Skunk Cabbage is one of the first plants to bloom in spring time along the east coast of the United States and certainly one of my favorites. I love how their bright green color contrasts with the brown leaves of the forest floor and still barren trees. Skunk Cabbage favors marshy wetland areas and forested stream [...]
Naturalist’s Notes: Catskills Tree Fungi
My interest in forest fungi started when I was hiking Vermont’s Long Trail in 2008 and I kept coming across these white fiddlehead looking plants called Indian Pipe or Ghost Flower. I took photos of them and the other new plants, trees, bugs, and animals I saw and started researching them after each of my [...]
Maine is for Mushrooms
I saw the coolest looking mushrooms on the Maine Appalachian Trail this year, but I’m having trouble identifying what kind they are. Care to give me a hand? Leave a comment if you know their names, or if you’d like to make a plausible name up! It’s Friday! Most Popular Searchesmaine mushroomsmushrooms in mainemushrooms of [...]
Root Fires and Leave No Trace Campfire Building
I came across this note last week when I was hiking south past Rainbow Lake on the Maine Appalachian Trail. It reads: What is a root fire? A root fire is a fire that burns underground along the root system of a tree. It’s a very dangerous form of fire because the fire can smoulder [...]
The Sound of Cicadas
When I was growing up, I used to listen to the sound of the cicadas in our back yard. It’s the sound that I associate with the hot days and evenings of summer. Yesterday morning, as I was hiking the last few miles of Maine’s 100 mile wilderness, I came to an open area in [...]
What is Krumholz?
Krumholz is a German word used to describe the stunted trees that grow on exposed mountain tops above treeline. They look like weathered bonsai trees but instead of a human gardener, the wind is their master. These trees grow together in impenetrably dense clusters usually below head height. They're broken and battered by storms and [...]
Don’t Feed the Grey Jays!
Grey Jays are smart birds. They live in the northern half of North America, ranging from Alaska, through Canada, and down into northern New England. I only see them at or close to mountain summits, where it's not uncommon for tame Grey Jays to land on people's heads or hands in search of a free [...]
Gear Discounts
Backcountry.com: The 4th of July Sale! Up to 40% Off. Ends July 5.
EMS: Summer Sale: 40% Off Cool Gear and Apparel at Eastern Mountain Sports
Campsaver: 10th Anniversary Sale. Some discounts up to 75% off! Click here to shop the sale.
OMCgear.com: 20% off full price items at OMCgear.com. Coupon Code: TAKE20![]()
Golite.com: 50% Off at Golite on Backpacks, Tents, and Sleeping Bags. All the Time
Moosejaw.com: 10% off regularly-priced merchandise at Moosejaw
CleverHiker.com: 10% Off Lightweight Backpacking Tutorial Videos with Coupon Code: SectionHiker
Search Section Hiker
Categories
- Appalachian Trail (63)
- Backpacking Food (47)
- Backpacks (64)
- Bushwhacking (14)
- Clothing (104)
- Community Content (64)
- Destinations (118)
- Editorials (163)
- For Beginners (103)
- Gear Lists (22)
- Guest Posts (67)
- Health & Hygiene (69)
- Hydration (28)
- Leave No Trace (16)
- Natural History (37)
- Navigation (24)
- Outdoor Instruction (32)
- Peakbagging (96)
- Product Reviews (383)
- Raffles and Polls (95)
- Scotland (42)
- Shelters (91)
- Shoes (44)
- Sleeping Bags/Pads (50)
- Stoves & Cooking (41)
- Technique (104)
- The Long Trail (1)
- Trail Maintenance (7)
- Trip Reports (169)
- Winter Hiking (137)





Recent Comments