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David Parnell

David is an accomplished mountain endurance athlete who has completed over 25 ultra marathon races (follow on Strava). He is most proud of his finish at The Drift 100 - a high elevation, 100 mile winter foot race that zigzags along the Continental Divide in Wyoming. In the future he hopes to compete in the ITI 350 and ultimately the full 1,000 mile Iditarod Trail Invitational that follows the same path as the historic dog sled race.

While many people might think that eating outside is all about freeze-dried food, cans of beans, and PB&Js, there’s no reason to suffer when it comes to your trailside culinary experience. Cooking up a nice, hot meal at the end of a long day on trail can be a sure-fire way to boost morale, relax, …

Read More about Backpacking Lunch Ideas: 10 All-Time Favorites

Welcome to the wonderful world of “ultralight” backpacking. We all want a lighter pack weight while at the same time being as comfortable on the trail as possible. If you are ready to take this ambition to the next level. This article is for you! So, how light is ultralight backpacking? Ultralight backpackers have packs …

Read More about Just How Light is Ultralight Backpacking? A Beginner’s Guide

Imagine this: you’re midway through a two week trip in the Pacific Northwest and – no surprise – it starts to rain. A slow drizzle quickly turns into a heavy downpour, so much so that your rain jacket is just another layer of wet on your skin. The rain continues for hours and, before you …

Read More about How to Waterproof a Hiking Backpack: The Complete Guide

Imagine this: you’re walking down a trail in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness surrounded by stunning mountain views and glaciers as far as the eye can see. You’ve got a small group with you and you’re all out on a week-long backpacking trip. Sounds pretty awesome, doesn’t it? But do you know what the …

Read More about How To Become An Outdoor Adventure Guide

Let’s face it: backpacking can hurt. Heavy packs, steep hills, variable weather conditions, and difficult terrain all add to the difficulty of backpacking, but that’s all part of the adventure. When you finally crest the top of that ridge you’ve been walking toward all day and take in the beautiful views surrounding you, then all …

Read More about 49 Ways to Lighten Your Backpacking Load

If you’ve spent any time walking down a trail in recent years, you’ve probably seen a few people with trekking poles and you’ve likely contemplated getting a pair for yourself. However, you also see plenty of people plodding along without trekking poles, so you also probably question whether or not trekking poles are actually worth …

Read More about Are Trekking Poles Worth It?

Just because you live in a city doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the great outdoors! Especially when you live in a city as close to the mountains as Seattle, there’s a whole world of amazing day hikes out there for you to discover. To help you get away from the concrete jungle and into the …

Read More about 18 Of Seattle’s Most Breathtaking Day Hikes You Must Do

Glacier Peak is the fourth tallest peak in Washington and is one of the state’s five major stratovolcanoes. Originally known as “Tda-ko-buh-ba” or “Takobia” or “Dakobed” in the dialect of the local Sauk-Suiattle people, Glacier Peak is the most isolated of the Cascade Volcanoes, so it sees relatively little traffic from outdoor recreationalists when compared …

Read More about A Climber’s Guide to Glacier Peak Mountain In Washington

Trekking in Nepal is at the top of many outdoor enthusiasts’ bucket lists. Snow-capped mountains, cozy tea houses, and endless dal bhat are just some of the many things you can look forward to while trekking through the tallest peaks in the world. So, the question that most would-be trekkers in Nepal ask themselves is: …

Read More about Can You Trek in Nepal Without a Guide?