In the world of long-distance hiking, most people set their sights on the Triple Crown: the Appalachian Trail (AT), the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), and the Continental Divide Trail (CDT). These stalwarts of the thru-hiking world have long captured the imagination of backpackers around the world, however, many of us want more solitude, more remoteness, …
Backpacking
Let’s face it: unless you’re already a culinary mastermind at home, the thought of cooking a gourmet meal for yourself when you’re in the backcountry for days or weeks on end can seem a bit daunting. Indeed, even the most kitchen-savvy among us often opt for freeze-dried meals and nutrition bars instead of cooking up …
My first, rugged sleeping bag was the bulky, cotton bag issued by the Army. Like most military gear, it was nearly indestructible, until it got wet. I’ve since owned several bags, and especially like my current synthetic 20-degree bag. (Even the Army finally upgraded to a synthetic system.) But my bag is nearly 15 years …
My first trail meals were in the Army years ago, where we begrudgingly squeezed our dinner out of foil packs. The options were limited, and trading always ensued for the more coveted flavors. Fortunately, prepared trail meals have come a long way, with some meals mimicking those of a gourmet restaurant. Now, as my daughter …
The Appalachian Trail twists and turns for 2,190 miles through 14 states from Georgia to Maine. And it has become so popular that 3 million people a year step foot on it, in some form or another. But just how dangerous is hiking the Appalachian Trail, and what are those potential dangers? In this article …
To carry trekking poles or not is an interesting gear decision to have to make. For most situations, they are far from being an item of necessity on the trail. It really does just come down to personal preference combined with a great deal of trial and error. At the beginning of my own personal …
We’ve all been there. You buy your first backpack and all of the gear you can think of, load it up and head out onto the trail. About ten minutes in you sit down for a break, wondering how on earth people do this on a regular basis. The problem? You’ve packed your backpack all …
Topographical maps have gone digital and they’re an essential tool for any outdoor enthusiast. Of course, some will still prefer to go “old school” and head out into the wild with only a physical map and a compass; but for everybody else you can access a whole world of maps (literally) in just a few …
Getting out into the wilderness for everything from a weekend trip to a full week of backpacking can be incredibly refreshing. But when it comes to planing and packing meals for a trip, completely dehydrated meals meant for the outdoors can get expensive quickly. Here is a short guide to cheap backpacking food tips. Within …
I was recently on a multi-day hiking trip in New Zealand’s Southern Alps. Six hours into the first day I snapped my sternum strap while attempting to fasten it. My backpack was heavy, and it felt much heavier now that the sternum strap was not dispersing the weight evenly. Eventually my shoulders began to hurt. …