The short version: Appalachian Trials was nominated for USA TODAY’s Top Outdoor Blog. If you enjoy what we do, please vote for us here!

Earlier this week, I was nominated by USA Today as one of the Top Hiking and Outdoor Bloggers. I am extremely flattered, however, I know better than to think that this nomination belongs to me.

It belongs to us.

AppalachianTrials.com is where several former thru-hikers dedicate hours of their week to providing you with quality information and entertainment surrounding All Things Appalachian Trail. More often than not, it’s Carlie Gentry, Madison Dragna, Maggie Wallace, Kenny Howell, Kori Feener, Carly Moree, Jeff Vreeland, Michael Craigs, the Pox and Puss Podcast or one of our many other contributors doling out essential AT advice, tips, tricks, and inspiration. Or it’s one of the several dozens of current and future thru-hikers granting us a peek into their lives, and consequently, their truly amazing adventures.

And it’s YOU- the Appalachian Trials reader- that makes this community so special. When one of our thru-hikers is on the fence about quitting, you send a tsunami of emotional support that buoys their spirit if only for one more day. When someone on the Trail is behaving inappropriately, you spread the news to make the Trail safer for everyone. When one of our bloggers gets hit with a financial setback, you rally the funds to keep her hiking. Heck, this is a community where readers are the writers.

As much as I’d love to take credit for this recognition, it’s the above reasons (and more) that makes the Appalachian Trials community stand out. All I did was stir the pot a bit.

All that being said…

I really want to win. I want to win for us.

I want the nation to have to take notice of how amazing the AT and it’s people (i.e. YOU) really are. And I want us to have control of this perception before certain movies come along and skew it otherwise.

We are up against some great competition- I am a personal fan of many of the other blogs on this list. It’s going to take a real effort to come out on top.

So what do you say- let’s win this.

Yes, they spelled it “Appalachian Trails”. Working on getting that corrected.

You can vote once per day through September 1st, and I suspect that in order to win, we will need a good amount of repeat voting. And please share with friends, family, neighbors, and family. Let’s show USA TODAY how we represent.