Four Beginner-Friendly Thru-Hikes
New to thru-hiking? Looking for something with mild terrain and easy planning? Check out these four trails for a non-intimidating entry into the sport.
Why are New England Hikers List-O-Holics? Exploring the List Mentality of Northeast Hiking Culture
Why are people in New England so obsessed with hiking lists? Population density? New England personality? A combination? New Hampshire hiker (and list-a-holic) Rebecca Sperry breaks it down.
6 Epic High-Elevation Trails to Hike This Summer
These six epic, mountainous trails all have average elevations above 8,000 feet, and most need to be hiked between mid-July and early September.
HOKA ONE ONE Anacapa Mid GTX Review
The HOKA ONE ONE Anacapa mid- and low-cut trail shoes build on the company’s thickly cushioned, lightweight hikers for on and off trail. The mid-cut, which I tested, are a smart choice for someone who likes the above-ankle grip of a boot but wants the lightweight flexibility of a trail runner.
Interior Secretary Recommends Restoring Protections to Bears Ears, Grand Staircase-Escalante
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland has recommended to President Joseph Biden that he restore millions of acres to Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments in Utah, according to reports Monday in the Washington Post and the New York Times. Former President Donald Trump in 2017 slashed Bears Ears by nearly Read more
Biden Reviewing Trump Move to Allow Logging in Tongass National Forest
The Biden administration is moving toward restoring environmental protections for Alaska’s Tongass National Forest, one of the world’s largest temperate rain forests. Former President Donald Trump opened about 9 million acres of the nearly 17-million acre forest to logging and construction. It’s not clear how much of the 9 million Read more
Day-Hiking Gear List – Full Day
If you plan well, a day-hiking gear list for a full-day is hardly more than you need for a casual afternoon outing. If you have food, water, an extra layer, and reliable navigation, you’re going to be just fine.
Hand-Planted Forests Reclaiming Strip Mines in Appalachia
The environmental legacy of coal mining in Appalachia is not pretty. Strip mining sheared mountaintops, polluted waterways, and left scars on the land. An estimated 1.5 million acres of land in seven states—Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Tennessee—covered by the Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative (ARRI) remain barren. Read more
Backpacking Instagram Sucks. It’s Time to Talk About It.
We’re two decades in to the great social media experiment, and it should come as no surprise to anyone that things aren’t going particularly well. Backpacking Instagram is no different. Here’s why.
Save or Splurge? Maggie’s Top Swaps for Budget-Friendly Backpacking Apparel
Should you splurge or save on backpacking apparel? For many items, you can opt away from name brands for the same performance. These are our top swaps for saving money with your backpacking clothes this season.