Pop-Tarts on the Middle Path
Backpacking Routes co-founder Andrew Marshall finally realized that man could not live on Pop-Tarts alone.
What is Leave No Trace, and Why is it Important?
A refresher on the Leave No Trace principles, why they’re important, and suggestions on how to remind people to be better wilderness stewards
Backcountry Rescue Teams Put Their Lives on Hold When Accidents Happen
Search and rescue teams are the backbone of outdoor adventures across the US, taking injured hikers or skiers off mountains, searching for people lost in the mountains, recovering avalanche victims. The job is never-ending. SAR team members are on call all day, all week. They have jobs. They train continually Read more…
5 Pieces of Gear Maggie Started Using Over the Past Year and Really Liked
My gear switches a lot, but I do have a core setup that I typically don’t change. This year though, I discovered a new tent, sleeping pad, and favorite inexpensive, noise-cancelling earbuds that kick my AirPods’ butt.
Gear Review: Six Moon Designs Rain Walker SUL Umbrella
The new Six Moon Designs Rain Walker SUL raises the bar for ultralight umbrellas, using a carbon fiber shaft and ribs to weigh in at a scant 5.5 ounces. The broad canopy protects your upper body from sun and rain, making the Rain Walker crucial equipment on long desert slogs or days of hiking in the rain.
The Most Popular Backcountry GPS Units
A simple overview of three of the most popular GPS satellite communicators for backpacking, including Garmin, SPOT, and Somewear.
Emily Ford’s Record-Setting Thru-Hike Becomes a Journey of Inspiration
When Emily Ford set out to thru-hike Wisconsin’s Ice Age Trail in December she thought it would be a good way to find her place in the racial justice movement by connecting people of color to backpacking.
Central Cascades Permits Needed for 2021; Applications Open April 6
The Deschutes and Willamette National Forests in Oregon will require permits for hiking this year from May 28 to Sept. 24, with an exception for Pacific Crest Trail thru-hikers who have a long-distance permit. Day-use permits will be required for 19 of 79 trails in the Mount Jefferson, Mount Washington, Read more…
A New Civilian Climate Corps Envisioned to Conserve Public Lands, Tackle Climate Change
The Biden administration has planted the seeds of a Civilian Climate Corps that would hire workers for projects aimed at conserving and restoring public lands while addressing climate change. Here’s the update
US House Moves to Expand Wilderness, Rivers Protection
More than 2 million acres of public lands and 1,000 miles of rivers in Arizona, Colorado, California, and Washington State would gain federal wilderness protection under a bill passed by the US House on Feb. 26. The Protecting America’s Wilderness and Public Lands Act passed 220-200 in the House, and now goes to the Senate.