In the third of four columns on planning a thru-hike, Triple Crowners — hikers who have completed the AT, PCT, and CDT (that’s nearly 8,000 miles of trail) — offer advice to first-timers on how to stay safe and have fun. full story »
Ever woken up to the cold, uncomfortable ground after your sleeping pad sprung a leak? Learn how to repair holes, tears, or punctures in your air mattress, in the field or at home, with just a few materials and a little time.
Planning a thru-hike? Sorting through a deluge of advice and wondering which to pay attention to? In the second of four columns, PCT veteran Barbara Egbert discusses: reasons to thru-hike a long trail, daily obsessions, finding water, and more tips from successful backpackers.
Planning a thru-hike? Sorting through a deluge of advice and wondering which to pay attention to? Successful backpackers can tell you what really matters. In the first of four columns, PCT veteran Barbara Egbert talks to other thru-hikers about gear decisions, training, and preparation.
Whether you hit the trail for a day or a week, entering the land of grizzlies and black bears comes with great responsibility. Assure a safe trip by taking proper precautions, respecting bears’ space, and having a firm grip on how to handle yourself.
Dew, rain, or a sudden downpour—water potentially can find its way into any shelter through your tent’s seams or an accidental hole or tear. Luckily, the seam-sealing process is straightforward and fairly simple.
Whether you are trail running, hiking, fastpacking, or backpacking, you need to fuel yourself properly before, during, and after your time out on the trails. Eating the right foods at the right times will keep you on your feet, gears cranking, and all four cylinders roaring.
Whether you’re hiking, backpacking, trail running, or fastpacking, it’s important to monitor your fluid levels. Poor hydration — before, during, or after your outdoor activities — can cause dehydration and ruin a day on the trail.
For parents who have taken their child along on backpacking trips from an early age, the teen years are the reward: a youngster who can keep up with Mom and Dad (and is probably faster), share camp chores, help choose routes and campsites, and handle an emergency. The teen years are also a good time to introduce someone to backpacking.
Backpacking with a grade-school-age child can be a magical experience. But keeping that child safe and happy calls for a little forethought on the part of parents, friends, and Scout and youth leaders. Whether it’s a weekend overnight or a thru-hike, keep three concepts in mind: packing, playing, preparing.
Trail running is easily accessible for any outdoor enthusiast, whether or not you’re already a runner, and it offers a variety of scenery, terrain, and challenges. Equipped with some simple advice, a little gear, and a passion for the outdoors, you’ll soon be ready to hit the trails.
How many miles should you backpack with a toddler or preschooler? As many miles as your child wants to walk. And that’s probably a lot farther than most parents would think.
Taking a baby along on wilderness excursions can be both safe and enjoyable. Parents will need to make adjustments, but the result is a child who is comfortable in the outdoors, strong, and self-confident. And a family that can engage in its favorite activity together.
Whether you choose to treat your water by boiling, filtering, chemical treatment, or UV radiation depends on a number of factors, like convenience, cost, and what might be in your water.
Biological, chemical, and aesthetic contaminants can be found in any water source, even in the backcountry, potentially ruining a trip. And you can’t tell just by looking.
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