This study examined the Significant Life Experiences (SLE) behind Appalachian Trail (AT) thru-hikers’ choices to engage in an intense nature/outdoor experience.  To more deeply understand the contexts of hikers’ SLE a naturalist inquiry research method was used.  Data sources consisted of in-depth interviews, observations, and researcher journaling.  A constant comparative analysis method (Glaser & Strauss, 1967) was used in data analysis.  In this study, it was found that childhood experience in nature was an important factor in participants’ decisions to undertake an intense nature experience.  This is in line with what the current SLE literature reveals.  However, the study also found that childhood interaction with the outdoors was not strictly necessary, nor did it always result in an environmentally minded adult.  Looking at a democracy of experience reveals that SLE do not always result in an environmental individual, nor are they necessary to becoming an environmental individual

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