The health benefits of community and spending time in nature are not new discoveries. There is wellness to be found in the wilderness, and social connection can make the journey that much sweeter. Over a hundred years ago, American conservationist, forester, and planner Benton MacKaye envisioned the A.T. as a way to get people away from the pressures of their modernized world. A century later, being outdoors and connecting on the Trail continues to be important in what can seem like a more connected, yet somehow disconnected world.

Experiencing the Trail with others can make even the small moments — like a shared snack break on sun-warmed rocks — that much sweeter. Photo by Sarah Jones Decker

A National Crisis

Humans are social beings and need to feel connected to others — whether at work, at home, or out in nature. In May 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, issued a public health advisory about the epidemic of loneliness, isolation, and lack of connection in the United States. The accompanying report states, surprisingly, that loneliness was prevalent in approximately half of U.S. adults even before Covid became the other pandemic.

Dr. Murthy’s recommendations for combatting loneliness and improving public health in America include six pillars for advancing social connection: strengthening social infrastructure, enacting pro-connection public policies, mobilizing the health sector, reforming digital environments, deepening our knowledge about the importance of social connection, and cultivating a community of connection.

Loneliness and isolation can increase risks to our physical, mental, and societal health. The Surgeon General’s report states that “increased connection can help reduce the risk of serious health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, dementia, and depression. Communities where residents are more connected with one another fare better on several measures of population health, community safety, community resilience when natural disasters strike, prosperity, and civic engagement.”

With a public health crisis of loneliness, finding connection on the Appalachian Trail might be just the right medicine. Dr. Murthy states that “given the significant health consequences of loneliness and isolation, we must prioritize building social connection the same way we have prioritized other critical public health issues such as tobacco, obesity, and substance use disorders. Together, we can build a country that’s healthier, more resilient, less lonely, and more connected.”

The Many Forms of Trail Bonding

The importance of social connectivity to human health is appreciated not only by Americans. For more than a decade, author Dan Buettner, with the help of National Geographic Society, has been identifying and studying areas around the world with high concentrations of longevity and people living healthily over 100 years of age. His findings became known as “The Blue Zones,” which are spread geographically around the world (with no locations currently in the United States). Buettner’s research revealed nine common traits of centenarians in these zones that could contribute to their longevity: physical activity, a sense of purpose, adequate sleep, plant-based diets, moderate alcohol and food consumption, strong family ties, community encouragement, and a sense of community.

Of the three big hiking trails in America, the A.T. is undoubtedly the most social. Even if you go out on the Trail alone, you will almost surely connect with others while walking. The word “tramily” has not officially made Websters yet, but this portmanteau for “trail” and “family” is probably a term you have heard in relation to the Appalachian Trail. A tramily refers to any group that spends a significant amount of time together on a trail. The term is not limited to a close-knit group on a thru-hike. A trail family can take on many forms of bonding with and supporting one another. Tramilies can be the group of volunteers you join for Trail maintenance every Friday, a friend group that meets up every year to do a new section along the Trail, or the partner, children, or grandchildren you bring along with you. A trail family can also be the people you meet while on the A.T. that instantly become your roving clan of kindred spirits.

above: The author and friends share the miles together on a two-day hike through the Roan Highlands, admiring the endless blue layer views that make up the magical balds. Photo by Sarah Jones Decker

Shared but Distinct Experiences

I traveled with a rotating cast of characters from all over the world on my thru-hike in 2008. My mom was worried I would be alone, but I met Orion and Johnny Thunder in the first 15 miles and we hiked together for over a month. I met the three “Cincinnati Boys” early on in the Smokies and we hiked sporadically around each other for months across multiple states. We eventually summitted Katahdin together, forever solidifying our tramily bond. Fifteen years later, we are still in touch and see each other almost every year.

People can get very close quickly on the Trail. But unlike normal relationships that take time to build in the real world, forming a tramily can feel accelerated for some. Traveling with a trail family doesn’t mean you hike every mile together. Even if two people shared every mile hand in hand, they wouldn’t walk the same trail or have the exact same experience. I thru-hiked with my friend, Scout, and despite sharing mail drops and sometimes a tent, we had two very different hikes. We often hiked alone or joined one or a few people throughout the day, but we always met up at lunch and camped together at night.

above: The author and friends share the miles together on a two-day hike through the Roan Highlands, admiring the endless blue layer views that make up the magical balds. Photo by Sarah Jones Decker

Traveling in a group doesn’t come without struggles. Conflicts and compromises can and will arise when people have differing opinions of miles, schedules, and goals. Tramilies can ebb and flow — or implode — on the Trail, and there are no set rules of how long you have to stay with a group. When following Leave No Trace principles, just remember that too large a group is not ideal and intensifies impact on every level.

From my experience, “embracing the suck” together on the difficult days somehow makes it more palatable. Hiking through a sideways rainstorm on top of an exposed ridge or post holing through deep snow is somehow more tolerable when you are laughing and sharing every miserable step with someone else. Being with a tramily can also make the good times that much greater. A shared sunset. A much-needed snack break.

Connections made on the Appalachian Trail can last a lifetime. Or maybe just until the trailhead parking lot. For some hikers, sharing the experience of putting one foot in front of the other — for 2 miles or 2,000 miles — can be one of the greatest joys of time outdoors. And it might be just what the doctor ordered.