The Triple Crown: What it is and how to achieve it

The Triple Crown is an achievement that the most dedicated hikers seek by completing the three major long-distance hiking trails in the United States: The Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail. An award is granted to those who have achieved the Triple Crown by the American Long Distance Hiking Association – West (ALDHA-W).

Earning the title of “Triple Crowner” involves hiking almost 8,000 miles through the Appalachian Mountains, the Rocky Mountains, and the Sierra Nevada and Cascade ranges. Hiking all three trails, the AT, PCT, and CDT, consist of enough elevation change to climb Mount Everest over 40 times!

Of the three trails, the Appalachian Trail is most often the first part of achieving the Triple Crown, but the trails can be completed in any order. Even though the Appalachian Trail is the shortest of the three trails at just under 2,200 miles, it is considered the most physically challenging, while at the same time, the most forgiving.

The Pacific Crest Trail is usually second on a hiker’s list of achieving the Triple Crown. Its 2,650 miles stretches from Mexico to Canada and leads hikers through the Sierra Nevada and Cascades mountain ranges. Even though the PCT is longer than the AT by over 450 miles, it is usually completed in the same amount of time or less.

Most hikers complete their Triple Crown by hiking the Continental Divide Trail last. Not only is the CDT the longest of the three trails, it is also the most difficult trail logistically. Trail towns and trail magic are less frequent, making planning for a thru hike of the CDT more challenging than the AT or PCT.

How many people have completed a Triple Crown?

As of the end of 2019, the ALDHA-W has recognized 440 people who have achieved the Triple Crown. However, this number is determined by those who have reported their completion of all three trails and is based on the honor system.

Someone does not have to thru hike all three trails in one go to become a Triple Crowner. In fact, the award can be earned over a lifetime of sections hikes.

How long does it take to complete a Triple Crown?

Each long-distance trail takes approximately 4 – 7 months to complete, so most Triple Crowners spend one to two cumulative years hiking along the trails. The Triple Crown can also be achieved by section hikes, meaning a hiker can still earn the award by hiking the trails and multiple smaller segments over any amount of given years.

There have also been hikers who have completed the Triple Crown in one calendar year. Brian Robinson was the first person to ever do so and Heather Anderson, in 2018, became the first woman to accomplish this monumental goal.

How do you plan for a Triple Crown attempt?

One trail at a time. Rarely does anyone decide to go for the Triple Crown before hiking any of the long-distance trails the goal consists of. Plus, it can be challenging enough to plan the logistics of one thru hike, let alone two or three at one time.

The Appalachian Trail, while the most physically demanding, is the easiest of the three trails to plan for and serves as good preparation for the PCT. The Pacific Crest Trail then prepares a hiker further due to slightly harder logistics, helping to make a hiker even more prepared for the CDT. However, there have been hikers who have completed the Continental Divide Trail first.

Are Triple Crowners recognized?

The ALDHA-W recognizes those who claim to have completed the Triple Crown and will present a plaque to those individuals at a yearly ceremony. If someone cannot attend the gathering, then the plaque can be mailed.

Though being recognized by the ALDHA-W cost nothing, to receive a plaque requires a small fee. However, this fee is refunded if you are able to attend the ceremony in person. For the rare individuals who have completed the Triple Crown more than once, you can even receive a more “specialized” plaque for your accomplishment.

What’s beyond a Triple Crown?

Just because a hiker has completed the Triple Crown doesn’t mean the long-distance hiking has to end. You can always hike any of the three trails of the Triple Crown again, or there are plenty of other long-distance trails.

The Great Eastern Trail is America’s newest long-distance trail, stretching 1,600 miles form Alabama to New York, making it almost like a little brother to the Appalachian Trail, though the trail is still a work in progress.

There are also many other lengthy trails in the United States, like the John Muir Trail, the Long Trail, or the Benton MacKaye Trail, or you can always explore trails outside the country.

Though the Triple Crown seems like the ultimate goal for a hiker, it doesn’t mean the adventure has to end there. There is approximately 75,000 miles of trails to be hiked in the United States alone, so rest assured there are enough to keep your hiking legs entertained for a lifetime.

For more information on the Triple Crown visit the American Long Distance Hiking Association – West at https://aldhawest.wildapricot.org/.