Backpacking

American Land: Sold to the Highest Bidder

“Our public lands- whether a national park or monument, wildlife refuge, forest or prairie- make each one of us land-rich. It is our inheritance as citizens of a country called America.” – Terry Tempest Williams. Whether it is the Izembek Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, Monomoy Refuge in Massachusetts, Bears Ears…

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The Ultimate Backpack / Angler’s Arsenal

Fishing may be your reason for hiking into the high country or it may be just an added bonus. If trout are in your crosshairs, chances are you have a packable rod, reel and a few favorite essential flies or lures that always accompany you while backpacking. But, if catching…

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Hiking the Beaten Path Trail of the Beartooth Mountains

The Beaten Path is a trail in south Montana connecting the Wilderness around the town of Cooke City with the East Rosebud, a drainage on the eastern slope of the Beartooth Mountains. The Beartooths are some of the most biologically diverse mountains on earth and the Beaten Path crosses over…

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Hiking Yellowstone and the Backcountry Permit Process

In recent years, Yellowstone National Park has broken annual attendance records and 2016 was no exception with the park receiving 4.2 million visitors. Most of them only experience the grandeur of our nation’s oldest national park through a windshield.  A few visitors take to some of the 900 miles of…

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Backpacking First Aid Kit – What To Look For in a Good Kit

A good, serviceable backpacking first aid kit and the basic knowledge of how to use it are essential gear and preparation for any outdoor activity. Minor cuts and scrapes, blisters, sore muscles, chafing from poorly fitting clothing, these are all common occurrences on any camping tips or even a day…

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Best Multi-Tools for Backpacking

Beyond the absolute essentials like shelter, sleeping bag, and food, a good backpacking multi-tool may be the most useful piece of outdoor gear that will accompany you. What’s more, a multi-tool’s usefulness and practicality is not limited to the outdoors. They are a one-stop tool kit for the home, office…

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The Best Outdoor Apps for Your Smartphone

Use your smartphone to identity the names of trees using a photo of a leaf. Don’t just watch birds, listen to them sing. Show you kids the stars and constellations in the night sky on your next camping trip. Create your own hiking trail and share it with friends and…

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How To Use Trekking Poles

Some years ago, you rarely saw a hiker using trekking poles. If you did it was reason enough to stop, take notice and maybe ask some questions. Today, the use of trekking poles is common. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy estimates that trekking pole wielding hikers vary from ninety percent for thru…

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Down Backpacking Quilts Versus Sleeping Bags

Have you ever considered a down camping quilt instead of a traditional sleeping bag for your backpacking and camping sleeping system? Maybe it’s about time you did. The basic idea in the quilt vs sleeping bag debate is that down efficiently uses trapped air to keep you warm. Down sleeping…

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What’s The Best Two Way Radio for Camping?

If you go to Amazon’s Best Selling Two-Way Radios, the Motorola MH230R Talkabout Two-Way Radio will invariably pop up in one of the top positions, frequently as the Number 1 Best Selling Two Way Radio. That has been the case for years, and for good reason. The Motorola 23-mile range…

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Hammocks for Camping: An Inexpensive Alternative to Tents

Hammocks for camping provide a lightweight, inexpensive alternative to tents. The nice thing about hammocks is, if there are places to tie off, the ground does not have to be level. Rocks and tree roots do not present obstacles. You can string up a hammock between trees or rocks. A…

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Hiking Pants for Men & Women: Key Features to Look For

Hiking pants for both men and women have a variety of features ranging from zippers just above the knee that allow long pants to be converted to shorts, to small holes in the crotch that improve ventilation. Picking and choosing among these features to suit your own needs is a…

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Should You Be Wearing Gaiters for Winter Outdoor Activity

There are some outdoor gear testers outfitters with a large following on YouTube who can be heard saying, “If you have the right hiking pants and the right hiking footgear, you really don’t need gaiters.” The comeback answer to those gaiter-doubters is that more than likely they have not been…

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