Striving for a <10-Pound Base Weight: It's Not For Everyone
Hugh adds up what it would take to go ultralight, and decides it’s probably not for him.
Pandemic Complicates Trail Work, but Trail Organizations Adjust
Trash—and even human waste—piled up along hiking trails last summer as a rush of people sought refuge in the outdoors during the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic. Here’s how the trail organizations are adjusting.
National Parks Require Hikers to Wear Masks When Social Distancing Isn’t Possible
Hikers on national park trails who cannot maintain a safe distance from others will be required to wear masks under new guidance from the National Park Service.
Natchaug / Nipmuck Trails
The 32-mile hike on the Natchaug / Nipmuck Trails in Connecticut meanders through woods still bearing stone walls and cellar holes from colonial days. The hike can be completed in 2-4 days.
Potential Protections and Reversals of Size Cuts for Grand Staircase and Bears Ears National Monuments
Reductions in size to the Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears National Monuments in southern Utah will be reviewed by the Biden administration amid a flurry of orders addressing the environment. In his first day in office on Jan. 20, President Joe Biden also moved to rejoin the Paris Agreement on Read more…
The Appalachian Trail Can Provide a Refuge from Climate Change
The Appalachian Trail increasingly is being seen as a buffer from climate change along its more than 2,000-mile northbound path from Georgia to Maine. Healthy forests are key to removing carbon dioxide from the air, and that the Central Appalachian Mountains are a critical carbon-removal landscape.
Hugh’s 40-Year Journey to Lightweight Backpacking
BPR editor Hugh Owen started backpacking in the 1970s with a massive external-frame pack, heavy boots, and an 8-pound tent. Here’s his gear transformation over the past 40 years.
PCT Thru-Hike Applications Will Open Jan. 19, Scout and Frodo will not Host
Applications for 2021 long-distance hiking permits for the Pacific Crest Trail will begin this year starting at 10:30 a.m. PT on Jan. 19.
How To Choose Hiking Shoes + Our Top Picks
Our top recommendations for hiking shoes, plus tips on how to buy them, details on what exactly a zero-drop shoe is, and the benefits of different styles.
The Presidential Traverse
The New Hampshire Presidential Traverse is a 23-mile hike across the New Hampshire’s most amazing, open terrain. It can be completed in 2-4 days.