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AND NOW FOR A LOOK AT THE WEATHER: UNDERSTANDING THE WONDERFUL, WILD, AND WACKY DESERT
Words and Photos by Michael DeYoung A backpacker on the eastern Tonto Trail in Grand Canyon National Park starts hiking before sunrise to avoid heat stress later in the day. The Tonto is largely shadeless, and on this day in late April, afternoon temperatures soared into the 90s. The presence of only high clouds doesn't…
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REUNITED WITH RIBBONS–BACK INTO THE REAL WORLD ON CANADA'S GREAT DIVIDE TRAIL
Words & Photos from Eloise Robbins If any trail could heal my soul, it would be this one. Wild and remote, the Great Divide Trail follows the squiggly line on the border between British Columbia and Alberta for over a thousand kilometers. It showcases some of the best scenery in the Canadian Rockies, maybe in the entire…
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WATER FILTRATION! TRAIL TESTIMONIALS FROM TINA CURRIN
Words and Photos from Tina Currin @tina Like lots of people, my very first thru-hike was also my very first extended backpacking trip. Sure, I had gone on weekend trips and car camped like a boss, but I never went anywhere for long enough that I couldn’t haul in water. Water’s one of those things that’s somehow free and…
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Unbounding into Spring
Two years ago I hiked a 135 mile route crossing the Columbia Plateau along the John Day River. This April three hikers will be thru hiking the route. When they finish and I have the benefit of their feedback I'll publish the full route and guide here! I went out with Chris "Foggy Mountain" Pechous for a weekender so he…
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IT’S SPRING! WHAT’S THE WORD ON THE TRAILS NEAR YOU?
Photo: @michaeldeyoung Sure, it might just be a date on the calendar, but dang, if it doesn’t provide a little mental boost! With the official change of the season declared, noted, stamped, what-have-you, pulling out the Rubbermaid tubs of gear becomes less wistful and more hopeful–it won’t be long now, or not as long-ish,…
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What's a clean way of attaching accessory straps to the Southwest 70?
The new unbound 40 back pack has lots of daisy chain attachment points to hook an accessory strap on. Where do you all do it on a pack without the daisy chains that looks clean? This is mainly for foam pads in winter time but could be anything else too bulky to go inside - so the strap attachment should be fairly secure.
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WHO’S HUNGRY FOR A NEW GIVEAWAY? LET’S EAT!
As evidenced by the number of page views our food posts get here on The Trailhead, many of you are always thinking ahead to your next meal! We’ve got a new giveaway going that will take care of the thinking part, AND the cooking part–all you’ll have to do is EAT YOUR WINNINGS! Make sure to enter our Backcountry Food…
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THOUGHTS FOR FOOD FROM A TRIPLE CROWNER: HOW QUADZILLA FUELS UP FOR THE BIG MILES
Words and Photos from Jack "Quadzilla" Jones (@Quadzilla) It’s probably your number one job on trail–eating! It’s likely the number one topic of daily conversation amongst The High Mileage Set, too! But what kind of fuel do you need to hike 8,000+ miles? Jack “Quadzilla” Jones shares what’s all in a day’s work as he…
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AN ULTRALIGHT APPROACH TO SURVIVING HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENTS
Words & Photos by Matt Wordell and Zach Voss Our names are Matt Wordell (@mhwordell) and Zach Voss (@retroscope). We’re based in Boise, Idaho. We travel to remote areas around the world with leading Volcanologists to assist research projects, capture photos and video, and produce short films and other content for use by…
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A SWING AND A HIT: FAT BIKING AND PACKRAFTING FROM KOTZEBUE TO POINT HOPE, ALASKA
Words and photos by Bjorn Olson @Bjørn Kim and I stopped riding our expedition-loaded fat bikes so I could point my camera at a weather-worn and information-filled sign. “Welcome to Kotzebue,” it read. “An Eskimo village 35 miles north of the Arctic Circle.” We had flown to the village a few hours earlier, assembled our…
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TRAVERSING THE AUSTRALIAN ALPS WALKING TRACK IN WINTER WITH THE OATES
In the winter of 2018, Hyperlite Mountain Gear Ambassador Mark Oates and his twin brother Andy tossed ski-laden Porter packs over their shoulders and set out to complete the Australian Alps Walking Track. It wasn't their first time having been introduced to it at the tender age of 18 and again fifteen years after that.…
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FEELIN’ F.A.B. - EXTREME NORDIC SKIING ON THE ALASKA MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS SKI CLASSIC
Words by Taylor Bracher // Photos & Video by Taylor Bracher & Emily Sullivan, on Ahtna and Upper Tanana Athabascan Lands “Holy!... Shit!” Emily yells out in short spurts between deep breaths. “It’s just as bad as I remember!” It is too difficult to discern if she’s laughing or crying. Probably both. We walk across the icy…
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A FLOW THROUGH THE BOB
Words Ian Provo / Photos by Sean Kerrick Sullivan, Ian Provo, & Neil Provo A few summers ago, my brother and I set out to recreate our first grand adventure. It had been 10 years since our first DIY, self-supported, extended trip through the wilderness, and we were eager to see how we had progressed in that time. In 2008,…
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UNDERSTANDING FREEDOM BY WAY OF THREE MAGAZINES AND TWO LITTLE BELLS
Words & photos by Tina Currin It was only three months into our grand living-in-a-van experiment when my husband, Grayson, and I decided that it was high time to visit Gates of the Arctic National Park in Alaska. After years spent languishing at our desk jobs and shoving a handful of repetitive running routes into the…
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WHAT IS THE EXPIRATION DATE OF ADVENTURE?
Words & Photos by Brett Davis It seems like in this modern age that everything has an expiration date, and that those dates are getting shorter and shorter and shorter. It used to be, so I am told, that when one bought an appliance back in the day (1940’s, 50’s, 60’s) that they could count on it lasting for more than ten…
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NOTHING MISSING
Plans put on hold. Frenzied weekends or meticulously stacked PTO hours all idling but raring to jump into action. WE NEED ACTION! "How is that these other adventure peers are out there getting after it? What am I missing out on this time?" Many of us are climbing the walls, having heartbreaking stare-downs with gear, and…
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UltaMid 2 Basecamp Logistics?
Hey, all. New UltaMid2 user here; looking forward to putting it through its paces this year! Currently planning to use the lashed-together trekking pole set-up for the UM2 (I've also got the full-insert I'll use as needed). My question is this: I do a lot of mountain climbing and lighter mountaineering; sometimes I use…
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HUT TWO, THREE, FOUR: A MASSIVE WINTER TRAVERSE IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS
Words & Photos by William Peterson @will_peterson Shortly after completing the White Mountains Direttissima, a friend came to me proposing a single day White Mountains Hut Traverse. Connecting the eight AMC High-Huts is a 54-mile endeavor with around 18,000 feet of vertical gain, and it covers some of the most rugged…
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"THE THIRD PLACE" - WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE GEAR SHOP?
Outdoor Gear Exchange, Burlington, Vermont There's just something about having a killer gear shop nearby. They're the places where you can resupply or satiate your relentless need for a new bit-o-kit, but they're also community spots where you can mingle with like-minded enthusiasts that spend time exploring some of the…
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WHO'S THRU HIKING THIS YEAR? WHAT'S THE PLAN?
It's that time of year here in the US when mileage-hungry backpackers are getting ready to put long hours of research, testing and retesting setups, and hard-earned savings to work for the next five to six months. It's the beginning of thru hiking season! Daydreams will become realities, muscles will learn new tricks, and…
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BEAR IN MIND: TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL AND RESPECTFUL ENCOUNTERS WITH BEARS
Words & Photos by Bjorn Olson @Bjørn – Additional photos from Steve “Doom” Fassbinder and Luc Mehl Bears are intelligent animals. A bear’s mannerisms are highly individual and may change with the day, through the seasons, and over the course of their lives. These variables make them very interesting to observe, but also…
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TAKING THE ROUTE NOT TRAVELED: A STARTER GUIDE TO WILDERNESS BACKPACKING
Words and Photos from: Samuel Martin, Eddie "Oil Can" Boyd, and Matt "Chili Mac" Morelli The best way to truly get off the beaten path is by starting with no path at all. Wilderness backpacking is appealing to many for the solitude it offers whether alone or with friends, the adventure aspect, and the opportunity to trek…
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DRINK TO YOUR HEALTH–HOW TO AVOID DEHYDRATION AND ALTITUDE SICKNESS
Words by Eddie “Oilcan” Boyd Avoiding Dehydration and Altitude Sickness On Trail There I was, 14 miles into my Appalachian Trail thru hike. I had just packed everything up for the third day of hiking and was about to leave Hurd Brook lean-to when I unexpectedly threw up my breakfast. The two days before had been extremely…
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THE UNBOUND 40 PACK GOES DARK!
In case you missed it, the made-for-the-rigors-of-thru-hiking pack, the UNBOUND 40, is now available in black! For those that want to hit the trail in stealth mode, now's your time to shine! Kinda.
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ONE LAST HIKE WITH A GIRL'S BEST FRIEND
Words and Photos by Sarah Strattan The jar of Chandler's ashes had sat on my shelf for months now. I've seen people keep their loved one's ashes in urns, proudly displayed above a fireplace or similar location, but this just felt weird for some reason. For one thing, it wasn't the ashes of a human but rather those of our…
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52 WEEKS: HIKING NONSTOP THROUGH CANCER TREATMENT
Words and Photos by Rebecca Sperry @sockedinhikes In the summer of 2015, I discovered hiking. It was simple–I wanted to go hiking one day, and my husband didn't, so I went by myself and got hooked. The sense of empowerment that I felt from setting out solo and the confidence that it gave me was tangible as I descended my…
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SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW: A TREK THROUGH PERU'S AUSANGATE CIRCUIT
Words & Photos by Dan Oliver @danofosho "Hola, cuanto a Upis?" "Trienta cinco." "Si bien, vamos!" And like that, I'm saddled up on the back of a motorcycle heading to a trailhead deep in the mountains of southern Peru. After a few tough sections of rocky roads with steep inclines, we flatten out, and the driver lays the…
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HAVE CAMERA POD, WILL TRAVEL: A SEASON CAPTURING IMAGES IN WILD PLACES
Words by Matt Morelli / Photos by Matt Morelli and Sam Conley I was making my way down the trail, bounding with excitement as I moved through the great halls of granite that are the Wind River Range of Wyoming. A small group of day hikers was on an ascent, and I stepped off to let them by, noticing the incredibly capable…
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THE FULL BULL
Words & Photos by John Baker Several years ago, I stumbled across a trip report of this place, and it sounded like one of the most awful yet amazing missions I had ever heard of. I read a few more trip reports which made it look just as brutal. To be clear, I am an average paddler on my best days, and the guys who wrote…
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PUTTING IT ALL OUT THERE AND GETTING IT BACK TOGETHER ON THE COLORADO TRAIL
Words and Photos from: Lauren "Yardsale" Jones They call me Yardsale. An obligatory trail name gifted to me due to the ridiculous mess I make at camp with my clothing strewn about on branches, logs, and tent nevertheless with constant respect to Leave No Trace practices. As a Colorado resident, Yardsale also shows up when…
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PACKRAFTING BELIZE: CAVES, WATERFALLS AND REMOTE JUNGLE PADDLING IN THE LAND OF THE MAYA
Words & Photos by David Plante I’ve been fortunate to have paddled many rivers in the Canadian North over the past three decades using hardshell canoes, folding canoes, oar rafts, SOAR boats, and kayaks. Two milestones happened this past year- I retired after 35 years as a veterinarian and discovered ultralight backpacking…
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Book Review: "The Barefoot Sisters: Southbound"
The snow is pouring from the sky, it’s mid March, and thru-hiking season is underway on the east coast of the United States. Although I would give just about anything to see Daffodils poking up through the soil, the weather in New England has decided not to participate in spring this year. Rather than lamenting over this,…
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WILD TRAILS
Words & Photos from Brad Meiklejohn As we turned up the valley leading to the pass, the low level of anxiety that had been in the background for three days moved to the front of my mind. The pass appeared difficult on the map, perhaps impassable without ropes, which we were not carrying. If we couldn’t get over the pass,…
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FOR ITS OWN SAKE: CAMPING AS AN END AND NOT A MEANS
Words & photos by Huw Oliver From the first time I saw one as a child, sleeping bags held a strange kind of fascination for me. I remember asking to sleep in one of my parents’ bags indoors, thinking that somewhere in that tube of squishy warmth, there was a portal to somewhere else, somewhere more exciting than my…
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STRAIGHT BACK THROUGH THE SIERRA NEVADA, MORE OR LESS
Words & Photos by Katelin Reeser @katethewild We stood confidently before the iconic range that lay just beyond the desert, The Sierra Nevada. Once again, we would become awe-inspired by the golden light, the plentiful water, and the soaring granite. It was our second time hiking through the Sierra. The first time, we were…
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Q&A: THE NORTH WOODS FROM AWAY – AN ULTRALIGHT CANOE TRIP IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA
Words from Hansi Johnson, Tyson and Kendra Perkins, Neil and Ian Provo, and Brendan Lauer. Photos by Hansi Johnson and Ian Provo Spring 2021, Hyperlite Mountain Gear HQ: "Remember that survey we sent out a while back? We got the answers sorted. Turns out that one of the most common responses to 'second favorite activities'…
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A STUFF SACK PILLOW, AN ARTIST, AND AN ALBATROSS MEET ON MIDWAY ATOLL
Words, Artwork, & Images by Eric Baker I'm sitting in the middle of a seabird colony on Midway Atoll, surrounded by hundreds of thousands of Albatross. Oblivious to my presence, they're caught up in their frenzied social interactions with one another. Un-paired birds gather in small groups to practice their elaborately…
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THOUGH YOU MAY WANT TO COWBOY CAMP
Words and Photos by Tina Haver Currin @tina I made a mistake last week. A big mistake. Here on the Pacific Crest Trail, rain has been sparse, and tent sites frequently provide nothing if not a difficult pitch—think soft sand or lumpy lava rock. As such, most (ok, most ultralight) hikers routinely do something called…
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SUBJECTIVE DANGER ON ARIZONA'S MOGOLLON RIM TRAIL
Words and Photos by Scott Nechemias (@snechemias) It was a slow, continuous slide on a 35-degree angle towards the bottom of a mud pit nestled underneath an overhang of red rocks in Sycamore Canyon, the first water source I had seen in 15 miles. Unfortunately, accessing it might involve never returning to solid ground.…
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THE SITUATION IS THE BOSS, MAN: GETTING ALL THE BUTTONS PUSHED IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS
Words and Photos by Rebecca Sperry @sockedinhikes 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…
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OATSPIRATION: FOUR FUELING FIXES FOR YOUR REPACK FROM HILLARY PRIDE
Recipes, Words, and Photos by Hillary Pride (@eatswithpride) Oats are a staple in many a backpacker’s kit for good reason. They’re cheap, widely available, versatile, and a reliable source of filling fuel. But if all ya got is that same old oats recipe you’ve been eating every day, things can get a little routine and push…
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CLEARLY UNKNOWN: THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE AESTHETICS OF ARTIST GEOFF MCFETRIDGE
Words by Geoff McFetridge, Photos from Geoff McFetridge and Ely Phillips Top Photo Courtesy of Ely Phillips Artist Geoff McFetridge is one of those lucky individuals that has known from a young age just what he wanted to be. That early start got him a gig at 24 years old as the Appointed Art Director of the Beastie Boys…
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THE SITUATION IS THE BOSS, MAN: STRAIGHTFORWARD CANYON ADVENTURING*
(*Some Penalties May Apply) We’re marching forward 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…
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A QUICK PITCH FOR SAFETY ON THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE TRAIL
Words & Photos by Eloise Robbins Over the last hour, dark clouds had rolled in. They spread across the sky like a bruise. Thunder had turned from a distant rumble to a roar that rattled my molars. Sheets of rain already obscured the other side of the valley. The storm was almost on top of me. Paradoxically, I’d spent the…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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.…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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.…
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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.…
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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…
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“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…
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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,…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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.…
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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…
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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…
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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,…
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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…
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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…
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Anyone try Spiz orTailwind meal replacements?
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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…
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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…
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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,…
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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!
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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,…
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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…