Discover some of the top places in the United Kingdom renowned for their unique wildlife. From Wales to Scotland, England and Northern Ireland, this infographic from Hi-Tek UK is sure to give you some great suggestions for hiking near treasured wildlife. Infographic courtesy Samantha Pierrie of Hi-Tec UK. Check out their new selection of hiking boots and...
Learn MoreThe ALPS Mountaineering Featherlite sleeping pad is one of a series of ultra-lite pads coming from this small company located in rural east central Missouri. ALPS offers performance-oriented packs, tents, sleeping bags, furniture, air pads, and air beds — a good start for those backpacker/campers who love the adventurous life. Since the ALPS Mountaineering...
Learn MoreThis journal follows Chris Quinn, aka The Esteemed Stooge, Sir Charles Guilons on his thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2013. Starting atop Springer Mountain in Georgia, Sir Stooge makes his way over more than 2,100 miles of earth to summit the beautifully lonesome Mount Katahdin in Maine. Along the way, he meets some great friends: from Tangy and Munchies in Georgia...
Learn MoreThe INOVA STS Headlamp from NiteIze makes hands free illumination simple, versatile and comfortable. It features an innovative Swipe-To-Shine™ interface that allows for simple access to multiple modes – all with a swipe of your finger. Its lightweight body, high quality woven head strap and waterproof construction makes the INOVA STS Headlamp an indispensable...
Learn MoreA Story of the Appalachian Trail In the winter of 2013 filmmaker Chris Galloway set out to thru hike the Appalachian Trail starting on Springer Mountain, Georgia and walking over 2,000 miles to reach Mount Katahdin, Maine. In the course of his seven month trek, Frost (as he came to be known on the trail) trudged through deep snow drifts on the Smoky Mountain crest,...
Learn MoreBlue Flame Footwear thermal socks are manufactured from thick, heavy-duty acrylic fibers that have undergone an intensive brushing process, designed not only for warmth but to provide maximum comfort. The brushed acrylic inner provides ultra-soft cushioning while trapping air, preventing the escape of your coveted body heat even at insanely low temperatures. Why Blue...
Learn Moreby Isaac and Bjornen Babcock Central Idaho’s Frank Church-River of No Return is a wilderness of steep, rugged mountains, deep canyons, and wild, whitewater rivers. The Salmon River Mountains, located south of the Main Salmon and west of the Middle Fork, are the most massive range, and dominate the Wilderness. North of the Main Salmon River are the Clearwater...
Learn MoreGreen Label Organic is a family owned and operated business located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. It was co-created by a long time T-shirt designer and his wife, an organic grower and environmentalist. After learning about the severe environmental impact of conventionally grown cotton, they set out to educate and inform as many people as possible to the...
Learn MoreThe Nitecore MH12 is an ultra-compact, high strength USB rechargeable flashlight offering reliability and performance that defies its size and weight. Whether you’re hiking after dark or before dawn, and your headlamp simply isn’t enough, the MH12 just might be your solution. Maybe you’re hiking in a pitch black cave or cloud-covered night. Whatever the...
Learn MoreWhen George W. Vanderbilt constructed the Biltmore House, he hired forester Gifford Pinchot and, later Dr. Carl A. Schenck to manage his forests. Over 80,000 of his woodland acres became the home of America’s first forestry school and the heart of the East’s first national forest. Now comprising more than 500,000 acres, Pisgah National Forest holds a vast...
Learn MoreDoes plantar fasciitis cause you foot pain? Perhaps you can get some relief from the patented Heel Seats manufactured by Heel That Pain of Yorba Linda, CA. Their unique Fascia-Bar™ technology is clinically proven effective with a > 90% success rate. 31 of 32 participants in a double blind clinical trial asked to keep the HTP treatments after the study concluded....
Learn MoreThere are very few companies producing quality paracord bootlaces. One of the biggest flaws is that not a one of them uses authentic military paracord. It is, however, commercial grade cord in “mil-spec patterns” with 7 bi-woven innards. That just won’t cut it. Pisgah Range Ltd. wanted the real 8 tri-woven innards with a manufacturer’s...
Learn MoreEcosox hiker socks are made of bamboo and designed for maximum comfort and durability. Padded throughout the foot and with an arch-support to fight foot fatigue, Ecosox bamboo hiking socks will keep your feet feeling fresh. Whether taking a leisurely stroll through hiking trails or trail-blazing yourself, the ultra-soft bamboo fibers will cushion your feet. The...
Learn MoreA Fool for Love Hikes the Pacific Crest Trail Gail Storey was definitely not a hiker or camper. In fact, Storey liked to say, “I never much cared for nature, or rather, thought it okay as long as it stayed outside.” But when her husband, Porter, leaves his job as a hospice doctor to hike the 2,663-mile Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada, she refuses to let...
Learn MoreThe Way of St. James, is commonly known by its name in Spanish: El Camino de Santiago. The name comes from any of the pilgrimage routes to the shrine of the apostle St. James the Great in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, northwestern Spain. Tradition has it that the remains of the saint are buried in the cathedral. Many take up this route as a form of...
Learn MoreDisclosure: Wojo Wallet, LLC contacted me to try their Wojo Wallet at no cost to me. My only responsibility was an agreement to write this review. I was not pressured to make a positive endorsement. Their tag line pretty much describes it, “When all you need are your credit cards and cash, Wojo is the perfect solution. Cycling, hiking, boating, hunting, skiing,...
Learn MoreRediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail Back in the United States after 20 years in Great Britain, Bill Bryson decided to reacquaint himself with his native country by hiking the 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail, which stretches from Georgia to Maine. The AT offers an astonishing landscape of silent forests and sparkling lakes — and to a writer with the...
Learn MoreAdventures on the Appalachian Trail Before she hiked Kilimanjaro and Machu Picchu and the Pacific Crest Trail, before she was the speed record holder on the Appalachian Trail (AT), Jennifer Pharr Davis was a young, just-out-of-college 21 year old with normal fears about her future and questions about who she really was. Then she thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail...
Learn MoreWhen winter weather sets in, slick, icy conditions make it difficult and often dangerous to get around. Falls are the most common cause of injuries during this time of year. However, ice traction devices such as Yaktrax® provide the freedom to head outdoors and stay safe. Yaktrax fit over most shoes and hiking boots and can be worn in a variety of environments, from...
Learn MoreJenny Bennett first crossed my radar when I happened upon her website Endless Streams and Forests. She writes about many things, but among them are trail and hiking reports for areas of Great Smoky Mountains National Park that were very familiar to me. What intrigued me about Jenny’s reports was the type of hiking she does. Jenny is what is known as an off-trail...
Learn MoreDisclosure: The DVD distributor for the Muir Project produced documentary “Mile…Mile and a Half” contacted me to watch this film at no cost to myself. My only responsibility was an agreement to complete a review. I was not pressured in any way to make a positive endorsement. A group of artists leave their daily lives behind to hike the John Muir Trail...
Learn MoreDisclosure: The producer of Tell It on the Mountain — Tales from the Pacific Crest Trail contacted me to watch his film at no cost to myself. My only responsibility was an agreement to complete a review. I was not pressured in any way to make a positive endorsement. It takes a special kind of person to drop everything and walk through the woods for five months. But...
Learn MoreMile…Mile and a Half MILE… MILE & A HALF (trailer 1) from The Muir Project. There’s a reason that “Backpacker Magazine” ranked California’s John Muir Trail as the best Hike in the World in it’s November 2010 issue. Stretching 211 miles from Yosemite Valley to the summit of the contiguous United States’ highest peak, Mount Whitney, it...
Learn MorePlan a fun and safe hiking trip with a little help from this REI infographic. The illustrated map gives you a bird’s-eye view of the United States’ 11 National Scenic Trails which measure more than 18,753 miles combined. You’ll also find tips on what to bring with you hiking, as well as trail trivia. Item of interest: Only 3 of the 11 NSTs...
Learn MoreNo Food. No Map. No Cell Phone. No Problem. Imagine you found yourself alone in the desert, miles from anywhere, with no food, water, shelter or cell phone reception. Could you save your own life? Most likely, the answer is no. Left to our own devices and without supplies, the majority of us lack the necessary skills to survive. Fortunately, it’s never too late to learn....
Learn MoreI’ve been wearing Asics, Saucony, and Mizuno running shoes to exercise walk for nearly a decade now. So I have become familiar with the comfort, support, cushioning and durability a quality shoe can add to my exercise routine. The last thing I want to think about when I’m exercising is my shoes. During hot summer hiking I would definitely tire of my hiking...
Learn MoreSometimes a day pack is just too much. Maybe it’s a short hike, or a flat hike. Perhaps you don’t need as much water or food or backup clothing. I’ve found myself in that situation before and decided it was time for a “fanny” pack or lumbar pack. The final instigation was when I went to The Masters last month. I knew I wanted to have a rain...
Learn MoreI’ve been hiking off and on for more than 30 years, but I never have had an interest in winter hiking, until now. Not a big fan of the cold and snow, but I gave it a try this year, and I’m glad I did. The key difference maker, for me, was layering. Starting with a good comfortable wicking base layer, and then covering my core area for warmth, then topping it...
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