It’s a new year, and while some are planning to kick their old habits to the curb, others are looking for a new hobby or adventure. With winter in full swing, you might be heading to the mountains to ski or snowboard, but you won’t be alone. By mid-morning the quiet lifelines will have faded, and you’ll wait 45 minutes to take your seat on the chairlift. As you are whisked upward, your friend will tell you where the powder stash is and where the people aren’t, but you’ll retu

With the calendar and weather changing from summer into fall and then winter, many people think that access to the backcountry will have to wait until the next summer when warmer temperatures and less extreme conditions return. The fact is, that with proper planning and the right equipment, one can enjoy the backcountry year round. There are many advantages to heading out into the wilderness during the fall and winter months. One will generally find less crowds and be able to

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

There’s a saying that goes “be bold start cold.” Now, I have no idea where it originated, but I first heard it while in the military during winter warfare training, in Alaska no less. Like many sayings, this one sounds like it’s filled with wilderness machismo and conjures all kinds of sadistic thoughts when heard for the first time, especially while already dealing with plenty of cold, in Alaska. As it turns out, “be bold start cold” isn’t a challenge or an uncomfortable ac

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

My eyes cracked open as I scrambled to my phone to silence the alarm before it woke the others in the shelter. I had set the alarm for 4:30am so that I could get a jump on the day and finish the trail. It was still dark with no hint of sunlight peaking through the trees and the cold was biting. I couldn’t muster the courage to get out of the warmth and comfort of my sleeping bag. I shivered, not thinking anymore about sleep, but the finish line. I had 36.7 miles to go before

The Lake District of Cumbria in northwestern England is a majestic region of steep, stone-cropped hills (also known as “fells”), heather moorland (an area of wetlands that are quite common in the British Isles), and peaceful valleys that all overlook a series of lakes. Indeed, it is a much beloved hiking spot for not only the British people, but also adventurers from all over the world. The area was home to the beloved “lake poets” Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordswor

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

It’s difficult to pack light and still manage to carry everything you need. That’s why “two is one and one is none” is a good motto to keep. If something serves multiple purposes or you can find a way for it to serve more than one, it’s probably worth its weight. Duct tape isn’t always something that’s on the top of the gear list, but unexpected things happen on the trail, from gear mishaps to medical issues, and duct tape is a good “fix all” to keep handy. Here’s an easy