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Register your Thru Hike here

    FAQ

    WHY SHOULD I REGISTER MY THRU HIKE?

    Long-distance hiking or “Thru-hiking” can be a rather solitary experience in Germany. Whether you are walking the NST, E1, or one of the other European long-distance trails. While on the Camino de Santiago or the American long-distance trails, you can rely on a long tradition of Trail Angels and countless helpful individuals, this tradition is still in its infancy in Germany.

    By registering the Thru-hike and verifying it through the „Find Penguins“ app, you allow other people to participate in your journey, create contacts, and help others who may be considering walking this path. Another positive effect is the creation of an active trail community. Of course, it is entirely up to each individual whether to make the app and thus the entire tour “public” and share it. However, on my Thru-hike in 2020, I had only the best experiences and was overwhelmed by people’s helpfulness. I, too, will try to give something back of this kindness to future Thru-hikers, and registering and verifying the hike is the best means to do so.

    DO I ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO REGISTER MY THRUHIKE?

    No, of course not. There are plenty of long-distance hikers who simply want to walk their path in peace and solitude. Registering and installing this app is entirely voluntary. People who just want to be on their own have no interest in being in any “Hall of Fame.”

    AT WHAT POINT SHOULD I HAVE MY THRUHIKE VERIFIED?

    If you want to immortalize your Thruhike in the Hall of Fame, it is necessary to verify your Thruhike. The primary focus is not on verifying whether you have actually completed the trail, but rather on building a vibrant trail community. Everyone can contribute to making the trail more known on social media platforms, renewing or replacing trail markers, conducting interviews with the local press, sharing their NST journey with other hikers, and providing new or updated information about the shelters.

    Still in planning: Verified NST Thruhikers will also receive a fancy certificate and a patch for their backpack.

    HOW CAN I VERIFY MY THRU HIKE?

    There are different ways to verify your Thruhike for the Hall of Fame:

     

    Method 1: The currently most popular method is through the community app Find Penguins. This can serve as a digital stamp book or a personal diary. Additionally, the app allows interaction with the trail community and other Thru-hikers who are also on the trail.

     

    Method 2: Do you have a YouTube channel? Regular vlogs (short for video blogging) about your journey on the Nord Süd Trail would be an excellent way to make the trail more known. In particular, such travel reports have contributed to the popularity of the major American trails.

     

    Method 3: Share your travel experiences on Instagram or in Threads. This would also greatly help raise awareness of the trail.

     

    Method 4: Write your own blog about your journey or post it in outdoor forums, for example, Ultraleicht-trekking forum or outdoorseiten.net  This way, you actively contribute to making the trail more known. The ultimate achievement would, of course, be the publication of a book about the NST, and that will surely happen in the future, we are confident.

    WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I HAVE REGISTERED MY THRUHIKE?

    Usually, you will receive a confirmation email promptly. We will ask you a few more questions, for example, whether you would like a patch for your backpack (cost contribution from 2024, 10 €), etc.