Backpacking

Making a list and checking it twice, gonna find out… if I’ve forgotten anything for this hike. Even a simple day hike can become a mini-epic if the weather turns bad and you’ve forgotten a raincoat, or someone falls in...

A good topographic map can save your life – or at the very least your outdoor adventure – providing you can interpret what it has to say. Here are six things you should know about topographic maps:DateWhen you first open a topographic...

I know it’s a sin, but I love carbs. The thought of going a day without bread is a sad one for me. Finding the right bread to take backpacking can be a bit of a challenge – but...

He was wrapping up a backcountry patrol weekend, coming down the last leg of the trail when a bear cub came racing around the corner. He scrambled for the bear spray before momma joined her offspring – and then...

Hot Chihuahua! Big Bend National Park’s desert landscape came through with heat, spectacular hiking, and endless vistas.We stopped at the Panther Junction Visitor Centre for a little information and asked about hikes. The ranger suggested short, but scenic walks...

Out with the oats – there are other easy staples on the horizon that can help make your mornings out on the trail a little less predictable.A new look at breaking the fast. (Photo: M.Kopp)Try a little riceThat’s right,...

With the price of fuel skyrocketing, it’s nice to know that we can always depend on our feet to keep adventure travel alive! Slap a pack on your back and you’re ready to explore the unknown.  And the good...

“What is a fleece?”  The question caught me off-guard for a moment.  We’d been discussing what clothes to pack for an afternoon scramble up to a mountain pass.  My daughter’s friend wasn’t familiar with the term we used to...

Brooks Range offers several high quality and lightweight tents, however some mountaineers still prefer the Ultralite Guide+ Tarp. Why is this so? The Ultralite Guide+ Tarp has many advantages for backpackers and mountaineers. First, at less than a pound, it...

Partnerships. They are a hallmark of the backcountry. For all of us who’ve found good companions for the mountains, the rewards are hard to nail down in words. Instead of complicated explanations why this is so, sometimes the easiest...