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Thinking Behind the Gate

Now when I'm reading on an NPS or USFS website and see "gate closed until..." I don't see a barrier - I see an opportunity for solitude.

Unpacked: The Backpacking Tithe Project

Is backpacking your hobby or your habit? Examining the subtle difference can provide profound insights into how to spend your time.

Unpacked: Reservations Required

From first-come, first-served to limited lotteries and everywhere in between, permits are increasingly becoming a fact of life for backcountry adventures

Springtime Solitude in Southern Utah

BPL author Mark Wetherington rambles through Capitol Reef National Park.

Unpacked: Rewards of Repetition

Greek philosophy says you can't step in the same river twice, but what about backpacking the same trail?

Gear List: Tenkara Fly Fishing in the Northern Rockies

Mark Wetherington's tenkara gear list serves as a great entry point to backcountry fly fishing for newcomers.

How To Ask Someone to Pull Your Car Out of the Snow

Sometimes the best skill is humbly asking for help. Here's a story about my experience getting unstuck when driving snowy backcountry roads.

Unpacked: “Billionaire Wilderness” Book Review

When money and conservation collide.

Unpacked: When Gear Owns You

A recent multi-sport adventure got BPL columnist Mark Wetherington thinking about gear and our relationship to it.

REI Co-op Flash Air 2 Tent Review

The REI Co-op Flash Air 2 Tent is a two-person hybrid single/double-wall shelter with dual entrances and vestibules. It is non-freestanding and can be pitched with two trekking poles to save weight or by using the included pole set.

Unpacked: “Free Outside” by Jeff Garmire Book Review

BPL columnist Mark Wetherington reviews the book “Free Outside” by fellow BPL member and author - and Colorado Trail FKT holder - Jeff Garmire.

Arc’teryx Norvan VT 2 Shoe Review

The Arc’teryx Norvan VT 2 shoe provides above-average foot protection and traction performance when hiking or running on rocky, uneven ground, but suffers from abysmal durability.

Book Review: “The Cold Vanish: Seeking the Missing in North America’s Wildlands”

Backpacking Light columnist Mark Wetherington is no stranger to risk assessment. But this non-fiction account of search-and-rescue operations in North America gave him chills.

Nemo Airpin Stake Review

NEMO Airpins are ultralight aluminum tent stakes designed with notches that function as a three-point locking system.

Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo Review

This Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo Review features a 26 oz, one-person, single-wall, three-season, trekking pole supported shelter.

REI Magma 30 Sleeping Bag Review

In this REI Magma 30 Sleeping Bag review, Mark Wetherington analyzes its cut, yoke, insulation and quality of construction.

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