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Unresting Event

See how backpacking and forest ranger work in the High Uinta Wilderness and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument influenced Ben Kilbourne’s record, Unresting Event.

Lessons from Moving Fast

Ben Kilbourne explores the experience of moving fast through a vast mountain landscape and what you can learn from the experience.

Alpacka Refuge Review

The Alpacka Raft Refuge Packraft weighs less than six pounds but includes a cargo fly and whitewater deck.

Alpacka Scout Review

The Alpacka Raft Scout packraft (2022 model) weighs less than four pounds. We review its durability and stability for both flatwater and Class 1 river running.

Backpacking is Pointless, and That’s the Point

Maybe not everything about ultralight backpacking has to be optimized.

Waymark Gear Lite 50L Backpack Review

The Waymark Gear Lite 50L backpack features a unique shoulder-strap attachment system and several fit-related features that might appeal to larger users.

Zpacks Free Duo Tent Review

In this Zpacks Free Duo Tent review, we dive into its pros (freestanding, Dyneema Composite Fabric) and its cons (low livability, poor storm performance).

Exploration, An Act of Imagining

The horizon is our reminder that the way things are now is not the way things have to be. Exploring, even just backpacking into the hills at the edge of town, expands the known and opens us up to the possibility of more.

Going Home

The transitions from the simple discomfort of the trail to the chaotic comfort of life at home happen by degrees. What can I learn from the trail that will allow me to experience home life in a new way?

What is a Backpacking Trip Failure?

Some things actually suck. We can still learn from them.

The Blue Lights of the San Rafael Swell

Sometimes we backpack to get a taste of the unknowable: blue lights and pictographs in the San Rafael Swell.

Durston X-Mid 2P Review

The Durston X-Mid 2P is a 2-person, double-wall, dual side-entry, silpoly shelter with two vestibules that weighs 40 oz (1134 g).

Finding Meaning on the Green River

Ben Kilbourne hikes and packrafts along the Green River in Wyoming.

It’s Time to Talk About Campfires

Why do so many of us still feel compelled to have fires?

YAR.gear Mountain Drifter 38L Review

The YAR.gear Mountain Drifter 38L (~18 oz / 510 g, MSRP $200) is a light and modular fastpacking pack that can accommodate heavier loads for short distances if need be.

The Overlook: Observing Transition Season

Ben Kilbourne uses the writing of Aldo Leopold to examine his interaction with nature.

The Overlook: Good Gear Lets You Be Present

What's the perfect pack? One that stays off your mind.

Take This Poem on Your Next Trip

The words you carry with you are just as important as your gear.

Gryphon Gear Aries 20 Quilt Review

The Gryphon Gear Aries 20 Quilt (25.7 oz / 729 g, MSRP from $327) is a three-season quilt with a differential cut, draft collar, an edge tensioning system, and 17.5 oz (496 g) of down fill.

The Overlook: Giving Back to Bear’s Ears

Ben Kilbourne reflects on his first journey in the Bear's Ears National Monument, and wonders how to give back to such special places.

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