July 11th, 2019 Distance: 12 miles Start: Island Pass, mile 41 Camp: Trinity Lakes, mile 53 “Too tired to write, so it’s actually day 4 but I’ll recap day 3 here.” That’s how today’s journal entry begins. On day 3 we made it 12 miles, which felt like a hell of an accomplishment considering the …
So you know for sure you want to go backpacking. Maybe you were inspired by a friend, a movie, or a breathtaking Instagram post. But no matter what, you’ve decided to go, and that’s awesome. But where do you go? You might have already figured out what gear you need to bring, but choosing a …
How to Choose the Right Trail For Your First Backpacking Trip Read More »
For most of us, we’re entering the longest part of winter. The holidays are over, it’s freezing outside, and the mountains we love to hang out in are covered in snow. But being stuck inside doesn’t have to be all bad, and I’ve been using it as an excuse to read some books that have …
The Top 19 Outdoor Adventure Books To Get You Through Winter Read More »
On my first backpacking trip, I had no idea what I was doing. A friend and I had one real backpack between us (the other was an overstuffed daypack), a kitchen saucepan (paired with a tiny borrowed backpacking stove), some giant sleeping bags, and many redundant emergency items, among other (useless) things. I didn’t do …
Beginner’s Backpacking Gear List: What To Bring On Your First Backpacking Trip Read More »
Trekking Pole Tents Explained And The Top 6 For 2020 For people who want ultralight, functional shelters, trekking pole tents very popular right now. That makes a lot of sense, because one key to hiking light is making sure your gear is multi-use. If you’re bringing trekking poles anyway, why not use them as the …
Beginner Backpacking: The Basics Thinking of going backpacking? If so, you’re in the right place. Backpacking is rewarding like very few other things. You, under your own power and with your life on your back, can go explore some of the most amazing landscapes the world has to offer. No trip is exactly like another, …
Wilderness Backpacking For Beginners: The Basics Read More »
July 10th, 2019 Distance: 9 miles Start: Lyell Fork, mile 33 Camp: Island Pass We knew we had a good climb ahead of us today, but we had NO idea what we were in for. Everything we’d read about conditions before the trip said heavy snow. When we first got the start date of July …
HMG 3400 southwest review Ah, the beloved Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400 Southwest. Fed up with my old pack, (an old REI Flash) I bought this baby for the JMT in 2019 (at REI, ironically enough) and haven’t looked back. It’s one of my favorite gear purchases to date. One of a large series (including the …
Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400 Southwest Backpack Review Read More »
The 5 Best Wool Socks For Hiking And Running When it comes to hiking (or really any activity for that matter) we all know choosing the right socks is important. The right socks need to be comfortable, reduce blisters, and wick away sweat, and these days merino wool is the way to go. Wool used …
The 5 Best Merino Wool Socks For Hiking And Running (Updated For 2021) Read More »
July 9, 2019 Distance: 9 miles Start: Tuolomne Meadows Camp: Lyell Fork, Mile 33 We woke up at the Yosemite Valley Backpackers Campground this morning late and in no rush. Starting from Lyell Canyon trailhead, we knew we only had to make 8 or 9 miles that day to get close to the approach of …
