Get us in your inbox

Appalachian trail
Photograph: Shutterstock

Get paid $20,000 (plus free beer and gear) to hike the Appalachian Trail next year

Dream job alert!

Written by
Sarah Medina
Advertising

A brewery in Virginia is seeking a "Chief Hiking Officer." Qualifications: Must love hiking. Must love beer. Must have 5-8 months to spend traversing the country on foot. 

In the viral job posting from Devils Backbone Brewing Company, the brewery seeks a CHO to hike the Appalachian Trail in the spring of 2021. The 2,000-mile trail covers 14 states, from Georgia to Maine, and will likely take the applicant 5-8 months to complete. Luckily, there will be tons of free beer along the way, provided by the brewery.  

Devils Backbone will also supply the hiker with a $20,000 stipend, free backpacking gear and transportation, and will even host parties in their honor along the trail. The lucky winner, who should be experienced in the wilderness, will camp out under the stars and share their experience via social media.

“[Devils Backbone is] located just off the Appalachian Trail at mile marker 842 and since opening, we’ve hosted thru-hikers who want to rest and recharge on their zero-day," Hayes Humphreys, the Chief Operating Officer at Devils Backbone Brewing Company, told Travel + Leisure. “This is a great opportunity for a hiker who loves beer ... Given the state of things today, we could all use some restorative time in the great outdoors.”

The job is open to US residents 21 years and older in states where Devils Backbone sells its beer: Washington DC, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. To apply, post a link to a video on the brewery's website telling your story and why you want to take on the challenge. Deadline: July 31.

And for those of us who would rather stay home, you can virtually hike the Appalachian Trail using an app. That's one way to get your steps in. 

You may also like
You may also like
Advertising