What a Backpacking Pack Should Be!
They call it backpacking for a reason! Your backpack is probably the single most important piece of gear in your loadout. Because without a backpack, you're just camping, right? But there are thousands of backpacks on the market to choose from: large, small, traditional, ultralight, full-featured, minimalist
Ultralight vs. Traditional Backpacking—Pros and Cons of Ultralight Backpacking
Do you remember that movie, Twins, from the 80s staring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny Devito? The two were twins born as part of a genetic experiment, but separated at birth. That’s what I think about when I think of ultralight versus traditional backpacking; these two things that are very closely related but drastically different. So, let's talk about the pros and cons of both, but we'll look at it primarily through the lens of ultralight backpacking. And I feel like I need to
What Kind of Hiker are you? Take the Quiz
What kind of hiker are you? Some are day hikers, some are backpackers. Take the quiz to find out what kind you are? Then share it with your friends.
Exploring the Untouched Beauty of Matilija Wilderness, California: A Backpacking Adventure in Los Padres National Forest
The Matilija Wilderness in Southern California is indeed a wild place. I recently did a 2 night backpacking tip of the North Fork Matilija Creek Trail in the Matilija Wilderness of the Los Padres National Forest. I wasn’t looking to do a lot of miles on this trip and even what I intended to do was cut short due to how difficult the trail is to follow.
Crossing the Floating Bog Bridges of the Adirondacks, New York
“Be careful up ahead! I fell in on the floating bog bridges.” What did that guy just say? The FLOATING bog bridges? As we would soon find out first hand the trail between Feldspar Lean-to and Lake Arnold is prone to flooding. Scratch that…has become a permanent 5-10 foot deep swamp. Some years ago ADK trail crews attempted to build bog bridges to get hikers across. But as water continued to rise the bridges have started floating and disintegrating.
Mount Colden Summit Hike – Adirondacks New York
We heard that Lake Colden was a popular place to set up camp. And since Adirondack state park limits backcountry camping to designated spots and shelters we wanted to make sure we grabbed a spot before they were all gone
Santa Fe Baldy and Lake Katharine – 12,622 feet – Pecos Wilderness New Mexico
This is part three of our 4 day hike in the Pecos Wilderness - New Mexico. Read Part One - Hiking to Lake Johnson. and Part Two - Lake Katharine.What is it about water we find so amazing. We are drawn to it in nature in all its forms. Low lying fog, sun shining through morning dew, a mountain stream or an alpine lake. No matter what form it takes, water fascinates us. An amazing view is made that much more amazing
Lake Katharine – Backpacking Pecos WIlderness – New Mexico
This is part two of our 4 day hike in the Pecos Wilderness - New Mexico. Read Part One - Hiking to Lake Johnson. My heart is pounding, my feet ache, and I’m starting to doubt there is a lake up here at all. We feel like we have been hiking all day and the constant incline of the trail seems as if it will never let up. But just as we begin to think we should camp for the night
10 Tips To Reduce Pack Weight
I have never considered myself an ultralight backpacker. I have been known, however, to do whatever I can to try and reduce pack weight. Sometimes that means upgrading or modifying my gear, or just simply using better packing strategies. No matter how you classify yourself I think we all would like a lighter pack. The following is a list of tips and techniques to help you reduce your overall pack weight. 1. Modify your gear: You don’t have to
Bush Mountain Overnight – 8631 feet, Second Highest Peak in Texas
The second highest peak in Texas. I wasn’t sure if my 10 year old was ready for such a strenuous overnight trip. She has done well on some pretty difficult day hikes, but never with this much wight on her back. My 10 year old Daughter high on the Tejas Trail - Guadalupe Mountains National ParkMy wife was out of town for the weekend leaving me and my oldest home alone. I knew we could spend the weekend watching TV