Archives (*)

The Accursed Mountains: Exploring the Borderlands of Albania and Montenegro

Peak Bagging in the High Sierra

Isaac Simons writes about the experiences, struggles, and transcendence of peak bagging in the Sierra Nevada.

Bikepacking: More Miles, More Smiles

Mark Wetherington tries his hand at ultralight bikepacking and hiking to remote places along the CDT in Montana.

Home Range: A Place that Keeps the Wild in Your Life

Drew Smith reflects on hiking in the places close to home as he explores a nearby mountain drainage during all seasons.

Seven Lakes Basin and the High Divide Loop

Daniel Hu backpacks the High Divide Loop, one of the most beautiful hikes in Washington State and Olympic National Park.

The Gift of Surprise in the Rawah Wilderness

James Montavon hikes in Colorado’s Rawah Wilderness, and discusses the differences between using different trip planning softwares.

Backcountry Skiing to a Fire Lookout

BPL author Mark Wetherington skis into a remote fire lookout tower in Montana’s backcountry on a chilly winter night.

I Got Caught in a Sierra Storm, on Purpose

Isaac Simons tells the lessons of extreme Sierra weather and questionable gear choices through the lens of the writings of Phil Arnot.

A Walk from Crested Butte

Drew Smith writes about using public transit to make the travel to, from, and between trailheads more sustainable.

Clouds and McLeods

James Montavon discusses giving back to the trail community through his experience volunteering with the Colorado Trail Foundation.

Down to the Valley: Embracing the Desert Trail from the Mojave Desert to Badwater Basin

Drew Smith journeys from the Mojave Desert to Badwater Basin finding beauty in a seemingly desolate place.

Desert Crossing

An introspective account of what one can learn about themself through the story of crossing Saudi Arabia’s Hejaz region.

Mantras, Mandalas, and Meditations: A hike through the hidden Tibetan Kingdom of Nepal – the Nar Phu Valley and Upper Mustang Regions

An account of a trek through Nepal's Central Himalayan Nar Phu Valley and Upper Mustang region near the border of Tibet via an ancient trading route.

Strange Homecomings: A Journey on the Colorado Trail

Nikki Stavile returns to Colorado finding her home state changed but finds solace in the unpredictable mountains along the Colorado Trail.

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Andrew Skurka Completes Wind River High Route

A "high route" is generally defined as an off-trail, above-the-treeline trek that traverses a range of peaks. And this summer, Andrew Skurka completed a doozy of a high route in Wyoming's Wind River range - 100 miles and 60,000 feet of elevation gain.

JepPaks Alpine Pack Spotlite Review

The JepPaks Alpine pack combines durable materials with a slim, lightweight design yielding a pack that is well-suited for efficient and fast alpine travel.

Brooks Range Summer 2015 – fragments: Part 1

Time in the outdoors gives us a chance to question ourselves and find the primary motivation for fear. Oh and there are bears too.

Lightweight Backpacking News: Digest No. 26

In This Month's News: Woman Plans 5-Year Trek Across the Americas; Man and Woman Meet and Marry on the PCT; UL Sleeping Bag and Quilt Comparison Table; Ingredients for Planning an Expedition; Beginner Tenkara Tips; and much more!

Faces No. 4: Heather “Anish” Anderson

Anish set the self-supported record for the Appalachian Trail at the end of September, and is the first person to hold simultaneous records on the AT and the PCT.