According to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, roughly 3,000 people try to finish a thru-hike of all 2,190 miles of the storied route every year. Roughly 25% of them are able to complete it. If you assume that the vast majority of those finishers not preschoolers, you would be correct. Emphasis on the “vast majority” part, though, because this year, one Harvey Sutton completed a thru-hike — and he is five years old.
According to an article by Sara Barnes at My Modern Met, Sutton took 209 days to complete the hike, which he did earlier this month. It’s worth mentioning here that he was not alone in this trek; his parents Josh and Cassie Sutton were behind the journey. Harvey has been hiking with them since he was two.
The trio documented their journey through a series of videos, which they’ve since posted on their YouTube channel. There, they note that Harvey has accomplished the feat of becoming the youngest northbound thru-hiker on the trail.
The family would wake up each morning at 5:30 a.m. and make their way further along the trail. Describing the process of keeping her son engaged as they went on their way, Cassie said, “The days had to transform from hiking to elaborate games of pretend so Harvey would have fun.”
As family vacations go, this one sets a high bar indeed.
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