As an avid outdoors enthusiast, I love easy to pack snacks that don’t spoil readily and are simultaneously nutritious and delicious! Naturally, there are tons of products on the market that fit the bill to a tee! Kind, Cliff, Blue Diamond, Kashi, etc. Actually, most food brands have some sort of product that they market to the “healthy,” “outdoor”, crowd. However, as I also try to keep environmental as well as economical concerns on my mind as I shop, I find that hardly any

I've decided to take on the greatest challenge of my adult life. A task so great that only the most accomplished of fishermen would take it on. A mountain that seemed so insurmountable that a few years ago it was only something that I could dream of. Some people would call me crazy for even attempting it. Should I achieve this dream it would be the greatest accomplishment of my fishing career. What is it? You’re probably thinking that it’s a hiking/ fishing trip into some uni

Mesa Verde (literally “green table”) is great because it provides more than just fantastic wilderness hiking trails, it’s a way to experience ancient American history. Teddy Roosevelt created Mesa Verde National Park in 1906 to preserve the Ancestral Puebloan archeological sites found in southwest Colorado. Construction of the cliff dwellings is believed to have begun around 1400 years ago, only to be abandoned around 700 years later due to droughts. Today much of the ancient

For many veterans, finishing their time in the military and returning to the civilian world is daunting. Many struggle from both physical and mental wounds and have difficulty in finding their footing without the military lifestyle they have grown accustomed to. Heading into the backcountry can be a vital piece of the recovery process. It is an opportunity to reconcile the past and move forward to the future that veterans fought to secure for others. The mountains can provide

Journeying into the backcountry with friends is much safer and can be a great time. However, people just piss you off sometimes, and they’re the reason to escape into the wild, I get it. Solo hiking can be a peaceful experience, it allows for a time to reflect and center yourself. Here are five reasons to go it alone on your next adventure. Peace and Quiet: One of the major advantages of going into nature is for the tranquility that it provides. There’s really no better wa

Nearly everyone on the continent (maybe the world?) has either been to, or at least seen a picture of, the largest canyon in the world, the Grand Canyon. The title of “the biggest” has garnered it much attention since it became an official national park in 1919. Throngs of visitors come from all over the world to take in that boundless beauty firsthand. It certainly is grand. Indeed, “the one great sight which every American should see1” seems to attract more and more tourist

Great Sand Dunes National Park is a unique location in the San Luis Valley of southern Colorado. It contains 30 square miles of Sahara-like sand dunes flanked by classic views of the Colorado Rocky Mountains, a combination unlike any other in the United States, a place that needs to be seen to believe. But before visiting this special place, there are some things you should know… The Sand is Difficult to Walk Through – The deep sand can be frustratingly slow to traverse, espe

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

1. Technology- by far the greatest thing to happen to the fly fishing enthusiast has got to be the advances in gear and applications due to advances in technology. From ultra lightweight tools that allow us to get into the backcountry more easily to a weather forecast you can check on your phone before heading out. 2. Carbon fiber- Your Grandfather's fly rod was made of Bamboo… you heard me right. While they’re mainly collectors items now, my father still has one and so do I.

No one likes doing dishes, especially not in the backcountry. Using specific pots to cook meals means a heavier load to carry not to mention the eventual dirty dishes to tend to. While it’s nice to have a gourmet wilderness meal now and again there are a few ways to cut back on camp kitchen work and still enjoy good eats. One particularly easy way to drop dish weight and enjoy good meals comes with a little planning. This simple plan includes seeking out foods that come in pa