Skills

Spring Raftpacking (and Packrafting)

In the high country, runoff doesn’t always coincide with what we all consider to be backpacking season, where trails are dry and the days are sunny. That being the case, here are some tips for trekking, packrafting, and camping in the spring snow and muck.

Packing for Adventure Travel: Ultralight Tips to Integrate Wilderness and Urban Kit

Packing to combine adventure travel and wilderness recreation.

Spring Snow Trekking Gear List

Ryan shares his ideal gear list for late-winter, early-spring trekking. By utilizing a snow shelter and making a few adjustments to your kit, you can push the limits of your conventional 3-season gear.

Winter Firebuilding Techniques (Video)

Ryan Jordan presents some tools and techniques for dealing with wet wood for firebuilding in winter conditions.

An Introduction to Nordic and Backcountry Ski Gear: Part 2 – Advanced Nordic Ski Mountaineering on UL Tele Gear

It is natural for skiers, as their skills improve, to seek more challenging terrain. And, with access to mountainous landscapes, it is inevitable for a skier to enter the realm of ski mountaineering. An overview of UL backcountry ski mountaineering gear and discussion of proper gear choice.

An Introduction to Nordic and Backcountry Ski Gear

A Primer to Backcountry Ski Travel – Why you can and should overnight ski in the backcountry

Camping in the Snow

Proper gear choices, site selection, and preparation techniques can make or break a winter excursion.

Considering Minimalist Footwear for Backpacking

While it sounds romantic to be able to trek in hemp-strapped huaraches or five-toed skins, the reality of wild places and the limitations of your body’s biomechanics may necessitate a different type of minimalist footwear.

5 Beginning Concepts for Winter Backpacking

Tarp Camping Techniques for Inclement Conditions

Backpacking and the Bruin Mind

Staying Dry in a Bivy Sack: Techniques for Managing the Moisture Balance Between External Precipitation and Internal Condensation

This article was originally published in issue 7 of the Backpacking Light Print Magazine. It has since been revised and updated by the author for web publication.

Ultralight Baking

After a few days on the trail, dehydrated meals can get monotonous. A bit more variety is often desirable and freshly baked bread is a delicious and lightweight option.

Map and Compass: A City-girl Walks Western Wilderness

Cleaning Up after a Backpacking Meal… using Honey?

A simple (and tasty) trick to keep your camp kitchen clean.

On-Trail Route Finding: When the Trail is Hard to Follow

"I've never been lost, but I was once a mite bewildered for a few days." - Daniel Boone

How Backpacking Light Has Helped Our Camp Fire Council Take Kids Backpacking

Developing a relationship with the outdoors and teaching others to do the same, introducing kids to the charm of the backcountry has a magic all its own.

BushBuddy Stove Tweaks

A few simple modifications to make your BushBuddy faster and even more covet-worthy!

How to Best Pack Your UL/Frameless Backpack with UL Gear

The advantages of having a lightweight, frameless backpack are huge - but without that heavy frame, the backpack has all the qualities of a large sack. For maximum comfort, you'll need to pack carefully, in a way that gives your backpack form and balance.

Make Your Own Gear: Igloos

Build an igloo using the “hub and spoke method” and lightweight backpacking tools.