Amy “Slider” Hunsucker loves to hike. She just finished hiking the South Dakota Centennial Trail. This amazing hiker also carries a trombone with her. She plays music on long trails. Amy is a special kind of hiker.
You might wonder who Amy “Slider” Hunsucker is. She has hiked some of the longest trails in the USA. She has completed the Triple Crown. This means she hiked three very long trails. Not many people do this. Her trail name is “Slider” because she plays the trombone. The trombone has a sliding part.
Amy “Slider” Hunsucker: A Triple Crown Hiker
Amy hiked the Appalachian Trail first. It is called the AT. She started in April 2017. She finished in September 2017. The AT is about 2,190 miles long. She found a used trombone after 1,000 miles. She played it almost every night.
Next, she hiked the Pacific Crest Trail. This trail is called the PCT. She hiked it in 2019. The PCT is about 2,650 miles long. She did not carry her trombone on the PCT. She was glad for this. It is a very hard trail.
Then came the Continental Divide Trail. It is known as the CDT. Amy hiked the CDT in 2021. This trail is the longest. It is about 3,100 miles long. She carried her trombone for about 2,400 miles of the CDT. That is a lot of miles for a heavy instrument.
Think about carrying a trombone. It weighs about 5 pounds. This is like carrying a bag of sugar. She carried it for thousands of miles. This shows how strong and determined she is. It also shows her love for music.
Here are Amy’s Triple Crown hikes:
| Trail Name | Year Hiked | Miles | Carried Trombone? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appalachian Trail (AT) | 2017 | 2,190 | Yes (after 1,000 miles) |
| Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) | 2019 | 2,650 | No |
| Continental Divide Trail (CDT) | 2021 | 3,100 | Yes (for 2,400 miles) |
The Triple Crown means hiking these three trails. Amy has walked about 7,940 miles in total. That is like walking across the USA many times. She is a true hiking superstar.
Hiking the South Dakota Centennial Trail
Amy took a break in Fall 2023. She hiked a shorter trail. This was the South Dakota Centennial Trail. She started this hike in September. It was a nice way to relax. She had been very busy. She works as a hiking guide.
The South Dakota Centennial Trail is special. It is 111 miles long. Amy finished it in just 6 days. She said this trail is amazing. She loved being out in nature. It helped her feel refreshed.
Did she bring her trombone? Of course she did! She played it many times. She enjoyed making music on the trail. Imagine hearing a trombone while you hike. That would be a fun surprise.
Amy gives good advice for this trail. She says, “Just do it.” She means you should not be afraid. Just start walking. The trail can be a great adventure. It is for everyone.
Guiding Others and Future Plans
Amy does more than just hike. She helps other people hike too. She works as a guide for Wildland Trekking. She started this job in April 2021. She has been guiding for 3 years now. This is her full-time job.
She helps people have their first backpacking trip. She teaches them important skills. It is exciting for her to share her love for hiking. She guides people through national parks. She also guides them on other beautiful trails.
Here are some things Amy likes about guiding:
- She helps people try backpacking for the first time.
- She shares her hiking knowledge.
- She gets to visit many pretty places.
- She helps others love nature too.
Being a guide is not always easy. Amy says you must be flexible. Things can change on a trail. You need to be ready for anything. She is very good at her job. She keeps everyone safe and happy.
Amy has big plans for the future. She is guiding again this spring. She will work with Wildland Trekking. Then she plans a big hike. She will hike the PCT again in summer 2024. She wants to see it all once more.
Amy “Slider” Hunsucker is an amazing person. She loves hiking. She loves music. She loves helping others. She shows us that you can follow your dreams. You can even bring your trombone along. What amazing thing will you do next?
Want to learn more about the Appalachian Trail? Check out its history: history of the Appalachian Trail.
Are you interested in guided hiking trips? Learn more about Wildland Trekking: Wildland Trekking hiking adventures.
