When I think of through hiking, I picture days spent backpacking through forests,

campsites nestled into beautiful landscapes, and minimal contact with civilization.

Professional through hiker and outdoor rider Liz Thomas's vision of through

through hiking is quite different.

Liz has embraced hiking in cities, stitching together multi-day routes that venture through

different neighborhoods and terrain.

For Liz, urban hiking offers a unique opportunity to take advantage of the city's streets

and parks right outside her door.

The first time I urban hiked, it sort of was like this existential question of like,

what is hiking?

What does it mean to be a hiker?

What does it mean to be a through hiker?

And I think my takeaway of it is that a hike is something that's physically and mentally challenging

that involves some level of walking.

So that's what makes an urban hike different than walking your dog the same route that you do every single day.

It's pushing yourself to do something very new.

Liz Thomas is one of the most accomplished hikers in the U.S.

She's completed the Triple Crown, which means she's hiked the Appalachian Trail,

the Pacific Crest Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail.

She even set a self-supported, fastest-known time on the Appalachian Trail in 2011.

Liz has a ton of experience in remote parts of the wilderness, but for the past 10 years,

she's been creating and hiking long-distance routes in 15 cities around the U.S.

...