This Beer Company Will Pay You $20,000 to Hike. Here’s How.

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by Lena Schreiner Updated on November 30, 2020
A woman hiking with long stretches of hills in front of her
Appalachian Trail Conservancy

Tons of people dream of being able to take a few months off from work and be in nature. For any outdoors enthusiast, a few weeks hiking would be the perfect vacation. But what if hiking (and drinking beer) was a paid job? Devils Backbone Brewing Company is making that a reality.

“Chief Hiking Officer” Wanted

Devils Backbone is looking for a “Chief Hiking Officer,” (aka CHO) which is in the running for best gig job ever. The job pays $20,000 and would require you to spend the Spring of 2021 hiking the Appalachian Trail. The hike is more than 2,000 miles long, and the company expects the whole trip to take five to eight months.

As this is more contest than a real hiring process, there are some pretty simple qualifications. To be eligible, you must:

  • Be 21 years old or above
  • Have Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook
  • Be willing to walk from Springer Mountain (Georgia) to Mt. Katahdin (Maine)
  • Love hiking
  • Love beer

The CHO will also be required to post about his or her experience on social media. In addition, the contest is only available for residents of DC, DE, GA, IN, KY, MD, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, SC, TN, VA, and WV.

Of course, the hike itself is no easy task. You have to really love hiking, camping, and nature to be the right person for this. You won’t be at it completely alone, however. You’ll get free gear before your trip starts, as well as tons of free beer. Along the way, there will also be “big ol’ beer parties” at different benchmarks along the path.

How the CHO Will Be Chosen

If you qualify, you can apply online until July 31st. The application involves a 1-minute video of yourself explaining what makes you the perfect candidate for Chief Hiking Officer.

By August 15th, Devils Backbone will select 30 semi-finalists based on their social media presence, outdoor experience, and how well they fit with the brand. Those 30 contestants will be contacted and given an assignment that will be decided at that time.

Those 30 semi-finalists will be whittled down into 10 finalists, and the winner will be selected after a final round of interviews and a background check. For full details on the application process, you can find the contest rules on Devils Backbone’s website.

Hiking Supplies & Beer Giveaway for the Less Committed

If you’re an avid hiker, but not the hike-for-six-months-consecutively type, Devils Backbone wants to reward you too. In addition to the CHO contest, the company will give away hiking supplies and beer to some winners who post #SlowbyNature and #Sweepstakes with pictures of outdoor escapades on social media.

Good luck, and happy trails!