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 …
As I was loading my old green REI backpack down for our trip to the tropics back in the fall, I started taking stock of the broken zippers, busted clips, and frayed seams dotting the pack’s landscape. I realized that I have had that pack for 10 years and, while I still trust it as …
It’s essential to put a solid foundation in place before you start building up. This goes for construction as well as when preparing for day hikes or backpacking trips. If you don’t take the time to take care of your feet, it simply doesn’t matter how nice the gear is on your back. I learned …
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 …
No day trip in a kayak is complete without snacks and lunch. Keeping food dry and cold while you paddle to your lunch destination is a matter of preparation and requires entrusting your food supplies to the proper container. If you’ve uncomfortably muscled through a soggy PB&J or two in your time, you know what …
We recently made the exciting move to bring our pup, Hoolie, down to Costa Rica with us for the spring (which is actually more like summer). In preparation, we were thinking about those long walks on the beach at sunset and how to keep our man hydrated so that he’s not keen on drinking salt …
Spending the better part of the winter in Costa Rica has honestly been the fulfillment of a dream I’ve had for more than five years. The warm weather has been so enjoyable and the space to work on writing projects has been crucial to my personal development. That said, I haven’t had as much time …
Relying on trekking poles when backpacking, hiking, or backcountry skiing is a smart decision. I used to think that those who used poles for hiking or backpacking were showing a sign of weakness in some way. Thankfully, I have grown up and replaced those childish sentiments with more practical sensibility. If you’re searching for a …
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. …
Increasingly, studies are showing that hiking with poles can have significant positive effects. Poles reduce impacts on knees, ankles, hips, and all the joints in between. From personal experience, they also keep your hands closer to heart level, which reduces that uncomfortable swelling of the hands and fingers that happens on longer hikes. If you’re …