What Is Gorpcore? The Mountain Spirit of Summer 2025

If you’ve ever stood at the edge of an alpine ridge, feeling the wind cut across your face and the world stretch out in every direction, you know there’s a kind of magic in the high places. That magic has a name this summer: gorpcore.

Forget the idea that it’s just a fashion trend. Gorpcore is a way of moving through the world: ready for weather, open to detours, and always carrying enough to keep going a little farther. It’s hiking as a form of freedom, a ticket to places you can only reach on foot.

The Name That Started It All

“Gorp” is an old hiker’s slang for “Good Ol’ Raisins and Peanuts” trail mix, the simplest kind of fuel for long days outside. Add “core”, and you’ve got an aesthetic rooted in the essentials: what you bring when you want to go far and feel alive doing it.

Why Summer 2025 Belongs to the Hills

This year, more people are swapping weekend plans for mountain passes, trading crowded streets for winding ridgelines. The gorpcore mindset is showing up on trails in the Swiss Alps, the Dolomites, and quiet paths where the air smells like pine.

The reward isn’t the summit photo but the rhythm of the trail itself: the steady pull of altitude, the pause when everything goes quiet, and the moment when a valley opens wide and takes your breath with it.

The Instagram Feeds That Carry Us There

Some accounts just capture the high feeling of the hills better than words can:

• @iremtour: Slow mornings in the mountains, soft light, and frames that feel like a deep breath. Beyond sharing her own adventures, she also organizes group hikes, creating real-world spaces for people to experience the joy she captures online.

• @hyoh456: Short for Hike Your Own Hike, this account curates breathtaking shots from outdoor enthusiasts worldwide. Honest and unpolished, it highlights the raw beauty of trail life and celebrates a community of hikers who share the same love for being out there.

• @sabriinab___: Featured in publications like Women’s Health, Sabrina has become something of the ultimate gorpcore muse, a reminder that strength, style, and freedom can move together on the mountain.

How to Step Into the Gorpcore State of Mind

1. Pack for possibility: layers, water, snacks, and space for whatever you find. For light days, a crossbody pack keeps things simple and close at hand. For longer treks, a comfy, supportive backpack makes all the difference, the kind that balances weight and feels good mile after mile.

2. Go where the map turns vague: those unmarked paths are often the best. A pair of trail shoes, hiking shoes, or boots that work on both dirt and cobblestone streets will keep you moving.

3. Let the weather be part of it: mist, rain, or sun, each has its own beauty. A cozy fleece is worth its weight in alpine air.

4. Pause often: the view changes in minutes at higher ground. Polarized sunglasses or a bucket hat keep you comfortable when the light gets harsh.

5. Bring the snack that makes you smile: raisins and peanuts are classic, but I’ve been loving this trail mix for long climbs.

More Than a Look, A Way of Traveling

Gorpcore is travel stripped back to what matters: fresh air, strong legs, and the thrill of not knowing what’s around the bend. Whether it’s a 10-day trek in the Alps or a quick climb above your hometown, the feeling is the same.

It’s stepping onto a trail and realizing the only schedule that matters is the one set by the sun. It’s feeling small in the best possible way. It’s knowing that even if you came for the view, you’ll leave with something you can’t pack away: that high-altitude calm you’ll carry long after summer fades.