I feel very fortunate that I grew up in a place with such easy access to the backcountry. Living in Truckee, CA, it’s absurdly easy for us to get on a trail and get away from town in under an hour. I recognize that this isn’t the case for many, many people out there living …

So you want to get into sleeping elevated, do you? From experience, it takes some time and requires a degree of trial and error to dial in your hammock camping gear list and perfect your setup. Getting a good hang (as die-hard hammockers call it) takes some experimenting and can require different considerations depending on …

Hammock camping is my preferred method of sleeping for any trips under a week in length. And I find myself leaning towards a hammock set-up that can function for even longer trips (like the JMT or PCT!). But for many hikers and backpackers, sleeping all night in a hammock either sounds uncomfortable or impractical. Today, …

For experienced backpackers, the process of putting on a pack is probably second nature. But for all of you just getting into backpacking, it’s important to know that there is actually a preferable technique for putting your backpack on and adjusting it for comfort. In this article, I’ll cover some easy tips for how to …

As a former Wilderness First Aid instructor and certified waterfront lifeguard, I’ve heard this familiar saying often: “It’s not a matter of if [an emergency occurs], but just a matter of when.” To some, that might represent a brand of negative thinking that invites unexpected circumstances to sidetrack our hiking adventures. To others, it’s merely …

It’s never a bad time to invest in your personal health. As the spring progresses, I’ve found myself starting to dream about the summer backpacking trips I hope to take once I land back in Tahoe. With those dreams, though, comes the realization that it might take a few small trips to work my way …

There appears to be a long-standing divide amongst the hiking community about whether hiking poles are helpful or a nuisance. 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. …

As a younger man, I often wondered why people relied on hiking poles. I liked keeping my hands free and didn’t ever feel the need for additional support (even when carrying a 60+ pound pack). I felt like hiking poles were only necessary for really uneven trails, or in the snow. But as I talk …

There are undoubtedly many of you out there that have an internal longing to spend more than a day in the wilderness. You’ve probably seen pictures of incredible backcountry lakes, views from prolific mountain peaks, and campsites tucked in amongst the healthiest groves of pines. But how do you get there? And how do you …

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 I must admit that “bagging peaks” hasn’t been tops on my priority list. This may be changing, however, as I find …