Get paid to drink beer and hike the Appalachian Trail next year

If you are an experienced hiker, a beer-lover and good on social media, you may be interested in applying for a job that will see you getting paid to hike the Appalachian Trail in 2021.

Devils Backbone Brewing Company is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, just a few miles from the Appalachian Trail, and it has decided to offer a position of "2021 Chief Hiking Officer," starting next spring. It will pay the successful candidate $20,000 (€17,710) to drink beer and hike the Appalachian Trail, which crosses two national parks and traverses eight national forests, hitting 14 states from Georgia to Maine. They must also update followers on their progress via social media.

"We’ll outfit our CHO with gear, fly ‘em to the trail head, and throw some big ol’ beer parties along the way," says Devils Backbone. "Plus, there’s a $20k stipend. Qualifications? You’ve gotta love hiking and beer. We mean really love it. We’re talking 2200 miles, camping under the stars, pack-in-pack-out for five-seven months love it."

To qualify for the position, you must be at least 21 years old and prove that you are capable of hiking 2200 miles and camping at night. As the company is a brewery, the successful candidate must be passionate about enjoying a delicious beer post-hike. An added bonus is that they will also get to assist in what the company is calling "product research."

To apply, fill out the form on the Devils Backbone website here, explaining why you’re passionate about hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2021. Applications are open through 31 July.

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