East Osceola from Mount Osceola Ledges

Mount Osceola and Middle Osceola Bushwhack

I popped up to New Hampshire for a quick hike last week, climbing two 4,000 footers, Mount Osceola and and bushwhacking to Middle Osceola. The first time I climbed on Mount Osceola, this was a few years back, I met a guy named JR, who is a well known bushwhacking hiker in the White Mountains. He [...]

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Taking a Break at Lake of the Clouds Hut, Mt Washington

Reader Poll: Have You Ever Been THAT Guy?

Have you even been the person who has bonked on a hike and made the entire group turnaround? I’ve been that guy a couple of times and it is a sobering experience. One the one hand, it can be a real relief both physically and mentally to raise your hand and say I can’t go [...]

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Stream on the Skookumchuck Trail, White Mountains

How Much Water Should You Carry When You Go Hiking?

Water is one of the heaviest things in your backpack at at 2 pounds per liter it can really weigh you down if you carry to0 much of it when you don’t need to. I used to do this all of the time, first as a day hiker and then later as a backpacker. As a [...]

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Planting Swiss Chard

The Farm School CSA

Last weekend, my wife and I drove out to The Farm School CSA in North Orange, Massachusetts to help them plant swiss chard. We’ve split a share of their organically grown vegetables with another couple for the past 5 years, but had never been to the farm itself or the farm school that is run [...]

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Backpacking in the Catskills

Hiking is Mental

Have you ever hiked higher or father than you thought possible? Been afraid, but overcome your fear? Forgotten some of your gear or food, but found a way to make do anyway? Been freaked out by a looming peak and turned back? Gotten off the trail earlier than planned because you felt mentally fatigued and [...]

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Carrying More Weight

Ultralight Backpacking Will Make You Soft

One of the downsides of carrying an ultralight or lightweight backpacking load (20 pounds or less) is that it makes you weak. If you’re not used to carrying a 40 or 50 pound load, including food, fuel and water, you’ll run out of gas quickly if the need arises to go heavier. I experienced this [...]

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