The 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 lighting tool anywhere high quality hands-free illumination is needed. Disclosure: Versa Marketing, Inc. contacted me to try one of the NiteIze Innovation brand illumination...
read 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, savored a brief Appalachian spring, and battled clouds of mosquitoes in a record-breaking rainy summer. He experienced grief, growth, and triumph, from the joy of getting engaged...
read 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 Flame Footwear? The warmest part of a flame is the part closest to the energy source, and when hot enough, actually gives off blue light. Disclosure: BBS Hosiery, Inc. contacted...
read 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 Mountains, east of the Middle Fork are the Bighorn Crags. The Salmon River Canyon is one of the deepest gorges in North America, deeper even than the famous Grand Canyon of the...
read 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 importance of supporting organic farming and responsible, sustainable business practices. They offer a colorful collection of 100% certified organic ring spun cotton T-shirts and...
read 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 darkness, the MH12 puts out plenty of light to handle any situation with its 1,000 lumens CREE LED. It’s also great for safety with its strobe, SOS and beacon modes....
read 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 history and breathtaking natural scenery. The forest sits in the heart of the southern Appalachians and includes Linville Gorge, Catawba Falls, Wilson Creek Wild and Scenic...
read 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. Disclosure: Heel That Pain contacted me to try their HTP Heel Seats at no cost to me. My only responsibility was an agreement to complete this review after trying the item. I...
read 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 identification thread. They searched extensively to find a manufacturer that could provide them with materials needed to produce the highest grade paracord for their ultra-durable laces....
read 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 moisture-wicking properties of viscose from bamboo help to keep your feet cool in warm weather and warm in cooler temps by absorbing sweat and moisture and pulling it away from your...
read 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 him go alone—even though the prospect of leaving their comfortable Houston home, hiking twenty miles a day at the age of 56 while popping antidepressants and hormones, and...
read 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 life pathway or retreat, for spiritual growth. The earliest records of visits to the shrine dedicated to St. James date from the 9th century, in the time of the Kingdom of...
read 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, traveling, or a girl’s night out… Wojo is the wallet for you.” Most of us only use 4-6 cards regularly, so simplify your life and carry only what you need. Get rid of your...
read 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 comic timing of Bill Bryson, it also provides endless opportunities to witness the majestic silliness of his fellow human beings. For a start there’s the gloriously...
read 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 for the first time. In Becoming Odyssa — Adventures on the Appalachian Trail, Davis recounts that first 2,175-mile trip on the iconic AT, from Springer Mountain in...
read 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 urban streets to back country. Once in place, a grid of steel coils provide traction needed on packed snow and ice. With each step you take, coils bite into the snow and ice,...
read 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 hiker or bushwhacker. She hikes the less-traveled manways and unofficial trails to the Smokies famous landmarks. Off-trail hiking isn’t for everyone. It requires precision...
read 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 and bring back their experiences and inspiration. From Yosemite Valley to the highest point in the contiguous US – Mt. Whitney. 219 miles in 25 days. In an epic snow year in...
read 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 in a way, these hikers are just like you and me. They have jobs and families, they love their creature comforts. Yet something pulls them to be in nature, to leave everything...
read 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 rambles through some of the most breathtaking mountain scenery that the heart and mind could conceive. Most of your days are spent above 10,000 feet, where you’ll experience the...
read 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 (Appalachian, Potomac Heritage and Natchez Trace) are considered one of the 397 official “units” of the National Park Service. Why? Because the NPS was directly involved...
read 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. Outdoor guide publisher Waterford Press introduces the Pathfinder Outdoor Survival Guides™, designed to help you take control in a dangerous environment by teaching you how...
read 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 boots. They are great boots for cooler weather, or for rough rocky terrain, but for summer hiking I was looking for something lightweight, low top, trail durable, and water...
read 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 jacket and sunscreen, and Augusta National has regulations about the size of bags you can bring on the grounds. Cargo shorts are great for carrying small items, but I really...
read 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 with a shell layer helped me stay warm and dry, and able to enjoy the great outdoors even when it was cold. Natural fibers like cotton, and the wool your mother made you wear...
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