Have you ever experienced a gear bomb? You’re looking for that one simple item in your pack, and you’re sure you knew where it was, only to find it at the bottom of your bag. Unfortunately now you’ve sacrificed what little organization you had after tearing through your gear and spreading it all around your campsite or on the trail. Now it looks like a bomb has just gone off in your pack. Gear bombs have happened to all of us at some point, but they’re completely preventab

In part one we discussed techniques to help prevent a bear encounter, but even in vast wilderness it’s possible to cross paths with one though you’ve taken all the proper precautions. Often these encounters will result in surprise for both parties and the bear will take the closest route out of the situation. However, if the bear feels threatened or in need of protecting her cubs, things can escalate quickly. Experts recommend always carrying bear spray in bear country, but

Line is by far the most important feature of your fly-fishing rig. Because I want you to be the most capable fisherman possible, I'm going to explain the different aspects of fly line, as best I can, without putting you to sleep. Talking to people I know that fly fish I’m astounded to find that many of them only know about floating and sinking lines. They had no idea about any of the weighted aspects of the fly line on their rigs. With spin fishing the weight of the lure bei

Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you have to hang up your pack and mothball the rest of your gear. It seems once the low temps, snow, and ice start showing up a lot of backcountry athletes pack it in for the off season. This doesn’t have to be the case, getting out in the snow and cold is certainly more challenging than the warmer sunny days of summer, but that’s what its all about, a challenge, right? There are lots of benefits to getting out in the colder middle mon

Whether you’re headed out on a day hike or an extended backcountry trek these twelve essentials should always be packed along for the adventure. Often in an effort to cut weight we leave things behind, and assume that due to the appearing benign terrain and distances of some day hikes, and even a few overnights, we just don’t need certain pieces of gear. Well, all assuming does is make an ass out of you and me (ass-u-me). These light essentials are always worth their weigh

Fly fishing reels come in a staggering variety and are often the most expensive piece of fishing gear that you will ever purchase. A good reel will outlast many rods and with careful maintenance will serve you well for years to come. There are two main types of reels: manual and Automatic. Most fly fishermen wouldn't even bring up the Automatic type of reel but as I'm very partial to this kind, I will. It's the type I learned with and still prefer to this day. Early fly reel

One of the most debated and challenging aspects of camping is how to light a fire. There are countless opinions on what is the best method. Purists usually stand firmly with gathering small twigs and leaves that are bunched by hand and then lit. Those that just want t0 start a fire without fuss may pack in store bought fuel or fuel pods, of different sorts, to ensure fire is made. Although, twigs and leaves aren’t always reliable depending on weather. Store bought materia

“Lions and tigers and bears!” Okay no lions or tigers, but bears, marmots, and the like are out there and they want your food! Though the longtime method of hanging and counterbalancing our essentials from trees is still around, bears are quick learners and have mastered how to defeat your favorite knot. Recognizing this, an increasing number of U.S. National Parks and wilderness areas are mandating the use of bear canisters for backpackers and are imposing hefty fines for th

Make an extra effort to keep yourself safe and prepared while in the backcountry. Often we put a lot of focus on gear that keeps us warm, cool, fed, hydrated, and moving. But gear that could mend an injury or even save us sometimes gets overlooked. There are many different med and first aid kits to choose from, however, they commonly add unwanted weight and are full of basic single-use items, which is why med kits get left behind in the first place. As they say: If you wan

I'm excited to write for this website, mostly because fly fishing is one of my greatest passions. No arm-twisting involved (I don't make it a point to argue with Navy SEALs). And partly because the fly fisherman community doesn’t open itself up to new members easily. Many, including myself, learned to fly fish by having the skill passed down from generation to generation. Of course, in this case it’s usually learning via fire hose, if you will. More often than not people t