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Latest
Tri Peaks: Winter Scrambles in the Santa Monica Mountains
An essay on how day hikes and trail runs can enhance our outdoor experience when the wilderness isn’t accessible.
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.
Falling Stones at Two Goat Camp
Andrew Marshall's account of a Wonderland Trail thru-hike at the intersection of permits, wildfires, the birth of his son, and trauma.
Lunar Eclipse at Craters of the Moon National Monument
Observing a lunar phenomenon in an otherworldly landscape provides a sense of awe distinct from typical backpacking trips
MYTHing the PCT in a Time of Change
Searching for grace and gratitude through the smoke.
Pushing the SOS button on the Garmin inReach Mini in Jasper National Park
"I was suddenly seized by an inability to breathe: the world went black and I was bent over gasping for air, then passed out and collapsed, falling into the marsh."
Trouble Behind
Enriching friendship through fishing and adventure in Colorado’s Middle Park.
Walking the Great Rift Valley
Heat, army ants, and stupendous views await Jeff de Graffenried as he treks through South Luangwa National Park, Zambia.
Cutting it Short in the Lost River Range
Mark Wetherington confronts the novelty of bailing on a trip after things don't go as planned in Idaho's Lost River Range.
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.
Finding Meaning on the Green River
Ben Kilbourne hikes and packrafts along the Green River in Wyoming.
A Walk in the Park: 100 Miles Across the Wilds of Kafue National Park
An off-trail trek through a Zambian wildlife preserve.
Searching for the Light
After the year of darkness that was 2020, I needed to walk in the light of the Mojave desert.
Blood Moon on the Border
An off-trail borderlands odyssey during a lunar eclipse in the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.
Off-Season on the Oregon Coast Trail
Tides, blowdowns, and sunsets abound as Maggie Slepian and two friends tackle the quirky and challenging Oregon Coast Trail.
Salamander Song
Rediscovering the Great Smoky Mountains by lens and brush.
Escape from COVID-19 at Corona Ridge
Longtime Backpacking Light author Emylene VanderVeldon takes on a suspiciously-named untraversed route, one of the most difficult she’s ever attempted.
Land of Fur and Fire: the Yellowstone Caldera Loop
With Covid-19 necessitating an unsupported hike, we undertook an ambitious loop through the geysers and lakes of the Yellowstone Caldera.
Wind River Backpacking: Sawmills, Tenkara, and Trout in the Popo Agie Wilderness
Wind River backpacking and tenkara fly fishing in the Sawmill Creek drainage and Upper Silas Canyon in Wyoming's Popo Agie Wilderness.
