Notes from the Field (*)

Notes from the Field: Hidden Lakes, Montana

A quick overnight trip to a nearby lake chain offered opportunities for camaraderie with a friend and communion with nature.

Notes from the Field: Rambling the High Sierra (Revisited)

An alpine ramble along part of the Roper High route of the High Sierras, leaves plenty of time for fishing and relaxation.

Notes from the Field: The Wintry Fringe Season in the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness

Gear notes and more from a trek in the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness in late October and early November, 2012.

Salvation in Skykomish

Trail Angels to the rescue on the PCT and AT. Chapter 11 from Lawton Grinter's new book I Hike: Mostly True Stories from 10,000 Miles of Hiking.

Close Encounters with Hypothermia

An unexpected rainstorm and inadequate gear threaten to end one hiker's PCT dreams, and potentially his life. Chapter 3 from Lawton Grinter's new book I Hike: Mostly True Stories from 10,000 Miles of Hiking.

Cajon Pass

A Marriage Proposal on Walden Pond

Can a backpacker more comfy on the trail find love with a lady for whom three stars is roughing it? An excerpt from Ron's recently published memoir, Pathfinder: Blazing a New Wilderness Trail in Modern America.

Via Alpina: Not Another Walk in the Woods

Designed as a European cultural itinerary traversing the continent along the backbone of the Alps, you can experience jaw-dropping Alpine beauty, culture, nature, ecology, history and cuisine in whatever region you like!

Three Sisters Backpacking

In 2008 and 2009, I got better acquainted with the lovely ladies that make up the Three Sisters in the Cascade Range.

Wilderness Trekking II: Long Distance Backpacking

The stated goal wasn't to make everything else a little bland, but this trip was beyond the pale. And yes, everything else IS just a little bland afterwards.

Montana Mourning: Reflections on a Wilderness Trekking Trip

I got less - and more - than I bargained for.

New Wilderness! Dolly Sods North & Roaring Plains West

There were 37,000 new wilderness acres in my home state... how could I not go walking?

Track Notes Part 2: GR5 in France

Part two of Roger Caffin's GR5 trek in France.

Track Notes Part 1: GR5 in France

Roger Caffin shares his notes on trekking the GR5 in France.

Packrafting the Bear Trap Canyon

Bill Stadwiser shares his notes on packrafting Bear Trap Canyon with Ryan Jordan.

Fire and Ultralight, a US Forest Service Recon

Ultralight Backpackers Scouting Post-Disaster Trail Conditions for the US Forest Service.

Wise Women Go Light, Conclusion

Wise Women Jean (from 20 to 13 pound base weight) and Sue (14 to 9 pound base weight) put their new lightweight gear to the test in the field.

Wise Women Go Light, Part 2

Jean and Sue select and test lighter gear from a dizzying array of choices while receiving an avalanche of expert advice - which they accept with trepidation, reject, or take on wholeheartedly - all the while listening to their own self-wisdom gained in their six (or near six) decades of life experience.

Results: John Muir Trail (JMT) Record Attempt – Unsupported, Without Resupply

BPL subscriber, Al Shaver, didn’t break the JMT speed record for an unsupported hike without resupply, but his account may inspire you to try.

Notes from the Field: Summer on the Pacific Crest Trail

Long distance hikes have a unique character. BPL editor, Don Wilson, shares his perspectives on gear, technique, clothing and philosophy following a lightweight, 6-week section hike of the PCT.