Tom Gathman: Getting Weird With ‘The Real Hiking Viking’

Gloriously bearded year-round thru-hiker Thomas Gathman brings a personality to match his trail name: The Real Hiking Viking. Gathman dishes on his most trusted gear, his favorite beer (all of it), and life where anywhere is home.

With his long, bushy beard, booming laugh, and boisterous demeanor, it’s hard to miss Thomas Gathman on the trail. And it’s even harder to keep up with him. Gathman, who goes by the moniker “The Real Hiking Viking,” said that he covers at least 30 miles per day when he’s in the zone.

But there’s more than just hiking to this viking. Gathman, a former active-duty Marine, pours himself into more than just sport — think b-movie quotes, college sports, and a carefully curated gear cache.