On Sunday I attended a “hiker feed” event on the Appalachian Trail called the Feast in the Forest. While I was enjoying burgers and lasagna I didn’t realize I was in the presence of a trail celebrity.
Neva Warren is a typical young woman of fifteen. She has a dog named Coco she plays with and listens to Green Day and One Direction. Unlike other women her age, she’s also through hiked the Appalachian Trail.
The young Ms. Warren previous to this had already led an adventurous life. As a nine year old she was racing BMX, and as a twelve year old participated in a lengthy bike tour with her parents. Neva, who is home schooled, decided she wanted to hike the entirety of the AT after a family trip to the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. After completing the trail she’s given a TEDx talk and appeared at AT events to support her favorite not for profit, HIKE For Mental Health. In an age where young women continue to be objectified and told they need to confirm to some ideal for appearance, she says, according to her father, “its not what your body looks like that’s important, its what you physically do with it that counts.”
Neither the Appalachian Trail Conservancy nor the Guinness Book of World Records awards ‘titles’ for hiking the world’s most famous footpath, but Warren’s seven month solo trek makes her the youngest person ever to solo through hike. Her trail name was Chipmunk, and her mother kept a blog of the hike at Ridethenation.org. Warren agreed to this impromptu interview, and after getting approval from her father I’m happy to share it with our readers.
A Taste For The Woods: When did you start your hike?
Neva Warren: I started April 1 at Springer Mountain.
ATFTW: How long did it take you to complete the hike?
NW: I hiked seven months.
ATFTW: What were your highs and lows of the trip?
NW: The high for me was seeing the wild horses at Grayson Highlands [State Park in Virginia.]
ATFTW: Not climbing Mount Katahdin in Maine at the end of the trail?
NW: No. Katahdin seemed almost an anti-climax. My parents were going to meet me at the top, and they were coming by a different trail. My mom took a wrong turn and had some problems on the mountain. Also, I didn’t finish at Katahdin. Because I had to get in the bubble of hikers climbing the mountain before it was closed for the season, I had to skip ahead. After I climbed the mountain I had to go back and hike a hundred miles in Maine to complete the trail.
ATFTW: That hundred miles, was it the notorious 100 Mile Wilderness?
NW: No, this was in southern Maine.
ATFTW: And the low?
NW: Definitely Blood Mountain in Georgia. I’d rolled one ankle on the first day of the hike. The second day, I rolled the other ankle. My mom took me to REI and I got new Vasque boots, and I went on the trail. It began to rain, and it was a cold rain. Everything was coming down, rain, hail, and I was soaked and freezing. But I got off the trail at the hostel in Neel’s Gap and had some hot chocolate and put on dry clothes and I felt better.
(I asked Warren about safety, since while she was a determined 14 year old when she started, she was still a 14 year old girl.)
NW: I never felt unsafe on the trail. In towns, that was another story.
ATFTW: Did you ever have moments you felt uncomfortable?
NW: There was one time a boy followed me from a town into the woods. That was a little creepy. He wasn’t a hiker, and he gave up after a couple of miles. But I felt safe on the trail. I had a Spot tracker with me, and my parents could follow my progress. And I had a code I could put in it that would mean “the helicopters should come.” I had that covered up so I couldn’t press it by accident.
Also, I had a lot of big brothers and big sisters on the trail. Other hikers, once they learned what I was doing, were really cool and supportive, and they helped me a lot.
(As mentioned, Neva’s parents followed her progress electronically and with periodic phone calls. They also physically followed in an RV and met their daughter at some trailheads. Warren spent some nights in the RV but she carried a full pack and also spent nights at shelters and trail campsites.)
ATFTW: What was your pack weight?
NW: When I started it was about forty pounds. I quickly got it down to about thirty.
ATFTW: Seven months is a long time, and the AT is a tough trail. What kept you motivated?
NW: This is going to sound silly, but I had a poster of One Direction on my bedroom wall, and I wrote at the bottom “Welcome back!” I then forged all of their signatures on the poster. I wanted to see that poster, and that helped keep me focused.
ATFTW: Did you listen to music when hiking?
NW: Never.
ATFTW: Did you sing One Direction songs on the trail?
NW: No, they are a little outside my vocal range.
(At this point the conversation turned to popular music and I was completely lost on the subject. I thanked Warren for the interview and her time.)
June 30, 2014 @ 2:35 pm
She isn’t a solo thru hiker. Mommy was at every ride crossing to help and she slept in the trailer almost every night. She could not have hiked it on her own. Calling chipmunk a solo thru hiker takes away from everyon else who actually hiked solo, with no help
July 1, 2014 @ 1:50 am
If you hiked the AT you should be proud of this girl instead of putting her down. Grow up.
July 3, 2014 @ 1:53 pm
So what? This would be a pretty cool accomplishment for someone twice her age. I solo thru-hiked it, and I feel not the least bit slighted by someone calling her a solo thru-hiker. Anyway, no one else went the entire distance with her. Now, if you want to argue she wasn’t unsupported, then I would agree. But who frickin’ cares?
June 30, 2014 @ 6:06 pm
If she slept in the RV and did not make it to Katahdin she is not a true thru hiker in my eyes and I agree with Bill, it’s a dishonor to real thru hikers lately, everyone is being called a thru hiker these days. I also do not agree Jennifer Phar Davis is not a real thru hiker and should not have the honor of the fastest finish when her husband moved her stuff from spot to spot, heck if I had someone to take my pack ahead of me to next stop I can walk much faster also.
July 3, 2014 @ 10:24 am
She did climb Katahdin. And my interview isn’t with Phar Davis.
July 3, 2014 @ 1:48 pm
A thru-hiker is someone who walks the entire distance in one season or less. All other considerations are irrelevant.
July 4, 2014 @ 1:33 am
Hey Rando you might want to check the facts and read this blog. she most certainly did summit K. Ya need to know the facts before making statements like that. just saying.
June 30, 2014 @ 8:44 pm
The ATC recognises Neva Warren as a thru hiker, she passed every white blaze carried three days of food sleeping bag and tent. Your thinking Bill would mean that anyone who slept in a hostle or motel would not be a thru hiker and that is completly wrong. Just wondering if you are a thru hiker did you ever spend a night off the trail. if so then in your own words you sir would not be a thru hiker. Chipmunks hike was Supported, it had to be she was 14 when she started. It always baffles me why people like you need to try to make yourself look better by trying to make others look bad. Neva Warren is the youngest person to ever thru hike the AT and the ATC even says so. But in your thinking you are above the ATC Sir try to make yourself look better, by trying to be a better person yourself.
June 30, 2014 @ 8:59 pm
http://www.hikeformentalhealth.org/this-path-can-never-grow-old-toms-account-of-hiking-with-chipmunk/
June 30, 2014 @ 10:48 pm
This is the definItion of a thru-hiker via the Appalachian Trail conservancy: THRU HIKING:
A thru-hiker is a hiker or backpacker who has completed or is attempting to walk the entire Appalachian Trail in one uninterrupted journey. Completing the entire estimated 2,180 miles of the Appalachian Trail in one trip is a mammoth undertaking. Each year, thousands of hikers attempt a thru-hike; only about one in four make it all the way.
That to me, Bill, sounds like she’s a thru-hiker!! As she hiked every step of the trail in one interrupted journey!! Rather she had help or not at a trail head makes no difference!
July 1, 2014 @ 12:32 am
Your comment makes me sick bill. You feel real good about talking trash about a teenage girl? You big tough internet bully. Cool beans. Where she slept matters to you so much that you had to put your 2 cents in. Whats your summit date for a thru hike? I’ll look up your picture so I can know what a jerk looks like.
July 1, 2014 @ 1:49 am
What an awesome inspiration this girl is! That is such an incredible accomplishment.
July 1, 2014 @ 3:57 am
It takes a lot of get up and go, bravery, and strength to do what she did. Here’s to her parents for giving her the opportunity (with adult supervision) to do what she did. Here’s to her for making it happen with the opportunity she was given.
July 1, 2014 @ 4:29 am
My apologies to everyone for not getting comments posted sooner.
As should be clear from the interview I accept Chipmunk as both a through hiker and as the youngest solo through hiker. I don’t find the arguments that her sleeping choices disqualify her any more impressive than the claim I ceased to be a bike tourist because I used the hospitality site Warm Showers on my tour five years ago. (It seems some people claim if you don’t camp, you are not a bike tourist.) As for the fact she met her parents and kept in contact with them, really, do you expect any parent to let a 14 year old wander in the woods for seven months and NOT keep tabs on them?
That said, I recognize that the AT draws passions to the boiling point on many topics, and there will be people who disagree. I ask that everyone remember that we all love the trail, and the outdoors, and that the hiking community is supposed to be friendly.
July 1, 2014 @ 4:07 pm
I don’t think people have a problem with calling her a thru hiker, she hiked past every blaze. All thru hikers have help. End of story. My problem is with calling it solo. When your parents are packing your pack every morning, making your breakfast, lunch and dinner I have a hard time calling it a solo. I also question how much they say she really carried (doesnt affect her thru hiker status, still say she thru-ed). If she carried 3 days worth of supplies always, why when she planned to spend a night or two away from the camper did her pack double in size.
July 2, 2014 @ 1:28 am
Very simple answer to that Mel.. It didn’t. did you hike with her at all? my guess is not. and did you thru hike Mel. did you eat in any resturants? and have them make your food. if so then is that a through hike. look up the difenition of a through Hike and a solo through hike. And I did get to hike with her for a short time. and I saw her pack. and it was not a small pack. infact it was called big red for a reason.
July 2, 2014 @ 3:39 pm
In fact ,I did thru hike. Have you Tom? I also did get to hike “with” her, because we all keep different paces it was always in passing. Kind of like a giant game of leap frog. Her and her family are great. I ate at many restaurants, slept in many hostels, still have trouble calling it solo, sorry. She did an amazing thing not arguing with you on that. Tons of props. Definition of solo : ” A thing done by one person unaccompanied, in particular.” Fact is, she wasn’t unaccompanied. Yes, for safety reasons she couldn’t ever be totally unaccompanied, but it is in fact part of the definition you are clinging to.
July 3, 2014 @ 10:46 am
Every thru hiker that had someone mail them a resupply or accepted trail magic food or rides was supported in some way. Thru hiker the trail at any age is a true accomplishment, at her age even more so. Why try and diminish what she or any thru hiker has done.
July 3, 2014 @ 12:08 pm
Chipmunk is an inspiration and I congratulate and celebrate her as the youngest solo thru-hiker of the AT.
July 3, 2014 @ 12:11 pm
She sounds like an amazing young woman. Wish I could meet her! Thanks for sharing this story.
July 5, 2014 @ 5:08 am
She was at Trail Days in Damascus, VA, earlier this year. Chipmunk works as a volunteer for HIKE For Mental Health, an entirely volunteer not-for-profit, and her appearance at the Feast in the Forest last week and at Trail Days was in connection with HFMH.
July 3, 2014 @ 2:28 pm
Wow! I cant believe some of the comments! Hiking the Appalachian trail or any other trial at any age is a significant endeavor. I’m not sure we need to categorize and thumb wrestle over everything.
I hope Chipmunk becomes a true inspiration to people her age. In a world of video games and child obesity this girl is a fresh change.
July 5, 2014 @ 4:54 am
While she was talking to me I not only got the impression she was more ‘adult’ than many adults I know, but I recalled that while she was marching north through the mid-Atlantic states Miley Cyrus was on TV showing young women they should objectify themselves to get ahead in life.
Also someone who can say Katahdin is an anti-climax is someone who lived every inch of the journey. I have a problem with bike touring and hiking books consisting of lists of food eaten and miles Chipmunk’s book, based on comments she made I didn’t include in the interview, promises to be a journey of her spirit as well as her boots.
July 3, 2014 @ 3:29 pm
Why on earth would anyone argue about the details of this kid’s hike? I’ve never thru hiked, but having hiked 230 mi of the trail the last couple of years gives me some perspective about how ridiculously difficult it must be to hike the entire AT. What Chipmunk did was above and beyond what any other person her age has ever accomplished. To those who would be negative, do you really want to bash a kid and shoot down her accomplishment over the word “solo”? How does anything that she did have anything to do with your accomplishments? Chances are Chipmunk reads this article and comments. Does your anonymity on the internet make it ok to say whatever you like? Would you slam this kid to her face? Taking away from others doesn’t make you more accomplished. The trail is more than a place to go hike. It’s a social community where people come together from all walks of life and have common ground. I found support all around me on the trail…from total strangers. How bout we all be supportive off the trail too.
July 5, 2014 @ 5:04 am
I would be flattered if Chipmunk read this website, but I don’t know that she does. Keep in mind she’s been interviewed by ‘real’ journalists and given a speech about her hike. I’m just a middle aged fat guy in plaid shorts who asked her a few questions. Not much of a draw compared to the newspapers that interviewed her.
July 3, 2014 @ 9:56 pm
Great job young lady! You should be proud! All the haters are proof… Your doing it right!
Happy Trails!
July 4, 2014 @ 2:59 am
Okay I agree she is a thru hiker, but it should be called what it is an assisted thru hike not a solo thru hike, the only thing I disagree with is she takes credit for solo not assisted hike. And yes we all see people on the trail bit solo hike means you do everything for yourself, pack your bag find your own hostel to rest at Etc. And I’m sorry if people disagree with me but I think even her parents should teach her the difference between a solo and assisted hike and not to take credit for something she did not do. That is all I will say on this matter. I at least know I taught my kids the difference for what you do and taking credit for it.
July 4, 2014 @ 3:04 am
And yes I’m proud she did her thru hike, I think all parents should teach their kids about nature.
July 5, 2014 @ 4:59 am
Children should be outside with the birds, not inside playing Angry Birds.
July 4, 2014 @ 3:05 am
I hike but have never thru hiked my attempt will be started March 12,2015
July 4, 2014 @ 3:23 am
Ok folks decided I’m gonna do my hike next year without staying in towns, will just go to resupply no hostels or anything else, just resupply at towns and back to the trail.
July 5, 2014 @ 4:58 am
Happy trails Rando. Even if we disagree about Chipmunk, I certainly wish you well.
July 4, 2014 @ 11:30 am
Amazing girl regardless of rules or titles. I’m impressed with her drive and ambition. Thanks for the interview!
July 5, 2014 @ 4:56 am
I feel very fortunate to have met Chipmunk.
July 4, 2014 @ 2:14 pm
According to the ATC she is the youngest person to solo thru hike the AT and yes it was assisted it had to be she was 14 when she started. if it weren’t assisted her parents would be in Jail lol.
July 5, 2014 @ 5:15 am
Note I also got permission from her father before I posted the interview and her photo. Even if she hiked the AT, she’s still a minor.