Guest Author Essays

Were there ever a line of MSR stoves that needed no introduction, it might just be the MSR XGK EX Liquid Fuel Stove.  When Larry Penberthy introduced his Model 9 stove, the first in the XGK line, he revolutionized stoves and ushered in the modern mountaineering/backpacking stove era. Specs at …

Start with two of the most photographed 14ers in the world (Colorado slang for peaks over 14,000 feet).  Then wrap a 28-mile, picturesque route around them.  Add enough elevation change (16,000 feet of combined up and down) to deter the masses that are anchored near the trailhead by the beauties …

No doubt many hikers and backpackers who take up backcountry skiing or snowboarding initially make do with packs already on hand. In my case, those were a 30-liter Gregory daypack and a 65-liter Osprey backpack. But size matters, and the Gregory was too small and the Osprey too big. Plus, …

MSR has just come out with a new group version of their WindBurner canister gas stove system. Whereas previous versions have been “upright” type stoves (where the burner mounts on top of the canister), this is a “remote” type stove (where the canister is off to the side, connected by …

The Kovea Hydra is a dual fuel backpacking stove (canister gas or white gasoline) from Kovea Co., Ltd. of Korea. Kovea refers to the Hydra as a “multifuel” stove; however, the Hydra only works on two fuels, so I’m going to refer to it as a dual fuel stove. In …

This is a follow up review to my original review of the Kovea EZ Eco, which I published last year on SectionHiker.com (click for previous review).  In that review, I found many things that I liked about the stove but ultimately could not recommend it because it appeared to be having …

Located in the North Atlantic about halfway between Norway and Iceland, the Faroe Islands are like towering abraded emeralds jutting out of the sea. It may seem unexpected to compare a travel destination to a precious gem, but for the Faroe Islands it is fitting.

The Terrifying 25 is a popular list of difficult White Mountains Hiking Trails compiled by Trish Herr, the author of Up! A Mother and Daughter’s Peakbagging Adventure, for her young daughters Alex and Sage. They enjoy hiking through boulder caves, rocky scrambles, and traversing avalanche slides, which are well represented by …

I started telling people about my plans to walk four hundred-plus miles alone through the Alps—from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean—the way you tell people you’re going to drop out of school to join the circus or that you know it sounds crazy, but you might have been abducted by …

Single. Double. Triple. Bridge. Gathered end. Spreader bar. With all the different styles and designs of hammocks available, choosing the right one can be confusing, particularly if you’re intending that hammock for a specific purpose, such as a thru hike on the AT. I’ve tested and seen just about every …

Mountain guiding is a service industry, and a mountain guide is really no different from your taxi driver, your waitress, your hairstylist, or any other person or company catering to your wants and needs in the provision of a particular service. In the case of the mountain guide, their service …

For most hikers, the Pacific Crest Trail begins in a blazing desert without encountering a sure water source for just over twenty miles. The trend continues – for the first 700 miles there is little shade, temperatures often reach over 100 degrees and water is infrequent or several miles off …

The Grand Canyon is one of the greatest places to hike in all of the world. One of the classic treks in this unforgettable landscape is a hike from the North Rim of the canyon descending to the Colorado and hiking out on the South Side, a Rim to Rim …

How should hikers, experienced or otherwise, think about Nature? My own thoughts have evolved in ways that I never expected. Back when I was a teenager I fell under the spell of a seductress named Wilderness. Her allure was originally defined for me by Howard Zahniser. “A wilderness,” he wrote …