Archives (*)

Lamar

Ryan and a group of Scouts search for solitude in Yellowstone National Park's Lamar River Valley

A Survey of Water Hazards and Water Treatment Methods – Part 5: Filtration Methods

A Survey of Water Hazards and Water Treatment Methods – Part 4: Chemical Methods

A look at several different chemical techniques for treating water in the backcountry.

A Survey of Water Hazards and Water Treatment Methods – Part 3

Part 3 of this series takes a critical look at several water treatment technologies available to backpackers

A Survey of Water Hazards and Water Treatment Methods – Part 2

Remove, kill, or inactivate? Part two of this series analyzes the legal and technical definitions as well as the practical significance of water purification and filtration.

A Lightweight Guide to the Crown of the Continent

Backpacking and Packrafting Glacier National Park and the Bob Marshall Wilderness

A Survey of Water Hazards and Water Treatment Methods – Part 1

The first part of this series provides an overview of the threats that can exist in untreated (and in some cases treated) water sources. Squeamish and hypochondriac readers be warned.

Sunshine in the Deep South

First update from Balls and Sunshine on their journey along the Appalachian Trail!

Windshirts: 2012 State of the Market Report – Part 1: What is a Windshirt?

Weatherproof, lightweight, breathable. Might the windshirt be the ultimate tool in the lighwieght backpacker's arsenal?

Cajon Pass

Backpacking on the Moon: A Trip Guide to Craters of the Moon National Monument

A look at one of Idaho's little known backpacking jems.

Honeymoon at Isle Royale (Trip Report)

Newlyweds Travis and Gretchen Leanna walk and packraft through Isle Royale National Park

The Myth of Pressure Regulators

Part 1 in a two part series analyzing some of the claims made by stove manufacturers about pressure regulation technologies. Marketing spin or proven performance? ***Updated with Addendum on 6/12/12***

Rain Pants State of the Market Report

A critical look at seven lightweight rain pants to keep you dry this spring.

Light and Fast Packs for Bikepacking

In Part 2 of our exploration of Lightweight Bikepacking, Dave reviews some notable packs and examines their utility for bikepacking.

Lightweight Bikepacking: An Introduction

"This kind of cycling actually brings you closer to the land than hiking... because you must read the landscape so closely in order to ride across it." -Drew Walker, “The Talkeetna Traverse” Adventure Cyclist (Jan/Feb 2001)

Success and Failure on the Colorado Trail

Planning like crazy to do a thru-hike doesn't quiet the fears: "Can I do this? Will my gear work? Will I stay motivated? Do I have the right food?" Only time on the trail would answer.

Tunnel Tents Tutorial and State of the Market Report – Part 3: The Mini-Reviews

Part 3 of this tutorial gives the details on the seven tunnel tents included in this report.

Tunnel Tents Tutorial and State of the Market Report – Part 2: Details and Commercial Models

Part 2 of this tutorial examines the specifics of tunnel tent design and functionality and lists the commercially available tents.

Tunnel Tents Tutorial and State of the Market Report – Part 1: Definition and Pitching

How tunnel tents work, why they can handle extreme weather, and how to pitch them under extreme conditions.