The Trailhead
Every journey has a first step. And some of the greatest, most meaningful journeys begin at trailheads. Welcome to ours! Here you’ll learn about gear, see route and trail intel, and dive into stories, images, and videos from our global community of adventureheads like you. Think of it like "The Third Place"–not home, not work, but your other most important/favorite place. The spot to hang out around like-minded people and have your life decisions and priorities validated. You won't need to justify your latest gear purchase or explain why you're using up all your paid time off hours to this crowd. They get it. Let’s go!
Navigating Lochs and Drams in the Scottish Highlands
Words & Photos by Amy Kading
In early spring 2017, my husband Kelly and I set out for our annual “thru hike”. Although this time we didn’t quit our jobs or pack up shop to become nomads.
Back ...
Digging For Dinner on the Australian Alps Walking Track
Words & Photos by Mark Oates
My 5400 Porter accompanies me on many of my workdays and forays into the outdoors. My job is that of an outdoor education teacher, and it involves educating young p...
A Pack by Any Other Name (Would Smell as Sweet)
Words & Photos by Jeff “IBTAT” Oliver
It was the fall of 2017 when my white 3400 Windrider arrived at my doorstep. I was making final preparations for my upcoming Appalachian Trail thru hike. ...
In Sickness and In Health: A Shelter Love Story
Words and photos from Tina Haver Currin
How strange it is to pack up your belongings, leave your home, and hike into the woods for an indefinite and unknowable amount of time. How strange it is t...
Pack for a Swim: Into the Drink in Tasmania
Words and photos by Richard Fornari
Direct excerpt from West Coast Tasmania Australia hike – 20 February 2017:
Today - Hartwell Cove to Christmas Cove – 1.2 miles, 4 hours + river crossing
Another...
The Risk to Live
Words & Photos by Robin "Little Spoon" Standish
Help! His pleading scream silenced and awoke everything in me.
I had met him days earlier, drying out his gear beside the trail. He was a Middle...
The Wild River Runs Through It
Words & Photos by Evan Connolly
Somewhere near Fryeburg, Maine, the road changes from wide comfortable pavement to winding narrow dirt. I was getting closer. I rolled my windows down, turned my...
Claggy Weather and Ultralight Smorgasboarding
Words & Photo by Eszter Horanyi
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 ...
The UltaMid Brings All the Friends to the Yard
Words & Photo by Bethany “Fidgit” Hughes
We knew that our UltaMid could get us out to the wild places. We had thru hiked Patagonia with it, walking the lonely gaucho paths and the packed nation...
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 s...
Finding a Place Every Night
Words & Photos by Huw Oliver
Memories are ideally, the only thing taken away from the places that I travel to. Among them, the strongest are almost invariably from campsites, from within or bes...
