Offline: into the woods

Offline: into the woods follows the early planning for an Appalachian Trail hike in a narrative that begins with meeting “Cash Lawless,” a motorcycle-building hairdresser who is tackling the trail one section at a time in a roughing-it, self-sufficient approach. The writer describes preparing by testing sleep gear with friends, practicing with hiking boots, and then going shopping, framing the trip as beginning at REI rather than at the trailhead. The author bought an air mattress and explored survival kits containing items such as thermal blankets, signal mirrors, compasses, flint and tinder, and fishing lures, while also purchasing wool base layers and socks from Patagonia. Duane Reade was used to stock high-calorie snacks at Cash’s prompting. The piece ends mid-story as the night before leaving approaches.