Triple Crown for Hough and Hunsicker

The title "Idaho couple hikes 3 major National Scenic Trails amid romance" kind of tells it all for the article by Rich Landers of the Spokesman-Review which appears in the 17 May 2012 Tri-City Herald from Kennewick, WA.

Phil Hough and Deb Hunsicker hiked the AT in 1997, the PCT a couple years later, and the CDT in 3 sections during 2008, 2009 and 2010. Best part: they still like each other. About the AT,

"The AT is by far the most sociable trail," Hough said. "It has more people and more of a trail culture. It's been around longer and has hostels and businesses geared to hikers. It's a good place to cut your teeth on long-distance hiking because the infrastructure makes it more forgiving."

Mountains might be bigger in the West, but the trails are steeper on the AT. "They didn't know how to make switchbacks when the AT was built," he said. "It wasn't designed to accommodate stock animals. You find more ruts, roots and mud. It takes as much time to hike 2,100 miles on the AT as it does for 2,700 miles on the PCT.

"One of the most noticeable differences is the signage. You don't even need a map to find your way on the AT.