Philip Werner

Philip Werner quit his corporate job in 2010 to become a full-time hiker, guide, and outdoor writer. Since then he's hiked over nice thousand miles, become an adept fly fisherman, XC skier, and written over 3000 backpacking and hiking articles for SectionHiker.com.

Climbing Mt Field – Trip Report

Mt Field and Surounding Peaks

In addition to climbing Mt Cabot last weekend, I bagged a second Trailwrights 72 peak, another 4000 footer called Mt Field, in wintry conditions with about 6 inches of loose, unconsolidated snow. I hiked this one solo, starting from Crawford Depot at …

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Mt Cabot Trip Report

Route to Mt Cabot from the Berlin Fish Hatchery

I went for a long AMC hike over the weekend up to Mount Cabot (4,170 ft), which is the northernmost peak on the White Mountain 4,000 footer list. Situated in the Kilkenny Range, Cabot is about a 4 hour drive north from …

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Wintry Wildcat Traverse

Wildcat Ridge from Carter Notch

I hiked a tough traverse of the Wildcats over the weekend with a half dozen other hikers in wintery conditions. The Wildcats are a series of 4000 footers in the White Mountains that run parallel to Mt Washington on the other side …

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Terra Rosa Tyvek Wandering Tarp

Terra Rosa Tyvek Wandering Tarp

I’ve been having  lot of fun lately discovering affordable lightweight backpacking products that won’t break the bank. Here’s another fantastic find from Australian Terra Rosa Gear, called the Wandering Tarp (8.3 ounces in Tyvek), which is priced at $50 AUD ($52 USD) …

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Backpackinglight Northeast Meetup

Backpackinglight Northeast, Mt Alander

This past weekend,  I went on a two night backpacking trip with a bunch of other northeast hikers who are active on the Backpackinglight.com Forums.  Clint, Ryan, Seth, Ben, Steve, Bryce, Eric, Walter, Greg, myself and Peter (not shown) all met up …

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Zealand Falls Hut

Zealand Hut

The Zealand Falls Hut is one of the easiest Appalachian Mountain Club huts to walk into, making it very popular with families and young children, and in summer it’s an easy 2.8 mile walk from the upper Zealand Road parking lot. Built …

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Hiking South Twin Mountain in Autumn

Mt Garfield and the Franconia Valley

Nature Girl and I took a very long hike to South Twin Mountain (4,902 feet) on Saturday, one of my favorite Autumn viewpoints in the White Mountains. We had glorious hiking weather with 50 miles views from the summit. The leaves in …

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My Dad’s 90th Birthday

Gerhard Werner

My Father celebrated his 90th birthday this week. Pretty incredible, huh? Even more so because he’s still working, he remains very active, and is as inquisitive as ever. I hope I’m in as great shape, when I turn 90. Being 90, my …

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Western Catskills Traverse

Trout Pond, Western Catskills

I spent most of my formative years as a backpacker in the Catskills, a 700,000 acre forest preserve, located less than 100 miles north of New York City. It’s a beautiful place full of rivers, streams, valleys and mountains that maintains a …

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