Hike the Appalachian Trail northbound and you're called a NOBO, like this hiker on White Cap Mountain just 60 miles shy of Katahdin.

Northbound thru-hikers (NOBO's) relax atop Katahdin at the end their 2,198-mile journey from Georgia in late July.

Thru-hikers often travel in packs called a tramily, or trail family.

Cowboy camping is throwing down your sleeping pad and bag at a site and foregoing the tent for the night.

There are 165,000 white blazes marking the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine, White-blazers are purists who follow every blaze along the route.

There are 165,000 white blazes marking the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine, White-blazers are purists who follow every blaze along the route.

Yogi-ing is the art of politely begging food from unsuspecting picnickers and other nice folks along the Appalachian Trail.

A vortex is when a thru-hiker just can't leave the civilized comforts of town. Pictured here is Hot Springs, N.C.

Appalachian Trail magic comes in all forms!

Thru-hikers spend a lot of their down time eating big meals.

Flip-flop hikers start somewhere in the middle of the trail, like Pennsylvania, hike to Katahdin, then flip down to Georgia and hike back to complete the trip.

Hiker midnight, when thru-hikers go to bed, is usually right around sundown. That's when the slumber and snoring begins in earnest.

Thru-hikers burn thousands of calories per day, so when's there food, they eat it in quantity.

Shuttles to and from town for happy but weary thru-hikers are another welcome form of trail magic for sure.

Slackpacking is hiking a full day with a light pack or no pack, like this hiker.

There's nothing quite like coming upon a cooler of goodies (trail magic) provided by a trail angel.

Trail magic is unexpected acts of kindness by strangers, most often in the form of food and drink.