Our mission
To inspire, educate, and promote fellowship among long-distance hikers and those who support long-distance hiking.
The American Long-Distance Hiking Association-West (ALDHA-West) is an organization of individuals interested in the pursuit of all aspects of long-distance hiking. Our membership covers a wide range of ages, from teenagers to octogenarians, and many experience levels, from wannabes to members who’ve logged tens of thousands of trail miles spanning the globe.
ALDHA-West provides a forum for the exchange of ideas on every aspect, from gear, food, travel, dangers, expectations, trail weather, all the way to how to ease back into normal life after months on the trail.
Many of our members have hiked all three of America’s premier long-distance trail, the Appalachian Trail (2,160 miles), the Pacific Crest Trail (2,650 miles), and the Continental Divide Trail (3,100 miles). To honor these individuals and their enormous accomplishments, we initiated the Triple Crown of Hiking Award. Each Fall at our annual Gathering, a new crop of inductees are presented their awards.
We also publish the Gazette, an online newsletter that highlights many aspects of long-distance hiking.
Lastly, we offer a source of inspiration. Each year at The Gathering hikers put on video talks and slide shows of previous hikes. These forums plant the seeds of new hikes we’ll strive to do in the future.