The Trailhead

Our community for knowledge, gear, and transformational backcountry experiences.

BIG QUESTIONS. SOLID ANSWER FROM THE PACIFIC CREST TRAIL
Words & photos by Kaitlyn Cramer One hundred days. I tried to banish the words from my skull with nothing more than fleeting success. I could hush them only briefly when I stopped to pull my sunglasses off my nose and bask in the vivid pink of cactus blossom or squint into the distance to imprint a hazy vista into my…
THE SITUATION IS THE BOSS, MAN: A GRIZZLY TALE
We’re continuing along in our The GRATEFUL DEAD documentary "Long Strange Trip" inspired series that featured a noteworthy quote from Steve Parish–perhaps their most infamous roadie. He was an active crew member during the "Wall of Sound" era that featured the PA and speaker system that was the size of a small town. He…
A THRU HIKE RUINS YOU
Words & Photos from Sydney Hosford Every time I pull out my 2400 Windrider to head out on another adventure, I’m reminded how once you start, you can’t go back. They assured me, to walk for hours, days, and months on end does nothing short of tear up your gear, deteriorate your body, and mercilessly break your heart. Those…
THE SITUATION IS THE BOSS, MAN: SOMETIMES IT'S BETTER NOT TO KNOW
The GRATEFUL DEAD documentary "Long Strange Trip" had an interview with Steve Parish–perhaps their most infamous roadie, and an active crew member during the "Wall of Sound" era that featured the PA and speaker system that was the size of a small town. He reflected on the chaotic and unhinged ordeal of transporting the…
THE WELCOME WEIGHT OF WATER
Words & Photos by Michael Jones @TenDigitGrid Where do you go when almost the entire state of California is on fire, and you have been cooped up inside your tiny one-bedroom apartment avoiding the coronavirus? You visit the beautiful pristine Channel Islands National Park! I am a Jersey boy who fell in love with the Sierra…
A PICTURE'S WORTH A THOUSAND MILES: THE NOBLE TRAVELS OF FEDE CABRERA
Words and photos from Fede Cabrera Hola, I'm Federico Cabrera (but you can call me Fede). I'm a photographer based in Buenos Aires, and I'm usually exploring remote places in South America. "Their Only Portrait" is a small personal project that involves cycling, paddling, and hiking through beautiful but impoverished…
REVERENCE FOR THE GRANDEST ROCK
Words & photos from Josh Alameda El Capitan, a three-thousand-foot vertical granite monolith of the natural world. An icon to outdoor adventure seekers across the globe. It stands alone, dominating the view of Northern Yosemite Valley, dwarfing the famous Half Dome in the distance, and flanked by the most magnificent…
THE SITUATION IS THE BOSS, MAN: A CANOEING COLD WAR IN THE BOUNDARY WATERS
Words & Photos by Hansi Johnson @Hansski The GRATEFUL DEAD documentary "Long Strange Trip" featured an interview with one of their roadies from the "Wall of Sound" era–when they used the PA and speaker system that was the size of a small town. He reflected on the chaotic and unhinged ordeal of transporting the equipment…
SOUP'S ON
Words & Photos by Sarah "Sniffles" Legg Usually, rainy days have a negative connotation, but I tend to thrive in them. Not only does it cool down the day, wash off the Earth, and rid those annoying gnats while you’re hiking, but it also gives you a pretty amazing dramatic effect for singing and dancing. I am always sun…
STORM CATS, ZEUS, AND VIEWS–AN ULTAMID FACES IT ALL IN THE ANDES
Words & photos by Cass Gilbert (@whileoutriding) It’s one thing to pack your favourite ultralight gear when the conditions are ‘just so.’ It’s another to rely on it come hell or high water. I admit it. When it comes to camping, I’m more of an idealist than a pragmatist. I tend towards the spot with the splendid view over…
HIGH ANDEAN ADVENTURES IN ECUADOR
Words & Photos by Ed McCord You know the story. Stellar blue skies on the bush flight in and the same on the flight out, with absolutely horrendous, miserable rainy weather sandwiched in between. Such was the tale of my 2019 Mt. Drum summit attempt that ended up thwarted by extreme avalanche conditions. The Wrangell-St.…
PASSION FOR THE PULK - FREEDOM FROM A PLAN IN SWEDEN
Words and Photos from Iona Pawson I love it when places surprise you. When you have a preconception about an entire country’s wilderness, but you take a gamble, agree to an expedition, and soon realize how wrong you were! Take for example, Sweden. Thoughts of cross-country skiing over rolling Nordic terrain, reindeer…
CLAGGY WEATHER AND ULTRALIGHT SMORGASBOARDING
Words & Photo by Eszter Horanyi @eszter The situation really was mostly our fault. Standing in fog on a New Zealand ridge, Scott and I contemplated our zero-visibility. We knew that up was the general direction we wanted to go, but we also knew that the topo map we were using had the trail in the wrong location. Our…
WET ALDERS AND STILL FROZEN TOES
Words & Photos by Steve “Doom” Fassbinder This pack and I have shared and collectively created far too many tales to tell in just one sitting. From Pakistan to the desert Southwest, Tajikistan to Alaska, we’ve been through it. Trust me when I say, if this pack could talk – it would certainly have more than a few bad things…
THERE’S SOMETHING IN THE WATER
Words & Photo by Jessica Kelley My rugged little Summit Pack has not yet been to the top of any summit, anywhere. Instead, it’s been tossed in the bottom of a packraft, covered in thick river silt, and used as an on-deck drybag while I paddled from Eagle to Circle on the Yukon River. During that trip, it safely cradled all…
PASSING TESTS WITH FLYING COLORS. EXCEPT BLACK.
Words & Photo by Jeremy Cronon Fifteen minutes after leaving Mt. Rintoul Hut in New Zealand, I stepped above tree line. As I peeked upward, tilting my head slightly to shelter as much as my face as I could from the onslaught of wind and rain, I saw a bleak landscape. The barren rock, coated in slick lichen, stretched…
SIXTY-SEVEN POINTS TO POINT TO: THE GEAR LIST FOR THE NEW ENGLAND DIRETTISSIMA
Words and Photos by Will Peterson Thru hiking the New England 4,000 Footers in May means that I'm in for the entire range of New England trail conditions. I will contend with high levels of mud and water at lower elevations and lingering ice and snow up high. The weather will also be a challenge, as it could be sunny and…
THE JUNCTION’S FUNCTIONS MEET DOOM’S RAMBUNCTION
Words & Photos by Steve “DOOM” Fassbinder Hi folks, Steve (Doom) Fassbinder here. The team over at HMG asked me to share a bit about my travels and thoughts about the Junction pack, but it seems fitting to give a bit of a history lesson first. Because unlike this pack, I didn’t just fall out of the sky all perfect and…
THE HYPERLITE MOUNTAIN GEAR GUIDE FOR A PACKED, PICTURE-PERFECT DAY HIKE (LUNCH INCLUDED)
Words and Photos from the HMG Team and Rebecca Sperry (@sockedinhikes) An open schedule and a sweet weather window–the foundational elements required for a great day out on a trail. Time outside counts no matter how long you're out there, and some of our favorite memories in the wild happened between one sunrise and…
DETAILS FROM THE WITNESS: THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF ELEANOR MOSEMAN
Words and Photos by Eleanor Moseman Any time spent around Hyperlite Mountain Gear will quickly reveal that we have some very talented photographers from all over the globe in our family. There are a million ways to document a place or people and a moment in time, but a great photographer captures it all while telling you a…
DETAILS FROM THE WITNESS: THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF HANSI JOHNSON
Words and Photos from Hansi Johnson @Hansski Any time spent around Hyperlite Mountain Gear will quickly reveal that we have some very talented photographers from all over the globe in our family. There are a million ways to document a place or people and a moment in time, but a great photographer captures it all while…
DETAILS FROM THE WITNESS: THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF SAMUEL MARTIN
Any time spent around Hyperlite Mountain Gear will quickly reveal that we have some very talented photographers from all over the globe in our family. There are a million ways to document a place or people and a moment in time, but a great photographer captures it all while telling you a little bit about themselves, too.…
DETAILS FROM THE WITNESS: THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF MICHAEL DEYOUNG
Any time spent around Hyperlite Mountain Gear will quickly reveal that we have some very talented photographers from all over the globe in our family. There are a million ways to document a place or people and a moment in time, but a great photographer captures it all while telling you a little bit about themselves, too.…
DETAILS FROM THE WITNESS: THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF SHAUN MITTWOLLEN
Words & Photos from Shaun Mittwollen Any time spent around Hyperlite Mountain Gear will quickly reveal that we have some very talented photographers from all over the globe in our family. There are a million ways to document a place or people and a moment in time, but a great photographer captures it all while telling you…
“HEY, YOU AWAKE?” NUTRIENTS YOU NEED TO SLEEP BETTER ON THE TRAIL (AND AID RECOVERY TOO)
Words & Photos by Hillary Pride @eatswithpride, RDN, LD, NASM-CPT Ah, sleep. That glorious treat at the end of a long, grueling day that, for some of us, is as hard to come by as an affordable house in the 2021 housing market. Ok, personal story out of it. Aside from dreams of hot showers and memory foam mattresses, when…
HILLARY PRIDE’S REPACK PERFECT, COCONUT MANGO STICKY RICE RECIPE
Words and Photos by Hillary Pride This Coconut Mango Sticky Rice is an excellent option if you’re looking to shake things up and level up your backcountry breakfast game. But don’t stop there! Pack it as a fueling fix for any of your backpackin’ meals. Not only is this recipe totally delicious, but it’s also vegan,…
DETAILS FROM THE WITNESS: THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF BRIAN THRELKELD
Words & Photos from Brian Threlkeld Any time spent around Hyperlite Mountain Gear will quickly reveal that we have some very talented photographers from all over the globe in our family. There are a million ways to document a place or people and a moment in time, but a great photographer captures it all while telling you a…
Tricer Products
Has anybody on here had any experience with Tricer products? I'm particularly interested in their tripod that utilizes trekking poles for two of the legs. It looks like it's made for binoculars, but I'm interested in using it for backcountry timelapse photography. They also make a tipi adapter that looks like it could be…
AGENT UTAH ALWAYS GETS HIS ROUTE... USING YOUR DOG AS A ROUTEFINDER
Sure looks like there are developed trails in a lot of this video, right? There aren't. The secret is to follow the dog There are a myriad of ways to experience the backcountry: alone, with a partner, with a group, but one of my favorites is with a dog, and the unexpected benefits it can bring to an adventurous backcountry…
TO THE ARRIGETCH WE MUST GO
Words, Photos & Video by Eric Bernhoft Gates of the Arctic National Park is one of the most difficult places to reach that I’ve traveled to. To even glimpse the majesty of the Brooks Range of Alaska and the wilder-gems hidden there, one has to drive hundreds of miles North of Fairbanks, Alaska along the dirt/gravel Dalton…
WHAT’S LOST AND FOUND ALONG THE WAY: AN APPALACHIAN TRAIL ODYSSEY
Words and Photos by Liz Kidder @lizkidder I had never backpacked before. I hadn't even day-hiked all that much when I first learned of the Appalachian Trail. And yet, I was completely drawn to the idea of a thru hike. What a romantic adventure! I had spent the better part of my teens and twenties getting wasted and…
PUSH BACKS IN THE ADIRONDACKS: A FOUR-DAY SUMMIT CHASING TRIP IN THE HIGH PEAKS WILDERNESS
Words by Max Kiel, Photos by Dan Oliver I anxiously stared at my watch, waiting for the clock to strike 2:00 pm. The date is Saturday, September 25, 2021, and I was at work at Confluence Running, a running specialty store in my hometown of Goshen, NY, counting down the minutes until my shift was over. It's not that I…
THE SITUATION IS THE BOSS, MAN: SURVIVING A NINJA-SNOWSTORM IN THE CAIRNGORMS OF THE HIGHLANDS
Onward we go with our The GRATEFUL DEAD documentary "Long Strange Trip" inspired series. In it, Steve Parish–perhaps their most infamous roadie–described the period during the "Wall of Sound" era that featured the PA and speaker system that was the size of a small town. He reflected on the chaotic and unhinged ordeal of…
DETAILS FROM THE WITNESS: THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF BJØRN OLSON
Words and Photos from Bjørn Olson @Bjørn Any time spent around Hyperlite Mountain Gear will quickly reveal that we have some very talented photographers from all over the globe in our family. There are a million ways to document a place or people and a moment in time, but a great photographer captures it all while telling…
GOAT CHAPERONES, BUTT SCOOTS, AND TECHNICOLOR SUNSETS IN THE GORE RANGE
Words and Photos by Scott Nechemias @snechemias It was mid-July, I was standing a little above 12,000 feet in the Gore Range, staring at the descent from a pass my brain had already unhelpfully started referring to as the "Death Chute." After doing the last 500 feet of the climb on all fours due to the extreme angle of the…
NO ROOM FOR ELEPHANTS; WHY I HIKE AND KEEP HIKING
Words and Photos by Zac Boston After encountering countless people on the Appalachian Trail, it's easy to see that something obviously causes a shift in life, leading us all to devote a sizable chunk of time to walk in the woods. Often, thru hiking a long-distance trail requires one to quit their employment, leave behind…
DETAILS FROM THE WITNESS: THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF MIKE JONES
Words & Photos from Mike Jones @TenDigitGrid Any time spent around Hyperlite Mountain Gear will quickly reveal that we have some very talented photographers from all over the globe in our family. There are a million ways to document a place or people and a moment in time, but a great photographer captures it all while…
GETTING THE BIRD ON THE ARIZONA TRAIL
Words & Photos by Taylor Bell So, there's this one bird called the elegant trogon. You might call it the holy grail for birdwatchers in this country. It's a beautiful, exotic-looking bird, and it's extremely rare in the U.S. In fact, it's so rare that less than 100 pairs of elegant trogons nest here every year—and each of…
DETAILS FROM THE WITNESS: THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF JESSICA KELLEY
Words & Photos by Jessica Kelley Any time spent around Hyperlite Mountain Gear will quickly reveal that we have some very talented photographers from all over the globe in our family. There are a million ways to document a place or people and a moment in time, but a great photographer captures it all while telling you a…
DETAILS FROM THE WITNESS: THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF ESZTER HORANYI
Any time spent around Hyperlite Mountain Gear will quickly reveal that we have some very talented photographers from all over the globe in our family. There are a million ways to document a place or people and a moment in time, but a great photographer captures it all while telling you a little bit about themselves, too.…
CHASING TEN WITH CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON
How long have you been going light? As soon as I began backpacking five years ago, I knew I needed to lighten the load I was carrying. I was unaware at the time that ultralight backpacking existed and did the best I could with the information I had. In 2017 I completely revamped my kit before an end-to-end hike of the…
A WINDRIDER IN THE WINDS
Words & Photos by Matt "Chili Mac" Morelli Dirty, cut, beaten, soaked; and that is just how my pack looked. The crew and I had been pioneering the Greater Yellowstone Traverse for nearly a month by the time we stumbled out of the Gros Ventre Range and in to Pinedale, Wyoming. My legs had been shredded in a multi-day…
SHIFTING GEAR: QUADZILLA TWEAKS HIS SETUP FROM THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL FOR THE PACIFIC CREST TRAIL
Words and Photos from Jack "Quadzilla" Jones Any gear heads in the audience here? Thought so! As you well know, selecting the right equipment for any trail is an addictive art form, and how others do it is a subject of intrigue for anyone who loves backpacking. What if you're choosing gear for over 8,000 miles of hiking,…
HAVE PACK, LET’S GO TRY SOMETHING
Words by Brett Davis // Photos by Brett Davis + Steve "Doom" Fassbinder I packed my first ever Hyperlite Mountain Gear pack during the Summer of 2015. Two friends and I had eleven days of gear and food laid out in organized chaos across a flat-bed trailer in North Pole, AK. As I contemplated the packing task at hand, my…
FIVE BACKCOUNTRY SKI TRIP TRICKS FROM CODY TOWNSEND: SHAVING WEIGHT FOR SNOWY OVERNIGHTS
Words from Cody Townsend (@codytownsend), Photos from Bjarne Salen (@bjarnesalen) / The FIFTY (@the.fifty.project) There is always a trade-off. Every gear selection you make is a compromise in one direction or another. For instance, in backcountry skiing, there is always a trade-off when choosing your skis. Want to move…
Anyone try Spiz orTailwind meal replacements?
CDT Rain/Weather Gear
Howdy friends. I'm hoping to complete a SOBO CDT thru-hike this summer, starting around July 4. For those of you who have completed a thru-hike or spent significant time in the CDT area, what did you take for rain/weather gear? I have a 4-oz Shakedry jacket that worked great on the PCT and Florida Trail but doesn't provide…
A VERY COOL WAY TO TRAVEL: WILD ICE SKATING WITH LUC MEHL
Words, Photo, and Video from Luc Mehl A longtime friend of Hyperlite Mountain Gear, Luc Mehl is not only one of the most creative and accomplished adventurers we know, but he's also one of the most studious and, as a result, conscientious and safe ones out there too. With a focus that's equal parts what could go right and…
AS GOOD, MAYBE BETTER: THE JOY OF (AND TIPS FOR) EARLY SPRING HIKING WITH JEFF GARMIRE
Words and Photos from Jeff "Legend" Garmire The backpacking season starts when the spring arrives, and the weather improves, right? Well, living in Montana, that date can push far out into some of the finest months. Snow can linger and even arrive out of nowhere in late June. But that doesn't stop us, northern residents,…
Ultamid
I am planning a artic canoe trip this summer and am curious if the Ultamid would be appropriate in a treeless environment. What has your Ultamid stood up to? Whats the gnarliest your Ultamid has seen and how did it do? I gotta know!
WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO WIN A ONE-OF-A-KIND WINDRIDER? THOUGHT SO! NEW GIVEAWAY!
More than just a little lite Wind at your back, this one-of-a-kind prize follows in the footsteps of those kindred explorers who set out on the trail before you! Part encouragement, part reminder of what a beautiful community you belong to, this Windrider got the Sharpie treatment at Trail Days in Damascus, Virginia, last…
YOGA TO POWER DOWN AND POWER UP ON TRAIL
Words and Video from Kat Englishman @KathEnglishman When you’re taking a backpacking trip, the second best feeling one can have aside from the accomplishment of reaching the summit, is finally making it to camp. All of your effort culminates during this glorious moment of relief when you can finally slough off your heavy…
ANNOUNCING OUR NEW XS TORSO SIZE! SOUTHWESTS FOR ALL!
Here’s some exciting news for Not-So-Long-in-the-Torso Backpackers! We're stoked to offer our best-selling Southwest 40 pack in the new XS fit! With the right size comes increased comfort, better adventuring, and more joy in the backcountry. The Southwest 40, built with ultralight, durable, and 100% waterproof Dyneema…
Backpacking Snacks That Will Satisfy Your Cravings and Aren't All That Healthy
Every time I read a post or listen to an interview with a nutritionist about what to eat while backpacking I roll my eyes. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely applaud all of the people out there who can be content eating dried fruit, nuts, and 85% cacao while banging out dozens of miles of walking, but realistically that is…
Hitting Day 100 of My 14 Month Project (And An Unexpected Biopsy)
Day 100 came during a cancer recurrence scare and I decided to go hiking instead of staying home to wallow in fear and self-pity. (Going hiking was the right choice.) The weather was pristine, the trails were not. I’ve hiked this short three mile loop before in 2020 and recalled the trails being broken out. This time,…
Let's Talk Rain, Ice, And All Things Wet/Cold
First things first, the above is neither a wet or cold situation. In fact, it's a perfectly happy monkey sitting in some mid 80s weather near a beach. Absolute paradise for the monkey, no doubt, but unfortunately for me, a bit of a sour memory. It was here that I was robbed by, for a lack of better words, a pirate on the…
Advice for first high altitude backpacking trip?
In 10 days I will be headed to Aspen, Colorado for a three day backpacking trip of the Maroon Bells Four Pass Loop. To say that I'm stoked would be quite the understatement. I live in the Hudson Valley Region of New York, and I have never been hiking out West before. Most of my hikes/runs take place at anywhere from sea…
The Chit Kit or Super Dooper Pooper
With the first step onto any trail, people always ask, “ Does a bear Chit in the woods?” The answer is absolutely! What about Cats, and why do they dig holes? The answer is also yes, and the hole is to help keep all other trail animals from stepping in Chit and making a whole mess of their expense shoes, and bringing…
"Appalachian Trail officials eye permanently closing once-popular Overmountain Shelter barn"
Read the full article from the Asheville Citizen Times here! Photos included are from the article. This was the very first shelter I slept in on the Appalachian Trail back when I was 14, 11 miles from Roan Mountain, and I have mixed feelings over the likelihood of seeing it close after 23 years. But my nostalgia can't…
NEW HMG QUILT PRICING! THERE’S A BACKCOUNTRY SLUMBER PARTY GOIN’ DOWN!
Just a heads up! Or heads down? Probably more apt in this case. The price of our 40 and 20-Degree Quilts has been reduced by $100! Because the whole process of building the quilts is in our hands–from cutting the fabric, sewing the baffles, and filling the down, and because we only offer the quilts through the website, we…
1-3 Days On Skis On Trail
Four hours in and you see your line in the distance. You've wandered through frozen forests, the edges of slowly evolving glaciers, and gradually up the side of the looming giant you soon hope to ski down. It's exhilarating to watch as your work turns into an increasingly long, hard earned ski run. - All I can say is I'm…
GET SMARTER THAN THE AV-ER-AGE BEAR! HOW DO YOU PROTECT YOUR FOOD OUT THERE?
Last summer, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy recommended the increased use of bear-resistant canisters along the length of the A.T., as it seems that explaining to bears why taking your food is uncool doesn't really do the trick. Do you already travel with a food safe(r) item? If not, are you considering it this coming…
WHAT'S MISSING? LET'S TALK '24 GEAR NEEDS!
Show of hands - who maybe from time to time grabs a favorite beverage and stands amongst their gear pile, thinking about that thing or things that would so perfectly complete it? Just us? Don't be fibbin'! Gearheads rarely have idle minds when it comes to this subject, and the R&D Team at Hyperlite Mountain Gear, with all…
PHOTOGRAPHER MATT FOLEY AND HIS PORTER PACK EXPLORE SKIING IN GREENLAND
Words and Photos from Matt Foley While Matt Foley may be most well-known behind a camera, he's no stranger to getting out in front of the big adventures where he captures his stunning images. As evidenced by this trip account from his recent foray into the wilds of Greenland, he shares how he set himself to be ready for…
AN ODE TO A FAVORITE PIECE OF GEAR
We've all got that one tenured item that has earned its place at the top of the "Never Leave Home Without It" list. What's yours? Take a pic, tell us why you love the thing so much, and share your most cherished memory with it. Time to pay tribute to your favorite piece of gear!
TAKING BABY STEPS TO THE TOP–RAISING A FUTURE ADVENTURER
Words and Photos from Kat Englishman It all started when a few of our good friends and fellow parents began asking my husband and me if our eight-month-old baby girl had fallen asleep in the hiking backpack. They'd ask us eagerly, "Has Filly napped in the pack? Oh man, we loved that stage", to which we'd reply with a…
Has anybody paired up two quilts to use for colder temps?
Does anybody have experience with using two quilts in order to get down to a colder temperature? I am curious what temperature I would be comfortable at if I paired up a 20° with either my EE 50° synthetic or my HMG 40°. I sleep very comfortable down to 20° and a little colder in my 20 degree quilt with an uberlite pad.…
NEW YEAR'S TRAILSOLUTIONS! WHAT ARE WE GONNA SEE IN '23?
NEW YEAR, NEW ADVENTURES! What's on the to-do lists of Trailheaders this year? What trails are you GOING to do? What trails do you WANT to do? Share your plans and daydreams here, and if you've already explored a route that another member wants to do for the first time, spread your best intel around! FORWARD AS WE GO!
CUPPLA THINGS BEFORE YOU GO: TINA CURRIN’S ADVICE FOR FIRST TIME THRU HIKERS
Words and Photos from Tina Currin @tina The gear’s (mostly) purchased, the permits or hang-tags obtained, and the date’s set. It’s your first thru-hike! Congratulations. Yeah, your life’s gonna change. And yeah, it’s gonna be confusing, awesome, difficult, and insanely fulfilling. With five long trails and countless hours…
What was your favorite trip of 2022?
The year is almost over and I'm sure this community went on some pretty epic trips! I want to hear what your favorite trip of 2022 was. Give me ideas on what I should add to my list for 2023. I'll go first: My favorite trip was Sedona, AZ for canyoning! My partner and I headed there in the spring and checked off multiple…
TRAIL MAINTENANCE OPPORTUNITIES AND EVENTS – PACIFIC NORTHWEST
WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE THE TRAILHEAD TO LEAD IN 2023?
Hello, Trailheaders! In the coming year ahead, we’ve got big plans to bring more and more of the information, inspiration, and motivation you crave to our burgeoning community! Through a variety of mediums, whether it be words, images, or video, we’ll be showcasing the tips and tricks that lead to better backpacking and…
ADDING VIDEO TO YOUR TRAILHEAD POSTS
Hey, Trailhead Members! Many of you have asked about garnishing your posts with video, so we thought we'd share how to make it happen. When you're logged in: Scroll down and on the right column, click “New Post” and then “New Discussion” In the bottom of your main message body box, there are four icons: "Emoji," "Photo,"…
The Backpacking Trip You Need to Add to Your Bucketlist: The Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway
As the northeast settles into the deepest depths of winter I can’t help but feel a little bit nostalgic for the first backpacking trip I ever went on, the Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway Trail. It was 2019, late April, and the snow had finally abated, only to be replaced by a myriad of mud, but I was determined to make the most…
Can you at HMG make some strong dynema gaiters ?
Has Anyone Hiked the NET (New England Trail?)
Specifically, in winter? It's a shorter one (200-ish miles) and I'm hoping to head up there later this month. Anyone have experience on this particular trail?
SAME ADVENTURES THROUGH THE AGES: ULTRALIGHT FOR OLDER BACKPACKERS
Words and Photos from “No Spring Chicken,” Michael DeYoung (New trail name: Second Chance) My first real life-changing event was a two-week backpack trip to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico in 1977. That inaugural trip for this Eagle Scout from Florida set me on a lifetime course of backcountry adventure that continues…
Reaching 40% Traced (Days 50 - 90)
It’s been a while since I last posted here about my attempt to hike all of the trails in the White Mountain Guidebook, 30th edition, but I’ve reached two big milestones and wanted to hop on and share what I’ve been up to. In my last post, we were in full-blown foliage-mode here in the Northeast. Now, we are in some strange…
Trail Running Pack Request
I love all things Hyperlite and would love to see the HMG designers create an UL trail running pack! I use a BD 15L trail runner for multipitch climbing so that I can stuff my puffy, water, and food inside. I also love having the chest pockets of a trail running pack on climbs to be able to keep my phone and snacks…
East Coast Trail (ECT) Newfoundland, Canada
Back in august of this year, two buddies and I flew up to Newfoundland, Canada to fastpack the ECT (East Coast Trail). This linear trail consists of 25 consecutive trails linked by community walks along the shores of the Avalon Penninisula, covering a total of 336km. The trail itself covers 270km of single track trail and…
Not exactly gear, but HMG should make patches
My hiking partner for the last third of the AT wore a white HMG pack. Until I hiked with her, I hadn't realized how discrete most UL packs are with their branding. The reality is that hikers learn by colors and patterns. I can recognize a ULA Circuit at a glance because my hiking partner on the CDT wore one. There's no…
Tips and different methods for pitching a tent in deep snow.
I am hoping to get into some winter camping this season. I am considering getting an Ultimid to use for my shelter. I am looking for any tips and suggestions on how you guys pitch a non freestanding tent in different kinds of snow. If anybody uses a tarp for winter camping I would love to hear how you pitch and stake that…
Double Quilt Request
Dear amazing Hyperlite designers, Please consider making a double quilt (if you haven't already). This past summer and fall I got to try out a Therm-A-Rest double quilt that is 20 degrees and it was a game changer for me and my partner. We love sleeping with a double quilt or double bag when backpacking and it really helps…
Trail Daze
A Typical Day on Grays and Torreys in Summer 2021 I'm awakened by the blare of the alarm on my phone at 5:25 am. It's a lot better than waking up at 3:25 to hike by 4, as we did earlier in the season. It's still dark, so I turn on my headlamp to get ready. The air is crisp, and I get dressed in my sleeping bag, having…
An Attempt At a Meal Planning App
Does it work? Do you like it? Is this useful? Too many options or not enough? The drop-down menus can be a lot when they're really long. Should work offline. Let me know when it breaks, because I made it and it probably will.
Patagonia Trekking
I am heading to Patagonia this February and already have permits for the O Trek, but planning to stay down in that area for a few weeks. Does anyone have any hike or trekking suggestions in the Chile side of Patagonia? We will be backpacking so looking for anything from scenic day hikes to multi night trips. We are doing…
Camera Equipment in the Extreme
Over the last three to four years, I've become 200% addicted to photography. It's the process, the result, really everything about it. Between rock climbing, mountaineering, backpacking, pack rafting and a lot of the spaces in between, I've carried my camera close to everywhere I've been. Somehow, though, I've neglected to…
Travel to Central Asia
Lately I've been a bit caught in the clouds. I can't say when it happened, but I caught the travel bug again, and I'm spending a large chunk of every day visualizing where the next trail should be. I have trips planned in the US, so the focus here is on somewhere further. Moreover, the focus is on learning about any…
Best water storage/vessels for easy access?
Coming off of a long canyon trek and reconsidering my whole pack system. I carry heavier loads due to the nature of the multi-day objectives I embark on involving technical climbing. The first thing I want to improve is my water system. So, tell me, what do you use? What works? Smart water bottles with strap attachments to…
Instagram
Hey everyone, If you all are interested we can use this discussion board to post our social medias. We could follow each other on instagram and we can follow along with all of the adventures. My instagram is quiggleryan
STEPS TO STAY SAFE ON WINTER BACKPACKING TRIPS
Words and Photos from Rebecca Sperry @sockedinhikes In the last month, two hiking deaths have occurred in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. One was a very tragic incident involving a young woman who died on a popular loop–Franconia Ridge–and the other happened just a few weeks later when a well-known individual who…
A GRAND CANYONEERING ADVENTURE: PIPE CREEK TO PHANTOM RANCH
Words and Photos by Peter Bugg @bugglife One of my favorite video games is Plants vs. Zombies. The opponents in successive levels get incrementally harder in such a way that the objectives remain challenging but doable, and you never lose interest from either boredom or frustration. Recently, I’ve been applying a similar…
I Didn't Know I Could Make a Banner?! - 10th Mountain Division Hut to Hut, Colorado
10th Mountain Division Hut to Hut 8/10 - 8/21/22 36 huts 322.8 mi 65,970’ elevation gain 11 days, 11 hours, 2 min 26.9 avg MPD 5497.5' avg gain/day After learning about Mats Roing’s thru-hike of the New Hampshire 48 Direttissima in Steve Smith’s The 4000-Footers of the White Mountains, I came up with what I thought would…
Tent Stakes for Tent Platforms
I currently have the Zpacks Tiplex tent and hoping to get Hyperlite's version soon. For most backpacking trips I love that I can use my poles to set it up and that staking it out well gets a perfect pitch. BUT, with trekking pole tents/shelters, I'm concerned about getting a good pitch on tent platforms or rocks. Does…
Winter Hiking Goals
The snow storm that’s starting to creep into the White Mountains today has me thinking about winter hiking. Last year I set a goal to hike the 48 4,000 footers in New Hampshire. I made it happen and had a lot of fun working towards that goal throughout the winter. Does anybody have any goals they’re hoping to achieve this…
LOOKING BACK ON THE FIRST FORTY-NINE DAYS OF TRACING THE WHITES
Miles upon miles stack up on the odometer of my 2011 RAV4. Dirt cakes itself to my calves, refusing to budge even after scrubbing. Specks of black mark my skin regardless of how much I try to keep myself clean, and it feels pointless since I’ll be dirty again the next day anyways. I’ve racked up over 500 miles in…
IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME FOR THE GEAR – HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS!
Words and Photos from Rebecca Sperry 'Tis the season to get stocked up on the gear that gets me stoked to hike. Winter has just made its presence known in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and as I switch over to my winter hiking kit, I thought there's no better time than now to stock up on the things that need to be…
Just for Entertainment I phone 14 and other anomalies
Copied from Mountain High Ski Area website "Have you ever fallen on the mountain? Have you ever had the cops show up when you did? CHP responded to the resort multiple times this week when guest's phones automatically notified them. Crash detection is directly connected to CHP dispatch. You can see how this could be a…
HMG Gift Ideas
Here's some of my favorite Hyperlite products that would make amazing holiday gifts. Gift Ideas: Southwest 55 pack - perfect for the multi-night backpacker, this 55L pack is only 2lbs and will hold everything they need for 3+ night trips. Camera Pod - perfect for the adventure photographer, these come in two sizes, one for…
MOUNT YALE VIA DENNY CREEK
Start/End- Denny Creek Trailhead Miles: 9.34 Gain/Loss: ↑4537’ Closest Towns: Buena Vista Shuttles/Public Transit: Bustang, Rocky Mountain Taxi I started hiking just below 10,000’ at 9:47 am and it was super mellow to Browns Pass Trail, 1.3 mi in. The switchbacks up to treeline at about 12,000’ made the next section nice…

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