It’s never a bad time to invest in your personal health, but most of us don’t think about a hiking workout in the depths of winter. As the spring progresses, we naturally start to dream about summer backpacking trips or hikes with friends. With those dreams, though, comes the realization that it might take a …
There appears to be a long-standing divide amongst the hiking community about the pros and cons of hiking poles. In my own journeys, I’ve tended to err on the side of going without hiking poles. But as the miles start to add up, I’m forced to reconsider my former (dare I say childish?) ways. To …
Today, we’re going to look at five hiking pole tips for safety and efficiency. These tips will help you choose the best set of poles for you and use them to the best of your ability. As a younger man, I often wondered why people relied on hiking poles. I liked keeping my hands free …
There are undoubtedly many of you out there that have an internal longing to spend more than a day in the wilderness. But learning how to get clean water in the wild is essential to making this longing become a reality. You’ve probably seen pictures of incredible backcountry lakes, views from prolific mountain peaks, and …
As an avid hiker and backpacker, I feel very fortunate to have completed the length of the John Muir Trail (my longest trip to date). I’ve also notched several other amazing multi-day trips, but the “next great trip” is always waiting, which is why I’m researching mountaineering expeditions in North America. I must admit that …
This guide to responsible backpacking aims at offering simple things to do to protect the environment on your next backpacking trip. It expands on those Leave No Trace principles based on techniques I’ve picked up and experiences that have driven home the need for more responsible backpacking practices. Most experienced backpackers follow the Leave No …
It’s the season when we get some extra time to recreate and get out to those spots we’ve had on our list all summer. If you’re trying to squeeze the most out of the changing of the seasons, be sure to check out these fall camping destinations! For those of us that work in the …
My great friend (@jabroniejoe & @highsierrawildflowers) and I recently went out for a 6-day, 5-night backpacking trip hiking in the Ruby Mountains on the Lakes Loop Trail. The dates of this trip were the 23rd through the 28th of July, 2018. The Ruby Mountains are a gem in the middle of Nevada. This strip of …
Sometimes I even attach it to the seat of my kayak or the loop on my shorts if I’m going on a quick day hike. But there are a lot of water bottles out there today, so we’re going to take some time to discuss what makes a good water bottle! I’ve been a big …
There are many models of headlamps available out there, and they vary greatly in price. Today, we’re going to discuss some pros and cons of cheap headlamps. I consider a headlamp to be one of the items every hiker should have on his or her ‘Essentials List’. It’ll help you navigate out to use the …