Buffalo Mountain is one of those beautiful oddities. Right in the middle of 3 cities, stands this tall gorgeous mountain of forest and wildlife. Surrounding it, lies buildings, shopping malls, restaurants, and industry. However, on the mountain this all melts away. Within minutes of shopping you can have hiking, creeks, wildlife, and solitude. It’s a … More Buffalo Mountain, Johnson City, Tennessee.
An improperly packed backpack can not only be uncomfortable, but it can cause muscle strain, injury, headaches and trip stifling pain. A pack that’s off balance or fits loosely can result in loss of momentum, which tires you out sooner, or may even result in a fall. A fall with a heavy pack on can be … More How to pack your backpack
No zippers, more organization, easy access. These are the cornerstones of the Kelty PK50’s design philosophy. The PK50 ditches zippers in favor of roll top enclosures and Velcro scattered throughout the pack. The backpack has individual compartment for the sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and your tent, being it’s part of the Kelty Trail Logic System. … More Kelty PK50 Backpack Review
The Kelty TN2 tent is Kelty’s answer to the star gazers prayers. The tent has a roll back fly, and full body see through mesh walls for 360 degree unobstructed views. The main draw here is obviously the roll back, stargazing top. Sure, it gives you great views of nature, but does it protect you from … More Kelty TN2 Tent Review
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.
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
It’s a never ending struggle, the silent battle between your tent and those tiny, brutally resiliant water droplets that accumulate inside your unsuspecting fortress as you sleep. It’s condensation. Understanding Condensation: What is condensation and what causes it? Condensation is simply the accumulation of moisture inside of your tent. What causes it? When you are … More Battling Tent Condensation
Fall is coming! The leaves are changing, and the temperatures are dropping. I’m always amazed at how unprepared newcomers are when the accompany me on a hike, especially in cold or cool weather. Always plan for the worst, because that’s the only time you’ll need anything. I’ve comprised a list of the basics that I … More Cool Weather Dayhike Pack List
**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)
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.
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