Let me set the scene. You have decided to go for a hike in late Fall or early Spring. Sure it’s a little chilly out, but you’re a seasoned hiker, and you can handle it. The cold doesn’t get to you, but what you did not expect was your new pair of Solomons slipping and […]
I’m not sure how it started, or who’s to blame, but the hiking waist pack has come back in a huge way. And no, it’s not just the glorified $1,000 fanny packs in the pages of fashion magazines. More and more, waist packs, bum bags, hip packs – whatever you want to call them- are […]
Your outdoor shelter / backpacking tent is the most important purchase you can make before a trip, it is the difference between life and death.From my experience, nothing beats using a tent. It is a versatile shelter, making it easy to setup and easy to carry.Tents have saved me from hypothermia when caught in a […]
Hammocks are an awesome summer accessory that many of us never look at as an option for backpacking. I hadn’t even heard of them as backpacking shelters until the Trail Days celebration back in 2009 or so. That’s when I bought my first backpacking hammock!
It all started with leaky boots, clunky backpacks and tents not fit for your dog. It’s no wonder why few people ever went backpacking for fun prior to World War Two. Back then, trekking was done only out of necessity. Before the Main Hunting Shoe came along in 1912, hunters just put up with drenched […]
You gotta take care of your feet. There’s absolutely no chance of getting anywhere, on any type of hiking trail if your hooves are hurtin.’ And when it comes to hiking in the winter, it’s essential your feet are nice and snug in a decent pair of boots. But I’m betting you already know all […]
Updated July, 2019 by Chris Koehn Let’s be honest: no one needs any fancy gadgets or high-tech toys to explore the backcountry. You’ll survive fine without a cellphone, radio or UV water filter (iodine tablets work OK, they just make H2O taste like crap).
Updated in June, 2020 Whether you’re going on the trek of a lifetime, or just a morning jaunt around a neighborhood river valley, you’re likely going to want a decent camera with you to capture the natural splendor that you encounter while on the trail. Some of you may be looking to start a portfolio or […]
They were just 18, dead-broke and trying to look after a one-year-old baby on the road. No home. No cash. No real plans other than to escape the urban bustle they were used to. I interviewed this smiling couple about five years ago when I was still a newspaper reporter. My article was about rising poverty […]
Trail maps used to be created by just one company. Maybe even one guy. But in the age of 2.0, that’s all changed. The Net is loaded with free hiking maps that are pieced together by communities of like-minded trekkers. This makes it even easier to scope out sweet trekking spots that are off-the-beaten path. […]
