Gear for a Local Overnight Backpacking Trip
Whenever I have two days off in a row, I try to squeeze in a quick backcountry trip. Here’s the gear I take for these trips.
Wildfires are Worse Than Ever. Here’s What That Means for the Backcountry We Love
Wildfires fueled by years of drought are upending lives in the West. The National Interagency Fire Center reports 79 large fires have consumed 1.5 million acres across 12 states. Here’s what that looks like for backpackers.
Fire Danger Closes Public Lands East of the Cascades in Washington
Extreme fire danger and drought have prompted the Washington State Department of Natural Resources to temporarily close all recreational and public access to DNR-managed lands east of the Cascade Mountains beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 23. The temporary closure will apply to DNR-managed state lands, conservation areas, community Read more…
Where Did Your Gear Come From? Triaging Ethical Consumerism in the Outdoor Community
Should consumers take more responsibility in the ethics of our purchases? After discovering the unethical origins of a piece of his gear, Jacob examines this idea in triage scenarios for ethical consumerism
Want to Volunteer for Trail Maintenance? Here’s How to Get Started
The beautiful thing about adopting a trail is you discover how much work goes into maintaining the trail systems across the United States. Here’s how to get started, and what it entails
We Deserved to Have Max Patch Taken Away
If restricted access is what it takes to save Max Patch, so be it. The fact they made the call shows the extent of the area’s mistreatment
Maggie’s Colorado Trail Gear List
This is the gear and apparel BPR co-founder Maggie will be taking on her 485-mile thru-hike of the Colorado Trail.
Effective Immediately, All Camping is Prohibited on Max Patch
Max Patch, a popular Appalachian Trail camping spot, has been closed to all camping and overnight activity. The restrictions, effective immediately, were announced Thursday, July 1, by Pisgah National Forest. A press release said the move was made to reduce impacts to natural resources and protect public health and safety Read more…
Mountain West / High-Elevation Backpacking Gear List
The high-elevation mountain routes have epic views, rugged passes, and unpredictable weather. Here are our gear recommendations for mountainous backpacking trips.
It’s Not Your Imagination. There’s a Shortage of Outdoor Gear
As outdoor recreation soared in the pandemic summer of 2020, increased demand for gear coupled with Covid-related supply problems caused shortages of everything from bicycles to tents. And it doesn’t appear to be getting better this year as Americans continue to head for the outdoors in record numbers and supply problems persist.