In just a few days we will usher in a new year by peeking through the gaps in our fingers after taking a home Covid test, drinking Andre champagne from the bottle, and watching the ball drop at a socially distanced Times Square while scrolling Twitter looking for the funniest CDC jokes and trying to summon a modicum of serotonin to cheer your friends on Zoom at midnight before falling asleep on the couch.
Anyway, happy New Year!
This year (give or take a few months) we published dozens of trail profiles, news updates, essays, advice, and trail roundups, and these were yours (and sometimes our) favorites. These are the most popular posts of the past year, plus a few others we are especially proud of.
Thanks for hanging out with us, and we hope you’re spending your at-home (?) New Year’s Eve planning some badass backpacking trips for 2022.
1) Backpacking Instagram Sucks and It’s Time to Talk About It
Andrew Marshall
“Influencers and brand ambassadors tend to repeat dubious brand and product claims verbatim, lending a veneer of respectability to an industry already rife with overblown performance claims. Legally these accounts are required to disclose their relationships with brands and indicate when content is sponsored, but it doesn’t always happen and can be hard to notice when it does (and sometimes the relationships are unofficial, which is even ickier). As a final nail in the coffin, influencers often don’t have anything interesting to say.”
2) Emigrant Wilderness Loop
Katie Kommer
“This is a convenient California loop that can be hiked in just a few days and has free self-serve permits. I cannot recommend this trip enough for beginner backpackers. It’s the perfect amount of physical challenge mixed with stunning California beauty. After I camped next to one of these lakes back in 2015, I was completely hooked. I returned to do this loop again in 2020, and it felt just as special even after hundreds of backpacking miles under my belt.”
3) Thru-Hiking and my Unrealistic Body Image Expectations
Maggie Slepian
“A secret part of me saw the trail as a type of fitness boot camp: 23 days of really hard work to achieve the fitness and physique that would have taken six months of healthy eating and exercise in the real world. Therein lies the crux of post-thru-hike body image, at least for me. Most people will be at their most fit coming off a thru-hike. When else are you going to be dedicated the majority of your waking hours to hiking up and over mountains, carrying a fully loaded pack? The only instance when this makes sense is a long-distance backpacking trip or thru-hike, and at some point, those come to an end.”
4) Sawtooth Wilderness Loop
Jeff Garmire
Much like the Emigrant Wilderness Loop, the Sawtooth Wilderness Loop ranks high on the list every month, regardless of season. This is a 70-mile, remote trail in Idaho with easy camping and water access, but a decent amount of elevation gain. It can be hiked in 4-6 days.
5) The Story Behind Sambob Fleece’s Rocketing Success
Hugh Owen
“At a time when many feel isolated because of the pandemic, Sam has found comfort in meeting new people online. Customers ask him for a pullover with a hood, or thumbholes, or additional pockets, and tell him the colors and patterns they want. It’s a back and forth between Sam and customer as he sends them photos as the work progresses, they make suggestions, and the pullover comes together. Sam says he has a lot of orders from LGBTQ+ customers, and wants people to know that everyone is welcome, from those seeking a plus size to others looking for clothing to fit their personality.”
6) The Presidential Traverse
Hugh Owen
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, and is popular with the peakbagging fans of the New England hiking community. This is primarily a summer trail, and is an epic bucket-list hike no matter where you live.
7) Top Swaps for Budget-Friendly Backpacking Apparel
Maggie Slepian
“While I test plenty of apparel and gear, I never have an obligation to promote them, which allows me to stay neutral in my recommendations. Sometimes I recommend the splurge, but oftentimes I’ve found you’re better off saving money by shopping for the budget option. With that in mind, I’ve compiled an honest list of some apparel I’ve been testing this season, along with comparable items that cost a whole lot less, allowing you to save money with the same performance.”
8) Four Beginner-Friendly Thru-Hikes
Andrew Marshall
“We talk about ‘beginner routes’ a lot at Backpacking Routes because one of our goals is to make the sport of backpacking more accessible to beginners. The definition changes depending on who you talk to, but I’ve rounded up four trails that I believe make ideal entry points into the world of backpacking. I thought about average elevation (low), length (short, comparatively), and wilderness factor (if things go wrong, how screwed are you?). These are four of the most beginner-friendly routes on the site.”
9) US-Made and Cottage-Industry Backpacking Gear
BPR Team
The hiking world is filled with stories of people who wanted to take their gear to the next level, and who drew on their outdoor experiences to design gear that’s lightweight yet durable. Most of them began by making gear at home. Some still do, while others have moved on to larger spaces. With that in mind we’ve compiled a list of cottage gear makers that we think deserve your attention, and who make their gear in the United States. This list is continually being updated thanks to Hugh.
10) The Arizona Trail
Jeff Garmire
“The Arizona Trail is special thanks to the time of year it can be hiked, and the length. With the majority of people hiking the AZT in the shoulder seasons (spring and fall), it is a break from the most popular trails in the United States. 800 miles is the perfect challenge to immerse yourself in the thru-hiking lifestyle, but is also a manageable distance to maintain a career and off-trail obligations.”