Backpacking Skills
-
Winter Survival Fire Lighting Skills – Why Don’t We Teach Them?
The latest issue of the Appalachia Journal arrived last night and I immediately turned to the Accidents Section to read…
Read More » -
The Extra Things Trip Leaders Carry
I’m really getting into learning how to be a good hiking and backpacking leader. It’s a very different perspective than…
Read More » -
How to Use a Sewing Awl to Repair Outdoor Gear
I wear a pair of Outdoor Research Crocodile Gaiters in winter to keep snow out of my mountaineering boots and…
Read More » -
What is a Ray Way Tarp?
If you’re starting to think about camping under a tarp, you will probably come across references to something called a…
Read More » -
Winter Backpacking Food
One of the best things about winter backpacking and mountaineering trips is the food. You can eat just about anything…
Read More » -
Gear Aid Outdoor Sewing Kit Review
Gear Aid’s Outdoor Sewing Kit is a great hiking and backpacking sewing kit if you already know how to sew.…
Read More » -
What are Good Backpacking Breakfasts?
You’d think there was a simple answer to this, but it really depends. What you eat for breakfast depends on…
Read More » -
Time for Blaze Orange. It’s Deere Hunting Season
You can probably guess what I’m going to say. It’s DEERE season again and you should wear blaze orange if you…
Read More » -
Do You Have a Hiking Uniform?
I wear the same clothes on every three-season hike I take. Well, not exactly the same identical clothes, but I…
Read More » -
Stealth Camping and Pre-existing Campsites
Stealth Camping has become a fashionable term in backpacking circles, but I’m convinced that most people don’t know what it…
Read More » -
Hiking into the Past with Historic Maps
When I plan hikes in the White Mountains, especially off-trail hikes, I try to research the history of the area…
Read More » -
Navigating with an Altimeter
If you’re a hiker or a backpacker, an altimeter can be a powerful navigation aid when used in conjunction with…
Read More » -
Multi-Function Backpacking Gear for Wilderness First-Aid
I took a refresher course on Wilderness First Aid last weekend and we had a brainstorming session in class about…
Read More » -
Campsite Regulations: The 200 Foot Rule
I recently met a pair of new backpackers, Bill and Elena, and they asked me my opinion about the 200…
Read More »
