Perhaps you want true solitude, or maybe you don’t have any reliable hiking partners. Either way, solo hiking is a great thing, and it’s much more enjoyable than most people realize. I have a few locations that I like to hike out to when I get the chance. It clears my mind, invigorates the senses, … More Solo Hiking. Why, and how to.
Sometimes you don’t need a plethora of features. Sometimes you just need something light and comfortable to haul your gear around the mountain. This is the REI Flash 22. About the Backpack The Rei Flash 22 is a 22 liter backpack that’s designed to be minimalist in practically every aspect of it’s design. It’s comprised … More REI Flash 22 backpack Review
This past weekend, myself and a few of my friends set out on a 2 night camping trip to Stone Mountain, North Carolina. This park offers it all. Vistas, rock formations, stream crossings, cascades, waterfalls, wildlife, and much more. Instead of the heavy drumming of pack laden feet, I decided it was time for a … More Stone Mountain, Nc
No one ever plans to get lost in the woods. How hard can it be, just walk on the trail, don’t go off of it, and you’ll be fine. Not true. You’d be surprised how easy it is to get lost. You can take a wrong turn, miss a turn, or not realize there was … More What to do when you’re lost
**A newer 2014 version of this post is available here ** Everyone packs their bags differently, and everyone has different definitions of what’s needed and not needed on the trail. This is a detailed list of what I normally carry on an 2-3 day backpacking trip. REI Flash 62 Backpack Big Agnes Copper Spur … More What’s in my Backpack? (Summer Edition, 2012)
Today, we would assault the first “pass” of the Four pass loop. The goal was to summit West Maroon Pass, descend in the valley and rest up for tomorrows’ summit, Frigid Air Pass. Shortly after leaving camp, we were devoured in the most beautiful meadow I have ever seen. The valley opened up, with the … More Four Pass Loop, Maroon Bells Colorado (part 2)
I’ve always been a fan of Big Agnes tents; however, their gear tends to be quite expensive (and worth it). What happens when a company famous for making high end tents decides to put their hands in the the affordable realm? The Lost Spring Series tents happen, but do they hold that BA quality? About … More Big Agnes Lone Spring 3 Tent Review
It was a long, long drive, with seven people and seven backpacks piled into the chambers of a rented Dodge Caravan. 24 hours of road time, plus stops and rest breaks makes for a lot of time to think. It was the thoughts, the wonder, the curiosity, the fantasy of my boots on the dirt … More Four Pass Loop, Maroon Bells Colorado (part 1)
Grandfather mountain is only about an hour from where I live, which makes the fact that I have only visited the mountain once previously utterly absurd. To correct my act of trail blasphemy, I decided to host a hike to one of the famous peaks, Calloways Peak, on one of the less famous trails, the … More Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina, Daniel boone Scout trail.
I can’t cover this topic enough, and honestly, I’m almost ashamed that I haven’t covered it before. I adore the outdoors, the plants, the animals, the geology. It’s all amazing, and it’s all amazingly fragile. As outdoor enthusiast, we have a responsibility to help care for what we love. Humans have the incredible ability to … More Leave No Trace. What it means, and why it matters.
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