, 2021: NJ section NOBO, 2022: NJ section NOBO, 2023: NY section SOBO, 2024: CT section SOBO. In 2025 I have planned to hike the northern PA section SOBO(I know how much you love this section of the AT!).
I come to appreciate section hiking the AT in weekly increments as it allows me to pick when and where I start each year as well as it allows me to upgrade equipment along the way.
I always hike solo as I find comfort and relax when I’m alone hiking. Because I hike solo I do not have a trail name and I go by the “someone else has to name you “ theory. I’m not opposed to one, just waiting for the right time/name.
Also I always video log my section hike. I never post them anywhere online (although I’m thinking about starting to do so) but I take a ton of photos and video of myself hiking. I use this footage to help me sleep sometimes when I’m restless. I’m able to find my AT section hikes and relive my hikes from my footage. This helps me falls asleep quickly.

If you ever want to talk to someone in the process of section hiking the AT feel free to reach out.
Topics I feel as I could talk about:
- preparing for a section hike (I make a lot of lists)
- meeting people on trail (nice/suspicious)
- upgrading gear year to year section hiking (getting lighter and realizing what works best)
- learning my mileage per section hike (mileage vs. comfortability)
- being over prepared vs. getting out there and hiking (I’m trying to prepare less with each hike)
- hiking in bad weather (I love hiking in the rain)
- being comfortable with being alone while camping
- backpacking with a family at home and how to make time
- backpacking solo
- vlogging my section hikes

Short story of being over prepared:
I am a very scheduled person naturally and work wise. This rubs off when I backpack. Before I go out part of my preparation is to transfer the information on FarOut to an excel spreadsheet in terms of all landmarks. This helps me get familiar with the trail mentally, and I also print this out to have on hand just in case. Well in 2023 I sectioned NY SOBO and when I started in late September it rained multiple inches of rain in 36 hours. During that time I packed my phone in the wrong compartment in my backpack and it got very wet and stopped working the first day. But because of my excel spreadsheet I was still able to have a successful hike without worry.

The picture I attached is from my latest section hike in CT.

Again love the podcast. Keep up the great work!