Blind Hiker Tackles the AT in Vasque Boots

Mike Hanson, a 45 year old blind attorney from St. Louis Park, MN, has begun his quest to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. Vasque is the official footwear sponsor of Hanson’s Appalachian Trail Campaign.

“My goal in hiking the 2,174-mile Appalachian Trail is to educate the general public about the independence of persons with visual impairments, the role adaptive and assistive technology plays in our lives and the value of such technology to this community,” says Hanson, an avid outdoorsman.


Hanson is accompanied on his journey by videographer Gary L. Steffens, who is making a documentary about the experience. Hanson has been blind since birth and will utilize a GPS system to alert him to points of interest and tell him where he is on the trail. He will also carry a cane to feel for obstacles and hazards. He expects his trek, which began on March 5 near Springer Mountain, GA, to take between six and eight months.

“Vasque is honored to be the footwear supplier for this endeavor,” says Rick Appelsies, Vasque general manager. “Vasque wants everyone to enjoy the outdoors and Mike Hanson is literally a trail blazer in encouraging other people with disabilities to follow their passions and not let anything hold them back.”

To learn more and follow Hanson on his journey, log on to www.hansonatcampaign.com.

For more information about Vasque, visit www.vasque.com.

About Vasque
For over 40 years, Vasque has crafted high-quality performance-driven footwear for the outdoor market with a line that includes specialized footwear for trail running, multi-sport, hiking, backpacking, and kids. With an unyielding commitment to innovation, Vasque focuses on fit and world-class performance as the core pillars in every product they produce. Company product testing takes place through a team of exceptional athletes that report directly from trails all over the world, resulting in product that withstands the test of time and the hardest conditions and wear.