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.

How to Read the Forested Landscape

I just finished reading an incredible book called Reading the Forested Landscape: A Natural History of New England, authored by Tom Wessels, an ecologist and environmental biologist who teaches at the Antioch New England Graduate School in New Hampshire. This book teaches …

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GoLite Waterproof Reed Pants

Golite’s Reed Pants are one of the lightest waterproof pants available today. At 6.4 oz for a men’s large, they are significantly lighter than both the old and new versions of Marmot Precips that weigh in at 9 oz. or more depending …

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Bear Valley Mealpack Bars

A friend of mine recently sent some Bear Valley food bars for me to try out. They come in 4 flavors: Carab-Cocoa Pemmican, Sesame Lemon, Fruit Nut, and Coconut Almond and pack a walloping 400+ calories each, with a caloric density of …

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Best Camouflage for Stealth Camping

People often ask me what kind of shelter is best for stealth camping. The answer varies depending on the type of stealth camping you want to do. If you’re out backpacking and decide to stay at a site where camping is uncommon …

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Long Trail Gear List: Section Six

Here’s the gear list for my last major section hike of The Long Trail, a 4-day, 50 mile backpack from Johnson, VT to the Canadian Border. This gear list weighs a bit more than those from my late spring and summer hikes …

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Indian Pipe, the Ghost Flower

Indian Pipe

  Indian Pipe, also known as Ghost Flower and Monotropa Uniflora, is a unique and interesting plant found in shady woods that are rich in decaying plant matter. I’ve seen it in many places along the Long Trail, and it’s a real …

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