The basics of building a campfire are simple, but mastering the art of fire building takes a little practice. Here are the basics to help you bring out your inner caveman on your next adventure. Fires are composed of three … Continue reading
This ultra light cooking system is made for two out on the trail and has everything you could ever want in a back country cooking system. The Halulite Microdualist was built with function in mind and everything compactly fits together, … Continue reading
I had a great experience with one of Osprey’s smaller men’s packs, the Kestrel 38 on my Kilimanjaro trip in 2010, so it only made sense to try to get my hands on a larger sized Osprey pack for my Aconcagua trip coming up … Continue reading
With temperatures no longer in the 90′s, hiking season has just begun in South Florida. What better way to begin it than volunteering on a trail crew? Most hiking trails, such as the Appalachian Trail, Florida Trail and Pacific Crest … Continue reading
During my recent trip to South Dakota I found myself in a dilemma of figuring out how to heat my food and water on the trail, comply with TSA regulations and deal with extreme fire danger due to this summer’s … Continue reading
Rapid City may not be your first thought for a vacation destination but with the Black Hills to the west, and the Badlands to the east, this small city on the edge of the Great Plains is an excellent destination … Continue reading
On every hiking or camping trip it is important not to forget the Ten Essentials at home. With several years and a few hundred miles of trail behind me, I have adapted my own list based loosely on REI’s 10 … Continue reading
A few months ago “A” texted me that we should plan a girls’ backpacking weekend. I was all for it; I’d never gone backpacking without my boyfriend and thought it would be a great rite of passage. At first four … Continue reading
If you’re a backpacker you’re constantly looking for ways to simplify you kit and save weight on the trail. One way to shave some grams off your load: a cat food can stove. And the best part is, this ultra-lightweight … Continue reading
Withlacoochee State Forest is the third largest forest in the state of Florida and consists of seven different tracts of land: Two-Mile Prairie, Homosassa, Citrus, Headquarters, Jumper Creek, Croom, and Richloam. These tracts lie within four different counties located on … Continue reading
If our recent trip into the Weminuche Wilderness taught us anything, it’s that even the most prepared hikers can get into trouble when Mother Nature is involved. This is the time of year when many backpackers, both novice and experienced, … Continue reading
Looking across several valleys while standing on the Continental Divide Trail I’ve thought several times about writing this trip report. I thought about leaving out the part where we bailed 2 days early. Then I decided to just tell it … Continue reading
When it comes to cooking in the backcountry, we like to do as little as possible. I know there are all kinds of great recipes out there for backpacking meals, but for us, we just want whatever is easiest. Here … Continue reading
When backpacking, sleep is important. Backpacking requires a lot of energy and being able to restore that energy with a good night’s sleep means you can enjoy your days of hiking instead of zombie-walking through them. This is one reason … Continue reading
Heading for the 12,800 ft “summit” between the Big Blue Trail and Fall Creek Trail It’s that time of year again – the time when I request all my vacation days for the next six months and start thinking of … Continue reading
Panthertown Valley, located east of Cashiers, North Carolina, is a high-altitude valley (by East Coast standards) that contains and is ringed by tall mountains with several massive granite faces. This unique topography has earned it the title “Yosemite of the … Continue reading
National Geographic – America’s Wild Spaces: Appalachian Trail You can never go wrong with the cinematography of a National Geographic Documentary, and this film is no exception. I would suggest finding a friend with the largest and highest-def TV to … Continue reading
With an epic through-hike of the Appalachian Trail planned for next summer, my girlfriend Shalimar and I set out on our first backpacking trip together. Growing up I have been on backpacking trips, but for Shalimar this was all new … Continue reading
A Walk in the Woods chronicles author Bill Bryson’s hope of rediscovering America through the Appalachian Trail after living abroad for two decades. His goal is to hike the 2,146 mile trail from Maine to Georgia but his adventure does not … Continue reading
As a new dad I’ve been eager to find ways to include my daughter in all the outdoor activities I enjoyed before she was born. Of course the jogging stroller was a no-brainer but for our summer trip to Colorado … Continue reading
