I’ve owned a MSR Simmerlite Liquid Gas Stove for 4 years. I’ve used it every winter since then for one and only one purpose: melting snow for drinking water and boiling it to store in insulated containers or rehydrate winter backpacking meals. …

My girlfriend and I went on a short vacation last week up to the White Mountains in New Hampshire. We timed this trip during the week and after peak leaf-peeping season in order to get reduced lodging at some nice places in …

Describe a piece of hiking gear or hiking clothing that you damaged, destroyed or wore out this year, including what it was, the circumstances leading to its demise, whether you plan to repair or replace it, and if the latter with what. …

I do a lot of volunteer work for non-profit outdoor organizations including the Appalachian Mountain Club and the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, on the average of  of 10-15 hours a week. This includes leading hiking and backpacking trips, writing …

Last weekend, I co-led a bushwhack to Northwest Hancock (4020) with a small group of experienced hikers from the Appalachian Mountain Club. This was my second attempt to summit this rarely climbed peak, the first of which was ended prematurely by cold-induced …

I got turned onto the Marmot DriClime Catalyst Jacket  when I was winter backpacking in the White Mountains. Several very experienced hikers on our trip had the DriClime Catalyst and they raved about it. Whenever you carry a backpack in winter, sweat …

Last weekend I bushwhacked to Bald Cap, a 3,000 footer located to the north of the Mahoosuc Trail (Appalachian Trail) in New Hampshire’s North Country. I co-led this trip as part of the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Map and Compass Navigation Workshop. We …

Autumn has arrived in the White Mountains and with it a flurry of hiking before  the need to gear up for snow, ice, and winter hiking. Bagging the higher or more remote peaks becomes far more difficult in the winter months due …

I am a volunteer trail maintainer for the US Forest Service in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, one of many other hikers who work to keep our local trails open despite a lack of federal funding to maintain our trail system. But volunteer …

I spent last weekend co-leading the Appalachian Mountain Club’s (Boston Chapter) Compass and Navigation Course at Harvard Cabin which was taught by our Jedi Master Joe Comuzzi. Joe is a very well known hiker and bushwhacker in the White Mountains who has …

“The most important thing about a Gearhead is passion”, says Nathan Ellsworth, Customer Solution Supervisor at Backcountry.com. “Not just passion about gear, but passion for the outdoors and the sports they enjoy.” That’s what Nathan looks for when he interviews people applying for Gearhead …

The Therm-a-Rest Haven is a special type of sleeping bag that doesn’t have any back insulation. Called a Top Bag, all of the insulation in the Haven is located on top of your body and along the sides, because insulation and fabric you lie …

The Gossamer Gear Bearister food hanging system is built around a 11oo cubic inch (18.25 liter) 30 denier silnylon daypack called the BigBag, which is used to hang your food. It’s a clever dual use idea, especially if you like to hike into …

Just as the sun hides the other stars in the sky, the White Mountains of New Hampshire often blind visitors to the fine scenery further north in the great, wild Coos county. I fall into this trap all too often– Franconia, Pinkham, …