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You are here: Home / Adventure Sponsorships / 2019 Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker Sponsorship

2019 Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker Sponsorship

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Note: We’ve closed applications for the 2018 hiking season. We are now accepting applications for 2019 season.

Here’s what we’re looking for in a thru-hiker to sponsor:

  1. Personality: a dynamite personality that other hikers and our readers will love
  2. Writing Skills: a captivating writer that knows that difference between there, their, and they’re
  3. Commitment: to write at least three (3) blogs per week on AdventurePossible.com
  4. Interviews: We’re scratching out the writing commitment this year to make it easier on the hiker. Instead, we’ll interview you every so often on certain topics for our articles, particularly financial topics related to the AT.
  5. Pictures: and lots of them to share with our readers on AdventurePossible.com
  6. Branding: occasionally wear the AdventurePossible.com T-shirt (and take pictures with it at Appalachian Trail landmarks). Link us on your blog, if you have one.

Let us bring you adventure every day.

Like AdventurePossible.com on Facebook.

What we’re offering in sponsorship:

  1. Cash: a little bit of spending money before and during the hike
  2. Opportunity: to build awareness about your trip by reaching our thousands of readers with your photos and blog.
  3. Legitimacy: by being featured on our site and included in our interviews
  4. Swag: Adventure Possible t-shirt anyone?

A Free tool for Planning a Thru-Hike

Download our free, an all-in-one Appalachian Trail backpacking checklist, budgeting tool, and pack weight calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions about thru-hiker sponsorship

  1. Do I have to be an awesome hiker to be considered? No way. Some of us were completely inexperienced, and that made for remarkable stories and experiences.
  2. What if I don’t finish? No big deal. It happens to most people. If you choose to leave the trail or are forced off, we just want an exit story.
  3. Is this an exclusive sponsorship? Nope. We aren’t talking pro athlete money here, or amateur roller derby money for that matter. Raise money from wherever you need as long as you meet our requirements listed above.
  4. Can I lose my sponsorship? Totally. We have good deal of fun around here, but we do not condone running drunk and naked through the streets of Gatlinburg or being arrested at Trail Days. You can blow this deal if you make a fool of yourself or otherwise embarrass us.
  5. When will you make a decision? NoBo thru-hikers start about March and SoBo hikers about June. We’ll make a decision by February 15, 2016, and we’ll let everyone know who got the sponsorship.
  6. Why do you provide sponsorships? I thru-hiked in 2006 and loved it. I want to help others do the same, so I put the profit from my book sales towards funding other people’s adventures.

If you think you’re up for a sponsorship of your Appalachian Trail thru-hike, complete the application below.

If your submission is successful, you’ll see the words “Message Sent”.

Comments

  1. GREG says

    February 23, 2016 at 7:45 pm

    THANKS!!!

    Reply
    • Robert reid says

      July 24, 2016 at 11:08 pm

      From Springer

      Reply
    • Dean Hogan says

      September 28, 2017 at 2:51 am

      I just wanted to say thank you as well for making Sponsorship available and dreams achievable.

      Reply
  2. kwnature says

    August 4, 2016 at 5:07 pm

    What a wonderful opportunity you all provide! Will you be offering a scholarship for the 2017 hiking/adventure season?

    Reply
    • Mark Kelley says

      August 8, 2016 at 10:34 pm

      Yes, I’ll get the 2017 one out soon. In the meantime, feel free to complete the 2016 application. Anyone completing that application after the Feb deadline I am adding into the 2017 applicant pool. Good luck!

      Reply
      • Woody says

        November 18, 2016 at 3:37 pm

        Hey Mark, my name is Woody. I just stumbled upon this unique opportunity and filled out an application. The application shows 2016, however, we will be hiking spring of 2017 if it’s still available for 2017 please consider our application. Enjoy the weekend! Woody

        Reply
        • Mark Kelley says

          November 22, 2016 at 8:42 pm

          Thanks, Woody. I got the application.

          Reply
          • Woody says

            January 31, 2017 at 10:05 am

            Hey Mark was checking if your selection has been made for the 2017 season. I am uniquely qualified to make this adventure a memorable one for sure. We just purchased our Clark two person hammock!! Sweet set up. Been rigging my go pro for various filming angles. Even if not chosen if we can offer or contribute let us know. Woody

      • Christopher COY Graham says

        January 15, 2017 at 5:29 pm

        I filled out the 2016 one but will be hiking in 17′

        Reply
        • Mark Kelley says

          February 2, 2017 at 8:36 pm

          I’ll include you in the 2017 applicant pool. Thanks for the heads up.

          Reply
  3. James Wood says

    August 26, 2016 at 10:42 am

    Thanks this is going to be fun, peacefully and enjoyable. I look forward to my feet hurting .

    Reply
  4. Melissa says

    September 27, 2016 at 7:21 pm

    I am hiking the PCT 2017! Am I eligible?

    Reply
    • Mark Kelley says

      September 27, 2016 at 8:35 pm

      Hi Melissa, this sponsorship is for folks attempting the AT. Sorry. On my travels this year, I’ve met several PTC thru-hikers. It sounds like a blast, and I hope you have a great hike.

      Reply
  5. Brian Bennett says

    December 5, 2016 at 10:13 pm

    I submitted an application for 2017 🙂

    Reply
  6. Stephen Durham says

    December 23, 2016 at 4:51 pm

    I am hiking the at trail am I eligible for help on my hike

    Reply
    • Mark Kelley says

      February 2, 2017 at 8:51 pm

      Basically anyone who completes the form is eligible. We make a decisions about the number of people to sponsor based on the amount of money we can give away (profits from book sales that year) and which applications interest us.

      Reply
  7. Casey says

    January 4, 2017 at 9:57 pm

    Hey there my name is Casey! I just submitted my application for 2017! Thanks for your time : )

    Reply
  8. JD says

    January 15, 2017 at 5:37 pm

    This just got me stoked man!
    http://gofundme.com/applachian-trail-thru-hike

    Reply
  9. Sarah says

    January 18, 2017 at 9:14 am

    Hey!

    Will there be a 2017 sponsorship? And if yes, do you know when it will be posted?

    Best,
    Sarah

    Reply
    • Mark Kelley says

      February 2, 2017 at 8:34 pm

      Hi Sarah, I am giving out a sponsorship this year. Haven’t gotten around to updating the site since I’ve been reintegrating into society, so fill out the app if you want to apply. Hundreds already have. Sorry.

      Reply
  10. Caleb says

    March 7, 2017 at 3:14 pm

    I’m currently a college student and I expect to graduate Spring 2018. However if an unforeseen circumstance pops up and I am forced to delay my AT hike for another year; if I am granted the scholarship can I delay the granting of the scholarship until 2018?

    Reply
    • Mark Kelley says

      June 15, 2017 at 8:32 pm

      Hi Caleb, I haven’t had that come up. I’d take it on a case by case basis. Good luck wrapping up school.

      Reply
  11. sailorsophie11 says

    March 26, 2017 at 11:00 pm

    I am currently planning for my thru hike on the Appalachian Trail as soon as I get my DD Form 214 (separation papers from the armed service) at that time i would of done 9 years of Active Duty in the United States Navy. After committing all this time to the military I have found the need to discover myself and what better opportunity than hiking the Appalachian Trail!! My enlistment is up in March of 2019 (I know what better timing!!) My question is, when will you be accepting applications for sponsorships for 2019?

    Reply
    • Mark Kelley says

      June 15, 2017 at 8:26 pm

      Hi Sophie, I’ll make a selection for the 2018 hiker about February, my time and attention permitting. I’ll switch over to 2019 right after that.

      Reply
  12. Maggie campbell says

    April 22, 2017 at 2:26 am

    Hello there! Would you consider sponsoring a thruhike on the CDT?

    Reply
    • Mark Kelley says

      June 15, 2017 at 8:22 pm

      One day I will. Maybe when I sell more books and have more money to give away. One of the previous thru-hikers we sponsored, Dawn, is on the PCT this year. So maybe after your CDT, come back here and apply for help on the AT.

      Reply
  13. warriorchick50@yahoo.com says

    May 9, 2017 at 6:48 pm

    Hi Mark,

    This is just like sending the letter to Santa at Christmas! February is a long time to wait for an answer though, is there any way to get an acknowledgement that you received my request?

    Thanks!!!

    Tracey
    Sponsorship Requesting Newbie.

    Reply
    • Mark Kelley says

      June 15, 2017 at 8:18 pm

      Hi Tracey, I got your request, and to all others I get them all. This gets me thinking though, I should be sharing some positive affirmation when I get the inbound request. I’ll see if I can get something set up to do that. Safe travels.

      Reply
  14. Brandon Chase says

    June 12, 2017 at 6:19 am

    Submitted for 2018! Thanks for the opportunity to apply.

    Reply
  15. Christine W. says

    August 1, 2017 at 1:26 pm

    What a marvelous idea this is, thank you so much for all you do !!

    Reply
  16. trailnamehere says

    September 20, 2017 at 9:08 pm

    Thanks for the opportunity! I love that y’all promote this lifestyle. Everyone should get a chance to live it!

    Reply
  17. Rachel says

    November 8, 2017 at 11:02 am

    Hi Mark, just curious if there is a word limit on the submission stories? Not to imply I’m wordy, but I am a writer and would hate to get to the end just to have to find another story. 🙂

    Thanks for the opportunity!

    Reply
    • Mark Kelley says

      January 6, 2018 at 8:03 pm

      No limit. Good luck and thank you. Mark

      Reply
  18. Staav Goldreich says

    November 30, 2017 at 12:04 am

    I applied a few days ago and submitted successfully, but never received an email confirmation or anything. Did you get my application.

    Reply
    • Mark Kelley says

      January 6, 2018 at 8:00 pm

      I’ve got it Staav. Thank you. I need a better confirmation email. Thanks for submitting.

      Reply
      • Robert Reid says

        January 7, 2018 at 12:50 am

        Please consider my application I can not express how great it would be th have help. I will complete the north bound AT hike with or with out help. If I have to reach out to Sponcers each and every day I will. Thanks for the time and consideration. Robert Reid

        Reply
  19. Audrey Smiddy says

    December 2, 2017 at 1:17 am

    Hey there! I also completed the 2016 application but I will be thru-hiking it spring of 2017. Thank you very much for this opportunity and for what you’re doing for hikers in general 🙂

    Reply
    • Mark Kelley says

      January 6, 2018 at 8:01 pm

      Cool. I will pull your application into the 2018 pool of applicants.

      Mark

      Reply
      • Robert teid says

        January 6, 2018 at 8:07 pm

        Awesome thanks look forward to hitting the trail!

        Reply
  20. atadventuresblog says

    January 2, 2018 at 3:08 pm

    Thank you for this opportunity!

    Reply
  21. Sierra Wilson says

    January 17, 2018 at 7:41 pm

    Just submitted my 2018 application! Thanks so much for this opportunity!

    Reply
  22. Paul says

    January 21, 2018 at 6:41 am

    I submitted my form twice thinking it deleted my application. Thanks for the opportunity.

    Reply
  23. Sam Shevlin says

    February 6, 2018 at 11:53 pm

    Thank you for the opportunity. In my application I mentioned that I am going to be hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2020 so I just wanted to mention that again in case you miss it while reading my application. I know it is very early to send the application but given the circumstances noted in the application, I need to hike in 2020 and besides it’s never to early to plan a trip like this.

    Thanks
    Sam

    Reply
  24. John Young says

    June 20, 2018 at 1:26 am

    I already have my start date april 14, 2019 flip flop from rockfish gap to katahdin the back to rockfish gap down to springer.

    Reply
  25. Kacy Hirschfelt says

    September 22, 2018 at 11:03 am

    Thank you for the opportunity to apply for the 2019 season!!!

    Reply
  26. Brennan McDaniel says

    December 18, 2018 at 11:08 am

    Good Morning Mark,

    I saw a few of the comments about not receiving a confirmation email about the application. I just wanted to follow up and make sure you had my application and see if there was anything else I needed to do. Thanks so much for the opportunity and I can’t wait to hit the trail next year!

    Thanks,

    Brennan

    Reply
    • Mark Kelley says

      January 29, 2019 at 9:06 pm

      Received. Thanks Brennan. I get them all but still need to get email confirmation in place.

      Reply
  27. Robert hollan says

    January 5, 2019 at 9:52 pm

    Thanks everyone for your comment s. See you on the trail.2019. Lone wolf. Robert hollan

    Reply

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