The Hall of Fame of NST lists contains the names of all verified Thru-Hikers of the Nord Süd Trail as well as many Section-Hikers since the first through-hike in 2020. This list serves as a reminder and honor to all those who have completed the longest and most challenging long-distance hiking trail in Germany over several months.
Do all Thru-Hikers of the North-South Trail appear in this list?
No, they do not. Many long-distance hikers undertake such journeys for themselves, seeking solitude and tranquility. Since there is no registration or logbook system at the NST trailhead, we do not have an exact count of how many hikers have completed the entire North-South Trail.
The Hall of Fame includes those who have verified their thru-hike through platforms like Find Penguins, contributing to the community and initiative of the NST. Each individual in the Hall of Fame has not only completed the entire trail but has also served as an ambassador for the trail. They have helped promote the trail on social media, maintain or replace trail markers, provide interviews to the local press, share their journey with other hikers, and communicate new or updated information about the shelters.
Also, the Section-Hikers, who over several years with perseverance and patience attempt to complete the long trail, are immortalized in the Hall of Fame.
The focus of the “Hall of Fame” is not about determining who was the fastest, but rather providing a simple representation that each hiker can achieve their goal in very different ways. Every person who has successfully completed the entire trail is considered a winner.
As the saying goes, “In thru-hiking, it’s the last place that wins.”
By honoring the slowest hiker, we emphasize the importance of patience, endurance, and enjoying the moments along the way.