2024 – A Remarkable Year
It’s hard to believe, but our beloved NST will celebrate its fifth anniversary next year, and it knows only one direction: onward and upward.
The same can be said for the 2024 class! When mid-December rolled around with no registrations for a thru-hike, we feared the worst. Was this it? Had the Nord Süd Trail been just a flash in the pan?
Absolutely not. By mid-January, registrations started pouring in, making 2024 the strongest year yet in terms of numbers. What a joy for all of us! Even familiar faces like Penny, a member of the NST Initiative and “Gatekeeper of the NST,” took on a thru-hike. At times, the surge was almost overwhelming, and keeping up with it all was a challenge. But that’s exactly why we created this trail—to bring people together—and we were thrilled by the growing community.
A record number of dogs accompanied hikers this year, though sadly, not a single one managed to complete the trail. So, the quest continues for the first four-legged finisher of the NST. This year also saw plenty of records broken, including the earliest start date (mid-January) and the longest single day’s hike with full gear: an astounding 161 kilometers. However, 2024 also set an unfortunate record for dropout rates. In the end, only four thru-hikers managed to complete the Nord Süd Trail. Here’s to the remarkable highs and challenges of 2024—a year that proved the NST is still growing and thriving!

Why So Many Hikers Quit the Trail in 2024
The weather in 2024 was far from ideal—a relentlessly wet year that tested everyone’s mental fortitude. When it rains constantly, staying motivated becomes a real challenge. Of course, we don’t get to choose the weather, and the risk of a thru-hike being literally rained out exists on any long-distance trail in the world. It’s something hikers should always keep in mind before setting out.
Another common reason for cutting a thru-hike short is injury, often caused by overexertion.

While the long stretches of asphalt at the beginning of the trail are frequently blamed, the real causes usually lie elsewhere: improper footwear or simple overenthusiasm. Jumping straight into 30 to 40 kilometers a day is a massive demand on the body, and this level of strain needs time to adjust to.
Despite well-meaning advice to take it slow at first and gradually increase daily mileage, many hikers ignore these recommendations, leading to trouble early on. It’s worth noting that asphalt itself isn’t the real issue. The human body has adapted to walking on hard surfaces, and even marathons are run on asphalt. The problem isn’t the surface—it’s the overly ambitious starts that often lead to injuries and early exits from the trail.
Hike Your Own Hike
That said, whether someone completes the Nord Süd Trail or stops partway through, every hiker adds value to the trail, the community, and ideally to themselves. Without you, the NST wouldn’t exist today—it’s as simple as that. How you approach the challenge of a thru-hike is entirely up to you.
Note: This text reflects my personal opinions and not those of the Nord Süd Trail Initiative.
I’ve thought a lot about why so many hikers abandoned their journey this year. Compared to international wilderness trails, the NST is relatively straightforward in terms of logistics and accommodations. However, this advantage—the excellent infrastructure in Germany—might also be its biggest challenge. It’s easy to organize a quick trip home for a few days during a thru-hike on the NST. This ever-present temptation to take a break could be a key reason why so many hikes ended prematurely.
Zero Days and the Right Approach to Taking Breaks
Breaks, or so-called zero days, should be taken when they’re genuinely necessary—due to illness, injury, or important professional or family matters. They shouldn’t be used for attending a music festival or taking a mini-vacation. If you need a vacation from your vacation, something is fundamentally wrong. This hike should be an adventure, not a job you need a break from. A long-distance hike always means reconnecting with nature—even in Germany. In my opinion, there’s little point in planning such an extended journey if you’re just hopping from hotel to hotel.
Of course, everyone is free to choose how and where they spend their nights. But does it make sense to spend a fortune on accommodations and expect the same comforts as home?
It’s no coincidence that the four hikers who completed the entire trail in 2024—out of over 50 starters—were those who primarily camped in nature. They persevered despite the challenges and embraced the adventure.
Is it bad that so many people gave up? No, absolutely not. As I mentioned earlier, everyone who sets foot on this trail enriches the community—and I’m personally very proud of every single one of you!
The Glorious Four Finishers of NST 2024 From left to right: Prof White, Second Half, Magic, and Hiking Dancer.
The Right Mindset Is Key to a Successful Thruhike
Hiking from safe space to safe space—staying primarily in hotels, hostels, with trail angels, or other accommodations—not only costs a lot of money but also, statistically, often leads to an unfinished journey. There is indeed a connection: you need to embrace the trail and everything it brings.
Does this mean people who, due to age or health reasons, cannot or do not want to sleep outdoors should avoid the NST or other long-distance trails? Of course not! That’s not at all how my thoughts should be understood. Everyone should walk the trail in a way that suits them. At the end of the day, hiking remains the same—a beautiful experience that unites us all.
A long-distance trail, however, will not heal mental illnesses. It would be wonderful if it were that simple. But a thruhike can still do you a world of good. Similarly, you won’t find God on the Camino de Santiago—at least not if you’re a committed atheist like me. A long-distance trail can offer a lot, but it can’t fix everything in life.
Why am I doing this? What’s the purpose behind it?
These are the right questions to ask yourself before embarking on such a journey:
To become one with nature, to feel and experience freedom, to escape the everyday hamster wheel, to forget about time.
Above all, to travel minimally—and to realize how little you truly need to be happy. That was my mindset, my motivation on the Nord Süd Trail.
In closing, I’d like to share a piece of wisdom for your journey:
““Those who constantly leave the trail have never truly arrived on it.””
just my2 cents
Soulboy
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