Everyone has his or her own ideal expectations for an excursion into the backcountry. Many of us want it all: soaring jagged mountains, crystal clear lakes, lush forests, and a challenging trail that satisfies our thirst for adventure. Or we have to decide between great mountain adventures or great lakes views. Unfortunately ideals and reality, depending on your geographical location, rarely co-habitate, however, these magical places do in-fact exist. They’re just tucked away

Stretching from the upper Midlands in the heart of England to near the Scottish border, the Pennines are a beautiful and diverse range of small mountains and high hills that provide wonderful hiking and other recreational opportunities for everyone. I say “diverse” for two reasons: first, because this chain runs from the outskirts of bustling metropolises like Manchester and Leeds-Bradford to some of the most remote parts of England. Secondly, the range is host to a plethora

The second most question I receive, after "What do you eat on the trail,” is "Well, how do you get the food?" Most folks figure if you're on the Trail for six months then you‘re in the wilderness for that long and that's just not possible unless you’re hunting and gathering along the way. It might become possible if Amazon figures out the shipping drones with precise GPS location. Hell, the drones might even Sherpa your gear in the future. Your move Bezos. If you plan to hike

Pitkin Trail is one of five trails that travel through the Eagles Nest Wilderness from exit 180 of I-70 as it winds through the Colorado Rockies near Vail. The Pitkin Trail, along with its fellow nearby trails (Booth lake, Bighorn Creek, Deluge Lake, and Gore Creek), is an exciting all around, out and back, trail that journeys to Pitkin Lake. This trail can be enjoyed as a day hike or a multi-day backpacking experience with outstanding views no matter how far or long you choo

Hiker hunger is a blessing and a curse. Sure, I can beat most eating challenges I come across, but gluttony has its downsides. While at home resting my foot I still had 'the hunger,' but was no longer burning those calories. I ate like I didn't know where my next meal was coming from and in six weeks I had gained nearly 40 pounds. I had no idea I gained so much weight until the night before climbing Katahdin. I jumped on a scale in the bathroom and was shocked when I saw 210.

Outdoor adventurers, get ready to have your minds blown. What if you had soaring jagged peaks, clear cool alpine lakes, miles of wild backcountry trails, and to boot, access to some of the amenities of home all in one place? You do! Idaho’s Sawtooth Recreation Area is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise. It is a massive area filled with steep jagged peaks (hence the name), miles and miles of wilderness trails that travel through pristine Idaho backcountry, and camp areas to rese

Everything was going so great … until it wasn’t. We had nearly made it to the VA/ WV boarder when my left foot started to hurt. It wasn’t much at first, just dull pain at the end of the day, but hey, I had just hiked 15-20 miles. It should hurt or at least that’s what I thought. A few days later, the pain was ongoing. It hurt with every step I took. We had planned to stop and see Andy’s childhood friend for the night and that stop couldn’t have come at a better time. I was h

No trail should be underestimated. With that said, nothing in the White Mountains should ever be underestimated. Before my first visit to New Hampshire, and its beautiful White Mountains, I read an article that compared them to some of the more difficult and dangerous ranges in the world. I figured the writer was just trying to stir intrigue and reach more readers with his intense writing. As it turns out, he wasn’t wrong. Though the Whites are a part of the Appalachians,

With mountains to trek and ski, canyons and boulder fields to climb, and everything in-between, Utah really has it all, it’s actually really surprising they have to advertise to adventurers. The topography and environment in this west-southwest state provides adventurers with endless backcountry entertainment. In fact, Utah is home to five national parks, one of which being Zion. Zion is a canyon oasis of high cliffs, lush valleys, and water carved stone. It’s a menagerie of

Though we would much rather hike the ridges of towering mountains and scramble steep trails of deep wildernesses; time and life often gets in the way. Luckily as backcountry athletes we are a resourceful bunch. We have the ability to adapt, overcome, and appreciate adventure wherever we are. We’re known to hike miles upon miles for a view and more often for the pure challenge. When life doesn’t allow for a weekend trip away or even a day hike this challenge can be met in our