Polenta Mush is an amazingly simple one-pot backpacking meal that can be combined with all kinds of different add-ins such as cheese, nuts, dried fruit, spices, dried vegetables, olive oil, butter, honey, maple syrup, or even canned fish to produce a wide …
Read More »Backpacking Skills
Slope Angle Shading in GaiaGPS and Caltopo
One of the hallmarks of good hiking and backpacking navigation is picking trails or routes that reduce the level of effort required to climb mountains or descend into valleys. The steepness or slope angle of a trail is usually the best indicator …
Read More »How to Print Paper Maps Directly from the Topo Maps+ Mobile GPS Navigation App
I’ve been evaluating a mobile navigation app for the past few months called Topo Maps+ (IOS only) that lets you print maps and routes to wireless printers without having to go through a computer or an internet portal to print them. Many people …
Read More »Nikwax Polar Proof: How to Waterproof Fleece Gloves
I like wearing fleece gloves for winter hiking because they’re inexpensive, they are warm and quite breathable. The problem is that snow tends to stick to them and they wet out when the warmth from my hands melts it. While I am …
Read More »What is the Rest Step?
There’s a hiking technique called the rest step that is used by winter hikers and mountain climbers to preserve their energy during a climb. It takes a little practice getting used to it, but after that, it’s a charm. It’s particularly …
Read More »10 Best Exercises to Become a BadAss Hiker
Badass hikers aren’t born, you have to train to become one. In addition to learning advanced hiking and backpacking skills, you need to train your butt and legs. Here are 10 functional exercises that work the big muscles and smaller stabilizers in …
Read More »Backpacking in a Hurricane
I backpacked the northermost section of Vermont’s Long Trail during Hurricane Ike in 2008. I didn’t realize that I was hiking through a hurricane at the time, since that kind of weather is the norm on the Long Trail not the exception. …
Read More »Backpacking Footwear Selection for Spring Conditions
What is the right footwear for spring hiking: winter hiking boots or trail runners? When can you switch between the two? There is a point where avoiding frostbite trumps lightweight footwear and wearing insulated boots still makes sense. Knowing when to choose …
Read More »GaiaGPS App Setup and Battery Management Tips
GaiaGPS is the smartphone navigation app that I teach students how to use, in addition to map and compass, in the Backcountry Navigation classes I teach. GaiaGPS works on iPhone and Android smartphones, which makes it easy to use in groups that use a …
Read More »How to Use the Gaia GPS Smartphone App in Offline Mode
I’m often asked whether Smartphone GPS Navigation Apps like Gaia GPS can work when they’re not connected to a cell phone network. Most Apple and Android Smartphones purchased in the past 3-4 years can operate in what’s called offline mode without access to …
Read More »How to Interpret Satellite Imagery for Backcountry Navigation using Hillmap.com
Satellite imagery is a powerful source of information for planning backcountry routes but it takes practice to interpret what you’re looking at, and whether it depicts features you can use to make your route easier or whether you should avoid them. The …
Read More »Freeze Dried vs. Dehydrated Backpacking Meals and Ingredients
Freeze-dried or dehydrated? That is the question. When making your own backpacking meals, is it nobler to buy freeze-dried ingredients or dehydrate them yourself in a food dehydrator? I think it really comes down to how you want to spend your time …
Read More »How to Plan an Off-Trail Hike with Caltopo
Off Trail Hiking exercises your mind and body differently than hiking on trails that others have defined and built for you. It can also force you to collaborate with others to interpret sparse or conflicting navigational information. This is a great way …
Read More »Hiking Navigation Gear List
I carry a variety of navigation tools and devices on my hikes and backpacking trips because I’ve never found once that’s perfectly reliable or easy to use in all situations. Every navigation tool and device has different strengths and weakness, as I describe below. …
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